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Welcome to the Dragon Arnis System!

Dragon Arnis was founded by Punong Guro John James and his senior students based on the many years of training and experience in the martial arts of the Philippines. In addition to its Filipino heritage Dragon Arnis is influenced strongly by and integrated with Kung Fu, Silat and Western Boxing.

With over 30 years experience in martial arts John, along with his senior students, have developed a comprehensive martial arts system with the syllabus incorporating arnis, panantukan, dumog, Kung Fu, and Silat. The foundation of the system is Arnis – a Filipino martial art emphasizing the use of sticks, knives, other bladed weapons, dulo-dulo, flexible and improvised weapons and combinations of weapons. In particular use of one weapon versus another is explored with the principle that “stick seeks bone; blade seeks flesh”.

The Dragon Arnis instructors have trained with many of the leading teachers of Arnis over many years. These include (though not in any particular order) Grandmaster Prudencio “Ondo” Caburnay (Lapunti Arnis de Abanico), Master John Mac (under Supreme Grandmaster Ciriaco “Cacoy” Canete's Doce Pares), Supreme Grandmaster Diony Canete (Doce Pares Multistyle), Grandmaster Nick Elizar (Nickelstick Escrima, previously of Teovel's Balintawak Group), Grandmaster Oliver Bersabal (Arnis Koredas Obra Mano), Grandmaster John Harvey (Kapatiran Arnis) with whom John trained for over 16 years and Tuhon Pat O'Malley (Rapid Arnis International).

We have a relaxed and open teaching approach which hopefully allows students and instructors to develop at their own pace and their own style. Each student and each instructor brings an unique outlook and knowledge to the system – helping it to grow and evolve – without this we stand still. We are open to training in other styles and welcome practitioners of other styles equally.

The emphasis of Dragon Arnis has always been to translate technical aspects of traditional drills into applicable combat situations. A drill might have an apparently impractical skill set until someone can explain its place in the scheme – often they are there to increase coordination, flow, timing or to provide a framework on which other elements are added. In neurological terms we try and utilise the SAID principle – specific adaptation to imposed demand – which basically means your body and mind adapt only if put under pressure. A simple drill once learnt has to be stretched and changed to create other patterns of movement and results so the practitioner won't be left with only one response to an attack. This is one of the main paradigms for Dragon Arnis – specific activity yields the greatest results. Using the various sparring formats and innovative drills to constantly test ourselves and various techniques has always been beneficial to advancement. With 7 WEKAF World Champions coming through the club over the years along with numerous British and European Champions and 4 British Limited Armour Champions – it must be working!

Enjoy the site and hopefully we will train together soon!

Mabuhay