Oct. 30th, 2011
Background information 'Best of the West Camp'
Keep a weekend free for a very special event!
From the 28th to the 30th of September 2012, the DAV will host to the most important Modern Arnis camp (besides the DAV summer-camps) of the last decade in Europe.
The 'Best of the West Camp 2012' in Dortmund, Germany
The camp is based on the idea, to bring the best Modern Arnis instructors (who have their roots with GM Remy Presas), of the western hemisphere together so that they teach at one camp.
The previous camp of this kind was held in Juli 2011 in Buffalo, USA, organized by GM Datu Tim Hartman. The leading instructors of different Modern Arnis groups came together, 10 years after the death of Professor Remy Presas’ and taught together there.
Despite of problems between the instructors in the previous years the camp was held with 9 instructors, even though there were some hesitations before, if it would or even could work.
It was organized under the name of 'Modern Arnis Family Reunion Camp, A time for healing' and it DID work. The atmosphere was fantastic and all had a good time. It went so well and harmoniously, that the participants asked: 'What healing?' All instructors had a very good time with the students, with each other and the students of course as well.
Then I had the idea, to bring the camp to Germany. I knew, that I could not bring 8 instructors from the US, so I asked the ones, who played in my eves the leading role in spreading Modern Arnis during the last 10 years. All have agreed immediately to come and teach.
So with Dan Anderson, Chuck Gauss, Tim Hartman, Kelly Worden, Brian Zawilinski and myself the motto of the camp: 'Best of the West' is clearly fullfilled. That does not mean, that other instructors are not also qualified to teach under this motto, but these 6 clearly qualify to the part of the 'Best of the West'
I contacted the other members of the board of the directors of the DAV and we decided, to host the camp from the 28th to the 30th of September 2012 in Dortmund Germany.
Now this camp is not for the instructors. It is for the participants. It is a lot of work and also some risk, to invite 5 Masters from the US to Germany for only one camp.
So I hope, that this camp will be supported by you and many will come and participate. Not only from Germany but from other countries and hopefully also from the U.S.A. as well and not only from Modern Arnis. We kept the rates very reasonable, negotiated good deals with the restaurant and some hotels and even sleeping for free in the hall will be possible. All, to make it easy for you to come and participate.
Also important form e is our goal, that the camp will be held in the spirit of the 'Worldwide Family of Modern Arnis', WFMA, that the Modern Arnis of the different groups worldwide is coming together to teach, train and celebrate, with respect openness and friendship towards each other.
For me important is also, that each will have the chance, that national, international and intercontinental friendships can be made or established friendships can be deepened. All over Europe and from the US to Russia.
This way we can show the martial arts world, that Modern Arnis, despite or because of its different variations, groups, facets and developments in the last decade, have the same roots and belongs together.
Let us all meet in Germany and be friends through Modern Arnis and the legacy, that GM Remy Presas left to all of us.
I am really looking forward to see you all on this camp.
Grandmaster Datu Dieter Knüttel
BotW Camp director