Flow Like Water – The MA80 Arnis/Eskrima Modular Training System

I was Prof. Remy’s student for 21 years up to his passing in 2001. Because of him, I graduated from being one of the best karate players in the US to being a real martial artist.

Modern Arnis was different than other martial arts. When Prof. Remy taught a group, there was something he didn’t do. Let me explain. Nearly every martial art has a certain aspect about it that makes it unique. I call it body contouring. Remy Presas didn’t do this. He didn’t alter how one already moved. He had a number of signature actions in Modern Arnis that he taught to everybody. He just didn’t make anybody look like him.

Remy Presas had signature actions that he taught. There were the 12 basic strikes, the 12 blocks and disarms for each of them. There were the classical arnis styles. There were the partner drills such as give and take, 6-count, semi-free sparring patterns (both left and right handed), and the Tapi-Tapi locking patterns. Then there were all of the joint locks, takedowns, and empty hand drills (de cadena, sinawali boxing, etc.). These were signature actions of Modern Arnis.

Everything he taught was based on one key element – The Flow.

Modern Arnis is a malleable art. It takes on the form and shape of the practitioner, not the other way around. Each senior student of the art performs and teaches it in their own manner and yet it is still Modern Arnis.

In 2024, I stripped down the vast number of techniques, drills and so forth to concentrate on the key element of Modern Arnis, the Flow. The MA80 Arnis/Eskrima Modular Training System is based on the student attaining The Flow from the first day of training. This is my White through Black Belt training program.

Prof. Dan Anderson