How Do You Define Success?

That question has been bouncing around in my head a lot lately. Success can be measured in so many different ways—attendance numbers, revenue, social media buzz, or how many people walked away from an event with something meaningful. For me, it always comes back to one thing: What was the mission of the event? And did we fulfill it?

Recently, we hosted the 25th Anniversary Training Camp for the World Modern Arnis Alliance. It was more than just our annual camp. It marked 25 years of the WMAA, and it also happened to coincide with my 60th birthday—and that of my close friend, PG Tye Botting. But with so much going on in my personal life this year, I’ll admit—it was hard to stay locked in on a single mission beyond simply celebrating.

After the event, I found myself asking: What was the defining moment of this camp?

Was it the 75 participants in attendance?
Was it Grandmaster Bobby Taboada traveling up to help celebrate our birthdays?
Was it the 30+ individuals who stepped on the floor to test for black belts and degree ranks?

All of those are powerful indicators of a successful event—but I saw something deeper.

We had four generations of black belts on the floor.

Let that sink in for a moment. That is something I’ve never seen before in Modern Arnis as passed down by Professor Remy Presas.

• Generation 1: Myself, Datu Tim Hartman.
• Generation 2: My student, Punong Guro Craig Mason.
• Generation 3: His students, Chris Workman and Greg Hiltz.
• Generation 4: Their students, who were testing at the event.

That, to me, is the clearest sign of success—not just of an event, but of a movement. These people didn’t just earn black belts and walk away. They’ve stayed. They’ve trained. They’ve passed on the art. That’s longevity, and more importantly, that’s legacy.

We have black belts ranging from 1st degree all the way to 9th degree. Our Canadian chapter is larger than it was during Professor’s lifetime. We’re regaining ground in the U.S., rebuilding what we lost after his passing. We’ve expanded into new countries like Brazil. And we’re not done yet.

With the 70th Anniversary of Modern Arnis on the horizon, I’ve set a new goal: 70 new black belts by 2027. And based on what I saw at this camp, we’re on the right path.

So how do I define success?

I define it by the legacy we leave behind. I define it by seeing four generations on the mat together, preparing the fifth. That’s the kind of growth that doesn’t happen overnight. That’s the result of commitment, sacrifice, and belief in something bigger than yourself.

That, my friends, is success.

Respectfully,
Datu Tim Hartman
CEO, World Modern Arnis Alliance

#fma #filipinomartialarts #martialarts #selfdefense #success

The DNA of Modern Arnis

I recently saw a screenshot of a post by Dan Anderson critiquing my statement that our students carry Professor Presas’s “DNA” in their movement. Dan thinks that idea is absurd because, as he put it, we all come from different backgrounds and therefore move, think, and train differently. Fair enough—but there’s more to it than that.

First, let’s clear the air about etiquette. If you block someone and then talk about them, you’ve shut down any chance of real dialogue. I’ve invited Mr. Anderson—repeatedly—to join me on our show and discuss this face-to-face. He’s declined. That’s his choice, but I’m a firm believer that if you’re going to call someone out, you should give them the chance to reply. Anything less is just a monologue.

Now, on to the substance.

Dan’s view makes sense if you treat Modern Arnis as nothing more than cross-training—an add-on to patch the gaps in your primary art. That approach has been common outside the Philippines, where many practitioners cherry-pick the stick work and ignore the rest. But that’s not how Professor Presas taught Modern Arnis in the Philippines, and it’s not how I teach it today.

Modern Arnis is a codified system—three books, twenty-five videos, and a curriculum that stands on its own. When you commit to the whole art, a common structure naturally emerges. My students-—from completely different backgrounds—are often told they “move like Tim.” That’s not magic; it’s alignment with a unified system.

Need proof it can be done in FMA? Look at Grandmaster Bobby Taboada’s group. His students—first generation or further down the line—share a recognizable flavor, even though they, too, came from varied martial pasts. A cohesive system produces a cohesive look.

So let’s be clear:

• Modern Arnis is not merely “the art within your art.” That phrase was Professor’s bridge for cross-ranking, not the end goal.

• If you only dip a toe in, you won’t move like Professor. You’ll improve your base art, and that’s valuable—but it’s cross-training, not full immersion.

• If you want to feel how Professor Presas truly moved, step into a program that teaches Modern Arnis as a stand-alone system.

In short, the “DNA” comment isn’t ridiculous; it’s a reminder that when you dive all in, the art leaves a clear signature on your movement—just like Taekwondo, Karate, or any other fully realized system.

If you’re curious what Modern Arnis can add to your toolkit, go train with the cross-training crowd. If you want the complete experience, come see us at the World Modern Arnis Alliance.

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