Modern Arnis Is NOT “The Art Within Your Art” — Stop Selling It Short
By Datu Tim Hartman, Remy A. Presas Modern Arnis

“Hate” might sound strong, but I’ve got real issues with the phrase “Modern Arnis, the art within your art.”

Modern Arnis is not a garnish you sprinkle on top of karate, taekwondo, jiu-jitsu, or kung fu. It’s a full martial arts system — built in the Philippines by Grandmaster Remy Amador Presas and brought to the U.S. in the ’70s. He taught that art, whole and complete, until the day he passed.

So where did the slogan come from? A misquote in the early ’80s. The original article pointed out similarities between Modern Arnis and other arts, encouraging people to train — not compete. Somewhere along the way, that turned into “the art within your art,” and it stuck as a marketing tagline. But here’s the thing: calling it that implies Modern Arnis isn’t strong enough to stand on its own.

That couldn’t be further from the truth.

I trained directly under the Professor — in his full-time R&D school, at his seminars, at his camps. Never once did I see him teach Arnis as an “add-on” to karate or taekwondo. He taught the art. Period. If students went home and blended pieces into their system, that was their choice. But he never presented it that way.

And let’s be clear — this was no weekend workshop material. Our black belt tests were five to six pages long and could last three hours. We covered locks, throws, weapons, and forms. The Professor left behind three books and 25 videos. That’s not a cross-training program — that’s a codified martial art system.

When you call it “the art within your art,” you’re saying Professor’s life’s work was nothing more than cross-training. And that’s flat-out wrong.

Those who only dabble will never see the depth. And some don’t want to admit it can stand alone, because it undermines their position as cross-trainers. But I’ve spent decades teaching and training worldwide, and the more I compare, the more I realize how vast Modern Arnis truly is. There’s nothing I’ve encountered that the Professor hadn’t already prepared me for — just packaged differently.

Yes, Professor drew from many influences. But his synthesis is complete. His art doesn’t need patchwork from other systems. It’s strong enough as it is — and it deserves to be recognized that way.

So here’s the truth: if we want Modern Arnis to have a future, we can’t keep treating it like an accessory. It was never meant to ride shotgun.

Modern Arnis doesn’t just fit into your art. Modern Arnis is an art. And it stands on its own — with or without you.

Mic dropped.

Respectfully,
Datu Tim Hartman
Remy A. Presas Modern Arnis

#modernarnis #martialarts #filipinomartialarts

24 Years Without Professor Remy

Twenty-four years ago today, we lost one of the most influential men in Filipino Martial Arts—Grandmaster Remy Amador Presas. He wasn’t just the founder of Modern Arnis; he was the man who saved Filipino Martial Arts from disappearing. The old ways of teaching were injuring people and pushing them toward karate or judo. Professor modernized the art, kept it alive, and inspired generations worldwide. His work was featured in Black Belt, Inside Kung Fu, and many other publications.

When he passed, it left a void in our community that we still feel today. We lost our number one ambassador. His seminars lit a fire in people’s hearts—so much so that even if there wasn’t a Modern Arnis school nearby, they would go out and explore other Filipino Martial Arts. After his passing, leaders like Bobby Taboada with Balintawak, Michael Giron with Bahala Na, myself with Modern Arnis, and many others stepped forward. But the truth is, without him, the community stopped growing the way it once had. We lost people, and we’re still working to rebuild.

For me, the loss was more than just martial arts. Professor wasn’t just my mentor—he was like a father to me. We would often call each other “father” and “son” in Tagalog. We did this partly so Westerners wouldn’t get jealous, but it always caught the Filipinos by surprise. Some even said they saw a family resemblance.

I lost my own father when I was 15. He was a state police officer, and the job ultimately took him from us. My parents had divorced when I was very young, so I didn’t spend as much time with my dad as I wanted—but that never meant I didn’t love him. When I met Professor at 19, I ended up spending more time with him than I ever had with my own father. And through the times he guided me, helped me, and simply spent time with me—like a father would—that bond became more than student and teacher. It became family.

