Remy Presas

Remy Amador Presas ( born December 19, 1936 in Hinigaran, a fishing village in the province of Negros Occidental, † 28 August 2001) was a Filipino martial arts trainer.

Already at the age of 6 he started with his father, Jose Presas y Bongco with the Arnis training. At 14, he traveled through the Philippines and trained with different masters. When he returned back to Hinigaran, he continued to train in order to perfect himself. He developed new techniques to counter the classical Arnis, and he changed the way of teaching: instead of his knowledge ( as before ) by a master to pass on to a student, he trained with the whole school classes. In addition, he demanded of his followers moral values ​​such as discipline. To avoid injury, was no longer blocked from now on to the hand of the partner, but on the floor. So it was possible for anyone to train without risk to health, and Arnis changed from a war art to a combat art or a sport for the purpose of self-defense.

Through the intercession of President Ferdinand Marcos and Major General Jose Rancudo ( 1968 were aware of him ), he was able to spread again Arnis in the Philippines, and he taught hundreds of coaches, as well as the police and the army.

He founded the Modern Arnis Federation of the Philippines ( MAFP ) and in 1975 in the United States ever known. His technique spread more and more, and he started with round trips to take care of his students. On request, he also started in other countries such as Japan, Germany, Holland, Finland, Sweden, England, Denmark, Australia, New Zealand and Canada to travel to teach his style. Remy Presas died on 28 August 2001 at the age of 65 from a brain tumor.

Works

• Remy Presas: Modern Arnis. The Filipino Art of Stick Fighting. In 1983.