BOOKS: "The Principles of Unarmed Combat" by Mark Jacobs

At last month's The Vanishing Flame:  Burma event, I had the privilege and honor of meeting Mark Jacobs. Mark currently is a contributing editor as well as writing the monthly column "Far East" for Black Belt magazine. He had no ride to Connecticut and I volunteered to drive him. Prior to our face-to-face meeting, we had exchanged a few emails when he was researching Phil Dunlap for his column. He came across my old archives in his internet...

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Rickson Gracie: "You have to be able to live in your worst nightmare."

In the current issue of Black Belt magazine, I read an article on Rickson Gracie and his combat psychology. I typed up one part of the article for my personal notes and also to share with you. IMO, this quote is very powerful and pure gold! I liked the writing style of the author and cannot wait for the book to be published. Although I have many books on my To Read list, when this book is available, it will jump to the top of my list! In all...

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11/11/11 11:11pm/Happy Veteran's Day/Jan 2012 Black Belt magazine heads-up

Just missed posting on this magical date and time. LOL @ me ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- To all veterans, Happy Veteran's Day! This one is for you Grandpa. He served America during World War 2. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Check out the Jan 2012 Black Belt magazine, there's an interesting...

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IN MEMORY OF: Smokin' Joe Frazier (January 12, 1944 – November 7, 2011)

Copied and pasted from http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/08/sports/joe-frazier-ex-heavyweight-champ-dies-at-67.html: November 7, 2011 Joe Frazier, Ex-Heavyweight Champ, Dies at 67 By RICHARD GOLDSTEIN Joe Frazier won the undisputed heavyweight title with a 15-round decision over Muhammad Ali at Madison Square Garden in March 1971, in an extravaganza known as the Fight of the Century. Joe Frazier, the former heavyweight champion...

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The Vanishing Flame: Burma - Saturday, October 1, 2011

Been jammed at home, been wanting to put this up earlier... Copied from Real Art's The Vanishing Flame: Burma Facebook page: One Night only, Saturday, October 1, 2011 RAW Teaser from Vanishing Flame on Vimeo. ... The Vanishing Flame series by filmmaker Vincent Giordano is a twenty-year investigative journey into the hidden martial traditions of Southeast Asia and India. This special presentation focuses on the martial traditions of Burma exploring the rich ethnic diversity and cultural heritage woven within the ancient martial traditions. The...

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The Vanishing Flame: A Filmmaker’s Journey to Document the Endangered Martial Arts of Asia

Screening and Live Event hosted by The Museum of the Moving Image Sunday, March 20, 1:00 p.m. 35 Avenue at 37 Street Astoria, NY 11106 Over the past two decades, New York filmmaker Vincent Giordano has traveled throughout Southeast Asia documenting martial arts masters whose unique styles and practices are on the verge of extinction. This journey has taken him to India, Thailand, Cambodia, Burma, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Giordano...

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REVIEW: “Village of the Keris” DVD

When I think “Thailand martial arts”, Muay Thai, Krabi Krabong and the various bareknuckle styles comes to mind. Little did I know that in the Southern region of Thailand, Silat is practiced instead of the indigenous Thai arts. In the “Village of the Keris” DVD, some of the Sila (Thai Silat) as practiced in Southern Thailand are demonstrated from the various lineages. The meat of the DVD has Guru Atabu instructing on the making of the Keris as...

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