Empty Hand Tapi - Tapi and Knife Defense - Modern Arnis with Prof. Remy A. Presas

Knife Techniques - Modern Arnis with Prof. Remy A. Presas

The Diaphragm: Your Body’s Essential Breathing Muscle

 

The Diaphragm: Your Body’s Essential Breathing Muscle

Modern Arnis Abaniko Double Action

Sifu Roy teaching Modern Arnis' Abaniko Double Action

The Principle of Balance is omnipresent in martial arts training.

 Balance

        The Principle of Relaxed Balance is at the core of all Martial Arts Training. 

Maintaining a state of relaxed balance, while disrupting your opponents balance is the key to being successful against an uncooperative opponent (as in real life self-defense). 

Relaxed Balance even while moving or shifting your weight from one foot to the next or when you are on one leg kicking, the idea is to maintain relaxed balance (Zhong Ding) at all times, whether you are moving forward or backward, left or right; up and down should always be maintained in balance.

In Taiji Quan and Bagua Zhang training I refer to this state of Relaxed Balance when you have developed a Neutral Posture which is readily able to transform force (energy) that it is in contact with. 

Notes from a musical perspective:

The principle of balance in music is 'time'. 

Having steady time is important no matter what the musical genre is and no matter what instrument you are playing. 

                                                                It's not a guarantee:

 Good balance while practicing = Good martial arts!

Good time in music = Good feel! 

In music having steady time (meter) means you are able to play the piece (song) without speeding up or slowing down. 

To assist in developing good time, most musicians will use some sort of metronome or drum machine for practice. 

Kombatan Arnis / Grand Master Ernesto

Timing for Modern Arnis' Trapping Hands with Sifu

Sifu Roy and Sensei Chaisson demonstrating a timing drill for Modern Arnis Trapping Hands

Modern Arnis Workshop June 2, 2024 with Sifu J. R. Roy

Sifu Lee Lowery and Prof. Remy Presas

 A photo from a demonstration (probably) note the uniform and rank belts. Perhaps is was just a photo shoot. Generally the Prof. did 'dress up' for training, rather it was more a relaxed with family feel.

"You got it baby?" "Relax, go slow" "Be Happy" "Go with the Flow" are some of the Professors regular sayings that leads to the 'Magic' meaning everybody had a good time and they were smiling?

The last photo that I have with Prof. Remy Presas.

 

Taken in Victoria B.C. 

l to R Roland Dantes, Prof. Remy Presas (wheelchair), Kelly Worden (sitting) Brian Zawalinski and myself.

Many thanks to Brian Z for sharing this photo with me. It's the last time any of us were with the Prof. RIP - Gone but not forgotten.

Give and take joint lock series with Sifu J. R. Roy and Guro Phil R.

Arnis Master Bobby Taboada

 Arnis Master Bobby Taboada

His Wing Chun Blows My Mind | Sifu Francis Fong

Some wonderful give and take here. Thanks for sharing your knowledge Sifu Fong

Modern Arnis lesson with Gary

 I had two Modern Arnis private classes with my student/friend Gary P. this week. We've been meeting a couple of times per week for awhile now.

Lately I've mostly been focused on 6' Staff/Spear training, because Gary really like working with a Staff.

Here he is working on the first Staff solo drill, "The Propeller". 

I always start students on the right side of most any drill.

The next challenge is for the student to teach themselves the left side using the right side as a template. 

**NOTE: In order for the right side to teach the left side a drill/form or technique, it's imperative that the right side is doing it accurately and that the mind understands everything that is involved in doing it accurately. The right side has to be developed enough to be able to easily refer to it as one is learning the left side. IF you have an inordinate amount of difficulty, it's usually because the first side (right side) is not 'up to speed' yet. My advice is to keep working on the right side until such time as it's relatively easy to acquire the left side. (or visa versa for left handers).

PS - The Prof. was left handed but always taught everything from a right handed perspective. His right hand was excellent but his left hand was even better! Much better!! 

Most everything that you do with Canes is applicable to the Staff. For example Redonda and single and double Sinawalli. First learn and practice with Canes then later transfer that knowledge to the Staff. 

Major variation of Trapping Hands from Modern Arnis with Sifu J. R. Roy...

Empty hand Tapi Tapi with the right side with Sifu J. R. Roy and Sensei Jeff Chaisson

Timing for Modern Arnis' Trapping Hands

An explanation of the basic timing for two person drills like Trapping Hands. Standardizing the timing is essential for good quality two person drills. Especially when weapons are involved standardizing the timing makes the practice much safer to bring up to reality speed. When actually using the art for SD or sport it's essential to be aware of the 'pulse' or timing of your opponent/partner, in order to have the skill to apply techniques outside of the standard pulse, by cutting the time in half or more. 

                                         

                                        ***Good timing is paramount to effective martial arts***

By the way:

Timing is Everything!

Single Sinawalli with Sifu J. R. Roy from Sifu Roy's Modern Arnis Online Course

Sifu J. R. Roy slowly explains the cane movements/positions and the basic stance work for Single Sinawalli from Modern Arnis.

Sifu Roy was a private student of GM Remy Presas from 1987 until his passing in 2002.

For more information or questions email Sifu Roy:

Email Sifu J. R. Roy

Sifu - Arnis empty hand form 6

Prof. Remy Presas with Sifu J. R. Roy

 

A photo from years ago. I'd say about the mid 1990's. I was promoted by the Prof. to 5th degree Black Belt in May of 1997. So this photo was taken sometime before that. 

RIP Prof.  Gone but not forgotten!

Sifu J. R. Roy's Modern Arnis Online Course -An Introduction-

This video is an Introduction and invitation to sign up for Sifu Roy's Online Modern Arnis Course.

This course is geared towards beginners and will cover the pertinent material from the beginning all the way up to Yellow Belt. Using Modern Arnis as a stand alone art and would be appropriate for a student with little or no martial arts background. It may also be used for those students who are trying to re-connect to a practice that they have stopped doing or for a student that is looking to deepen their understanding of Modern Arnis.