What is Kombatan?

[Bob Hubbard]

Who developed it?

How did it get the name?

Who's the notable practitioners?

Where can I study it?

[Brian R. VanCise]

Kombatan was founded by Ernesto Presas, Remy Presas's brother!
For a long time he taught under the name Modern Arnis but
changed it I believe around eight or so years ago! Very fluid and
very similar to Modern Arnis as you would expect. I have seen
it in action and was impressed. Some of the drills are definately
different but that is to be expected as Grandmaster Presas own
unique flair came to the front! As to training in it Grandmaster
Presas has come to the states in the past for seminars and has
also run a camp in the phillipines as well. In the past his website
was www.kombatan.com (http://www.kombatan.com/) ! Currently this site is down and he is
probably reorganizing it! All in all if you get a chance to train in
it you will probably like it Bob!

Brian R. VanCise

[arnisador]

It looks like he may have lost the site! Here is a Kombatan site, but not the main one:
http://www.kombatan.us/home.html

[Brian R. VanCise]

Does anyone know if Grandmaster Ernesto Presas will be having a
camp in the Phillipines in 2006? I liked the look of his 2005 camp
and heard great, great reviews from a couple of people who
attended. If you here of one for 2006 let us know so that some
of us could plan on going.

Brian R. VanCise
www.instinctiveresponsetraining.com (http://www.instinctiveresponsetraining.com)

[KrissOfSweden]

i know there are going to be one in 2007 early spring maybe... but i don't know if there is going to be any 2006...

[Brian R. VanCise]

Great, 2007 is a better year for me to go. Keep
us informed of the dates when they are announced.

Brian R. VanCise
www.instinctiveresponsetraining.com (http://www.instinctiveresponsetraining.com)

[KrissOfSweden]

Kombatan was founded by Ernesto Presas, Remy Presas's brother!
For a long time he taught under the name Modern Arnis but
changed it I believe around eight or so years ago! Very fluid and
very similar to Modern Arnis as you would expect. I have seen
it in action and was impressed. Some of the drills are definately
different but that is to be expected as Grandmaster Presas own
unique flair came to the front! As to training in it Grandmaster
Presas has come to the states in the past for seminars and has
also run a camp in the phillipines as well. In the past his website
was www.kombatan.com (http://www.kombatan.com/) ! Currently this site is down and he is
probably reorganizing it! All in all if you get a chance to train in
it you will probably like it Bob!

Brian R. VanCise

The main big diffrence between these brothers arts are at least to my knowledge that kombatan has more double stick, i maybe wrong in that point(?) if so correct me... :D

[arnisador]

The main big diffrence between these brothers arts are at least to my knowledge that kombatan has more double stick

It does, and that's what I've always thought of as the biggest difference too. But I understand that some Kombatan practitioners find this a bit too simple a distinction! They think that Modern Arnis people tend to over-estimate the importance of double stick work in Kombatan.

[KrissOfSweden]

It does, and that's what I've always thought of as the biggest difference too. But I understand that some Kombatan practitioners find this a bit too simple a distinction! They think that Modern Arnis people tend to over-estimate the importance of double stick work in Kombatan.

My teacher is a long time student of Presas, he went over to the Philippines in feb-mars he told me they did very much doublestick, besides that, of course i understand that the art is not only doublestick as i understand they do lot of things, almost everything.. :P he he...

So i hope if am kind and nice to my teacher he maybe can teach me some kombatan to.. (A) In the future.. :) I have done som kombatan doublestick things, but not to the extent of what you can do:D

[Bob Hubbard]

I heard a rumor that GM Ernesto Presas had retired, and can't seem to pull up kombatan.com or kombatan.net. The .org goes to a Swedish site that didn't mention any retirement.
http://kombatan.org/

[armas]

Hi Guys!
GM Ernesto has not retired yet. He concentrated in Europe last year. Our lost. KrisofSweden is right that the camp is most likely on the 2007. GM conducts the camp every 2 yrs in Negros Occidental. Home of the Presas family.

