This weekend our school co-sponsored a Filipino Martial Arts Seminar at the Martin Academy of Martial Arts in Sarasota, Florida.
We had a great time learning from Grandmaster Crispulo “Ising” Atillo and his assistant J.D. Lopez. The 2 day seminar was both challenging and fun, and Grandmaster Atillo’s passion for his art was contagious.
Complex drills were broken down into much simpler segments so that everyone in attendance was able to understand and perform them.
Song of the Knife
Posted: August 05, 2010
This is a clip of Willie B. Laureano working on an action sequence for the movie “Song of the Knife”. It is a new film starring Mark Dacascos. (Known for his work on “Only the Strong”, “Drive”, “Brotherhood of the Wolf”, and a host of other movies. He also hosts the show “Iron Chef America”, and was on “Dancing with the Stars”)
The reason that I include this video is that Willie B. Laureano (who is an actor and choreographer in the movie) shares the same martial arts lineage that we do at our school. Remember that this is a rough clip, that was shot for choreography and informational purposes. I can’t wait to see what it will look like when it is actually shot for the movie.
Like most action movies, some of the violence is a little extreme, so the clip may not be suitable for young viewers.
Performing Under Stress
Posted: August 03, 2010
In martial arts training, as with everything in life; it is extremely important to begin with the end in mind. With regard to self-defense, this means understanding that when you “have to” apply your martial arts skills, it will be under stressful circumstances.
Techniques should be simple, direct, and efficient. A lot of intricate moves only serve to confuse you and render you unable to react intelligently to a situation.
Please understand that there is a difference between complex, and intricate. A good system can be complex and still be effective, but it must have an “organic flow” which can be put into muscle memory.
An Interesting Way to Stay in Shape.
Posted: July 31, 2010
I don’t know how good the “Taga Bike Stroller” is, and I would definitely tell anyone who is considering buying it to check the reviews and do their homework. (If you’re going to put your child in something, then you better make sure it exceeds safety standards.) But conceptually, this thing is really cool. You can ride it like a bike with your child, and then convert it to a stroller. It’s a great way to exercise, and it’s still functional. Most importantly, you can switch it from one mode to the other in 20 seconds. Check out the video below.
The original page is located at http://www.betterlivingthroughdesign.com/travel/transportation/taga-bike-stroller.html
Jackie Chan Fight Scene from “Who am I?”
Posted: July 29, 2010
This is just a clip of a fight scene from Jackie Chan’s movie, “Who Am I?”. Most of you have already seen this, but if you haven’t; it’s a good example of Jackie Chan’s fight choreography. It’s easy to see why his blend of humor, action, and danger; make him a household name throughout the world.