MEMORIES WITH GGM ERNESTO A. PRESAS
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My memories with my friend and mentor.
late Great Grandmaster Ernesto Amador Presas.
I have been studying With GGM since 1994. I would like to
tell a story about GGM. For decades GGM wanted me to go
to his camp in the Phillippines. All this time I was taking
private lessons for several years. He finally told me if I don't
go to the camp he wouldn't give me the final 15% of his
system. So I always wanted to go so now I had to. I wanted
the other 15 %. I had to go. There were personal FMA issues
I needed his help with anyway so I went.. People don't realize
how intimate and close we were.
To make the long story short. When I got to the camp, that
night when everybody there was receiving awards .I was in
the camp bar with GM Lito Concepcion. He wasn't GM yet.
To my surprise Master Joseph tells me that GGM Ernesto
wanted me to come to the award ceremony. I ask why?. He
wants you now. So slightly intoxicated. I went. GGM Ernesto
suprised me. in front of everyone there he promoted me to
9th Dan Black belt In Kombatan. That was one of the
greatest moments of my life. What a great honor. That was
in 2007. This is just one story. I have many great times and
experience and stories with the late GGM Ernesto A. Presas.
Thank you for all that you have given me.
Much love your Friend and student. Till we meet again - GM Robert Castro
How I met GM Ernesto is a very interesting story. I started my training in the early 80s with the late Grandmaster Remy Amador Presas. As I continued to further my education in the Arts, I learned that Professor Remy had two brothers. It only seemed logical for me to try to meet with the rest of his family.
There were many times I tried to attend GM Ernesto seminars, but unfortunately there was always some last-minute schedule conflicts that would get in the way. In 1999, I got a call from a friend of mine, Mike Alfano. He told me that students of Ernesto had reached out to him. They wanted to let him know that GM Ernesto was in the hospital and his condition may be fatal. When I asked Mike why he was telling me, his response was that Ernesto’s students thought that I would do something about it. They were right! I called GM Remy who was in the Philippines at the time and told him of his brother’s condition. After our phone conversation, Remy reached out to his brother Ernesto to make sure he was all right. About a year later, my schedule finally lined up, so I could see GM Ernesto |
when he was visiting the US east coast. When the seminar host introduced me to GM Ernesto, he was elated. He hadn't talked to his brothers in years. But thanks to the conversation I had with Remy, he made the phone call to make sure that
Ernesto was all right. Ernesto referred to me as a brother for all that I'd done and from that moment on we got along famously.
It was GM Ernesto who was most instrumental in my first trip to the Philippines in 2007. He told me to “get to Manila” and he would take care of everything else for me. And he was a man of his word. I arrived in Manila and he met me at my hotel, arranged round trip transportation to the family beach in Negros, took care of my meals, lodging, gave me an equipment package and even covered the training camp fee. And if that wasn’t enough, he promoted me to ninth degree Grand Master at that camp. And when I say these things, the first question that comes to mind is, how much did it cost me? Like I said at the beginning of this paragraph…not a dime, because he covered all my expenses. He said we were brothers with his words, and proved it with his actions. He is sadly missed.
Respectfully,
Datu Hartman
Ernesto was all right. Ernesto referred to me as a brother for all that I'd done and from that moment on we got along famously.
It was GM Ernesto who was most instrumental in my first trip to the Philippines in 2007. He told me to “get to Manila” and he would take care of everything else for me. And he was a man of his word. I arrived in Manila and he met me at my hotel, arranged round trip transportation to the family beach in Negros, took care of my meals, lodging, gave me an equipment package and even covered the training camp fee. And if that wasn’t enough, he promoted me to ninth degree Grand Master at that camp. And when I say these things, the first question that comes to mind is, how much did it cost me? Like I said at the beginning of this paragraph…not a dime, because he covered all my expenses. He said we were brothers with his words, and proved it with his actions. He is sadly missed.
Respectfully,
Datu Hartman
One of many stories with GGM Ernesto A. Presas:
Back in 1998 Walter Hubmann and myself, GM Juerg Ziegler, had great talks and meetings with GGM Ernesto A. Presas in Orlando, USA, during the World Head of Family Sokeship Council Hall of Fame which resultet in the teaching and spreading of Kombatan in Europe from us. From 19 April – 4 May 2000 we were attending the IPMAF Training Camp – from Switzerland my students Raphael Ackermann, Michael Perez, Rolf Edelmann, and Jan Kanderal. GGM Ernesto also appointet me permanent Chief Instructor for Switzerland with all rights to promote and teach Kombatan. In August 2000 GGM Ernesto visited Switzerland the first time with GM Juerg Ziegler and his schools. He was accomponied by GM Supremo (Amador Eugenio) and Guro Julius Melegrito. The intensive seminar was on the full curriculum. Also at the seminar were beyound others Carlos Pulanco, Visaya Balinado, Batallia Vicente, Rami Vainionpää and Tomi Harell. |
At the end of this intensive seminars GGM Ernesto promoted GM Juerg Ziegler, Carlos Pulanco and Julius Melegrito to „Master Instructor“, Dayang Monika Ziegler and Guro Rami Vainionpää were promoted / tested to Lakan Dalawa. In 2000 again in Orland, USA – we had a very special breakfast meeting with GGM Ernesto where we all decided together to go ahead and start to teach Kombatan/Modern Arnis in all our Sin Moo Hapido schools in the European Sin Moo Hapkido Association as a special new System. GGM Ernesto was highly happy and agreed to support us to the fullest. Since then Kombatan / Modern Arnis has grown from strenght to strenght in Europe with the help of GGM Ernesto A. Presas and his pioneeres in Europe, GM Juerg Ziegler and GM Walter Hubmann. Many followed in Finland (Rami Vainionpää & Tomi Harell), Portugal (Rui Ramunni), Germany (GM Carolos Pulanco and GM Wolfgang Schnur) and so many more. Also in Italy with Master Randy Remolin. Now so many more keep up the flame of this great FMA Art Kombatan which was founded by our great teacher, my compadre and great friend and mentor – the late GGM Ernesto A. Presas, R.I.P. – we miss you all!
