A Forgotten Principle?

 As I read through all of the posts on traveling to the Philippines and perhaps being anointed a “legitimate” FMA master or grandmaster, I was reminded of something that I learned from my first SE Asian martial arts instructors, Sifu Don Zanghi and GM Remy Presas, “Make the art for yourself.”  I can’t recall a seminar that I attended with Professor that he didn’t tell everyone present that “You must make the art for yourself.”  Professor Presas was talking about Modern Arnis, his own martial art creation, not some abstract, otherworldly fantasy. 

From 1982 when I first began working with Sifu Zanghi, through the “Dorie Miller Club” in Buffalo and before I joined the “Fighting Back Institute”, that highly directive phrase was stated and re-stated time and time again.  I first heard it from Sifu Zanghi, but he always cited and referenced Professor as the originator of the statement.  By the time I met and began training with Professor in 1983, ‘make it for yourself’ was part of my training mantra.  The orthodox training regime was to learn the techniques, mechanics, footwork and guiding principles of the art and then configure everything to fit your own bodily strengths, weaknesses and idiosyncrasies.

Professor never spoke about ‘the necessity’ of going to the Philippines to acquire any sort of refinement or fine tuning within the art.  That is not to say that he would discourage people traveling to his homeland, far from it.  He was very proud of his homeland, his culture and history.  We have numerous private discussions about the Philippines and he was very adamant that I should learn about the Negrito (Mayang, Aeta) people, who  are the original inhabitants of the Philippines.  Those conversations came about because of my usage of a wooden training bolo, the “Negrito Bolo” from his home island.  I had already begun the process of ‘making it for myself’ when I adapted the “Negrito Bolo” into my training regime.  I was exploring and gaining an understanding about the differences between the use of a blunt instrument and a long blade.  I was ‘making the art for myself’ because neither Professor nor Sifu Zanghi, were actively teaching bolo usage as part of Modern Arnis.  My explorations were at first fueled by my conversations with WWII vets, who had fought in the Philippines, their stories about the Filipino Scouts as well as my reading of Professor’s 1974 book on Modern Arnis in which he mentions in his preface that the real weapon of arnis is the long blade.    

I’m a strong advocate of Professors dictum of ‘making it for yourself’.  His commitment to the idea of ‘making it for yourself’ was very clearly stated in his 1983 book on Modern Arnis, when he wrote that “The method should suit the person and not the other way around.  This is known simply as using the “flow”.”  If I can apply the concepts, principles and techniques of Modern arnis as taught to me by Sifu Zanghi and Professor Presas, then adapt those same concepts, principles and techniques to suit my own body, then where is the need for me to go to the Philippines in order to become more proficient in the art?  My going to the Philippines would be for the cultural value, meeting some of his older students, my seniors in the art, and having the experiences that ensued from my travels.  

I’m not one bit opposed to going to the Philippines.  I simply reject the notion that I or anyone else NEEDS to go there if they wish to be viewed as an authentic master of the FMA.  I’ve found some dynamite FMA instructor’s right here in the USA and Canada.  Among those whom I’ve met and trained with several times are Sifu Don Zanghi, Professor Remy Presas, GM Tom Bolden, Ama Guro Billy Bryant,  Maha Guru Roberto Torres, GM Bobby Taboada, Sifu Dan Donzella, GM Sultan Uddin, GP Abon Baet, GM Eddie Lastra, GM Jun de Leon and GM Crispulo Atillo.  All of these men have given me solid, practical information and I’m grateful to all of them for their insights and advice.

I haven’t forgotten the ‘make it for yourself’ principle as taught to me by Sifu Zanghi and Professor Presas.  Nor have I fallen away from another principle that Professor advocated when he talked about “the art within your art.”  Professor emphasized the idea that Modern Arnis helps martial artists discover new things about their own style and use arnis to supplement their own mother-art.  But that is an entirely separate post and this one is already long enough.

Sincerely,

Jerome Barber, Ed. D.

GM, Datu & Principal Teacher,                                                           Independent Escrima-Kenpo-Arnis Associates

Hand Tools & CRMIPT Seminar, July 26, 2014Hello Folks,

Hello Folks,
I'm just sending out this announcement to remind everyone that Guro Keith Roosa and myself will be conducting a Hand Tools-CRMIPT Self defense Seminar on Saturday, July 26, at Alessi Holsters, 247 Cayuga Road, Buffalo, NY, from 11am to 3pm.  The admission fee is $40.

The seminar is the first of 2 training sessions that we will hold prior to GM Bram Frank's weekend certification seminar that will be held on September27 and 28 at the same site.  In September, GM Frank will be conducting his Modular Training Program aimed toward granting instructor certification in the use of the "Close Range Medium Impact Tool" (CRMIPT).
This hand tool is a non-lethal striking and locking instrument for gaining control of and compliance from an individual who is acting out in a public situation.  The tool was designed for security and police personnel as an option to the use of a baton or firearm in a less than lethal confrontation.

