by Datu Hartman | Sep 30, 2012 | Uncategorized
Brief review. This had to be the smoothest camp I have ever had the pleasure of attending or teaching at. Dieter Knuettel and the DAV were excellent hosts. I remarked to Dieter that all of the students here were for one reason only, to train. I have been to seminars and camps where the student base would split up into their respective groups or cliques. This one was vastly different. It was as if every student came from one instructor and had only one agenda – to train.
The intervening years between the death of our teacher, Remy Presas, and this camp have been ones of tempest and turmoil. I suppose this happens in every system that loses the founder. The senior students find their place in the world and art and then things continue on. The Reunion Camp in Buffalo last year pointed out to the instructors that enough time has passed and that we all could work together as members from one family. This camp demonstrated this on a broad scale. You cannot get much more in the way of differing personalities than the instructors of this camp. Before Buffalo, well, it was a crap shoot as to whether we could make a go of it. Buffalo showed we could. Dortmund showed that we could from here on out and that Buffalo was not a one-shot deal.The classes? They were many and varied from the Tactical Forms I taught to the two stick on one Tapi-Tapi sessions taught by Chuck. I would rather describe the instructors.
Chuck Gauss – “Mr. Passion” himself. I think he and Kelly Worden would have tied in a contest as to who would have excited the crowd more. Chuck’s energy infected every one in every session he taught.
Brian Zawilinski – Brian’s teaching style is the exact opposite of Chuck’s. His is a quiet presentation that exudes confidence and competence. His sessions were real-deal applications of Prof. Presas’ art – very smooth and very exact.
Tim Hartman – If Chuck is Mr. Passion, Tim is “Mr. Showman.” Tim’s session were taught with a balanced combination of precision and showmanship. He was a group favorite.
Dieter Knuettel – Where Chuck is passion, Dieter is “Mr. Energy” – every session he taught was brimming with a high-speed energy that was amazing seeing how physically tired he was from attending to all the details of promoting the camp. But that is typical Dieter and I expect nothing less.
My classes? I’ll let someone else comment and describe them.
One of the great things for me about this camp is what I learned from the other instructors. Yep. The teacher is always a student. Brian cleaned up my difficulties with the standing center lock and gave me a new insight to the center lock application. Tim saw an inaccuracy in a Balintawak application I was doing, took me off to the side and got that fixed. I learned the “Buffalo mirror breaking ejection” (inside joke) from Dieter. There was a right hand to left hand transition that I totally forgot about until I watched a session Chuck taught. Sweet. The teacher, once again, was the student.
To sum it up, this camp was not so much about the title of it, The Best Of The West, as it was about the continuation and growth of the founder’s art. This camp was an affirmation that Modern Arnis, in whatever form, is thriving and will continue to thrive and grow.
Humbly yours,
Dan Anderson
by Datu Hartman | Jun 24, 2012 | Uncategorized
Dr. Gyi and Datu Hartman at the Modern Arnis Hall of Fame. He received then Lifetime Achievement award and I received the“Professor’s Choice” award. Dan Anderson and Datu where the only two of the Professor’s Choice recipients pretend. Other inductees received the Modern Arnis Pioneer award. The WMAA would like to congratulate all of of my inductees!
![Hartman & Hubbard create FMATalk]()
by Datu Hartman | Sep 23, 2005 | Uncategorized
Datu Hartman with the help of Bob Hubbard created FMATalk.com. FMAT is a discussion forum devoted to promoting Filipino Martial Arts.
by Datu Hartman | Jun 5, 2005 | Uncategorized
The Board of Advisors of the World Modern Arnis Alliance is pleased to announce the promotion of Datu Timothy J. Hartman to the rank of Lakan Siyam, 9th degree black belt.
The promotion was made on 5 June 2005 in West Seneca, NY. The promotion not only recognizes Datu Hartman’s technical skill and his leadership role in Modern Arnis; it also places him at the apex of the rank chain in the WMAA, as befits the Technical Director and President of the organization. This will allow him to promote other WMAA members, such as those currently holding the rank of 5th degree black belt, to appropriate ranks within the WMAA in the future.