Every year on this day, I pause to think of him. I miss him deeply, and I recognize how much meeting him changed my life—not just in the way I see the world, but in the way I live and provide for my family.

Remy, I miss you. Thank you for being my teacher, my mentor, and my father in every way that mattered.

Respectfully,
Datu Tim Hartman
World Modern Arnis

#modernarnis #remypresas #filipinomartialarts #martialarts

To Shoe or Not to Shoe? A Martial Artist’s Perspective

That’s the question I’ve been asked a lot lately—and honestly, it still baffles me. For some reason, people assume you’re either less of a martial artist or being unreasonable if you wear mat shoes on the training floor. But let’s call it what it is: mat shoes.

At my school, we actually wear sneakers for better arch support. The only rule is simple—they must be dedicated indoor shoes. No exceptions. Why? Because we don’t want dirt, debris, or worse—biological hazards—ending up on the mats. People roll on those mats, and safety is non-negotiable.

Martial Arts and Shoes Go Way Back

Plenty of martial arts train with shoes. Look at Chinese Kung Fu—it’s common to see practitioners wearing them. In my own art, Filipino Martial Arts, training wasn’t traditionally done in dojos. Why? Because most communities couldn’t afford them. Practice happened in the streets or in parks—and let’s be real, barefoot training in a park isn’t the smartest idea. Sharp rocks, glass, and plenty of other things you don’t want in your foot are everywhere.

And let’s face it: in a real-world encounter, are you really going to take your shoes off first? Of course not. So, wouldn’t it make sense to at least sometimes train with footwear?

Balancing Realism with Safety

Now, don’t get me wrong—there are times when shoes don’t belong on the mat. For example, when we spar with punches and kicks, padded foot gear is required to keep everyone safe. And when we grapple on the ground, it’s barefoot only—you don’t want someone shoving a shoe into your ribs or face. So yes, I still train barefoot, probably more often than not. But I also believe in balance.

For those of us who attend or teach seminars in conference centers or hotel ballrooms, the hygiene factor comes into play too. I’ve been on enough questionable carpets to know I don’t want to walk around barefoot on them. And in a weapon-centric system like mine, footwear offers one more layer of protection. If you’ve ever had a stick or training knife dropped on your bare foot, you know the difference even a thin shoe can make.

Why Barefoot Training Exists

So, why do so many arts insist on bare feet? Part of it is cultural. Karate, Taekwondo, and similar systems evolved in environments where shoes were often removed indoors for tradition and respect. We’ve adopted those systems here in the States—but the environment isn’t always the same. Adaptation is part of growth.

My Perspective

At the end of the day, shoes or no shoes doesn’t change the art itself. The techniques are the techniques. But as an advocate for realistic training, especially in our adult program, I see shoes as bringing us one step closer to the real-world conditions we might face.

That’s my stance. Train safe, train smart.

Respectfully,
Datu Tim Hartman
World Modern Arnis Alliance

Was Modern Arnis Created to Defeat Balintawak?
I’ve heard this rumor for years, and it’s simply not true. Before making any claims about either art, you really need to have trained—or at least seriously studied—both. Modern Arnis and Balintawak share a deep relationship. I know this firsthand, because Professor Remy Presas personally opened the door for me to train with the late Grandmaster Ted Buot, the designated successor of Balintawak founder Anciong Bacon.

Professor Presas himself wasn’t just familiar with Balintawak—he was one of its top fighters. During his time in the club, the clear number one was Anciong, followed by Delfin López and Professor Presas. But here’s the first thing to understand: there is a difference between Remy Presas’s personal fighting style and the martial system he created.

The Purpose of Modern Arnis
Modern Arnis was not designed to defeat Balintawak, or any system for that matter. It was designed primarily as a self-defense system, created to meet the needs of ordinary Filipinos. The art focuses on teaching people how to protect themselves against the most likely threats—untrained attackers using whatever weapons they could grab, be it a stick, a knife, or even a brick.

