Flowin' On The River Modern Arnis Camp: A Review

If you've read this blog at all, you know that I'm a sucker for training at seminars and camps.

I go to at least one out of town camp or training event annually, and at our school, Kindred Protective Arts, we host 3-5 out-of-town guests at a minimum every year, and I go to local events as often as I can.

I recently traveled to a really neat Modern Arnis camp, and I want to talk about it.

The third weekend of June 2025 appears to be a ridiculously popular weekend for martial arts events. There were MANY great training opportunities on this weekend. Since this year I only get to travel to one out of town camp (lots of reasons), the timing, price, and instructor mix worked out best for me to attend Flowin' on the River down in Florida.

I think it speaks volumes for my respect for the instructors, Datu Dieter Knüttel and GM Bruce Chiu that four of my students and I set foot in ground zero for hot, flat, wet and humid to train with these guys... OUTDOORS. IN FLORIDA. IN SUMMER. IN BASICALLY A SWAMP.

No, it isn't.

The THINGS I DO for the love of my art, y'all.

As miserable as the weather was (aka normal for that part of the world and almost identical to the weather in Kansas City on the same weekend, so feel free to roll your eyes at my pity party), literally every other part of this camp weekend was awesome.

First, let's talk about the location. We basically took over the historical and picturesque Suwannee Gables Hotel and Marina. We trained on the banks of the Suwannee River, under trees dripping Spanish Moss. It was so very "Florida", from the climate, amenities, and decor. The hotel is updated but also kind of old-school, and that combination was charming. If you're in the area, do check it out (and read their story on their website, it's really lovely).

Friday night selfie!

Next, let's talk about the hosts. Jamie and Cameron Byrd (Apex Arnis) did a fantastic job in organizing this seminar, keeping us fed, hydrated, and relatively comfortable. Jamie drove all over Florida picking up out-of-towners and shuttling us around. My heartfelt thanks to them, and kudos for doing such a good job on their first attempt at a camp. We had our first one a few months ago - Presas Family Fusion (coming again in 2027!) - so I know how much work it is behind the scenes from personal experience. This camp was thoughtfully put together with a lot of effort (on relatively short notice even) and they executed it beautifully.

Instruction at the camp was held in three-hour chunks, and Datu Dieter taught two hours in each block, and GM Bruce taught one (on the thinking that the majority of attendees local to Florida get to see Florida-based GM Bruce all the time, which makes sense).

Full disclosure: If I had to guess, I'd suppose that I have received seminar instruction from Datu Dieter more than just about any other OG Modern Arnis instructor currently teaching. He is a big influence on my teacher, and I admire and respect both him and the Deutscher Arnis Verband e.V..

I personally believe the DAV is the best Modern Arnis organization in the world.

GM Bruce is my first Modern Arnis teacher's instructor, and first met and trained at a seminar of his in early 2009. Over the years, in seminar hours, he's probably a close second to Datu Dieter, but add in personal instruction, and he's the biggest Modern Arnis influence on me outside of my direct teachers Mark Lynn and David Jones.

Datu Dieter and GM Bruce delivered really good fundamental instructions on certain techniques and concepts that we do in Modern Arnis all the time.

Yeah, my students and I paid hundreds of dollars in travel and seminar fees to work on basics.

Or to put it another way, we invested in the time and attention of two instructors that I rank among the best there is to help us better understand and execute what's most important in the martial arts.

KPA Students got one-on-one instruction from two OG Grand Masters.

As we say at KPA, Fundamentals Always Matter. Spending time working on and perfecting fundamentals is always going to make us better, so it's time well spent.

Having the vision and the input of two top level guys was TOTALLY worth the effort to get it. I came home with all sorts of ideas for my personal growth and to reinforce important concepts at our school.

My students who didn't go are gonna have some fun over the next few weeks, that's for sure.

Finally, I want to mention one of the big reasons to go to events like this.

You go for the relationships. I reconnected with a lot of people in my martial arts family, met for the first time people I'd known about from stories being told but I'd never met in person, and got introduced to new folks I'm glad to call friends now.

My students ask me how come we know all these top-level instructors, and how we know people all over the United States (and the world). This is how - we go to events like this, hang out, learn from each other, and build friendships. This is almost as important as the martial arts training we get at these things.

Maybe, for many of us, THE most important thing.

Flowin' on the River 2025. That's me next to Dieter in the baseball cap.

Flowin' on the River had it all. Well organized, cool location, great people, and top-notch instruction.

There's talk of them doing it again, and if they do, give this camp STRONG consideration to going yourself.

You won't regret it!