The Board wishes to emphasize the fact that Datu Hartman’s Lakan Siyam rank refers to his rank within the WMAA. His rank from Prof. Presas is Lakan Anim, 6th degree black belt. The Board also wishes to reiterate that it is the position of the WMAA that all Modern Arnis Datus are equal in status. This numerical rank is within this organization, internal to the WMAA, and does not imply that Datu Hartman is ranked either above or below any other Datu with higher or lower numerical rank.
The Board congratulates Datu Hartman on his achievements.
/s/ Jeffery J. Leader
Jeffery J. Leader
Chair, WMAA Board of Advisors
On Behalf of the Board of Advisors: Chad Dulin, Paul Janulis, Jeff Leader, Rick Manglinong, Steve Scott, Sal Todaro
by Datu Hartman | Jul 5, 2004 | Uncategorized
Datu Tim Hartman was one of the guest presenters at the 18th Annual Toronto Trek Convention. This star-studded event had celebrities from shows such as Star Gate, Star Trek, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and more. Datu Hartman taught a class on cinematic sword fighting. Basic angles of attack and blocking were taught along with fighting combinations. Assisting Hartman was Bob Hubbard (the WMAA web designer). The presentation was so well received that the team was invited back to next year’s convention.
by Datu Hartman | Nov 29, 2000 | Uncategorized
To the Modern Arnis Community:
10 years ago, Professor Presas appointed me Director of the Can-Am Chapter of the IMAF. That organization existed not to compete with the United States IMAF, but to supplement it. However, the Can-Am Chapter did allow me to use my skills and contacts to spread the Professor’s art, unfettered by any constraints created by the existing hierarchy in the IMAF. Ultimately, both Chapters of the IMAF served the goal of expanding the art of Modern Arnis, as taught by Professor Remy Presas.
There has been a momentous change in leadership in the United States Chapter of the International Modern Arnis Federation, and I wish to congratulate Dr. Randy Schea and Mr. Jeff Delaney on their promotions. As the recognized leaders of the IMAF, I am confident that they will continue to guide both the Federation and the system of Modern Arnis into greater prominence and success. Due to the reduced role forced upon Professor Presas by his illness, I fear that there will no longer be his strong unifying presence to connect the two organizations. At this time, I believe that it is best for the Can-Am Chapter of the International Modern Arnis Federation to distinguish itself. Therefore, I am changing the name of my organization to the World Modern Arnis Alliance.
This new organization will continue to serve the goals for which it was originally established: to promote the art of Modern Arnis, to foster creative development within the framework developed by Professor Presas, and to standardize the credentials of those individuals who have dedicated themselves to its study. As did the IMAF Can-Am, the WMAA will give me the freedom to explore and interpret the Professor’s art, flavored by my other experiences in the Filipino and Malaysian martial arts.
Professor has always urged every one of his students to master his techniques and make them their own. The constant exploration of the art is not limited to Professor’s own research and development. “The more you practice, the more you will see”, remains a fundamental theme in his seminars. I have always strived to maintain a balance between teaching the Professor’s techniques verbatim, and applying his underlying concepts in different ways. While my curriculum may carry more innovation and outside influences than some other instructors, I believe that I have been true to Professor’s system, as evidenced by the 19 black belt instructors that have been trained by me, and certified by the Professor.
The WMAA will continue to teach Remy Presas’ Modern Arnis concepts, with an emphasis on certain dimensions. My current curriculum spotlights the stick fighting roots found in Balintawak, the Filipino empty hand techniques in American Kenpo Karate and the combative intensity of Burmese Bando. Each of these arts shares themes with Professor’s system, each leads to endless possibilities.
In no way do I intend to sever my ties to the IMAF. In my 18+ years with that organization, I made many valued friends and developed a great deal of respect for the skills of its members and instructors. I will attend IMAF events, and I will encourage my members to do the same. Of course, I will treasure new material from Professor Presas whenever possible. My intentions are to introduce Modern Arnis to martial artists who may not be reached by the IMAF, and to explore the wonderful framework developed by Professor.
I believe that this art is great enough to be spread, enjoyed, and celebrated by these two parallel organizations in the spirit of fellowship and brotherhood fostered by the Professor. My best wishes are with Dr. Schea and Mr. Delaney, as they carry the system that has meant so much to me since 1982. Finally, I look forward to training with you, the martial artists of Modern Arnis.
Sincerely,
Datu Timothy J. Hartman
World Modern Arnis Alliance
Federation www.wmarnis.com
School www.horizonma.com
Datu www.datuhartman.com
