Dr. Jerome Barber
As for myself, my background in the martial arts is through Sifu Don Zanghi, who taught a blended Kenpo-Arnis program at his ‘Fighting Back Institute’ in Buffalo NY. When I began training with Sifu Zanghi we were a Tracy System Kenpo school. Sifu Zanghi went to train with Professor Remy Presas at a 2 week Modern Arnis Training Camp in 1982. He came back a changed man. He began integrating the Tracy Kenpo with Modern Arnis. We had a nearly prefect blending of empty hand with weapons self- defense training. By 1985 when I received my black belt form Sifu Zanghi, the art was listed as Kenpo-Arnis and my belt rank was listed as Shodan-Lakan Isa, a 1st degree black belt, in each art. I’ve continued my training in both arts. My new Tracy Kenpo instructor was Sensei Ernie McPeek and I went to as well as hosted numerous seminars and camps conducted Professor Presas. I would eventually earn 3rd degree Black Belts from each instructor and then went on to earn 6th degree black belts from Shihan Ernie McPeek (Kenpo Goshin-jitsu) and Punong Guro Tom Bolden (American Modern Arnis).
I developed and wrote the curriculum for the Erie Community College Self Defense Program. I first wrote the curriculum in 1985 with revisions in 1986, which I presented to the South Campus Physical Education department Curriculum Committee for their review and approval. I was granted permission to teach PE 200 – SD I – Basic Kenpo-Arnis for Self Defense, in September 1987 and then PE 201 – SD II – Modern Arnis-Pancipanci Eskrima for Self Defense, in January 1988. The PE Department, then granted me permission to teach PE 220 – SD III – Modern Arnis – Paradigm Escrima in the fall semester of 1988 and PE 221 – SD IV – Advanced Kenpo-Arnis for Self Defense in the spring semester 1989. In May of 1989, the department granted my courses permanent curriculum status. That status was greatly aided by the fact that my entire curriculum was reviewed by and earned the approval of Professor Remy Presas in April 1989. Professor’s review of the entire curriculum took over 4 hours to complete. He had me go through every exercise, drill, anyo (form or kata) and technique in the curriculum. It was the best testing procedure that I have ever gone through because I was being tested on my own ideas and presentations. The ECC curriculum has ultimately earned the recognition and approval of Grandmaster Al Tracy and Punong Guro Tom Bolden. They both gave their approval in 1992.
The approval of these three men is quite significant because I am teaching the ONLY college-based academic credit bearing courses in the USA or Canada for Modern Arnis and Tracy System Kenpo. My Kenpo-Arnis Self Defense Program is unique in American Colleges and has been one of the reasons that I was asked to become a member of the World Head of family Sokeship Council in 2004. The ECC program has run for 38 consecutive semesters or 19 years as a credit-bearing program. I am quite proud of that accomplishment and very grateful to the PE Department members for the initial confidence that they had in my curriculum proposal.
My intention right from the beginning was to teach the Kenpo-Arnis blend that I had learned from sifu Zanghi. I also wanted to follow up on his ideas and techniques while integrating as much new material as possible from other arts. I loved working through the process of ‘making the art for myself’ as Professor Presas had always told us we should at seminars and camps. I already had the “art within your art” concept ingrained in my training through Sifu Zanghi, now I wanted to build on it and open new doors for my own students. That is why I have hosted seminars, camps, symposiums and summits throughout my teaching career at ECC.
The 14 summer programs are the top end events, but the seminars during the academic school years have been vital to our over-all success at the college. We have had instructors such as Roberto Torres, Tom Bolden, Ernie McPeek, Remy Presas, Bobby Taboada, Daniel Donzella, Kevin Seaman, Mike Haley, Abon Baet, Eric Joseph, Ric Jornales, Hoch Hockheim, Tom Barnhart and Eddie Lastra. The variety of martial arts styles and the consistently high instructional standards have always given my students new insights into the arts in general and reinforced certain principles regard motion, evasion and striking that I have taught them. The ECC program has been built around the principles of quality instruction, small student to teacher ratio, and learning through mentoring, self-discovery and continuous personal growth. My martial arts philosophy has no room for “cloning” and the art must be adjusted to fit the individual’s body, strengths, weaknesses and mentality.
