John Bryant, Arnis Senior and Friend, Lost but Remembered

I have just read the following news post on another forum:

John Bryant, R.I.P.

 

John Bryant passed away today at 1:00 pm. I have been in communication with John over the last 3-4 years and did know about his condition for some time. He had colon cancer. He was nothing but a role model for anyone undergoing cancer, unflappingly upbeat and positive throughout.

For those of you who didn't know John, he was one of the pioneers of Modern Arnis in the Buffalo area. I believe he first met Remy Presas while being a student of Donald Zangi (a classmate of Jerome barber and a number of others). Two points of historical value:
1. John founded the first Modern Arnis only school, definitely in Buffalo but I think the entire United States and
2. He was Tim Hartman's first instructor. I met Tim at John's school while Tim was a brown belt.

John and I reconnected roughly 5 years ago and we relived old times with RP and Modern Arnis. He was interested in the development of the art while no longer practicing it in present time.

John, thanks for your friendship and contribution to the art. I do not mourn your passing but instead feel honored to be your friend and confidant.

Rest well, warrior.

Yours,
Dan Anderson

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Instructor John Bryant was a friend and classmate of mine who left the Buffalo area around 1986, never to return, even for a brief visit with family and friends who remained behind in our fair "City of Good Neighbors".  As mentioned in the post above, did own and operate the only dedicated Modern Arnis school in the Buffalo NY area for a number of years, 1984 - 1987.  He broke with our instructor Sifu Don Zanghi in 1984 to open his "Filipino Karate Academy" with some help and encouragement from Professor Remy Presas, the GM of Modern Arnis.

 

There was thereafter some bad blood between Sifu Zanghi, who was the person who brought the art to the Western New York Area and served as the first Modern Arnis Representative in Buffalo, and

John Bryant, who had actually attained only brown belt under Sifu Zanghi at the time he broke off  to open his own school.  Sifu Zanghi had produced several black belt students by that time, notably Guro David Battaglia and Craig Petricolla.  To John's credit he subsequently produced 3 black belt students, David Smith, Dr. Jorden Yee and the first NYS female black belt holder, Ms. Tammy Wilson.

 

John and I remained friends throughout the years before he left Buffalo and I regret that he chose to cut himself off from the people in Buffalo who were his friends and associates prior to moving to Arizonia and becoming a dedicated member of the Church of Sceintology.  Even though I would disagree with Dan about the use of the term "warrior", I would never begrudge credit that he is due for opening the first dedicated Modern Arnis instructional program in the WNY area and producing the first female Arnis black belt student in NYS.  Those are his achievments that should be recognized and celebrated .  He also inspired the creation of the Modern Arnis "H Pattern" anyo that was used to teach students how to transition through the system stances and avoid being trapped in a single spot while sparring.  I still use the "H Pattern from time to time when I have a student who seems unable to transition smoothly when sparring or defending against multiple opponents in our empty hand drills. 

 

I want to thank Dan Anderson for sharing the news with us regarding John Bryant's passing... he will be missed.

 

Sincerely,

 

Jerome Barber, Ed. D.

Independent Escrima-Kenpo-Arnis Associates