American Freestyle Karate • Modern Arnis • Self-Defense

MODERN ARNIS 80 RECEIVES OFFICIAL RECOGNITION IN THE PHILIPPINES AS A MODERN ARNIS SYSTEM!

PROF. ANDERSON PROMOTED TO 8TH DEGREE BLACK BELT & RECEIVES RECOGNITION FOR FOUNDING MODERN ARNIS 80

When one founds a new style of a martial art, a separate branch of an existing art or a distinct variation of one, there are several ways one can go about receiving rank promotion. One can award himself the rank as did Peter Urban when he founded USA Goju or Karriem Allah with the KA Style. If one is in an organization, the organization's board of directors can recommend and award the rank. Or one can go to one's seniors and be ranked that way.

I received recognition in 2002 by the World Head Of Family Sokeship Council for founding Modern Arnis 80, my branch of Remy Presas' Modern Arnis. Of the different ways one can continue receiving rank promotions, I feel the most comfortable with being ranked by my seniors. The following seniors all had special connections with my late teacher, Remy A. Presas.

Prof. Wally Jay - founder of Small Circle Jujitsu, 10th Dan and friend of Remy Presas for over 15 years. I sent him one as he'd travelled with Prof. Presas for many years co-teaching at seminars. If anyone knew Remy Presas, it was Prof. Wally Jay.

Dr. Maung Gyi - 9th Dan and head of the American Bando Association. Dr. Gyi is a highly respected martial artist and a personal friend of Remy Presas. Prof. Presas' last wish to Dr. Gyi was, "Take care of my boys."

Gat Puno Ric "Bong Son" Jornales - Bong Jornales is the Grand Master of Arnis Sikaran and one of the 6 Datus promoted by Remy Presas.

Gat Puno Abon Baet - Abon Baet is Grand Master of Garimot Arnis and a former student of Remy Presas in the 1970's, predating many of Prof. Presas' students in the US.

I am very pleased to receive the endorsement and recognition from the above Grand Masters for my accomplishments. Following below is the petition and endorsements I got back. (Note: this ranking is in Modern Arnis 80 only and does not alter my 6th Degree Black Belt directly awarded by Remy Presas.)
Prof. Dan Anderson

Petition for Rank Promotion

Preliminary data
I began training in Modern Arnis in Summer 1980 directly under Prof. Remy Presas. I have been training in martial arts since November 1966. I was promoted to Lakan Isa, 1st Degree Black Belt, in 1982 by Remy Presas. In June 1992, I was promoted to 6th Degree Black Belt in June 1992. In 1995 an additional title of Senior Master was also awarded.

Back in 1998 or so I faxed Prof. Presas (at Robert Quinn's house in Atlanta, GA) and asked permission to form my own sub-system of Modern Arnis, subservient to his. When I went up to visit him at a joint seminar of his and Wally Jay's, I got his verbal permission to do so.

Remy Presas passed away in the autumn of 2001. In 2002 I went public with my style of what I had learned from the Professor and named it Modern Arnis 80.

Modern Arnis 80 is based mostly on single stick (solo baston) and includes elements of espada y daga, knife fighting (based on Bram Frank's CSSD/SC system) as well as empty hand application. Elements of American Freestyle Karate are included as well. It is oriented towards self-defense rather than being a system of fencing.

The name Modern Arnis 80 (also called MA-80 system of Modern Arnis) is based on the following:

First, the Filipino martial art I learned was Modern Arnis, not Balintawak or Serrada escrima, etc. The 80 has two meanings. 1) 1980 is the year I began training. 2) If you turn the 8 on its side you have the symbol for infinity. I remember how Prof. Presas would show us endless variations based off of one move. That gives the idea of an infinite number of actions one can do. I also remember how direct he could be if you put the heat on him? The 80 means "the possibility of anything (8) to the simplicity of the moment (0)." The 8------0 is the philosophical concept behind the style. Technically, Modern Arnis 80 is based on the two key concepts Remy Presas stressed to me - the flow and to counter the counter.

Second, for me to say I am teaching Modern Arnis, Remy Presas style, is incorrect as he taught in a seminar fashion and not a structured one. This is how he taught in the United States. Many instructors beside myself have formulated various requirement structures. From my own personal viewpoint on ethics, it would be disrespectful for me to name what I now do "Dan Anderson Arnis," "American Arnis," "Super Dan's Stick Fighting" or something like that. I use the term Modern Arnis because that is my base Filipino art. I use the term to show where I got my skill from - Remy A. Presas.

As the founder has passed away, I consider my rank frozen in Modern Arnis, Remy Presas style. That is fine by me. I am now teaching my own variation of what I learned from Remy Presas.

(quote from Remy Presas' book Modern Arnis Philippine Martial Art Stickfighting, chapter "Ranking Of Players") Lakan-Pito (7th Dan) to Lakan-Sampu (10th Dan) will be awarded after every 3 years of continuous study of the art. According to this, his first book written in English, I could be eligible for rank as high as 9th Dan (1992-2003 = years. Every three years would have made me eligible in 2001.)

I personally feel it is improper for me to rank myself therefore I am petitioning my seniors.

Promotional data

• I am the longest continuously training American student of Remy Presas *
• Ranked 6th Degree Black Belt by the founder Remy Presas in 1992
• Awarded Founder of the Year 2002 by the World Soke Head Of Family Councilship
• I have written 2 books on Modern Arnis: De-Fanging The Snake: A Guide To Modern Arnis Disarms and Advanced Modern Arnis: A Road To Mastery
• I have demonstrated my art at the 2002 by the World Soke Head Of Family Councilship demonstrations
• I have taught Modern Arnis 80 at both The First Filipino Martial Arts Gathering in San Francisco in 2002 and The Modern Arnis International Symposium July 2003
• I ran the Pacific Northwest Modern Arnis Summer Camp for 9 years.

These are just the key accomplishments.

Promotion request
I am asking for 2 official recognitions:

• as Founder of Modern Arnis 80 (as distinguished from Remy Presas' Modern Arnis) with the Filipino term of Puno ("Puno literally means leader which shows how you are planting your seeds." Bong Jornales, Arnis Sikaran)
• a numerical ranking value of 8th Degree Black Belt.

Yours,
Dan Anderson

* After the petition was sent out it was brought to my attention that Jim Power of Michigan has been continuously training longer than I have. This mistake on my part has been publicly acknowledged. I am one of the longest continuously training students of Remy Presas. DA

 

The Responses

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Dan,
Yes, I did receive the message and wanted to take the time to read through it. I do support your petition for rank promotion. I believe you have worked hard and have earned the promotion. I support both your requests for an 8th degree and the title of Puno for Modern Arnis 80.
Please let me know if you have questions or if there is anything I need to do to follow this up further. Please stay in touch.
Bong Jornales

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Kapatid Dan,

I am honor to be ask a an opinion. In your situation, you are the founder of
your system. Based to what your experience, and dedication to the Martial
Arts, you attained this level. You have all the rights to do things for your
system. I will stand by you to your decision. I think you have all knowledge, the
backbones that will make you system effective. Professor promoted numerous
masters, and all of this have the same situation like you, but the already go
ahead and claimed themselves the Grandmasters of their own rights. I don't see on
your side you cant do that. To me you are the highest ranking in your system.
I wish you all the luck, and you have my supports and vote, Go ahead do what
you think is right for you and the system.
Good luck again,
Salamat,
Gat Puno Abon "Garimot" Baet
Laguna Arnis Federation International
US Harimaw Buno Federation
Hilot Research Center USA
E-mail: gatpuno@aol.com
Website: www.garimot.com