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What is Sasamba-Arnis-Kali? |
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 What is Sasamba-Arnis-Kali?
Sasamba is a Filipino Kali Arnis System that includes Preying Mantis techniques and movements but maintains the true Kali Arnis Warrior ethos. It was developed by Tuhan Rick Ward and is his system and he is one of four Grandmasters in North America in the Kali system.
The orgins of Arnis, or Filipino stick fighting, are also uncertain. There are nearly as many styles of stick fighting as there are islands in the Phillipine archipeligo-over 7,000! Arnis traditionally employed sharp swords, daggers, and fire-hardened sticks in combat.
Sasamba-Kali-Modern ArnisPhilipino Knife and Cane Fighting
Blue Ridge Kung-Fu International Headquarters teaches a Pilipino Cane-Knife Fighting (Kali - Modern Arnis - Sasamba) martial art which supplements our kung-fu and enhances our ability to change styles and manuever for a different approach for both defense and offense. We incorporated and worked this art form into our system of kung-fu and also teach it as a separate system. Modern Arnis which uses a variety of joint locks, sweeps, throws and low kicks also develops a flow of movement that is in it own holds its own. As a complete system, it can stand as your only art form for self defense or it makes an excellent supplement to any stylist or martial artist. In our school it is like learning two completely different systems for the same membership commitments. You also have the Sasamba mixed in that is Tuhon Rick Wards own system. This sytem incorporates Preying Mantis type movements and striking styles along with the Kali background incorporated from Tuhon Ruby.
The History of Modern Arnis and Remy PresasThe Origins of Arnis are difficult to trace, primarily because there are nearly as many styles of Filipino stick fighting as there are islands in the Philippines archipelago--more than 7000. The people who settled in the islands came from India, Southwest Asia, China and Indonesia. These people were very diverse in culture and beliefs. Over the centuries their cultures mixed and they developed a common method of employing sharp swords, daggers and fire-hardened sticks in combat. These highly sophisticated fighting styles have grown in popularity in the international martial arts community.
One of the earliest known forms was called "tjakalele" (Indonesian Fencing). "kali" is another term familiar to stick fighters around the world today. When the Philippines were invaded by the Spanish, the invaders required guns to subdue their fierce opponents. The deadly fighting skills of Filipino warriors nearly overwhelmed them, and they dubbed the native stick style "escrima" (skirmish).At age 6 Grandmaster Remy Amador Presas (Filipino Arnis master and founder of modern arnis) was already learning the fundamentals of kali, the forerunner of Modern Arnis de mano.
In Cebu, Presas studied Arnis under Rodolfo Moncal, Timoteo Marranga and Marranga's instructor, Grandmaster Venancio Bacon, all experts in Arnis and the "Balintawak" style of stick fencing. In addition to Arnis, Presas became proficient in judo, jujitsu and karate.
When Presas first traveled his country, he took what he considered to be the most effective principles of each island style and combined them with his own knowledge of other martial arts.
Presas also insists on modernizing a particular training aspect traditional in Arnis: that of hitting your opponent's hand or arm instead of his stick - a painful practice that was tolerated because the rattan canes used in arnis were considered sacred.
Presas does not merely combine techniques, he encourages the individual student to adapt Arnis principles to his own feel for each technique.
The method should suit the person and not the other way around. This is known simply as using the "flow."
"Arnis makes many martial artists discover new things about their own style," Presas says. "They recognize the beauty of Arnis because it blends naturally the best movements from many arts. Most of my students continue to study their own styles - they just use Arnis to supplement their understanding."
In 1982 Presas was inducted into the Black Belt Hall of Fame as Instructor of the Year for his devotion to teach the art he loves. Years of refinement have given Presas a personal style that makes his seminars among the most popular at many martial arts schools. |
