Author: Punong Lakan Garitony Nicolas
Alternate names: Sir Pet, Father of Modern Sinawali, Raffy Nicolas
Title: Founder/Chief Instructor
Born: July 21, 1968
Bio: Garitony Carlos Nicolas was born in Manila on July 21, 1968. He is second of the five children of Zenaida Francisco Carlos and Antonio Gonzales Nicolas (RIP). Garitony in his relatives and friend called him Tonypet, in martial arts Sir Pet or Punong Lakan and in the world of show business he is known as Raffy Nicolas. 

 He started learning the art of arnis at the age of 13 under the tutelage of Grandmaster Ernesto A. Presas, founder of Arjuken Karate Association International and the International Philippine Martial Arts Federation (IPMAF). He became the instructor and club president of IPMAF from 1983 to 1994 and was bestowed the club’s “Outstanding Instructor of the Year award” on December 18, 1987.

 Besides Presas, Nicolas also studied from other well-known arnis masters that include Grandmaster Nemesio B. Puno, Grandmaster Benjamin Luna (RIP), Grandmaster Dannie San Joaquin and Professor Armando Soteco.

 Holding the rank of “Punong Lakan,” Nicolas in 1995 officially registered his own martial arts organization named “Modern Arnis Mano-Mano Filipino Martial Arts (MAMFMA).” Since then, he became known as one of the respectable masters of arnis in the country. Nicolas is most noted for creating numerous variations of sinawali. His style that he called “Modern Sinawali” boasts of more than 363 variations of double-stick fighting earning him the title “Father of Modern Sinawali.”

 In July 23, 2005, he was awarded the International Hall of Fame Instructor of the Year award by the United States Martial Arts Association (USMAA). Two years later, his organization, the MAFMA was awarded the “2007 Organization of the Year “by the Filipino Martial Arts Digest (FMA Digest), a United States-based online digest published by Steven Dowd.

Punong Lakan has also taught arnis in the following institutions: The British School of Manila, Datamex Institute of Computer College, Metro Manila Development Authority Traffic Office Command (MMDA-TOC), International Electronic Technological Institute, Pasay City North High School (Boy Scouts of the Philippines), PBN Security Agency, Wack-Wack Security and Safety Department, R and O Academy, Masakaf Foundation Inc., Cosmo Pro-Gym, Rockwell Sports Club Makati and Body Optics Gym.

 From 1999 until 2002, he was the first arnis instructor to have conducted the biggest demonstration of the art arnis in response to the request of the Department of Tourism in cooperation with the Philippine Indigenous Games Sports Savers Association Inc. (PIGSSAI). The project involved over 1000 arnisadors.

 Nicolas’ extensive exposure in show business landed him on projects as fight director of several television shows the most recent was Encantadia – Etheria aired on GMA 7. He has likewise appeared and was featured in several TV programs among them were Sheka Show (NBN 4), House of the Global News Network (GNN), Best Men and Tropang Potchi (GMA News TV), Unang Hirit, Mel and Joey, SOP variety Show (GMA 7) and Sports Unlimited (ABS-CBN). He did some commercials like the Magic Flakes – all for one and one for all, Kotex with Alessandra de Rossi, talk and Text and many more. In 1995, he did his first international film under the Bristish Broadcasting Company (BBC) Production with John Hurt.

 Punong Lakan has been featured in different Philippine publications like the Manila Bulletin, Manila Times, Philippine Star Week Magazine Sports Digest Magazine, Tempo, People’s Tonight, Herald, Bongga, Super Star Komiks, People’s Journal, Bisaya Magazine, Abante, People’s Taliba and Kislap Magazine.

  A prolific writer, Nicolas is also the author of several books on the Filipino martial arts:  Single Sinawali, Sistemang Pang-Oran, Freestyle, The Official Anyo of MAMFMA, Eagle, Arnis for Kids, Arnis Kickboxing System (ARKIBOS), 363 Modern Sinawali, Arnis de Mano Coloring and Activity Book, The Principles of a Good Arnisador, The Philosophy of Arnis Nicolas System, Filipino Martial arts ABC, Self-Defense for Women, Modern Sinawali, Katutubong Sining ng Pilipino – Arnis and Espada Y Daga.

At present, Punong Lakan is the Executive Director of the Philippine Martial Arts Hall of Fame, Editor-in-chief of Martial Artists’ Catalogue and one of the Board of Director of acKunz Consultancy, Inc.