MEMORIES WITH GGM ERNESTO A. PRESAS BY GM THORBJØRN HARTELIUS
I started training Filipino Martial Arts in Ft. McMurray, Alberta, Canada in 1983 under the guidance of Guro Fidel Bonifacio. Here I was introduced to a whole new World of Martial Arts. For the first time in my life I saw a style that was beautiful, graceful and extremely effective. I practiced the art for one year and learned the basics of Filipino Martial Arts in Canada.
When I returned to Denmark I immediately tried to make contact with other practitioners of Filipino Martial Arts in my home country.
In 1984 the Danish Arnis Federation started with Jorgen Gydesen as the Chief Instructor. He has build Modern Arnis ( now Kombatan Arnis ), in Denmark and was the key for the development of the art in Denmark.
In 1986 I travelled to the Philippines for the first time to meet GGM Ernesto Presas and explore the Country where this great Martial Art originated. During my stay with GGM Ernesto Presas I realized how little of the Kombatan Arnis system I really understood and knew before.
Now I met a true Grandmaster of the Arts.
When I returned to Denmark I immediately tried to make contact with other practitioners of Filipino Martial Arts in my home country.
In 1984 the Danish Arnis Federation started with Jorgen Gydesen as the Chief Instructor. He has build Modern Arnis ( now Kombatan Arnis ), in Denmark and was the key for the development of the art in Denmark.
In 1986 I travelled to the Philippines for the first time to meet GGM Ernesto Presas and explore the Country where this great Martial Art originated. During my stay with GGM Ernesto Presas I realized how little of the Kombatan Arnis system I really understood and knew before.
Now I met a true Grandmaster of the Arts.
GGM Ernesto Presas taught me the way of the flowing motion, a whole new meaning of practice for me. I was surprised of how effective Kombatan Arnis would be in any kind of situation.
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I am very sure that we are many students of GGM Presas that can tell the same story. While training in the Philippines GGM Ernesto Presas became like a father to us. I stayed at the dormitory opposite University of Santo Thomas and everyday GGM would check up on me to see if I was okay. He came regularly with a tv, some water etc. Always taking care and providing for us arnis students. In the old gym everyone was very open and interested in passing on knowledge and GGM Presas would supervise every trainingsession. When I returned to Denmark, I had a different look at Filipino Martial Arts. I knew that I was on the right track. And when GGM Ernesto Presas came to Denmark in 1988, I was once again surprised. He took us all by surprise by teaching and showing us new and advanced techniques and methods that we had never seen before. In 1991 I became the Chairman of the Danish Arnis Federation and had the opportunity to invite GGM Ernesto Presas back to Denmark. I have been back to the Philippines to train with GGM Presas and everytime he and his family opened their house and I always felt welcome. Thank you GGM Presas and Presas Family for always being open and willing to share your great knowledge of Kombatan Arnis and guide me on my way
Picture
I am very sure that we are many students of GGM Presas that can tell the same story. While training in the Philippines GGM Ernesto Presas became like a father to us. I stayed at the dormitory opposite University of Santo Thomas and everyday GGM would check up on me to see if I was okay. He came regularly with a tv, some water etc. Always taking care and providing for us arnis students. In the old gym everyone was very open and interested in passing on knowledge and GGM Presas would supervise every trainingsession. When I returned to Denmark, I had a different look at Filipino Martial Arts. I knew that I was on the right track. And when GGM Ernesto Presas came to Denmark in 1988, I was once again surprised. He took us all by surprise by teaching and showing us new and advanced techniques and methods that we had never seen before. In 1991 I became the Chairman of the Danish Arnis Federation and had the opportunity to invite GGM Ernesto Presas back to Denmark. I have been back to the Philippines to train with GGM Presas and everytime he and his family opened their house and I always felt welcome. Thank you GGM Presas and Presas Family for always being open and willing to share your great knowledge of Kombatan Arnis and guide me on my way