At the July seminar we will focus on the use of the following self defense hand tools, the Filipino-Hawaiian Palm Stick, the Kubaton and the CRMIPT.  We will comparing and contrasting the usage of each tool in a self defense, comply and control situation.  We expect that we will be joined by Sensei Mike Carvelli and you will have the benefit of being instructed by the three instructors in the Western New York Region who are certified under GM Bram Frank in the use of the Gunting Tactical Folding Knife and CRMIPT.

I'm looking forward to seeing everyone at the July training seminar.

Sincerely,

Jerome Barber, Ed. D.

Principal Teacher,

Independent Escrima-Kenpo-Arnis Associates 

"D/C Serrada Escrima" Appears In Life Art Stage Performances

"D/C Serrada Escrima" Appears In Life Art Stage Performances

The Art & Spirit of the D/C Serrada System of Escrima

who's side are you on anyway?

As per Doc's request, here is a repost from my personal blog:

http://wp.me/plJPJ-1Bn

I've been doing this "leadership" think for a while now. I've done the NCO thing in the military, I've moved up the supervision chain in LE, etc. While I hesitate to speak from a position of "expertise" on leadership ( I always feel like I'm still learning), there is an aspect of it I seem to see time and again that I would like to discuss and that is the confusion over "where your loyalty lies". In a nutshell the question is this. Are you a representative of management there to "keep an eye on things", implementing your superiors policies and looking for "violators"? Or are you a "representative of your men" who looks out for their welfare and protects them from the wrath of your bosses? This issue is sharpest for that mid level leader like a Sergeant or Lieutenant who has direct contact with "the grunts". In my opinion this is the first hurdle every new leader seems to face. If not understood it can become an entrenched mindset throughout their career, and only becomes magnified the higher up the leadership ladder they climb. Of course...as with any complex issue, the reality is never as black and white as I paraphrased above. A good leader has to realize that he has a foot in two worlds. It's your job to make the ship go in the direction your superiors want it to go...you are not "one of the guys" anymore. However, you are never going to be the "leader of men" I would hope you want to be if you look at the people actually doing the work as drones vs "your people". I look at it like this:

With superiors above you and subordinates below you you can look at yourself as an "advocate" for either side. Ideally you want to span a place somewhere in the middle. It's your job to implement the decisions of your superiors AND it's also your job to look out for the welfare of your subordinates (both personal and professional welfare) and to be a representative for them when dealing with your superiors.

If you tend to be a leader who "sides" with your superiors in all situations, with no interest in standing up for your subordinates when you believe that a new policy is wrong, or that punishment being levied is unfair or excessive you will be seen as a suck up at best or a tyrant at worst. If your boss tells you to "write someone up" for something you don't believe they did wrong, do you just do it? Are you always afraid that if you argue or disagree with your boss that you may harm your chances for a promotion? Are you "scared" of your boss so you just do what your are told with no regard to your personal opinions of right or wrong? You are placing yourself and your concerns over those of the people you are responsible for. Of course there is the flip side:

Are you afraid of being disliked? Do you avoid difficult discussions or dread delivering orders that you know are necessary but are going to be disliked? Do you overlook things because it's easier than dealing with them? You can't be "one of the boys" either. Part of your job is being the person who has to do the tough thing when it comes down to it. If you don't act like a leader your career as one will either be short lived or come to a dead end. My suggestions? You have to look at yourself and make an honest appraisal of your strengths and weaknesses. A person who, in their heart of hearts, knows that they tend to be "one of the boys" has some hope. He/She knows that they have a weakness and that's the first step to correcting it. Small changes over time is usually the best remedy vs trying to become a "hard ass" overnight. It's the people who sincerely believe that their subordinates are simply people to step on in the climb for advancement that are the real problem.

And in conclusion:

Teaching is an Opportunity for Leadership

Teaching is an Opportunity for Leadership

            Teaching is similar to parenting in that teachers can provide a role model that will be emulated and perpetuated by their students later in their own lives.  Both parenting and teaching are the art of guiding, influencing and shaping the directions that child or student will follow as they proceed through the instructions provided by their parents and/or teachers.  Bad practices in teaching as well as parenting can lead to replications of these behaviors when the students reach a point in their own lives where they are placed in charge of others. 

            Unfortunately, like parenting, most martial arts instructors have not been taught how to instruct nor have they acquired some practical hands-on experiences before they walked on the floor/mat to begin their instructional journey.  They are actually experimenting with live students in an on-the-job learning format.  These instructors are forced to fall back and rely on what the experienced as students.  They are going to channel their own instructor(s) because that is all that they have as a basis for their own instructional format.  And like so many of us, who said as children, that we would never do what our parents did to us, these instructors find themselves repeating the same things that they learned from their instructors.

