When You Need to Call In A Strike of AWESOME!!!

Meme-Orable: Meme-Cock

As per usual, it's not what you think, well, as per usual, not entirely.

The most recent show I've been involved with is David Henry Hwang's "Yellowface" and I was running our video portion. As the video op I worked with the designer on what movies we would include in preshow, intermission, even in the show itself. Although numerous ridiculous suggestions were made and discarded I recalled an animation that first assaulted my racialiscious meter one late night at "Anime Hell" of Fanime.

Dr. Tran!!!


For more info try these places.

For When You Need More Than "The Ban" Button

Cat 5 Cato'nines and Cat 5 Bullwhips

There is a new page above where you can shop for one of these beauties.

The picture here is of "Mario" who was the Sad Geek In Snow "winner" at SGISCon 2.5 and one of my less attractive products was the "prize." Mmm, "quotations marks."

Also, here's a shot of my fiance modeling one of the bullwhips, its hard to see, but it's there, trust me.


And then here is a pic of myself and my friend Uther from Fanime 07, where I wear the Whip & the Cat with pride.

Pages!? We don't Need No Stinkin' Pages!

Okay, maybe we don't, but I want them anyway!

I am currently working on an ABOUT page, mebbe a links or NICKNAMES page, and one "OTHER" Page with something amazing on it, which I will put yet, another post up about!

Keep your eyes glancing to the space between the Title section and the Post area where it says "HOME," that's where they will go. And I will just most likely rub your nose in it, so you know. Sometimes my readers need reminding. Yes, all eight of you.

Crystal Clear, Sticks & Mud

It has come to my attention that my last couple of posts have caused some confusion. Wrong impressions were perceived and names were potentially sullied.
Seeing as I have spoken about being clear and precise previously, this post is honest and I will try to be as concise as possible about my thoughts.

"You can't Trust a Tony. Trust Me."
In case you hadn't noticed, or haven't met me in person, OR read the "fine print" at the bottom of this page, the first name I go by is Tony. I have often said this phrase in jest, even sometimes with a wink or telling grin. Many other Anthony's, Tony's, Antonio's and a Toni or two have chuckled and agreed wholeheartedly.

Tangent: Back when I was writing a paper on the history of stage combat/fight choreography I came across a book that hadn't been fully published yet called "A Terrific Combat" and was intrigued but couldn't pursue it further as I had a due date to contend with, so it was left to fall from my memory. I did remember the name as I attempted to find the same author in conjunction with other published works concerning stage combat.
Okay, back: This guy was Tony Wolf, what's he doing on the Bartitsu . . oooOOoooohhh . . . . Of course, Tony is among the leading modern revivalists and educators of Neo-Bartitsu and the editor of pretty much ALL of their literature AND a co-producer/co-director/co-dude-on-the-spot of their documentary. See, Tonys are not to be trusted, trust me.
When I came across the "Terrific Combat" text, authored by a well known Tony, I wished to pursue it and use it as a point of reference for a college level term paper. I saw it as a legitimate and reliable source. It was not quite easily available to me at the time, so I let it fall from my mind and thought nothing of it until I began to research Bartitsu. When I realized this same educator and professional was linked to two projects I had positive interest in, without my own previous investigation between the two, I was amused by serendipity. Hence, why I used my poor taste joke.

Tony Wolf
Now, I would like to publicly apologize to Mr. Wolf. First, for misspelling his name with an extra "e," Something I will remedy as I come across it. Secondly, For the proximity to my uncouth joke. I believe him to be a mature gentleman, with a sense of humor and hope with this clarification, it will be understood correctly. Thirdly . . . .
"Okay, back: This guy was Tony Wolf, what's he doing on the Bartitsu . . oooOOoooohhh . . . . Of course, Tony is among the leading modern revivalists and educators of Neo-Bartitsu and the editor of pretty much ALL of their literature AND a co-producer/co-director/co-dude-on-the-spot of their documentary. See, Tonys are not to be trusted, trust me.
-VIDEO-
I'll be honest (perhaps, due to a phenomena, or something I haven't quite explored or thought very deeply about, But something I WILL post about soon, I have the notes typed up) something still feels pedestrian or amateurish about the whole affair. Not that there is anything wrong with that, nor does it lessen how cool this is and how much respect I have for all involved for going out and doing it (something which I need to do more of). Perhaps it is because it is so new and those involved are focused on the core subject and let other things be addressed as they come, or because it is that obscure that there is no need for anything more elaborate as far as the website and the movies and the books. Look for my next post to explain the feeling I have (ooh boy, feelings, I know) about professionals in like areas of expertise as martial arts, fight re-enactors/stage combatants/even weapon specialists and their interactions..
-NEXT POST:The Professional's Dilemma"
Things get muddled here as to what the hell I am saying. I finish a thought with "trust me." and then show the video. The video is intended as a break in presentation and I am done talking about Mr. Wolf specifically.
The Video is to show the Bartitsu project, I then begin going into a conclusion with "I'll be honest . . ." and in the conclusion I allude to a concept or theory I have had for years. I can see how easy it would be for one to perceive the through line continues from my words of Tony Wolf into the last paragraph. This is not the case, just a terrible occurrence of proximity.
My post "The Professional's Dilemma" is intended to be a singular post of a personal belief/theory and not intended to point fingers at any one in particular.

