Grandmaster Bram Frank
Bram Frank is a first generation personal student, and disciple of the late Grandmaster Remy Presas, the Father and Founder of MODERN ARNIS. He was with Professor Presas from 1980 till his untimely demise in 2001. Bram has studied various fighting arts such as Wing Chun, JKD, American Freestyle Karate for over 40 years and has taken the principles from each as they can be applied to Filipino Martial Arts. Bram holds Dan rank in several arts and has been Director of Blunt & Edged weapons training for several federations worldwide. Currently he is Director of Edged Weapons training @ the S2 Law Enforcement-Security Institute. Over the last several years Bram has concentrated on the use of edged weapons / tools as a principle instrument of self defense and its use in Military, Police and Anti Terror applications. The World Head of Family Sokeship Grandmaster Council has recently recognized Bram as the First Modern Grandmaster on their council: the Grandmaster of a Tactical –Combative Fighting art: Common Sense: Self Defense- Street Combat and its Tactical application Modular Martial Blade Craft.
In 2004 while in the Philippines The Senior Master Council of Modern Arnis: consisting of such Arnisadors as GM Vic Sanchez, GM Roland Dantes, GM Jerry DeLa Cruz, & GM Rodel Dagoc recognized Bram as a Senior Master of Modern Arnis. In 2006 in the Philippines at the Remy Presas Memorial Festival and 3rd Filipino Martial Arts Festival in Tagatay, the International Modern Arnis Federation of the Philippines consisting of Modern Arnis dignitaries such as GM Rene Tongson, GM Cristino Vasquez, GM Roberto Presas recognized – acknowledged Bram as Grand Master of his CSSD Conceptual Modern Arnis-Combat Arnis as well as a IMAFP Senior Master of Modern Arnis. In Hinigaran Occidental Negros, the home town of Remy Presas, Bram was recognized as a Master of the Blade in Modern Arnis and as a Guardian of the Presas Family Legacy of the Blade.
In 2007 the 50th Anniversary of Modern Arnis Bram was awarded the Gat Andres Bonifacio Award by the Philippine Classical Arnis Association and GM Rene Tongson in honor of his CSSD Blade systems and his dedication to the art of Filipino blade. In 2008 in Boracay at the 4th Filipino Martial Arts festival he was awarded the Lapu Lapu award: by Arnis Philippines, IMAFP and the Department of Tourism ( the regulating bodies of Arnis in the Philippines) as Master of Blade Systems and Innovator of Blade use and design.
In December of 2007 Bram was Black Belt Magazines Hall of Fame Weapons Instructor of the Year. This is Bram‟s singular honor that reflects and respects his time with Professor Presas who himself won the Black Belt Weapons Instructor of the Year in 1994. Action Martial Arts Magazine and their Martial Arts Hall of Fame in January of 2008 named Bram the Grandmaster of the Year 2008.
To go with these honors those in the State of Israel such as Maj. Avi Nardia of Kapap and Dr Dennis Hanover the Father of Israeli Martial Art Dennis Survival and other members of the Sokeship Council in 2007 recognized Bram after over a decade of teaching knife & knife combatives in Israel, as the Father of Israeli Knife Fighting.- Knife Combatives, In 2008 at the World Head of Family Sokeship Council Martial Arts Hall of fame, the Sokeship Council‟s board echoed this recognition with a special award: Historical Figure Award GM Bram Frank Father of Israeli Knife Combatives. Then in July of 2012 Bram was recognized by the International Modern Arnis Federation of the Philippines recognized the Guardian of the Legacy of the Presas Bolo.
When Bram isn’t training, teaching, or designing, he is enjoying his friends and hanging out with his cat Za.