            When our students see, hear and experience these examples they in turn are being impacted with a behavioral imperative that will be repeated after they leave the confines our schools and open their own martial arts instructional programs.  In a good number of cases the results are closely aligned with the cult-followers syndrome.  The instructor both presents himself as and is observed by his students as being the leading authority figure on the art.  Most other instructors and martial arts styles are seen as being inferior and should be avoided at all costs in order to prevent yourself from becoming ‘contaminated’ with inferior techniques and information.  In many cases this attitude is not consciously and deliberately perpetrated by the instructor.  However, when an instructor does not actively encourage independent thinking and research, the tendency to move in the direction of cultism is virtually inescapable for both the instructor as well as many of his students.  This is particularly true when there is a kids program at the school.  Young dragons are easier to mold in one’s own image than adults who have enrolled in the program for their own individual reasons.

            The Paradigm Eskrima-Kenpo instructional program is grounded in the belief that a student who is taught to observe and think positively will become a better student of the arts and he/she can successfully transfer these concepts to all other aspects of their lives.  In addition these students become positive role models for others in almost every situation that they are participating in.  We strive to provide our students with positive behavioral experiences.  We want our students to learn how to deal with adversity and failure as a springboard for future successes.  Our students are shown how to evaluate themselves and accept responsibility for their own shortcomings, then work to reverse the previous outcome at the next opportunity that becomes available to them.  In short, we want our students to make lemonade after they’ve been handed a batch of lemons.

            Our basic instructional format is based on having a principal instructor and at least 2 assistant instructors.  The assistant instructors are usually 3 to 4 belt ranks higher than the newest student who has joined our training group.  We use a combination of class instruction, small group lessons and 1 on 1 training throughout our program.  The assistant instructors provide the 1 on 1 lesson with specific tasks/goals assigned by the principal instructor.  These lessons are evaluated by the principal instructor at the end of the training hour and corrections, if needed, are recommended at that time for the next training session.  In time the assistant instructors are assigned small groups ranging in size from 2 to 6 people to instruct.  In both cases mentioned above the assistant instructors are acting as tutors and resource people, reviewing the techniques/drills that have previously been taught by the principal instructor in the larger class format.  We believe that the more individualized instruction that our students receive the better they will become and the faster they can progress through the underbelt ranks to black belt.  The more confidence the students have in us as instructors, the more confidence they will have in themselves as students and martial artists.  This confidence is easily transferred to other aspects of their lives because success in one area is the best way to build success in other areas of a person’s life.

            Since our assistant instructors are most often higher ranked under-belts themselves they are actually re-learning their basic skill sets as they instruct the newer students in the 1 on 1 and later small group sessions.  This is a win-win situation for everyone involved.  There is a strong bond that extends from the lowest ranked students to the principal instructor and everyone is viewed as being a significant and important person within the training group.  We do not wear belts or use titles in our training group, yet everyone understands where they are within the group.  We also stress ability over time within the Paradigm Escrima-Kenpo Group.  In other words, progress is determined by skills learned and mastered, rather than any concerns for how long someone has been a member of the group.  Promotions are based on skill development and are a measure of one’s commitment to study and work.  Anyone can pass another person in rank by simply being better or more skilled than someone else regardless of how much time each person has been a member of the training group.  That potential situation keeps everyone motivated.  The newer people want to move up as quickly as possible and the older students want to remain at a higher grade than the people they might have instructed at an earlier point in time.

            Throughout our training format, we are stressing skill development, cooperation, competition and shared responsibilities.  We are developing communication and instructional skill development.  The PEK format is designed and intended to provide our students with the information and training necessary to make them good instructors if they choose to go into the instructional field in any area of their own personal interest.

            At PEK we believe that leadership skills can be taught.  By giving our students an opportunity to work in an instructional mode very early in their training, we have identified those people who have a knack for instructing.  We do not leave instructional skills and leadership development to chance.  Our program is very well structured and planned out.  We use a standardized methodology and evaluation process to identify those people who could become excellent instructors both in and outside of the martial arts.  We believe that we can develop leaders and we may very well be the first organizational entity in a student’s life that gives them some definite and specific responsibilities within an organizational structure.   We use both informal and formal evaluation processes to help our assistant instructors.  Each assistant instructor is responsible for monitoring lower ranked assistants and making suggestions to the principal instructor.  Over time the assistant instructors will be asked to discuss their observations with the lower ranked assistants in formal training sessions and demonstrate the areas needing corrections.

