Sonny Umpad: Sangot (Sickle) GIFs

Yesterday would've been Sonny Umpad's 67th birthday.  In his honor, I made some animated GIFs of him in action with the Sangot (Sickle). The Sangot flow teaches about circles, spirals and continuous movement. It trains how to never 'run out of angle'. I took the liberty to make the GIFs from the below source video. Enjoy! Pierre Hartman's tribute vid of Maestro Sonny Umpad 1 Complete Sangot demo   4 isolated GIFs...

Read More

Sonny Umpad: Kniferoll & Angles of Attack GIFs

Yesterday would've been Sonny Umpad's 67th birthday.  In his honor, I made some animated GIFs of him in action - namely the kniferoll and angles of attack with a knife. I took the liberty to make the GIFs from the below source video. Enjoy! Pierre Hartman's tribute vid of Maestro Sonny Umpad Kniferoll Kniferoll - isolated just the right and left roll Angles of Attack Blazing speed! Other Sonny...

Read More

Maestro Sonny Umpad would've been 67 today - posting some great quotes.

Click for larger resolution pic~Maestro Sonny Umpad (June 26, 1948 - August 24, 2006) Today would've been Maestro Sonny Umpad's 67th birthday. In his honor, I'm posting some of his great quotes. Enjoy! "To hit is easy. To get hit is even easier ... but to NOT get hit ...? That's where the art is." "You can always tell someone who has no roots, because he guards the leaves. But the true student has roots and a trunk, so he is always...

Read More

Raven S1E1: Return of the Black Dragon (Jun 24, 1992)

I'm posting an episode from the 1992 TV series, Raven, mirroring this date 23 years ago. Enjoy! Background: Jonathan Raven (portrayed by Jeffrey Meek) is a ninja, former member of the Black Dragons clan and also a former Special Forces agent. Now he lives in Hawaii, helping those in trouble and searching for his long-lost son, while avoiding assassins sent to kill him by the Black Dragon clan. Herman 'Ski' Jablonski (played by veteran...

Read More

Happy Father's Day 2015!

Happy Father's Day!!! ...

Read More

Ken Shamrock X Kimbo Slice (Bellator 138)

Click for larger pic I had zero interest in this fight. Of the two fighters, if I had to root, I would be rooting for one of MMA's OGs, Ken Shamrock. Posting this fight in case others missed and wanted to watch it. Found video on YouTube, not the best. I may make GIFs. Enjoy! In case you missed my earlier posting: UFC 1 GIF Set 2 (Royce Gracie vs Ken Shamrock)...

Read More

Fudo Myo-o sculpture

Fudo Myo-oClick for larger pic Japan Fudo Myo-o, 12th/14th century Wood with polychromy and gilt-bronze accessories 41.6 cm (16 3/8 in.) Sources:  Art Institute Chicago / Wiki The name Fudo Myo-o means “the immovable or unshakable one.” He is one of five myo-o, or lords of light, whose threatening appearance guards the Law of Buddhism. He is equipped to guide the spiritual traveler past temptation on the path to enlightenment. Fudo’s...

Read More

Gozanze Myo-o sculpture by Nakabayashi Gennai

Gozanze Myo-oClick for larger pic Artist:  Nakabayashi Gennai Period: Japanese, active 1650/1700 Gozanze Myo-o, 1680 Wood with polychromy 107.5 x 64 x 47 cm (42 3/8 x 26 3/8 x 18 1/2 in.) Sources:  Art Institute Chicago / Wiki This sculpture depicts Gozanze Myo-o, a four-faced, multi-limb deity, trampling Daijizaiten and his consort, Uma, the gods of unruly human passion. The figure belonged to an ensemble of five sculptures...

Read More

John Woo, Chow Yun-fat, and Tianmen Square Massacre

Excerpted my post from TheMMACommunity.com thread about Hong Kong movies in which I posted some background on what used to be my most favorite movie all-time (including Hollywood movies) but now is ranked #2 behind director Johnnie To's "The Mission." Specifically I discuss star Chow Yun-fat and director John Woo and their collaboration on A Better Tomorrow 1 as well as the significance of that movie in Hong Kong cinema history. Some digressions...

Read More