MODERN ARNIS MASTER INTRODUCES NEW SYSTEM
By Jay de Leon

Prof. Armando Soteco, a master in a Filipino Martial Arts system called Modern Arnis and a noted educator, recently unveiled his new system and product called Singsing Soteco System (SSS) or Siningsing.  The term “singsing” is a Tagalog word meaning “ring” as in a ring worn on a finger.

Prof. Armando Soteco (extreme left) demonstrates his Siningsing system
to his class at the 4th FMA Festival in Boracay in the Philippines
 on July 2008.

Prof. Armando Soteco is one of the senior masters of an organization called the International Modern Arnis Federation of the Philippines (IMAFP), whose charter was approved by the Father and Founder of Modern Arnis, Prof. Remy Presas.  The other masters of this organization and this system currently include Modern Arnis notables Grandmasters Cristino Vasquez, Bambit Dulay, and Godofredo Fajardo of the Philippines and Datu Dieter Knuttel of Germany, all of whom trained with Prof. Presas for many years.

Grandmasters Cristino Vasquez of the Philippines (left) and Dieter Knuttel
of Germany of the International Modern Arnis Federation of the Philippines
(IMAFP) in action at the 4th FMA Festival in Boracay, Philippines
on July 2008. Photo courtesy of Michael Gubat of the Philippines.

Prof. Armando Soteco is an educator by profession, a retired college professor and currently a professor at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (University of the City of Manila), where he established the School for Arnis Professionals in 2003.  At the recently concluded 4th FMA Festival held in Boracay and Iloilo in the Philippines, he was awarded a Kampilan award for the propagation of Modern Arnis as well as education in the Philippines.

Prof. Armando Soteco, left, together with Atty. Salvador Demaisip (right),
Chairman of the International Modern Arnis of the Philippines (IMAFP), 
present Jeremiah Stanley of California, USA his Lakan certificate
at the 4th FMA Festival in Boracay, Philippines on July 2008.

Prof. Soteco officially unveiled his Siningsing system at the recently concluded 4th FMA Festival in Boracay, Philippines last July 2008.  Delegates to the convention and camp were treated to a demonstration of the system, and got to try out the product and the system.

While the system and product may be new, students found the concepts and even the techniques used in implementing the system fairly familiar.  The product is similar to what in the United States is called a kubaton, with a ring in the middle that fits the middle finger.

The siningsing therefore may be used as an impact weapon like a kubaton, or as an energy transference tool like brass knuckles.  It may even be used to block kicks, sticks and other deadly weapons, and may be used in tandem with another weapon like a stick, similar to espada y daga (sword and knife).

It is therefore a low-profile defensive impact weapon which is both effective yet non-lethal.  Anybody with knowledge of the Japanese martial arts systems of yawara and kubaton, or the Filipino martial arts systems of dulo-dulo, pakal or maliit na kahoy,  tapi-tapi (counter for counter) or dikitan (close quarters combatives) will find transitioning to the use of this product effortless and fun.

Senior Master Godofredo Fajardo of the International Modern Arnis of the
Philippines (IMAFP) demonstrates the use of the Siningsing product.

To purchase the product, including upcoming videos, go to Prof. Soteco’s website at www.soteco.webs.com , and you may purchase the products directly online.  Tell Prof. Soteco I sent you.

If you desire instruction of this very effective weapon, look for an IMAFP instructor at www.imafp.com , or an instructor of Master Godofredo Fajardo’s organization at www.filipinofightingartsintl.com , or contact the author through this website.

Good luck with your martial arts quest.

Mabuhay ang Pilipinas at ang Arnis!