Regarding the scope of Kombatan. We train first in Double sticks (sinawali drills) are taught for balance of left and right. Better coordination, rhythm, etc. We cover classical arnis(figure 8, force to force, Palis-palis, hirada batanguena,etc) and modern arnis in single stick. We work on espada y daga alot. Daga sa daga/knife work, dulo dulo/palmstick, bankaw/staff, and Mano mano/emptyhand fighting. The main goal is to learn how to flow in all ranges and weapons or emptyhand.

I feel the difference between the two systems is only the personality put into their way of teaching. Why? I have seen the classical curriculum as taught by GM Remy. And it is very similar. Except for the palis palis. GM Remy concentrated on the tapi-tapi aspect then as time went by he went back to his roots Balintawak. (PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG. I have very limited knowledge in GM Remy's system) That is what he told me and showed me when I met him and mentioned I was one of the instructors of his brother from the Philippines.

GM Ernesto always emphasized we should study the old to understand teh new Modern arnis. We do have an extensive espada y daga, daga, dulo dulo and mano mano curriculum. Not sure if GM Remy taught much of this. I have limited amount of knowledge in GM Remy's curriculum.

Hope this helps. And Happy New Year!!!!!!!1

[KombatanNYC]

Because I have only studied Kombatan and not Modern Arnis, my perspective is very one-sided so take it with a grain of salt. That being said, the largest differences that I have observed in practitioners of the two arts lies more in form than technique. Kombatan has both a modern and classical component and the distinguishing characteristic between each lies in the form of the application of the technique. Stick techniques, sinawalis, blocks etc… apply more of a linear motion to maximize the efficiency of the weapon whereas this is modified to a more circular motion in classical technique. One defining characteristic of Kombatan therefore is it's big chambers. At the 2005 summer camp I took notice of the huge red X formed on Master Ernesto Jr’s (Jan Jan) back as he demonstrated sinawalis.

[arnisador]

Is Roberto Presas involved with Kombatan? I know he has his own system now, Hinigaran Arnis de Mano, but is also a Modern Arnis practitioner. I don't know if that's meant only in the sense of Remy Presas' art--he did promote him--or if it is also meant to include Ernesto Presas' art.

[arnisador]

Does anyone have a date of birth for Ernesto Presas? It would be nice to be able to add that fact!

[armas]

If not mistaken, GM Ernesto was born May 20,1945.

[Boar Man]

A freind of mine who went to Austraila to train with GM at his latest camp told me it was May 21st, I don't know the year. Where or when he found out this date I'm not sure, he told me he had spent a lot of time with GM while there talking to him and such, and then he told me his birthday was coming up on the 21st.

[arnisador]

If not mistaken, GM Ernesto was born May 20,1945.

The Wikipedia entry now reflects that but is still very short!

[monkey]

Kombaton Has sunki ti-dulo dulo-tickie tickie foot work-figure 8-redondo-espada y daga-bonkow or staff-nunchukas-balisong-kuntao-to name a few of some of the old & some of the new.Im sure the old guys will recignise what I say.Hows this for the old ways (it is the stick-it is the hand -it is the sword-no bady can touch you.)Dose that bring back a bit.

[johnzag]

Guys the new website for Kombatan is www.presas.org (http://www.presas.org). Grand Master is slowly starting to ease back on the amount of travelling that he has been doing but is far from retired as everyone who attended the recent camp in Australia witnessed.

The next camp will be in April/May next year in the Philippines. It is set to be an extra special one as I think if all goes well Grand Master intends to open a museum to the filipino martial arts before the camp with a hall of fame for all filipino martial arts styles.

Some other good websites for Kombatan are;

www.k2kombatan.com (http://www.k2kombatan.com)
www.mssd.com.au (http://www.mssd.com.au)
www.kombatankc.com (http://www.kombatankc.com)
www.kombatan.org (http://www.kombatan.org)
www.kombatan.us (http://www.kombatan.us)

and i know of many others if you have any interest.

