Product Description

In Modern Arnis: The Filipino Art of Stick Fighting, Remy Presas covers a variety of preparatory stretches and warm-up exercises, the 12-zone striking and defense systems, hand-to-hand combat ("trapping hands"), flow-practice drills, sinawali and redonda.

In this 160-page, fully illustrated text, Presas simplifies some of his teachings in order to give novices a tangible amount of self-defense skill through specific drills. For example, the sinawali is taught without sticks, in empty-hand fashion, to illustrate how its weaving motions can be easily translated into empty-hand movements for blocking, punching and takedowns. He discusses the 12 important angles of attacks on the human body, 12 basic ways of dealing with each angle plus stick and sword disarming techniques.

About the Author

Remy Presas was one of the most vibrant personalities in the martial arts. One of the Philippines' premier stick fighters, he became a national figure in his native country for blending the countless styles of the islands -- including important aspects from kali, escrima, tjakalele and arnis de mano ¬-- into one system, which he named modern arnis. Having studied the Philippine martial arts throughout his life, Presas was inducted twice into the Black Belt Hall of Fame (1982, Instructor of the Year; and 1994, Weapons Expert of the Year).

Presas' travels throughout the Philippines led to the rise of arnis as a national sport that was taught regularly in physical-education classes throughout the country. After leaving his nation in 1975 on a government-sponsored goodwill tour to spread arnis to other countries, Presas worked with a variety of groups in the United States. From law-enforcement agencies to senior citizens, he taught armed and unarmed self-defense techniques to a variety of groups and organizations. He also demonstrated the daring techniques of the bolo (machete) and sinawali's bewitching twirl of the double rattan sticks.

Today, despite the passing of its founder and grandmaster in 2001, modern arnis continues to flourish in cities across the United States and abroad. His legacy lives on through his book and DVD collection, Modern Arnis: The Filipino Art of Stick Fighting.