Karate Quest has added additional Fitness classes for 2009. The cool thing is that some of the classes run head to head with the kids classes allowing for busy parents to train on the upper level while their kids train on the lower level. The fitness class is perfect for the person who prefers to work out without the structure of a traditional martial arts class.
Of course we always invite the parents to don a karate uniform and train right alongside their kids. What a cool experience that is. You can’t attend Middle School or graduate from High School with your kids, but you can earn yout Black Belt together. That is one of the most incredible things you can ever do.
For those that take their training even more serous we invite you to participate in our Adult Self-Defense or Modern Arnis class. Best of all you can achieve your fitness goals, have a lot of fun and what you learn can help you save your life.
Professor Remy Presas in a candid interview at Karate Quest talks about his family art of Modern Arnis as the arts Senior Black Belt and system head. The interview took place on June 14th. We hope you enjoy watching it as much as we enjoyed doing it.
The Seminar started off on Friday 13th, and was a big hit. There were individuals attending from a variety of backgrounds from curious civilian to seasoned law enforcement officers. Everyone benefited and was able to take something away from the event and have a greater appreciation for the Modern Arnis that is headed by Grand Master Remy Presas, Jr.
Not only did he prove to be a master of the martial art that he teaches, but he has also mastered the art of being a gentleman. At the end of the day, it is very cool to meet so many remarkable and yet humble people that make up the world of martial arts be it in Chinese Kenpo Karate, Modern Arnis or any of the many other martial arts.
That said, I have met enough martial artist over the years to know that not all are people that I would like to spend my time around off the training floor. I have to say that would not be a concern regarding Remy Presas.
While here he bestowed the rank of 6th degree black belt on Pat Armijo who teaches the Modern Arnis at the Karate Quest Studio. Pat had no idea that he would be promoted. There were three individuals at the event that were testing for various degrees of black belt and Pat was not one of them. Pat accepted the honor graciously and is the newest of a select few 6th degree black belts in the Modern Arnis.
If you missed this one do not worry. I’m certain that Mr. Presas will be returning in the future.
Come by and allow us to introduce you to Karate Quest Excellence!
This Friday the 13th and Saturday the 14th we will be privileged to have Remy Presas, Junior, the Senior Black Belt and Grandmaster of Modern Arnis at the Karate Quest Training Center in Ferndale, Washington. Mr. Presas is coming at the invitation of my good friend and fellow martial artist Pat Armijo. How cool is that? There will even be several individuals who will test for their Black Belt status in the art with Grandmaster Presas.
If you do not know the name Remy Presas as it applies to the Martial Arts then you should. As a kid in school I followed the career of Remy Presas, Senior, as he traveled about the United States and abroad with such notables as Walley Jay and Ed Parker promoting the art of Modern Arnis. Since the death of Remy Presas, Senior, his son and first Black Belt in the Modern Arnis, Remy Presas, Junior has carried the torch as the official head of the system.
Just as I observed following the death of Mr. Ed Parker there was a lot of people claiming they were anointed to be the new system head following the death of Remy Presas, Senior. So not to sound too much like a line straight out of the Highlander, “There can only be one.” Grandmaster Remy Presas, Junior, is the one when it comes to Modern Arnis.
How do I apply that same attitude regarding Kenpo Karate and the passing of Mr. Parker you ask? Quite simple. Mr. Parker’s 4th Black Belt was Chuck Sullivan. When you strip away the politics Chuck is the Senior Grandmaster and final word when it comes to Kenpo Karate. Another Kenpo great is that of Vic Leroux who has trained with Mr. Sullivan and Mr. Parker since he was just a kid himself.
That said, come train with Grandmaster Remy Presas this weekend. You will learn a ton and truly enjoy the camaraderie that exist at Karate Quest.
The Bandalan system of Doce Pares Eskrima was developed by Grandmaster Alfredo Bandalan through his studies with both Grandmaster Dionisio “Diony” Canete and Grandmaster Cacoy Canete. GM Bandalan studied Serrada Escrima with GM Angel cabales and Mike Inay. GM Bandalan teaches kenpo and has roots in the C.H.A. 3 kenpo system founded by Professor Marino Tiwanak, in Hawaii.
