My Arnis: URVIL JAMES ARNIS
A lifelong martial artist, I’ve spent over a decade teaching and over a decade and a half formally studying the martial arts. Starting out with traditional martial arts and earning my first black belt in Nerkin Ouj (a blended style of Hapkido, Karate and Judo), I went on to pursue additional formal training in other striking-based arts, including: Muay Thai, Kickboxing, Taekwondo, Karate, Wing Chun, Capoeira and Western Boxing.
Eventually earning a weapons-based black belt in Arnis while travelling and training in the Philippines, I was awarded my 4th Degree black belt in 2017 and subsequent 6th Degree black belt in the same style in 2018 due to my “extraordinary achievement of and commitment to” bringing the art of Arnis from the indigenous lands of the Philippines back to my home country of Canada—being considered the “Canadian representative” of the Black Scorpion Arnis style.
In 2020, I was also awarded my 4th Degree black belt in Sikaran (a blended-style of striking mixed with Arnis techniques) by the World Sikaran Brotherhood of the Philippines.
Currently, I’m studying Gracie Jiu Jitsu* under Joel Gerson (a Canadian grappling champion, Shooto veteran, and BJJ and Judo Black Belt) at Rev MMA in Toronto and Pekiti Tirsia Kali* under Paulo Rubio (GN Funker Tactical) of the Pekiti Tirsia Tactical Association at Soul Martial Arts & Fitness in Markham.
In addition to the martial arts, I have also achieved my 500-hour Yoga Instructor certification* under the Yoga Alliance*.
Ranks Held:
• 6th Degree black belt, Black Scorpion Arnis International, under Master Jose “Pempe” Repiedad
• 6th Degree black belt, Balintawak-Arnis, under Master Jose “Pempe” Repiedad
• 4th Degree black belt, World Sikaran Brotherhood Of The Philippines, certified by Grandmaster Pantas Meliton S. Geronimo Jr.
• Black belt, Nerkin Ouj, under Grandmaster Saki & Grandmaster Nevasartian
• Blue Belt, Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, under Joel Gerson
Certificates:
• 8 Hours of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Training with Rener Gracie
• 6 Hours of Machida Martial Arts Training with Lyoto Machida
Seminars:
•Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Street Self-Defense Mastery with Rener Gracie
F . A . Q . _________________
WHICH STYLE OF ARNIS DO YOU PRACTICE?
Black Scorpion Arnis* (currently studying Pekiti Tirsia Kali*).
WHAT OTHER STYLES OF MARTIAL ARTS HAVE YOU STUDIED?
Karate, Capoeira, Aikido, Tae Kwon Do, Wrestling, Western Boxing, Kickboxing, Wing Chun, Muay Thai, Gracie Jiu Jitsu, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Japanese Jiu Jitsu, Judo, Jeet Kune Do, Krav Maga, Tai Chi and Combat Sambo.
WHY DO YOU FOCUS ON ARNIS IF YOU'VE EXPLORED SO MANY OTHER STYLES?
Fighting is always better with a weapon in your hand…
WHICH APPLICATION OF ARNIS DO YOU FOCUS ON THE MOST?
Knife fighting.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN TEACHING MARTIAL ARTS?
Since 2011 (first kids, then adult classes).
WHERE ARE SOME PLACES THAT YOU’VE TAUGHT?
Energy Martial Arts Academy, Newton MMA, Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre.
ARE MARTIAL ARTS FORMS USEFUL?
Forms are great for understanding all of the potential strikes that may be thrown your way, alongside understanding how your body moves in various positions. Beyond that, I believe forms are best used for achieving a state of ‘Presence’ or ‘Meditative Flow’*.
WHY DO YOU EXPLORE/CONTINUE TO EXPLORE SO MANY DIFFERENT STYLES?
No ‘one-style’ can ever be truly complete. Thus, it’s best to become as well-rounded a practitioner as possible. When fighting, always try to start out with a weapon in your hand. If you lose that, you better know how to strike. If you get taken down—well, you better know how to grapple!
CAN I SEE SOME OF YOUR ARNIS FORMS?
The mind, like any other tool, needs guidance. Turn on a power saw and leave it there. It will begin to chaotically saw away at anything around it. Now, take hold of that same saw and guide it to help cut away at what's needed.