- GRAND MASTER JUERG ZIEGLER, SWITZERLAND -
Memories with GGM Presas:
In 1996, I moved to Manila to train with GGM Presas and all of the instructors at the gym. After spending a few weeks at my relatives house in Pampanga, GGM Presas, JanJan and Sir Michael Ermac came out to pick me up. Once we arrived back in Manila, we went straight to GGM’s house in Pasay City, Manila. This would be the first day of my training. The next morning, we went to UST so he could teach his Arnis class. GGM gave me a tour of the campus. Afterwards we went to the gym in Quiapo. There he introduced me to all of the instructors. Then, sitting in the corner of the gym, was a little red cot. GGM Presas pointed to the cot and noted that that was my bed. My first night sleeping at the gym was a very interesting experience. Mosquitos. Loud karaoke singing until 3am. The constant sound of traffic on Quezon Blvd. The smell of food. I couldn’t sleep. I was too excited about my new adventure. The next morning, it was time to start training. |
For the next 6 months, I trained and learned from all of the instructors, helped GGM teach at The Lyceum and UST, traveled to Hinigaran for the World IPMAF Camp, and ate a lot of food! I will always be indebted to those instructors who took the time to teach me. A lot of knowledge was passed down to me during this time and I will never forget my time with GGM, the instructors, our visits to Hinigaran, and of course, Manila.
- GRAND MASTER SHELLEY MILLSPAUGH, USA -
How I met GGM Ernesto Presas
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 Martila 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. |
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.
- GRAND MASTER TOBY HARTELIUS, DENMARK-
Great memories with GGM. His been a father, friend, teacher and mentor to me. Missing to be his partner. Were just two of us teaching classes in a different universities. And doing one on one demo with the visitors from different countries.
I had one really funny moment with GGM, during demo's with him, after techniques ,many times he pull down my pants. I love GGM. Its already there! Mahal ko siya ! - SR. MASTER OLIVER GARDUCE, CANADA -
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I have tons of great memories of our late grandmaster. I've met many grandmasters but as a person GGM Ernesto made the biggest impression on me. Without his openness and will to teach us up here North, In
Finland, I probably would never have started learning the Filipino martial arts. A great memory, to name one, Is our trip to Laguna Volcanic Field. GGM Ernesto was driving a small car and I was being scared to death on the passenger seat. That was the first time I was riding on a car in the Philippines. Everything went fine nonetheless, we visited the volcano, a pineapple farm, and had blue marlin for lunch, which still is the best fish meal I ever had. There's many great memories, too many to list here. GGM Ernesto visited Finland twice, in 2003 and 2008. Both of those visits are unforgettable of course. I am grateful and proud to say I was his student. - SR MASTER TOMI HARELL, FINLAND -
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My first encounter with GGM Presas I had in 1984, on his first visit to Germany. At that time, I also met Master Pepe Yap, who accompanied him on this trip In ‘the years there followed regularly further visits with us in Germany, always with GM Wolfgang Schnur in Königslutter. I participated in all these lectures. On the occasion, I also got to know other masters, Michael Ermac, Julius Melegrito, Jan Jan (Presas Jr.), Johan Skalberg. In 2005, I flew with several sports friends from Germany to the Philippines to get to know the sport in the country of origin. Through my language barrier, the training was not always easy for me, but GGM Presas always tried to pass on his knowledge to me with patience and dedication. He has always been a role model for me.
- SR MASTER PETER KONSCHAK, GERMANY -
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I was trained by GGM Ernesto A. Presas in year 2008, in Riga, Latvia.
I’ve got a lot of knowledge, experience and expressions having communicated with GGM Ernesto A. Presas. I remember one moment, which characterizes perfectly GGM Ernesto Presas. It happened on the third day of training at the camp. While the lunch break Grandmaster stayed in the gym. Somebody brought him a sandwich. The rest of people gathered around him little by little. The questions flowed… Grandmaster Ernesto put away the bitten sandwich, grabbed baston and called master Michael Ermac and they started do some technics and demonstration answering the questions. So passed the break… When the conversation drifted to Kombatan, Grandmaster was beaver-like, he didn’t feel weariness! He could teach and convey his knowledge infinitely with fiery eyes! - MASTER ANDREY GROSS, RUSSIA-
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They were not forgotten the days when the morning to late at night,
we with my friends on the Kombatan from Ukraine trained with GGM Ernesto A. Presas and our teacher Master Herman Mochalin. Each day brought more and more new and very, not informative one of days spent together was not like the previous day, every day brought new positive emotions from communication with GGM Ernesto A. Presas! I am very glad that my life has been such a wonderful teacher like GGM Ernesto A. Presas !!! Maraming salamat GGM Ernesto A. Presas !!! - GURO IEVGEN SVIZHEVSKYI, UKRAINE -
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