GM Bandalan is one of the founding members of WEKAF and he presented his system of Doce Pares and WEKAF sparring at Karate Quest, in Ferndale, Washington. There were three sessions; Friday, May 2nd (6:00 pm-8:00 pm), Saturday, May 3rd (10:00 am – noon & 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm). GM Bandalan was accompanied by Guro Loretta Fydrych, Sensei Felix Ordiniza, Tim Keating and current WEKAF world champion, Guro Anthony Ordiniza.
After the seminar, on Friday, GM Bandalan and his team gave a demonstration at the Kalahi Martial Arts Academy, operated by Master Lou M. Faralon, in Mt. Vernon, Washington. The demonstration was entertaining, dynamic, and informative.
GM Bandalan exhibited outstanding expertise in escrima and he has an infectious sense of humor. Our students had a great time learning from GM Bandalan. The response to the WEKAF style of sparring was very positive and we filmed all of the sparring matches. We look forward to having GM Bandalan come back to Karate Quest and thank him for spending time with us.
Well we had another outstanding graduation ceremony at the school. We had approximately 50 rank advancements and awarded the first orange belts since the school opened last September. That was a very exciting thing as all of the people who were awarded a rank earned that rank.
Every person must undergo an individual evaluation. This differentiates it quite a bit from the group test that many schools do. It takes a lot more time and effort, but it yields a better result. The students are generally well prepared for the exam process through the regular class training sessions and their personal training that they do (this karate homework really makes a difference). Also, we generally offer some special open gym times for the school members to come and work on whatever they need to work on while we circulate as instructors to assist and tailor their needs.
However, the best part of the testing is that it works out to be a private lesson where student and instructor can review the techniques and determine an exact plan of action to take the student to the next level of their training. This accelerates the student’s learning process and advances their skill level much more rapidly than the group testing format employed by so many other schools. What’s more is the test can be video taped to allow the student to see their performance from a third party perspective. This is particularly helpful as the students work on advanced concepts in their martial arts progression.
That said, we must congratulate the students for all their hard work. Regarding those students who are still in their youth we must also congratulate their parents who make the training possible for their children. Of course we must also give a shout out of “good job” to the assistant instructors who facilitate a large part of the learning that takes place in the school.
Karate Quest held it’s very first belt graduation and gave the already new school a brand new look. In short we went from being a brand new school full of white belts to a school with yellow striped belts, beginning yellow belts and full yellow belts. In all nearly 40 members of the Karate Quest family were promoted following two days of testing.
Each person is tested on an individual basis allowing for more exact feedback on what they did really well and what they can do better. We want each student to be on a quest to be their best.
While the majority of the students were promoted in the art of Kenpo Karate a few were also awarded ranks of yellow belt for their hard work in the art of Modern Arnis under the guidance of Mr. Pat Armijo. They also demonstated some of their basic knife and stick techniques for the guest and visitors at the graduation ceremony.
Another highlight was Team Karate Quest and their high energy demonstration that included good sound traditional technique with an occasional, “Wow!” kind of move thrown into the mix in the form of a back-flip or 720 hook-kick. Not to mention the gainers.
Congratulations to all of the students in the Karate Quest school and their families that support them in this great endeavor to achieve our highest potential.
The new school in Ferndale is finally open! While we are in Ferndale we are easily seen from I-5 Northbound just north of the new Wilson’s Furniture. The school is absolutely the best training center in Whatcom County with 1,800 square feet of mats on the first floor with another 1,060 square foot second level mezzanine that provides and even more mat space.
The school is the Ultimate Martial Arts training center. Speaking of art, you should stop by to see the forty foot long Dragon Mural that rises up above the training area. That alone merits a tour of the school and we have more art work that we will commission as the school continues to grow.
The classes are really shaping up quickly and those that have already enrolled are having the time of their lives. They basically use this as a mini vacation several times a week. Of course with the absolute best in Self-Defense anywhere they get fitness with a purpose. Of course for people of all ages their is plenty of emphasis and strong basics as well as some very exciting advanced techniques and concepts. In other words, the fun never ends when you are involved in the Karate Quest training programs where nothing but the best will do.
That said, we even put a granite deep sink in the school. Where else would you find that. We don’t settle for second best and neither should you. We look forward to meeting you soon.
Well the school has been a long time coming and it is nearly ready for it’s innaugural opening in August! We will be specializing in programs for the whole family with a strong emphasis on creating better families and a stronger community via all the benefits of the the Karate Quest training.