            The PEK instructor training program is a by-product of our main mission which is teaching practical and realistic self-defense to all of our students.  We are not focused on retention and getting every single person who enters our program to black belt status.  We take students who come to us with a very specific short term goal as well as people who are interested in a full program agenda.  It is understood that not everyone is seeking a black belt when they enter our program and it is our job to give each student the best training and information that we can provide while they are training with us.  It is equally important to train every student to maximize his/her potential for both the short and long terms.  And for those students who go through the full training curriculum it is important that they leave our program with strong leadership and teaching skills that they can use throughout their lifetime. 

Jerome Barber, Ed.   D.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Grand Master, Principal Teacher,   

Independent Escrima-Kenpo-Arnis Associates                                                                                                                                                                                                      

Neighborhood Watch Program Standards and George Zimmerman

     In a thread that appeared on the LinkedIn site Martial Arts Black Belt forum, the question was raised as to whether or not martial arts training should be different for persons of color.  As the discussion developed, the Trayvon Martin case was brought in.  Admittedly this was a tangent and took us to a very different set of comments and points of view.  I was even accused of being a racist in an indirect passive-aggressive manner by a gentlemen who's position is that George Zimmerman acted in self defense when he shot and killed Trayvon Martin.   Obviously we disagree on that contention but not for the reason that most people would think.  While race was certainly a major factor in Zimmerman physically confronting Martin, thereby leading to the shooting, my contention is that if Zimmerman had followed the directive of the 911 operator and stopped following Trayvon Martin, he never would have been in the situation where he needed to use his firearm. 

     I further contend that if Zimmerman had followed the generally accepted behavioral standards of the Neighborhood Watch Patrol philosophy as found on any number of websites that discuss the program objectives, he would not have approached Martin, nor would he have been armed. 
 
      I believe that the following information makes it very clear that Zimmerman had an additional personal agenda on the night that he approached Trayvon Martin, that went well beyond his duties and objectives as a Neighborhood Watch Captain and patrol person.  I can only speculate as to what that additional agenda might have been so it is better to set it aside and reflect on the more objective information that is available to us.  Zimmerman did follow the basic operational standards for a Citizen on Patrol individual by calling the police to report a suspicious individual in his community, however, what followed was clearly outside of the accepted standards of patrol conduct.

Below is a fairly standard protocol for neighbor watch organizations:

http://www.stpete.org/police/pdf/crime-prev/crime%20watch%20book-01-11.pdf

Reporting Suspicious Activity

Anything that seems slightly “out of place” or is occurring at an unusual time of day could be criminal activity.  Report all suspicious activity. Do not worry about bothering the police or about being embarrassed if your suspicions prove to be unfounded. Think instead about what could happen if you don’t act.

Do not attempt to apprehend a person committing a crime or to investigate suspicious activity.        Call the police immediately. (Emphasis added.)

The Citizens On Patrol (COP) program is designed to be an additional component of the Neighborhood Crime Watch Program. A successful Neighborhood Crime Watch group may decide to get out of their homes and into their cars to patrol their neighborhoods. COP members are the “eyes and ears” of the police department, reporting suspicious activity and deterring any future crime.
COP participants actively patrol their own neighborhoods observing and reporting suspicious activity through the use of cellular telephones. COP members will not have to place themselves in dangerous situations and are trained to identify potentially harmful situations and learn how to stay safe. (Emphasis added.)

Citizens On Patrol is considered an advanced observation program, not focusing on intervention or confrontation. Participants will not need to carry weapons, and are prohibited from doing so.  (Emphasis added.)

The police department will provide educational programs and materials designed to inform the COP participants in general topics of police functions, including legal issues, communications, property offenses, and patrol procedures.
------------------------------- End of Quotation ------------------------------

     Please note that Zimmerman exited his own vehicle in order to follow and then physically confront Martin.  Zimmerman was also armed with a handgun while 'on duty' as a Neighborhood Watch Patrol person.  I tend to view his behavior in the context of the behavioral standards noted above and with the added point that he was advised by the 911 operator that he was not needed to follow the "suspicious person" because the police had been dispatched to the scene.  It seems to me that Zimmerman took it upon himself to overstep the bounds of the standard behavioral protocols of  a Neighbor Patrol person leading directly to the death of a young man who was not engaged in any type of illegal or criminal activity  at the time he was confronted. 

     I understand and accept the fact that the jury did not find Zimmerman guilty of murder.  I also fully understand and accept the reality that he can never be tried again on that charge.  My questions with regard to the trial are as follows:

1.  Should the prosecution team have brought up the "generally accepted standards" argument in their  presentation to the jury?  How difficult would that have been to research?

2.  Should the prosecution team have brought up the fact that in a civil case against the Homeowners Association that authorized the Neighborhood Patrols, that the Martin Family won their case for financial compensation because of the 'wrongful death' of Trayvon Martin which was caused by a member of their authorized patrol.

