159 pgs, by Ohara Publications B&W illustrations, and THE MOST COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE FMA book in the WORLD. If you can't get this book, you probably don't live near a library or a bookstore and probably aren't reading this review. Alternate (some controversial) reviews at Amazon.com and other major sellers.
If you haven't heard of Remy Presas, you have not seen an issue of Black Belt, Inside Kung Fu, MA Training or any MA publication in English for the last 20 years because this man and Dan Inosanto have promoted more FMA seminars and certified more instructors (including 90% of the tape instructors) than anyone in the US.
The BD (Breakdown that is)
History
Nine Chapters
Warm ups
Preparations (grips, stances, proper body shifting)
12 Zone Striking System (where to strike aka "hit by numbers")
12 Zone Striking Defense (stick vs angles of attack, hands application, 3 disarms)
Trapping Hands/De Cadena (3 empty handed inside/outside defenses based on stick work
with close ups of each sequence and the De Cadena drill)
Flow Practice (Stick/ empty hand vs stick drill, Give and Take/Lock and Block, empty hand Sinawali)
Sinawali and Redonda
Stick Disarms
Sword Disarms (7 sequences empty hand vs sword)
This book is overlooked because it is so easy to get, it's strength is in its' subtle showing of details and the Sinawali drills that are a trademark of Presas Arnis books. I liked the Sword Disarm section the most, Presas really gets into the demo. A good book for beginners and a must for Presas Arnis students and a compliment to any FMA book or tape.
Side note: Funny story happened to me years ago. I taught a TKD class when a guy comes in and asks where can he learn "this".
He handed a photocopied cover of Modern Arnis sans title, so it's Presas pummelling his attacker. I said "No" though I could, probably should have told him about the FMA class I was taking at the time. Oh well.
If you haven't heard of Remy Presas, you have not seen an issue of Black Belt, Inside Kung Fu, MA Training or any MA publication in English for the last 20 years because this man and Dan Inosanto have promoted more FMA seminars and certified more instructors (including 90% of the tape instructors) than anyone in the US.
The BD (Breakdown that is)
History
Nine Chapters
Warm ups
Preparations (grips, stances, proper body shifting)
12 Zone Striking System (where to strike aka "hit by numbers")
12 Zone Striking Defense (stick vs angles of attack, hands application, 3 disarms)
Trapping Hands/De Cadena (3 empty handed inside/outside defenses based on stick work
with close ups of each sequence and the De Cadena drill)
Flow Practice (Stick/ empty hand vs stick drill, Give and Take/Lock and Block, empty hand Sinawali)
Sinawali and Redonda
Stick Disarms
Sword Disarms (7 sequences empty hand vs sword)
This book is overlooked because it is so easy to get, it's strength is in its' subtle showing of details and the Sinawali drills that are a trademark of Presas Arnis books. I liked the Sword Disarm section the most, Presas really gets into the demo. A good book for beginners and a must for Presas Arnis students and a compliment to any FMA book or tape.
Side note: Funny story happened to me years ago. I taught a TKD class when a guy comes in and asks where can he learn "this".
He handed a photocopied cover of Modern Arnis sans title, so it's Presas pummelling his attacker. I said "No" though I could, probably should have told him about the FMA class I was taking at the time. Oh well.
