08/28/2026
25 Years Without Professor Remy Presas
Today marks the 25th anniversary of the passing of the late Grandmaster Remy Presas.
To the martial arts world, he was a legend and the Father of Modern Arnis. To me, he was much more. He was my teacher, my mentor, my friend, and my adopted father, my Tatay.
He left us far too soon. He never had the opportunity to witness just how deeply he would continue to influence my life decades after his passing. But if you believe in a greater power, as I do, then perhaps he knows exactly what he did and how many lives he continues to touch.
Twenty-five years, a quarter of a century, and somehow, it still feels like yesterday.
I remember traveling with him, training hard at seminars, and going out to eat afterward. I remember dancing until all hours of the morning, only to wake up the next day to the sound of banging sticks and begin all over again.
Those were exhausting days, wonderful days, and some of the greatest days of my life.
Professor Presas changed the world one person at a time. Over the course of his life, he crossed hands with tens of thousands of people. He traveled the globe sharing not only his martial art, but also a piece of Filipino culture everywhere he went.
At that time, many of us knew very little about the Philippines or its people. There was no Google. Hell, there was barely an internet. We didn’t have translation apps or instant access to information about another culture. That sometimes created misunderstandings and moments that made you stop and wonder.
But as the years passed, I came to understand him more clearly.
He was a great man, and much smarter, more perceptive, and more purposeful than many people ever realized. His impact cannot be measured only in techniques, seminars, black belts, or organizations. His true legacy lives in the people he inspired and in every person they have taught since.
This past May, I hosted my final memorial camp in his honor. From this point forward, I want to focus less on mourning his passing and more on celebrating his life, his art, and the incredible legacy he left behind.
But today, I will pause.
I will say a prayer. I will cherish the memories. And I will remember the man who changed my life forever.
Twenty-five years later, I still miss you more than words can express.
I miss you so much, Tatay.
Tim Hartman