     I understand that the civil case is different from the criminal case but I am sure that in the civil case the defendants, the homeowners association, had to produce evidence regarding the training of their patrol personnel and sought to separate themselves from George Zimmerman to avoid incurring an even larger financial liability.

3.  Should the prosecution team have brought up the right of Trayvon Martin to defend himself against an unlawful assault and harassment by a unknown person whose actions were unwarranted
because Martin was legally in a public place where he had every right to be and not engaged in any sort of illegal or criminal activity at the time he was accosted by Zimmerman.  Didn't Martin have the right to defend himself under the Florida "Stand your Ground" statutes?

4.  Under what statutes of Florida law did Zimmerman have the right to physically follow and/or pursue and then physically engage Trayvon Martin?

     I believe that if these questions had been asked and presented to the jury that there might have been a different verdict rendered. \ A lingering question that I have for the legislators and governor of Florida is why won't they amend the "Stand your Ground" statute to restrict for the most part any sort of pursuit behavior for non-criminal or non-felony actions in a public place?  In other words, if someone has to follow, chase or otherwise pursue another person, how can that be called and legally viewed as 'Standing Your Ground'?  The law could certainly allow for pursuit of a person if a felony crime had been committed and witnessed, but otherwise, leaving a "safe place" in order to engage another person should not be allowed under the law as standing your ground.

Jerome Barber, Ed. D.

Where to Purchase a CRMIPT 2

Hello All,

I'm sorry that I neglected to mention where you could purchase a CRMIPT 2, either standard or magnum:

Write to either SoniaM.Waring@cssdsc.com
or Arnisman@aol.com

Sincerely,

Jerome Barber, Ed. D.

The CRMIPT 2 Magnum Rescue Tool

This past week I had an opportunity to work with my good friend GM Bram Frank and assist him as he taught a group of security officers in Clearwater, FL
at the S2 Institute.  That gave me an chance to see and work with Bram's newest CRMIPT 2 rescue hand-held tool.  In the above photo you can see the original CRMIPT that is about inches in length and the new magnum size at about 6.5 inches.

Honestly folks the magnum is more to my liking because of it's increased size and fit.  Even at the standard size it is very effective and is a great tool for security people to have while on duty because it can be used to punch through glass and the hook configuration at the heel of the tool is a cloth, rope, seatbelt and wire cutter.  It can not be used to cut flesh, making it as near a perfect non-lethal tool as can be created for use by a security or police officer.

Several of my former students and current associates carry the standard CRMIPT when they are on duty in the security business and 2 have actually used the tool in self-defense situations at bars to control a belligerent patron and escort those individual from the business place without inflecting any serious injuries to the people being removed.  The CRMIPT 2 would have made the job even easier.

The training sessions were conducted under GM Bram's standard curriculum "Perspectives of Modular"  instructors guide which I have worked with several times over the past 15 years in both Buffalo and NYC training sessions.  GM Bram was "training the trainers" who will go back to their respective job sites and introduce the CRMIPT concepts to their fellow officers in the coming weeks and months. 

The basic concepts of usage are based on Modern Arnis stick striking angles as taught by the late Professor Remy Presas, consisting of angles 1-4-12
(the open position), 2-3-12 (the closed position) and the 1- 2 - 2 (mixed position).  The instruction also includes using and defending against strikes and/or
punches in a high line as well as a low line levels.  An additional element is the use of some Small Circle Jiu-jitsu concepts from the late GM Wally Jay.

Of particular importance to some folks is the fact that the CRMIPT (both standard and magnum models) are designed and used in a non-lethal manner as impact and locking hand held tools.  Although modeled on an earlier tactical folding knife design that GM Bram named "The Gunting", the blade of the CRMIPT does not have a honed cutting edge, instead it is serrated to increase the gripping power for locking a limb if the blade is opened in a confrontation.  Most of the self-defense usages of the CRMIPT are based on the earlier knife and have been retained, the key concept behind the tactical folder was that it has 3 possible functions, impacting, locking and as a last resort cutting.  The CRMIPT totally eliminates that third option, making it an excellent choice for security officers and their employers in terms of liability and lawsuits.

Our training sessions went very well.  Our students were serious, professional people and they absorbed the lessons with a balanced blending of humor, laughter and a willingness to listen, question and learn.  Make no mistake about it, when working with the CRMIPT you will be tweaked and pinched in a manner that most martial artists, security and police officers have not experience before in their profession training.  This is quite simply a case of steel being placed on flesh and bone.  Steel wins!  The joint locks applied with the CRMIPT are stronger. more painful and far more difficult to resist then when applied by a human hand.  It didn't take a second or third lock for any of our students to fully understand the power of steel against their body parts.  Control and compliance comes immediately when the CRMIPT is used to assist the officer in controlling a disruptive individual.