[StixMaster]

I just had some friends return from the Kombatan camp on Negros Occidental, there was also a FMA Museum & a FMA Hall of Fame ceremony in Manila. 2 instructors Concepcion & Castro in California got promoted to 9th Dan by GGM Presas himself with the paperwork too at the Kombatan camp. A movie was also filmed called Eskrima-Arnis 1, heard there were some great fight scenes with sticks. Are there a lot of Kombatan schools in California? How about throughout the states?? Everyone said they had a good time,people from all over,Poland etc... Pacific Northwest etc...

[armas]

Sounds good. Congratulations to Lito Concepcion and Rob Castro for their promotions. They are always promoting Kombatan and Escabodaan as a team. More power to both of you.

[animal_stylez]

I just had some friends return from the Kombatan camp on Negros Occidental, there was also a FMA Museum & a FMA Hall of Fame ceremony in Manila. 2 instructors Concepcion & Castro in California got promoted to 9th Dan by GGM Presas himself with the paperwork too at the Kombatan camp. A movie was also filmed called Eskrima-Arnis 1, heard there were some great fight scenes with sticks. Are there a lot of Kombatan schools in California? How about throughout the states?? Everyone said they had a good time,people from all over,Poland etc... Pacific Northwest etc...



Hi StixMaster,

Yes there are quite a few places to study and learn Kombatan in California. What part of Cali are you in? My teacher just got back from that camp and said he had a great time! I can't wait to go next time they have that, saving now to make sure! :)

[StixMaster]

Kombatan is combat oriented, it is adaptable to its situation, the flow drills, lock drills are excellent for over all development & to recognize that rhythm plays a significant role in all martial arts, Bruce Lee in his 'Tao" wrote on this as breaking rhythm, thus the saying everyone walks to their own beat. Check out the 'dulo-dulo' training, mano-mano.:sword2:

[StixMaster]

Saturday in San Francisco was a beautiful sunny day & the Leo Fong seminar was great. Professor Fong started us out with boxing techniques for medium to close quarters pressure point punching,PG Steven Dowd followed with about an hour on Arnis Balite stick take- away and zoning in his system, then later GM Lito Concepcion showed us espada y daga from Kombatan and last was GM Robert Castro showing Eskabo Daan 'stick ju-jit-su' showing take-downs (dumog) , locks & disarms utilizing the stick to do the techniques. Seminar went from 10:15am with a 1 1/2 hr lunch break to about 4:30pm, straight training everyone had a good time. Special guest were GM Al Novak, GM Max Pallen ( Senkotiros)GM Emil Bautista( Nor Cal HQ K.S.D.I. ) , Master Ray Cordorba & Master Alex France (Kombatan), PG Professor Jim Hundon( Serrada) dropped by to say hello & to give support in the morning and Sigung Anthony Ramos of Wahiawa Kajukenbo. There were about 30 plus people in attendance.
__________________

[armas]

Wow missed out on a good time there. Well, maybe next time.

[Combat Kali]

I think all masters have a preference to input techniques or concepts. Maybe like a branch of a tree sharing the same trunk feeding of the same roots.

[StixMaster]

Thats why it is important to first learn the techniques and concepts to where one doesn't have to think about them but make the moves naturally and instinctively.

[StixMaster]

This might answer the thread's question by the founder himself,
According to Presas, "Kombatan is a complete system of armed and unarmed fighting." Effectiveness in total combat, as the name denotes, is the art's ultimate goal. Included in its armed techniques are applications employing the dulo dulo (a double-tipped short stick), staff, the yantok, and various bladed weapons. The unarmed techniques encompass striking, kicking, throwing, and grappling.

Presas emphasizes that while some arts distinctly separate weapons training from unarmed training, Kombatan blends both. The practitioner of the art can readily switch from bare hands to blade to stick, and back. Application techniques are a trademark of the system, as is the ability to adapt to the ever-changing nuances of a violent encounter. "In real-life combat," states Presas," the individual must be able to flow from one range to another, from grappling to striking and kicking, and from barehanded conflict to armed fighting."

