Modern Arnis: The Filipino Art of Stick Fighting Paperback – June 1, 1983

Having trained in Filipino Kali many years ago I was looking for a book that could re-introduce me to this martial art. Although this book covers more then just stick fighting, I found this book to be a fine introduction to stick fighting essentials. The book does not get too intricate or technical, which I think is a good thing in any martial art book since the effectiveness of the more complex movements is founded upon the mastery of the simple basics. Also, in a real world situation it is always best to stick with the fundamentals. So one must master the basics first and Presas shows his mastery of this superb Filipino martial art (Arnis) with his ability to bring it up to date in a system he founded called Modern Arnis (which as I understand it is pretty much a combination of Shotokan karate, Filipino stick fighting (Kali) and judo). The book gives excellent basic instruction and begins with preparatory warm up and stretching exercises, then goes into the proper way to hold the baton. It further goes into basic stances, striking zones, sticking defenses, basic hand to hand combat, flow patterns and weaving using either sticks or empty hands, stick disarming techniques, and then ends with sword disarming techniques using sticks. As I said I liked the book because it stuck with the no nonsense basics and in my opinion that's the first thing that must be mastered in any martial art.

"Modern Arnis", by Remy Presas, presents compact flowing Arnis in a compact flowing book. It has very clear photos and prose -- precisely ordered on macro and micro scales -- from over-all patterns to small details -- from chapter to chapter. The angles of the moves, for each move-set, are some of the best I have seen of any defense/combative art.If, the essence of defense is to turn opposition [of opponents] away, down and out -- removing foes'-balance while keeping self-balance -- until "check-mate". Then, "Modern Arnis" shows how to do this -- in a streamlined way. Many move-sets end with the foe in check -- yet the final position [and the foe] could be easily extended in various directions. So, Remy Presas shuts-down foes' options while keeping his options open.I first learned a little Modern Arnis as part of an [informal] Kenpo Jiu-Jitsu off-shoot of Kosho-Ryu Kempo and other Arts. My own small and casual Kenpo off-shoot of that lineage, like many others out of Hawaii, adds bits of other Arts with Kenpo. Core Kenpo Jiu-Jitsu inspired by -- a little Tibetan White Crane, Isshinryu Karate and Jiu Jitsu Complete and some Medieval Fencing, Savate and Boxing into "anti-grappling". We seem to search for ways to combine these aspects in a smooth, compact, and effective way.When going over all of my experience and tendency recently, I realized that Modern Arnis had worked-on and solved this kind of streamlined-combination spot-on. In "Modern Arnis" [this book], as well as in other Modern Arnis works, Remy Presas shows how to combine various Arnis Arts [with some moves looking like Kenpo, Karate, Jiujitsu and Judo], into Modern Arnis -- Going With The Flow ~~~

The book is just fine. Mostly the seller "quality7" is great and I want to recommend them. Now the book has good basic instruction which is very clear to understand so I feel I can recommend this book. I would also recommend using this book with a class mate or wife, husband, son, daughter, friend etc. because this is one style of martial art like many that need a partner.

Great book for basics and review. Techniques are easy to add to any martial arts curriculum.

Fantastic, well photographed, simple in explanations. It may be out of date and the Professor had changed things on the techniques, but as a book for reference, you can't beat it.

Satisfies requirement. Outstanding!!!

It is perfect for learning a martial art different, easy to understand and practice because the product helps to understand with the explanation that provides

This book is very good book for begginers include all basic empty hand, sticks (single&double). Provide lots of pictures and flows and skipping all the background so it fucos only on the actual trainee.

Ein Büchlein, wie es sein soll!Kurze Historie sowie eine Einbettung des vorgestellten Stils und dann geht es direkt zu den wesentlichen Techniken. Was mir besonders gut gefällt, dass ist die Schnörkellosigkeit und Simplifizierung des Systems, dabei die Machbarkeit in der Anwendung stets im Blick.Das "12-Zone-Striking-System" (mit jeweils dem passenden Block) wird vorgestellt und dann geht es direkt in die Partnerübungen. Auch hier heruvorzuheben, dass die Drills stets mit und ohne Waffe gezeigt werden. Es werden drei Sinawalis mit/ohne Stock vorgestellt (single, double, revers) und eine Anwendung aus dem "flow" heraus. Dazu kommt ein schöner "trapping hands" Drill, der ein wenig an das Wing Chun erinnert. Auch hier die Überschaubarkeit, Nachvollziehbarkeit und Basis legend an erster Stelle. Saubere und vor allem brauchbare Entwaffnungstechniken runden das Büchlein ab. Die Bilder sind deutlich (wenn auch in schwarz weiß gehalten) und lassen die ausgeführten Techniken sehr nachvollziehbar erscheinen.Fazit:Solides und absolut empfehlenswertes Buch für jeden FMA interessierten Anwender. Der Neuling wird sich über die Überschaubarkeit freuen, der Fortgeschrittene bekommt die "Basics" noch einmal vor Augen geführt und kann sich selbstreflektierend reduzieren, so dass er sich nicht in "Technikserienträumen" verliert.

This is great, but could have been better if it was more comprehensive. Have seen other books focusing on disarm, hand to hand, etc. with more details.