I have been a fan of the CRMIPT for quite some time and strongly recommend it as an operational tool for most security officers in their job situations.

Respectfully submitted,

Jerome Barber, Ed. D.

PS: Thanks Bram for giving me an opportunity to get out of that damned 'NE icebox' for a week.

Atillo Balintawak Successors - My Observations and Comments

      This essay is a re-posting that was originally published in the FMA Informative #108 that was released on Saturday, January 25, 2014.  I have added the revised and updated linear charts for Professor Remy Amador Presas and myself .  I understand that there will be some people who object to my charts, but I challenge them to do their own research, cite sources and show us where we are in error.  Until they can document their objections there is nothing that they can say that has any merit or that anyone should consider as being relevant.

Jerome Barber, Ed. D.
___________________________


Atillo Balintawak - Saavedra Eskrima Successors; My Observations and Comments

                On July 10, 2013, GM Crispulo Atillo posted a notice on his FB site announcing his official listing of the Atillo Balintawak Eskrima, Masters, Disciples and Successors-Disciples.  That notice was duly reported in the FMA informative, Volume 12, Number 8, on page 17.  I’m not going to repost the notice here but I would like to comment on several things related to the notice because in my opinion GM Atillo did a very smart thing publicly naming those people who he wants to see carry on the Atillo Balintawak –Saavedra Eskrima tradition in the future after he passes on. 

Historically there is usually a very large, nasty and ugly intra-system fight among the top students after a GM has passed away.  Sometimes the fights have included family members battling amongst themselves and with some non-family members of the organization.  Everyone will claim that they are the best qualified people to take over the leadership responsibilities of the system while their opponents are phonies and under-qualified status seekers.   These fights are never pretty, they drag on for many years and splinter groups are formed with each claiming to be the only true lineage of the art.  I watched from the sidelines as this very thing happened in Modern Arnis after the illness and passing of the late Professor Remy Presas.  The bickering was very disturbing to watch and worse yet was the fact that I knew some of the people participating in the fight.  I refused to get involved or support any of the participants. 

GM Atillo’s listing of Masters, Disciples and Successor-Disciples is a wonderful gift to all of us who have trained with him and learned from him.  Those people named on the list are clearly legitimate heirs and the next generation of Atillo-Saavedra Balintawak Eskrima leaders.  He clearly states that the list members are the only legitimate proponents of his system and all others are acting on their own and without his official sanctioned endorsement.  This endorsement is better than being named in a will because it allows everyone who is interested to ask GM Atillo directly why someone was left off the list.  It eliminates the shill argument that the endorsements are misleading or falsely contrived by someone other than the GM.  If only Professor Presas had compiled a similar document and made the listing public prior to falling ill in 2000. 

I want to congratulate everyone named on the GM Atillo’s list.  In addition I also want to especially recognize three (3) people on the list who I know personally, GM Tom Bolden, Master Peter Vargas and Master Douglas Pierre.  All three of these men are personal friends and associates of mine who I have known and trained with for the past 24 years.  Given the fact that these men are being acknowledged by GM Atillo with the highest honor of being listed as Successors-Disciples, speaks volumes regarding their martial arts skills, personal dedication and integrity. 

The fact that I am referencing these three men should not be construed as a slam against the other people named to the same position by GM Atillo.  It is simply that I do not know any of the others personally and have not trained with them in the past therefore I can comment on them from my own personal perspective as a martial artists and teacher.

The Successor-Disciple award recognition is doubly impressive to me because of the fact that GM Bolden and Master Vargas is a teacher-student pairing.  This is as far as I can recall in my 35 year career in martial arts the first time that I have seen or heard of a teacher-student pair being promoted at the same time and within the same organization.  I also want to point out that GM Bolden, GM Pierre and Master Vargas, are the only Modern Arnis trained people on GM Atillo’s successor listing.  This is quite significant because most of the so-called Modern Arnis leaders in the post-Remy Presas era that began in 2001 after the passing of the system founder and GM have studiously avoided acknowledging or working with these three men.  These three men have been characterized as minor or marginal players in the Modern Arnis world, in spite of the fact that GM Bolden and GM Pierre were instrumental in building a following for the late Professor Presas in the Mid-Hudson and NYC regions respectively.  In fact it was GM Bolden who first brought the art and Professor to the eastern side of NYS and along the Hudson River Valley between Albany and NYC in the mid 1980's. 

