Remy Presas

Infobox Person
name = Remy A. Presas

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caption =
birth_date = December 19, 1936
birth_place = Hinigaran, Negros Occidental, Philippines
death_date = August 28, 2001
death_place = Victoria, Canada
other_names =
known_for = founding Modern Arnis
occupation = teacher, martial artist

Remy Amador Presas (December 19, 1936 – August 28, 2001) was the founder of Modern Arnis, a popular Filipino martial art. Born in the Philippines, he moved to the United States in the 1970s, where he taught his art via seminars and camps. He also published several books and videos on Modern Arnis.

Early life and training

Presas was born in the town of Hinigaran, Negros Occidental, Philippines, the son of Jose B. Presas, a businessman, and the former Lucia Amador. He began studying arnis with his father then with his grandfather, Leon Presas, and uncle at the age of six. By the age of fourteen he had his first stick fighting match with a Sinawali master that Presas knocked out with one stick hit. He contunied to travel across the Philippine Islands to learn from other Masters and to compete in stick-fighting competitions and many street fights. Presas eventually focused on Balintawak, but also earned a 6th degree black belt in Shotokan Karate and in Judo.

Private and government sector employment

Presas earned a bachelor's degree in physical education and taught the subject at the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos; because of this he was addressed as Professor Presas, and was widely known in martial arts circles as "the Professor". He later worked for the Philippine government in the area of physical education, spreading arnis instruction to the high schools. Presas was forced to leave the country in 1974 because of pressure from certain government officials. He spent most of the rest of his life in North America, but traveled world-wide.

Death

Presas died on August 28, 2001 in Victoria, Canada from brain cancer. Since his death, several groups have emerged to carry on instruction in his art. His younger brothers Ernesto Presas and Roberto Presas, as well as several of his children (most notably his eldest son, Remy P. Presas), are also active in the Filipino martial arts.

Presas was married twice, first to Rosemary Pascual Presas, with whom he had three children, and to Yvette Presas, with whom he had two children.

External links

* [http://www.modernarnis.com/remy_a_presas.htm Family biography of Remy Presas]
* [http://rustaz.net/nonfiction/remytribute.htm Tribute: Professor Remy Armador Presas]
* [http://www.martialtalk.com/remy/ Memories of Remy]