isnt Remy Presas's brother still around? Ernesto? He was in Mind,Body and Kickass Moves.

Yes he is http://www.presas.org/component/option,com_frontpage/Itemid,1/

Don't mean to rain on anyone..but do you know the story behind the split between the two IMAF's? Jeff's a great guy and although wasn't the 'highest ranked' he did truly love the Prof. and keeps the art alive...Him, Porf.McManus and Guru Chester brown are all great people to work with....would you happen to know?

Whats Ken Smith like?

I have heard many different reasons. I am sure there are many more, as a matter of fact there are probably as many reason as there are people involved. Since I have only heard the reason given for one side of the coin I will not comment.

What I do know as fact is that this is a quote was from the IMAF website then located at modernarnis.com on March 1st, 2001.

Quote:

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The first order of business conducted by Professor Presas was the establishment of succession planning for IMAF. Professor declared that Jeff Delaney, Executive Director - IMAF, and Randi Schea, M.D., Chairman - IMAF, were to be named as Co-Successors for IMAF. Jeff Delaney, as Co-Successor is responsible for the execution and application of the strategic agendas, and to establish and maintain ambassador status to all U.S. and international IMAF instructors, camp directors, and affiliated schools. Jeff Delaney is to remain as Executive Director of the IMAF. Dr. Schea, as Co-Successor, is responsible for the strategic agendas of the IMAF and to ensure its corporate organizational success, internal operations, and its financial and fiscal posterity. Dr. Schea is to remain as Chairman for the IMAF. Professor Presas also named Jeff Delaney and Dr. Randi Schea as Co-Grandmasters, for the IMAF. This declaration was made to the IMAF members listed in section (1) above and declared effective immediately.

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Mr. Delaney then decided to follow a different path by creating a different IMAF. Then Mr. Hartman and some others decided to follow a different path than Mr. Delaney, and created the WMAA.

As for Ken Smith, he’s a great instructor who knows how to break down the most difficult techniques and explain them in a way to where a child would even understand, and like most other Arnisadors he has a great flow.

As a Modern Arnis instructor under yet another of the splinter students of Remy Presas I feel a huge amount of regret for what has become of Arnis in the past few years. When we were all united under Presas the art was thriving and growing at such great speed and while it still grows it has lost so much of its momentum. When I met Presas only a few years before his death I remember thinking he was such a quiet unassuming man (until he put me into the most excruciating finger lock I have ever felt and held it for several minutes as he explained its application) yet he was definately the glue that held things together. Hopefully we can all get past our differences and bring it together again eventually. After all Modern Arnis is an art which challenges one to find the art within themselves so there is no reason for any of the instructors at the top of any of the heirarchies to begrudge the others their own style or way of teaching, they are merely teaching their interpretation of the Professor's teachings.

I fear this might take some time though as the current rifts might be more to do with who wants to be top dog rather than disagreements of a more philisophical nature.

WarblyDoo,
Nicely said and I agree 100%. Everyone seems to focus on what broke them a part, it would be great if someone could focus on puttig it back together. But it is really hard when students are taught hatred towards other schools or orginizations as if its a part of their curriculum, which seems to be a common thing in martial arts.

I for one believe there is something to be learned from anyone and everyone who had the opportunity to train under Remy Presas, and could care less what their rank is/was, or what special title that they were given by Mr.Presas, as long as they can actually show they have some ability.

I had hopes the World Wide Brotherhood of Modern Arnis would do the trick, and although they have managed to pull together some people from the different organizations, they had no response from others. I guess if nothing else at least it is an attempt.