The MoTTs (Masters of Tapi-Tapi) and the WMAA (World Modern Arnis Alliance) leaderships were adamant that anyone not associated with their respective groups were not and should not be considered as Modern Arnis Players.  The heads of the aforementioned groups would not recognize the rank certificates issued by Professor Presas and insisted that everyone who joined their organization would have to be re-tested under the new organizational rules and standards.  These same leaders, through their own students/associates were also quite critical of Master Peter Vargas because he had not trained directly with the late Professor.  That standard is very interesting because if one applies it across the board to everyone some of their own students in 2001 and beyond could not be considered authentic Modern Arnis students because those people had never had the opportunity to train under Professor Presas at a seminar or camp.  I have been criticized for bring up the re-testing rule of both the MoTTs and WMAA, but since I spoke with Dr. Randy  Schea, Mr. Jeffery Delaney (MoTTs) and Mr. Timothy Hartman (WMAA) personally and through e-mail exchanges, there is no doubt in my mind about their positions in 2002 on the matter of rank recognition.  Their current associates can decry my statements as loudly and often as they wish, none of those people were part of my conversations with these three men in 2002.  If these organizations have subsequently changed leaders and/or policies that is fine with me and I am not making an argument that nothing has changed since 2002.

There is also the matter a good number of Modern Arnis and Balintawak Eskrima people in the USA are not willing to recognize GM Crispulo Atillo as a senior Balintawak practicitioner whose credentials go back to 1953 when joined the newly formed Balintawak Self Defense Club as a charter member.  The BSDC was founded  in Cebu City, Philippines by Venancio Bacon, Delfin Lopez and Vincente Atillo with Bacon serving as the lead instructor and Atty. Eulalio Causing as club president. (Cebuano Eskrima,  Neprangue & Macachor,  p.167).

   The BSDC was the first group to utilize the word “Balintawak” in its club name wnd the first spin-off from the BSDC was the Balintawak International Self defense Club led by GM Jose Villasin and GM Teofilo Velez in 1957.  GM Crispulo formed the “Ogok Gang” in 1957, which consisted of a number of younger Balintawak stylists from the BSDC and in 1975 GM Atillo founded the Philippine Arnis Confederation.   (Cebuano Eskrima, p. 170).   He later changed the organizational name to the World Balintawak Arnis-Eskrima Association after Marcos era of martial law ended in the Philippines.

 GM Atillo is among the last of the people who knew the Saavedra's, Lorenzo and Doring, personally.  His art is the closest thing that we have to the original Saavedra Eskrima System, which is also known more popularly as "Balintawak Eskrima".  Couple that fact with the reality that Crispulo Atillo assisted his father, GM Vincente Atillo, with teaching the art of Balintawak to a future Balintawak GM Arnulfo Mongcol, who in turn was Professor Remy Presas’ first Balintawak instructor.  This is a significant set of connections because the Saavedras were the instructors of GM Bacon, GM Lopez, GM Timeteo Maranga and GM Vincente Atillo and all four men trained under GM Teodoro “Doring” Saavedra prior to WWII at the Doce Pares Club in Cebu City.  Some of the training sessions took place at the Atillo home and the younger Crispulo Atillo knew all of people mentioned in this paragraph and witnessed their training sessions at his home.  He formally began his eskrima training under his father Vincente Atillo at the age of 14.  He was trained in the Saavedra system of eskrima and credits his father as his instructor.  GM Atillo maintains that there is no real difference between Saavedra Eskrima and Balintawak Eskrima  other than the name used.  After training with GM Bobby Taboada for 4 years in the Toevel’s Balintawak system, plus viewing a number of Balintawak people on YouTube such as Nick Elizar, Bob Silver Tabimina and Henry Jayme, I have to agree with him on this point.  The differences are not significant and they all can easily be identified as Balintawak people.

The Atillo’s taught GM Anfulo  Mongcol, who in turn served as Professor Remy Presas' first Balintawak instructor.  Afterwards, the young Remy Presas was passed along to GM Timeteo Maranga for further training.  GM Maranga was a classmate of GM Vincente Atillo, GM Bacon and GM Delfin Lopez under the Saavedra's.  The network couldn't be any tighter and we must keep in mind that Balintawak forms one (1) aspect of the five (5) arnis methods that are at the root of Modern Arnis.  These five roots as mentioned by Professor Presas in some interviews are Balintawak, figure 8 striking, banda y banda striking, palis-palis method and crossada method.  The latter two methods are espada y daga styles of mid to long range fighting and were taught to Professor by his grandfather, Leon B. Presas, who was Professor’s first arnis/eskrima instructor at the age of 6. 

Based on the information cited above, I will re-write my own lineage chart to reflect the newest information that I have found regarding the roots and lineage of Professor Remy Presas through my immediate Modern Arnis and Kenpo Instructor, Sifu Donald F. Zanghi to myself and beyond to the students who earned their black belts and instructional certifications under me.

