"Beginning Arnis (Stick Fighting) Vol 1 was made as a simple guide to help students learn the Filipino martial art of Arnis (also called "Escrima" and "Kali"). In 1985 I opened my first school in Old Lyme, CT and in 1986 I went full time and opened my second school in New London, CT. I was a member of a martial arts Association and felt the knife techniques were "dangerous". So I decided to study Arnis. At the time Remi Presas was making the rounds and spreading FMA (Filipino Martial Arts). Somewhere around 1987 I took a clinic with Remi Presas. Shortly after this clinic Greg Alland walked into my school. At first I thought he came in to ask about lessons but it soon became apparent he was there to teach me. He said he practiced Arnis and I said "I just took a clinic with Remi Presas". He asked me to show him what I knew (Which I admitted was not much at all) and then Greg made the sticks hum! He moved the sticks like the propellor of a helicopter. He asked about my knife defenses and soon he was "buttering" me with the knife like a kid makes a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. It was ugly -BUT I found a teacher (Well - he found me!) I introduced Greg Alland to Kwan Jhang Nim Charles Ferraro and this began our long study of Arnis with Greg Alland. In 1999 I relocated my family from New London, CT. to Fayetteville, NC. My Pastor (Michael Pacella) joined the Army and was stationed at Ft Bragg and suggested I move to Fayetteville and "teach the Green Berets". In the Holy Bible we see when Sarah heard she was going to bear a child in her old age she laughed in her heart and when Pastor Pacella said I should teach the US Special Forces I laughed in my heart too! But, as if it were prophesy - sure enough and within 6 months I was teaching the US Special Forces. In June 2001 I receive my first contract from 2/3 SFG (A) and was "Officially Contracted" to teach the US Special Forces "FIGHT CUT Combatives" (Fully Integrated Grappling and Hitting Techniques - Close Up Techniques).To create FIGHT CUT I volunteered one year of working with 2/3 SFG (A) to develop and refine a Combatives Course which would teach the skills needed for Combatives in a simple, direct, and effective manner. FIGHT CUT was selected andcontracted and was proudly being taught to the US Special Forces and the 82nd ABN DIV. From Tang Soo Do I drew kicks, strikes, and blocks. From Japanese Ju Jitsu I drew joint locks, sweeps, throws, chokes, and arm bars. From Brazilian Jiu Jitsu I drew groundfighting techniques and from Kali I drew stick and knife fighting techniques. This book was designed to introduce students to the beginning techniques of Arnis (Kali - Escrima). Students can train and level (Rank) in Arnis.