Could Modern Arnis be used as a fighting art? Absolutely. I’ve proven it myself in stick fighting, open sparring, and international tournaments. My students have as well—even to the point of becoming cage fighting champions, like Primo Luciano back in the early EFC days. But the foundation of the art is, and always was, self-defense.

The Relationship Between the Arts
Balintawak and Modern Arnis are “cousins.” Both can counter each other, but to understand that, you have to train in both. Neither side has the other’s playbook, so without exposure, you will be caught off guard. That’s exactly why I value my background in both systems—I trained as a top student of Professor Presas, and later as a senior student under Grandmaster Ted Buot. I’ve seen how the two interact, how each can counter the other, and how they ultimately complement one another.

But knowing how to play that chess match doesn’t mean one art was created to beat the other. That’s a myth.

Respect and Brotherhood
If Professor Presas had an issue with the Balintawak community, he wouldn’t have maintained such strong relationships with its leaders and players. In fact, many of them respected him deeply. A perfect example is his friendship with Grandmaster Bobby Taboada—so close that Remy even bought the engagement ring Bobby used to propose to his wife. That’s not the behavior of someone trying to undermine another art.

The truth is simple: Professor Presas had no problem with Balintawak. He respected it, trained in it, and built relationships with its masters. Modern Arnis was influenced by Balintawak, yes—but it was never created to defeat it.

Final Thoughts
I’m in a unique position to speak on this topic, having been asked by Professor Presas himself to carry on his art, while also being a senior student of Grandmaster Buot in Balintawak. I can say with confidence: these arts are part of the same family.

Modern Arnis is not a derivative of Balintawak—it is an art in its own right, influenced by it but with a different mission. One focuses on self-defense for the masses, the other on close-quarters fighting refinement. At higher levels of Modern Arnis, you’ll see Balintawak’s fingerprints. But at the end of the day, both arts stand as cousins in the same family of Eskrima.

So let’s stop the nonsense and set the record straight. Modern Arnis was never about defeating Balintawak. It was about empowering people to defend themselves, while honoring the traditions and influences of the arts that shaped it.

Respectfully,
Datu Tim Hartman
Remy Presas Modern Arnis
Bacon–Buot Balintawak Eskrima

#balintawak #modernarnis #filipinomartialarts #martialarts

Presas Arnis vs. Presas Legacy – Understanding the Difference

I’m often asked about the difference between Presas Arnis, which I teach, and the Presas Legacy organization in the Philippines. The explanation is simple: I represent the family systems directly.

I was fortunate to have a relationship with all three Presas brothers. I studied under Grandmaster Remy until his passing in 2001 and helped the brothers reconnect before their time together was cut short. During that time, I also trained in Kombatan under Great Grandmaster Ernesto, who promoted me to 9th degree and Grandmaster in 2007.

When I taught seminars, I combined material from both brothers. To avoid debates about which version was “correct,” I used the name Presas Arnis as an umbrella. In 2012, shortly after Ernesto’s passing, I officially launched the Presas Arnis brand, while continuing to certify students in both Modern Arnis and Kombatan.

By 2018, at the Kombatan Super Camp in Finland, we were already using the Presas Arnis name prominently. Others later followed this trend. Eventually, the Presas Legacy organization was formed in the Philippines to umbrella all Presas family systems for those without a direct connection to the brothers.

Am I part of that group? No. I have a direct relationship with the Presas brothers and still maintain a close friendship with Roberto, the surviving brother. My teaching record stands on its own, with seminars across many states and countries each year.

I understand why some might join an umbrella organization for community or guidance. Everyone has their own path. For me, Presas Arnis stands on its own, separate from the Presas Legacy group.

I hope this clarifies things for everyone.

Respectfully,
Tim Hartman
Datu – GM Presas Family Arnis
CEO, World Modern Arnis Alliance

#modernarnis #filipinomartialarts #selfdefense