The Flow is a constant theme of the dynamic grandmaster's teachings. "All techniques in Kombatan emanate from the Flow," Presas asserts. When pressed to define the Flow, he says that it is the phenomenon of one movement leading naturally to another, and then to another endlessly. In Kombatan sequences, counters, follow-ups, and variations automatically spring from the basic, initial movements. "Kombatan is not stagnant it is a living art," Presas continues. Aware that counters to existing techniques are constantly being devised, his combat methods undergo a constant process of refinement and modification. "We are in the business of making counters to the counters," Presas says.

"In real-life combat, the individual must be able to flow from one range to another, from grappling to striking and kicking, and from barehanded conflict to armed fighting."

[timagua]

It may be helpful to identify the source of the previous post by StixMaster. These are direct quotes from a 1999 article entitled “The Art of the Flow” by original Arjuken instructor graduate Jose G. Paman. This article also appears in the anthology Best of CFW Martial Arts 2000. You can find the article here:

http://www.dragonslist.com/the_art_of_the_flow_0 (http://www.dragonslist.com/the_art_of_the_flow_0)

Paman appears on the cover of the current Rapid Journal based out of Manila (Rapid is the leading martial arts publication in the Philippines and primarily highlights native-born instructors). He is also the author of the new volume Arnis Self-Defense released by Random House. I posted a brief review of this book under the thread MT: Arnis Self Defense by Jose Paman in this forum.

[timagua]

Most folks who have studied under a foreign-born martial arts teacher would attest to the challenge of sometimes having to decipher the teacher’s verbal instructions. Even though the Philippines is a largely English-speaking country, arnis instructors often have their peculiar jargon and brogue that may need translating for those not native to the islands. In this post, I’d like to take a look at GGM Ernesto Presas’ unique vernacular in teaching the art of Kombatan and offer interpretations to the commands. The entries were drawn from live seminars as well as footage from GGM Presas’ line of videos filmed over the years.

“Strike behind back” – This is an admonition to begin each strike in a chambered position for greater power in delivery. This means drawing the stick to a position toward one’s back prior to releasing the strike. While it may seem exaggerated in practice, the chamber may also be modified in actual use but always with the intention to, ideally, terminate a given encounter in the shortest time possible. Of course, failing a quick conclusion, the Kombatan practitioner continues to press the attack until the opponent is subdued.

“Power!” – Directly related to the prior entry, GGM Presas often urges his students to strive to increase the power of their strikes though proper body mechanics, sound execution and constant training. Striking with proper intent often leads to the desire effect.

“Steady” – This means to hold the position of the feet (i.e., do not switch stances) while executing a given sequence; a block, check and counter for instance. It may also be used to catch the student’s attention during instruction, directing him or her to hold the position to wait for the next step.

“Speed motion” – This is the command to deliver techniques in training with greater velocity, as opposed to slow and deliberate motion, which is used for teaching purposes. It represents real-time combat speed.

“Be like me!” – In this one, GGM Presas stresses correct delivery of the techniques, in line with Kombatan standards. While “correct delivery” may seem relative according to each particular system of FMA, Kombatan has established sound methods of execution based on decades of study, trial and actual combat by GGM Presas and his succeeding generations of Kombatan/Modern Arnis followers. In saying “Be like me,” he is advocating to execute one’s techniques as he does because this represents the most powerful and efficient way to do them.

The preceding entries in no way exhaust the instruction one might hear in a training session with GGM Presas, but they give one a glimpse of his unique teaching vernacular. Happy training!

[kruzada]

Is Roberto Presas involved with Kombatan? I know he has his own system now, Hinigaran Arnis de Mano, but is also a Modern Arnis practitioner. I don't know if that's meant only in the sense of Remy Presas' art--he did promote him--or if it is also meant to include Ernesto Presas' art.

I don't believe that GM Roberto is officially involved with Kombatan, but that is not to say that he does not have a close relationship with his brother GM Ernesto.

[arnisador]

OK, that makes sense!