Tim "Tamaraw" Rivera
Gat Ninong
Tim has been involved with Southeast Asian (Filipino and Indonesian) martial arts since 1995. He had focused primarily in Pencak Silat Mande Muda and Inosanto Kali before discovering the Garimot system in 2001. Today, he teaches Garimot Arnis and Harimaw Buno to those interested in the St. Louis area and brings Gat Puno Abon to St. Louis twice a year for GAT seminars. His fighting name (Tamaraw) is the water buffalo native only to Mindoro island. It is renowned for its dangerous ferocity, especially when threatened.
Dan "Agila" Berg
Gat Guro
Dan began training in the Garimot system in 2001 and is currently an instructor in Garimot Arnis. Before training in the Filipino martial arts, he studied Aikido for many years. His fighting name (Agila) is the eagle, known in the Philippines as the 'king bird' (haribon). The Phillipine Eagle is one of the most powerful birds of prey in the world and is large enough to prey on monkeys and other birds.
Because Garimot Arnis is a family art, its practitioners consider each other family. The head of the family is called Gat Puno (Chieftain). He leads the family by example, makes decisions about its direction, and is the head of the system. A new practitioner who has shown dedication in training and given support to the family is called Kapatid (brother/sister). After being with the family for a few years, the student is now called Kuya (older brother) or Ate (older sister), and it is their job to help and look out for their younger kapatid. When permission is given to teach, they are referred to as Guro (teacher). Usually by this time, a member of the family has earned his fighting name from Gat Puno, which reflects both his personality and fighting style. Senior instructors in the Garimot family are called Ninong (godfather). It is their responsibilty to help Gat Puno promote and protect the art and the family.