06/03/2026
"THE ART WITHIN YOUR ART!"
Modern Arnis, as taught by Professor Presas, was coined “The Art within Your Art.”
Professor believed that all arts were and are interlocked in reference points.
No matter the movement or system – Japanese, Chinese, Indonesian, Korean, European or others – Filipino arts literally connect the systems by seeking the universal patterns of line relationships.
Physical movement in techniques becomes an issue of intent. It is intent that clarifies the combat efficiency of what the Filipino arts truly represent.
Karate and kung fu systems block the attack (“Block hard, Daniel-San”), JKD intercepts the attack, and Filipino arts attack the attacking weapon.
As stated, the distinction is the intent.
Flow within the art is a diverse aspect that separates the visual appearance as well as the functional applications contained in Modern Arnis and other Filipino systems.
It is a moot point whether other arts contain attacking blocks; few arts address the psychology of the intension as clearly as Filipino arts do.
Mentally, if you are thinking “defensive block,” you must then think “offensive attack.”
Represent your art as it was intended, look your students in the eyes, do not lose the values and virtues of personal defense.
Filipino arts avoid the dilemma by setting the mind to “Defang the Snake” or “Attack the Attacking Weapon,” as simple as that.
ksw