GM Tom Bolden, Master Douglas Pierre and Master Peter Vargas have been training with the man who indirectly helped to establish part of the foundation for Modern Arnis.  They have been acknowledged and accepted by GM Crispulo Atillo as highly skilled practitioners of the Atillo-Saavedra connection to Modern Arnis.  I am extremely happy for them and wish each of them even greater success in the future.

Sincerely,

Jerome Barber, Ed. D.,                                                                                                                                      Grand Master, Datu & Principal Teacher                                                                                           Independent Escrima-Kenpo-Arnis Associates  

  

Modern Arnis Lineage Chart of Founder/GM Remy Amador Presas

 Leon B. Presas /                                                                                                                                                 Traditional Arnis: Palis-palis, Crossada, Banda y Banda, Figure 8,

                  |

                    |                                  Arnulfo Mongcol – Balintawak Instructor

                    |                                                 |

                    |                                  Timeteo Maranga – Balintawak Master

                    |                                                 |

                    |                                  Venancio Bacon – Balintawak GM

                    |                                                 |                                         

       Remy Amador Presas – Founder, Grand Master, Professor,

           Modern Arnis – International Modern Arnis Federation

Palis-palis, Crossada, Banda y Banda, Figure 8, Flow, Up & Down,  Abanico,                                 Rompida, Espada y Daga, Stick & Sword Disarming,  Trapping Hands, Redonda, Single/Double/Reverse Sinawali, 12 Zone Striking, 12 Zone Striking Defense

 

Saavedra Eskrima and Balintawak Eskrima Lineage to Modern Arnis

Lorenzo Saavedra – Founder

                |

        Teodoro (Doring) Saavedra – Master Instructor

                |                                   |                                     

Venancio Bacon  -  Timeteo Maranga  -  Vincente Atillo (Balintawak)

                |                                    |                                      |               

                |                                    |                        Crispulo Atillo

                |                                    |               (Saavedra & Balintawak)

               |                                    |                                       |                                                                                          

               |                                    |                        Arnulfo Mongcal

               |                                    |                     Balintawak Instructor

               |                                    |                                      /

Remy Amador Presas – Founder, Grand Master, Professor,

    Modern Arnis – International Modern Arnis Federation

Palis-palis, Crossada, Banda y Banda, Figure 8, Flow, Up & Down,  Abanico, Rompida, Espada y Daga, Stick & Sword Disarming,  Trapping Hands, Redonda, Single/Double/Reverse Sinawali, 12 Zone Striking, 12 Zone Striking Defense

 

Martial Arts Lineage of Dr. Jerome Barber

Modern Arnis Lineage:

            Remy Amador Presas,  Founder & GM -  Modern Arnis                            

                                    |                              |

              Donald F. Zanghi       Vincente Sanchez

                       |_______________|

                                       |

                     Jerome Barber, Ed. D.                                                                                                    

             GM, Datu & Principal Teacher,  

     Independent Escrima Kenpo Arnis Associates

Kenpo Karate Lineage:

Hoon Chow

(Hung Gar)         James Mitose

          |                   (Kosho Ryu Kenpo)

           |                             |

William K. S. Chow (Chinese Kenpo)

        |

Adriano Emperado (Chinese Kenpo, Eskrima, Kajukenbo)

        |                                                             |

Marino Tiwanak                                Edmund Parker, Sr.

(Kajukenbo, CHA-3 Kenpo)     (Chinese Kenpo, American Kenpo)

       |                                                                        |

Florentino Pancipanci                                Al & Jim Tracy

(CHA-3 Kenpo, Pancipanci Eskrima)    (Tracy System of Kenpo)

|                                                                          /                            |

Tom Bolden                           Ernest McPeek              Donald F. Zanghi

(CHA-3 Kenpo)             (Tracy System Kenpo)     (Tracy System Kenpo)

(Pancipanci Eskrima)                            |                         (Modern Arnis)           

(Modern Arnis)                                        |                                  |

           |____________________________|_________________|

                                               |

                       Jerome Barber, Ed. D.,

               GM, Datu & Principal Teacher,

      Independent Escrima Kenpo Arnis Associates                                     

__________________|_____________________________

       |                                      |                                    |                                   |                               

Tim Kashino - Richard Curren - Tom Verga - Paul R. Martin - Kenneth Q. Boehm

Debra S. Moore - Keith Roosa - James “Buddy” Antonio - Frank Heinan

Kathleen Geiger - Mary Altair - Keri Marotti – Frankie Heinan – Stephanie Heinan

Michael Zelli      (Certified IEKA Black Belt Instructors)

Additional Martial Arts Influences for Dr. Jerome Barber:

Bram Frank, Billy Bryant, Dan Donzella, Bobby Taboada, Abundio Baet,                                                       Eddie Lastra, Ric Jornales, Roberto Torres, John Kovacs, David Battaglia,                                             Ernie Delts, Dan Carr