9TH KOMBATAN TRAINING CAMP HELD

The International Philippine Martial Arts Federation (IPMAF) held the 9th Kombatan Training Camp on April 25 to May 6, 2005 at the Presas Beach in Hinigaran, Negros Occidental. The objective of this IPMAF sanctioned event was to uplift and promote the Filipino martial arts in the global community so that it will obtain worldwide popularity and acceptance.

About 50 foreign instructors from America, Australia, Canada, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Sweden, and Thailand gathered in Hinigaran to study directly under Grandmaster Ernesto “Erning” A. Presas (born: 1945), founder of the kombatan system of Filipino martial arts and the “Father of Mano-Mano.”

Topics covered include solo baston, doble baston, espada y daga, daga sa daga, dos puntas, tres puntas, empty hand & foot fighting, throwing & takedowns, dulo-dulo, and bangkaw.

GM Ernesto Presas is a lakan sampu (10th degree) in arnis and mano-mano and lakan walo (8th degree) in Filipino Weaponry. He is the founder of the Modern Arnis Association of the Philippines International (1970), ARJUKEN (Arnis-Jujutsu-Kendo) Karate Association International (1970), and
International Philippine Martial Arts Federation (1975).

GM Ernesto Presas’ art of kombatan, which is a blend of arnis weaponry and mano-mano empty hands, is practiced in different parts of the world including Australia, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States. GM Ernesto Presas is the author of The Art of Arnis (1981) and Arnis: Presas Style and Balisong (1985). He has also been featured in several magazines among them inside Kung Fu.

GM Ernesto Presas conducts the Kombatan Training Camp every 2 years in his hometown Hinigaran where he is well loved by the townsfolk for all that he has done to their municipality. When not in the Philippines, he travels the world teaching seminars for the spread of the Filipino martial arts.

Master Michael “Simba” Ma-alat (born: 1940), lakan pito (7th degree), assisted GM Presas during the training camp. Master Ma-alat is the founder of the Majubox Club and had served as an instructor for barangay tanods in the 24 barangays in Hinigaran. On May 6, 2005, during the awarding ceremonies of the training camp, GM Presas awarded Master Ma-alat with his 9th degree grandmaster grade.