I closely followed the philosophical principles fostered by my instructors and mentors, Don Zanghi, Remy Presas, Ernie McPeek, Billy Bryant, Tom Bolden, Roberto Torres, Daniel Donzella, Abon Baet and Eddie Lastra. They all encouraged exploration, discovery, idea reformulations of drills and techniques. All of men were curious, quick- witted and adventurous. They were never content to rely solely of the past experiences of others and foster tradition over innovation. Because of each of these people, the ECC Self Defense Program has grown and through it I have been able to produce some excellent students who are now teaching martial arts with their own flair and enthusiasm. None of my students, who went on to become my training partners are standing in my shadow.
They are their own individuals with strong confident personalities. Tim Kashino, Richard Curren, Paul Martin, Kenny Q., Debra Moore, Keith Roosa, Buddy Antonio and Tony Illardo are making thing happen in their own individual ways. It doesn’t get much better than that from my perspective.
There are a number of people who differ in opinion from me in terms of an approach to the art (Modern Arnis) and a philosophy with regard to teaching. I am amused by these differences because I do not have a need to be superior to my students. As they grow and improve so do I. From time to time a student will bring up a new idea or approach to a technique. Like any good blues or jazz player, when I come across a good idea, I acknowledge it, take it as my own, re-work it, make it fit me and then use it. I don’t treat Modern Arnis as a static, traditional, fixed in place art that can only be taught as the late grand master taught it. Modern Arnis is a dynamic, fluid, flexible and adaptable martial art that grows through each person who studies and uses it. It is a stand-alone art yet it is also highly Integra table and can become “the art within your art” as Professor was teaching it during the early years that I was learning it through Sifu Zanghi and Professor. The art within your art approach and adapting Modern Arnis to fit yourself made Modern Arnis, for me, the best thing to come along since ‘homemade hot-buttered-bread fresh out of the oven.” I love my Tracy Kenpo! I love my Modern Arnis! And I am head over heels in love with the Zanghi method of blending “Kenpo-Arnis”! I am thrilled to be able to take, ideas from Al Tracy, Remy Presas, Don Zanghi, Ernie McPeek, Billy Brant and Tom Bolden, blend them into an ever tightening spiral of knowledge that allows me to express myself as myself and not a clone of any one of them. Those people who have a single minded, one method fit all approach to Modern Arnis are missing the real joy and essence of what Professor was actually teaching. But rather than fight with them I simply go about my business and teach the art, as I believe it should be taught.
If one is seeking an in-depth understanding of their ‘mother-art’ sometimes those insights will come through their understanding of another art, hence “the art within your art” concept as espoused by Professor Presas.
I have found new, different and very interesting people in my journeys through the martial arts world. My Kenpo-Arnis blend has been greatly enriched by the ideas and
The BMAS is an excellent example of what I believe. I celebrate those differences and try to learn from them. I also look for and find similarities that allow me to learn more about what others are doing as well as gain some added insights into what I am already doing. Professor Presas knew that the ‘art within your art’ concept was a dual highway for learning. It didn’t matter which direction you were traveling, from Modern Arnis to Kenpo, Aikido Shotokan, Kajukenbo, Tiger Claw Kung Fu, Jiu-jitsu, contributions that have come to me through other arts and the people who shared the information with me over these years.
I have benefited from attending and participating in events such as the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame, Gathering of Eagles, Modern Arnis Symposium, Saratoga Martial Arts Festival, Straight from the Sources Festival and the Modern Arnis Tipunan. Now I am once again in a position to give something back to my martial arts brothers and sisters through the Buffalo Martial Arts Summit.
Without a doubt, meeting some old friends and former students at the BMAS; was great. However the real joy of these events is in meeting new people, sharing new ideas and concepts, finding out about one another and the arts that we practice. There is in my opinion still more to see and learn from others. The Buffalo Martial Arts Summit was open to everyone who was inquisitive, thoughtful, and receptive to new ideas. It is a place where cloning is not an option and everyone was welcomed to make a contribution, however large or small.
Jerome Barber, Ed. D. Professor – Erie Community College, Orchard Park, NY Principal Instructor – Independent Escrima-Kenpo-Arnis Assoc Associates
