08/05/2026
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Tribute to Professor Remy A. Presas — Father of Modern Arnis
As the twenty‑fifth anniversary of his passing approaches, we honor the life and legacy of Professor Remy A. Presas, the father of Modern Arnis, whose influence continues to shape the global martial arts community. His vision, generosity, and dedication to sharing his art have guided generations of practitioners and continue to inspire new students today.
I was privileged to remain with him during a profound two‑week period near the end of his life. Even as illness weighed heavily upon him, his strength, clarity, and kindness never wavered. When he returned to Victoria, B.C. for a re‑scan of his tumor, the news was devastating. Glioblastoma multiforme (G.B.M.) was responsible for his untimely passing — a cruel diagnosis that took him far too soon, yet never diminished the dignity with which he faced it.
His visit to Philadelphia just six months before his death remains one of the most defining memories of my life. The time he spent teaching, sharing stories, and connecting with students has been a constant companion in my own practice and, by extension, in the training of all who learn this art with me. His presence during that visit continues to guide how his teachings are passed forward.
Many newer members of the Modern Arnis community may not know that Professor Presas prepared his will at my home in May of 1997 — some three and a half years before his passing. It was a quiet, solemn moment that reflected his foresight, his sense of responsibility, and his deep care for the future of the art he created. Even then, he was thinking not of himself, but of the students, teachers, and communities who would carry Modern Arnis forward.
In February 2001, the Remy Presas Modern Arnis Hall of FLAME Foundation was established to preserve and promote his legacy. Its active trustees — Bram Frank, Dave Giddings, Chas Terry, Peter Hobart, Chad Bailey, and Ray Goss — have been instrumental in sustaining the traditions he built and ensuring that his teachings continue to reach new generations.
One of the most enduring of those traditions is the East Coast Modern Arnis Summer Camp, founded here in 1982. For more than four decades, it has been held every year on the weekend immediately following Father’s Day in June. This longstanding date is a cornerstone of the Modern Arnis calendar — chosen by Professor Presas himself and honored ever since. It is important to reaffirm this traditional weekend so that no other events are scheduled in conflict with the camp he established and cherished. The Summer Camp remains a vibrant celebration of his art, his philosophy, and the community he inspired.
A quarter century may have passed, but Professor Presas’s imprint has not faded. It lives in every strike, every flow, every lesson passed from teacher to student. His legacy is not merely remembered — it is practiced, embodied, and carried forward by all who continue to train, teach, and honor the art he gave to the world.
As August 28th approaches, we invite all practitioners, students, and friends to re‑dedicate themselves to the spirit Professor Remy A. Presas embodied — the spirit of learning, sharing, evolving, and lifting one another forward. His art lives through us, and each time we train, teach, or simply remember, we reaffirm the legacy he entrusted to our hands.
