Seminars, Tournaments, and Other Events

Modern Arnis “TIPUNAN” Seminar Makes Historical Debut
By Jay de Leon

Originally Published in FMADigest Special Issue, 2005

     “Tipunan” is a Filipino word meaning “gathering.’’ And it was indeed a star-studded gathering of Filipino martial arts (FMA) masters, Hollywood luminaries, Filipino celebrities and martial arts vendors at the International Modern Arnis Federation of the Philippines (IMAFP) symposium at the Anaheim Hilton in front of Disneyland on Aug. 12-14, 2005.

Prof. Remy Presas, Founder of Modern Arnis

     Dubbed as Tipunan sa Disneyland (Gathering at Disneyland) and hosted by IMAFP Commissioner Jay de Leon, the gathering featured instruction by a dozen masters in the art of arnis, buno (wrestling) and hilot (indigenous healing arts). These illustrious masters of arnis represented different styles of the art, including Modern Arnis, Lameco, Garimot Arnis, Ilustrisimo Kali and others. It was truly an international and national event, as several instructors and students traveled from other countries as well as other states.
     In his opening remarks, Jay de Leon dedicated Tipunan sa Disneyland to Modern Arnis Founder and Father Remy Presas, who was teacher, friend and inspiration to many of the Modern Arni instructors in the seminar.

The following is a complete list of instructors who participated in Tipunan sa Disneyland:

Dayang Edessa Ramos – Modern Arnis, Zurich, Switzerland
Master Bram Frank – Modern Arnis, Florida, USA
Master Jerome Barber – Modern Arnis, Orchard Park, NY, USA
Gat Puno Abon Baet – Garimot Arnis, Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
Master Roger Agbulos – Lameco, North Hills, CA, USA
Grandmaster Rey Galang – Bakbakan Kali, NJ, USA
Master Arthur Gonzalez Sr. – Tenio Decuerdas Arnis, Stockton, CA, USA
Master John Jacobo – Bakbakan Kali, MD, USA
Grandmaster Christopher Ricketts – Kali Ilustrisimo, San Diego, CA, USA
Master Stephen Aron - Inosanto Kali, Glendora, CA, USA
Master Jay de Leon – Modern Arnis, Murrieta, CA, USA
Guro Bruce Ricketts – Kali Ilustrisimo, San Diego, CA. USA

     Three scheduled instructors were unable to make it to the event. Master Godofredo Fajardo, current IMAFP Commissioner for the Middle East, was unable to break contractual obligations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where he is based. Master Tom Bolden suffered an unexpected setback to a recent shoulder surgery, and Master Samuel Dulay ran into visa problems.
         The event highlighted some scintillating performances, including a highly entertaining instruction in buno (Filipino grappling) and lubid (rope weapon use) by the energetic Gat Puno Abon Baet of Garimot arnis from Florida, the now patented Ilustrisimo stick demo by father-son team of Christopher and Bruce Ricketts, and a larga mano (long-range) demo by leading exponents Gat Puno Abon Baet and Roger Agbulos.

Gat Puno Abon Baet (left) and Roger Agbulos demonstrate their respective “larga mano” or long-range techniques.

Solomon Kaihewalu (left), Grandmaster of Lua, demonstrates the use of the paddle against a staff wielded by Lua senior instructor David Krapes.

Featured performer Xin Wuku with buddy Mitch de Leon.

     Another featured performer, Xin Wuku, a Muay Thai ring fighter and budding actor, gave a spectacular demo of his art. His repertoire included many high, aerial flips, jumping knees and elbows and Muay Thai cut kicks.
     The students were a diverse lot, from beginners to black belt instructors, including Guro Jeremiah Stanley of Reno, NV and local Guro Damian Romero. The oldest participant included martial artist and dancer Sid Hallburn, who is in his eighties.
     Corporate vendors included Winston Tamisin’s SmakStiks (padded sticks and knives) all the way from Atlanta, GA, Morgan Thomas’s Sharkee Knives (training knives), David Shulman’s Virtual Blade (Sharkee knives with a patented marking delivery system) from Maryland, and Bob Wall’s WorldBlackbelt headed by Marketing Director Adam James.

Bakbakan chief Rey Galang (second from the right) entertains the SmakStiks crew from Atlanta, GA headed by Winston Tamisin (extreme right).

     Many FMA notables dropped by simply to say hello, take pictures or just soak in the atmosphere, including Modern Arnis datu Tim Hartman, Inosanto Kali guro Victor Gendrano, Master Ramon Rubia of San Miguel Eskrima who had just arrived from an extended trip to the Philippines, FMA Digest publisher Steven Dowd and Mandirigma guros Arnold Noche, Dino Flores and Bud Balani.
     Hollywood celebrities were out in force including actor and producer Leo Fong who was representing Bob Wall’s WorldBlackBelt, entertainment producer David Krapes, creator of the TV reality series “The Next Martial Arts Superstar, ” entertainment executive Amy Shomer of TerraNova Entertainment Inc., who helped supervised the professional filming of the event, and others.

Former basketball great, actor and Senator Robert “Bobby” Jaworski of the Philippines addresses Tipunan participants.

     Filipino celebrities included Robert “Bobby” Jaworski, a popular basketball legend, actor and former Senator of the Philippines who addressed the assembly, and Bruce Ricketts, a teen action star in the Philippines who has recently immigrated to the United States. Bruce is the nephew of Philippine action star Ronnie Ricketts and the son of Kali Ilustrisimo Grandmaster Christopher Ricketts, who was also a featured instructor at the seminar.
     The event was held at the plush Hilton Hotel right in front of Disneyland. The Hilton Hotel was a beehive of activity, full of revelers going to and from Disneyland, which was enjoying its 50th anniversary, as well as conventioneers. Much to the delight of the male participants at Tipunan, several thousand pretty ladies were having their conventions from companies such as “Body Shop” (ladies’ cosmetics and fragrance) and “Cookie Lee.”

Christopher Ricketts (right) gives pointers, as son Bruce gets ready to assist him.  Because of the gorgeous California weather, the Friday morning session was held on the pool deck of the Hilton.

     There were many extracurricular activities before and after the seminar itself, including many impromptu dinners and cocktails, cooling dips in the Hilton pool, and private tete-a-tetes at Starbucks at the Hilton. Host Jay de Leon treated several instructors to a welcome dinner at a Chinese restaurant nearby on Thursday evening. On Saturday, Roger Agbulos at his residence in the San Fernando Valley treated the Bakbakan contingent headed by GM Rey Galang to a barbecue. Several families including Steve Aron’s brood took advantage of the occasion to watch dad Steve Aron teach at the event and later enjoy an outing to the happiest place on earth, Disneyland. Bram Frank, Edessa Ramos and Tipunan photographer Mitch de Leon were spotted having private arnis and kickboxing workouts at the Hilton Fitness Center. Host Jay de Leon even managed an impromptu mini-reunion with former classmates visiting from Georgia and Maryland.

     All in all, a good time was had by all. Tipunan host Jay de Leon promised that next year’s event will boast of an even broader and diverse line up of FMA instructors. Already, preparations are underway for yet another historic bash to be called Tipunan sa Boston on Sept. 8-10, 2006.

See you there for another fun, star-studded event.