I would also like to reiterate that as a totally volunteer project, run by hobbyists, that Bartitsu.org community is praise worthy and I have personally recommended the site to many friends and associates.

That feels Like I've covered the bases and clarified any points that some of the people who have read my posts had some issues with or misinterpreted. I promise the next few posts will be of a much lighter nature, hopefully this same day.

The Professional's Dilemma

I like to think I know what I'm talking about. I have used these exact words countless times. I do TRY to take in new information and if an argument is compelling I will shape my knowledge to allow it to inhabit the space of other facts about said subject. Something interesting happens though in the area of . . . . Martial Expertise. Yes, those are two adequately big words that blanket what I will cover in the next few paragraphs. Mmm, delicious vocabulary.

. . . .

I sat and thought and so on for a few hours and tried to wrap my head around what I wanted to say specifically, but your gonna get the incoherent ramblings I'm so well known for. Hold on and try to keep up.

I've been researching and interested in Martial Expertise since I was very young. No surprise considering how so many children, boys and girls, have a fascination with the spectacular sight of combat and the power inherent in weaponry, especially if your body is that weapon. I began earnest research when I was in early high school as I taught myself the differences between functional and non-functional weaponry and practical weaponry, mostly in conjunction with re-enactment and stage combat. It was then I began to see the gap between "normal" knowledge and specialized, gasp, Martial Expertise (I might give a definition later, for the quiz of course). Not just in this specific field, but in general I was learning how people became specialized and had a wealth of knowledge concerning particular areas of study.

(here is where I outline my pedigree, training, and level of expertise on various, you guessed it, Martial areas. BUT, that's best left for my Resume or another Post, I'll try to stay focused . . stop laughing.)

I have noticed, in my decade-plus of time being aware and attentive to such things, That when a person attains a point of expertise, a few levels, if I may borrow from RPG terms, they become a bit aloof, sure of their knowledge and dubious at best about other peoples opinions and ideas concerning their area of expertise. There are excellent gem, exceptions to this, who walk the talk and are honest and cool and open to discuss possibilities, but these are few and far between.
I can see how this can happen, I wont lie, I do it myself. Too often a person who thinks they know more than they do, with WRONG information, because they did not do research, they simple have hearsay, the accumulated knowledge of their father, their best friend who was in the military, kinda, from that movie they saw where the characters gave a detailed break down of an otherwise uninteresting weapon that was used in a cool way, and that one play they were in where they got to carry a sword. On top of all that, these people are usually the kind of people who don't know not to be these people and will not remedy their ignorance.
(And yes, I realize I typed those exact words at the top of this post, I find it poignant and I try to keep this in mind whenever I enter a serious discussion, as I honestly mean what I say. I THINK I know. If you know better, tell me and be precise, don't just let me think you're one of these people I just described.)
I have seen this in martial arts with the few forays I've made into true physical combat, and understandably as movies pervert their art and there are many misconceptions. I have seen it in stage combat, where an actor, or a director or a fight choreographer has a certain way of doing things or is scared because the (chose above role in a show) proclaims to know what they're doing and have the trust of (higher up role) when most of the (lower role) think he's daft. This is also fairly typical considering how preening and proud and confident entertainers have to/try to/become.
Also, of course in the area of weapon knowledge. How many metallurgist/gunsmith/blade designer/art collector/multiple cross-trained modern martial artist/multi-focused regional & era historian/ex-military people do you know that make at least an upper six figure income? Because this is really what the beast is comprised of. And not just an enthusiast of these areas, that's what I am, the above described Renaissance Man of Martial Expertise (I know, I'm sorry) must have degree's and accolades and ranks to show his legitimacy in each area. (oh, you need the income to support these habits, they are rarely inexpensive) If you don't fit that bill, you are merely a mortal amongst the rest of us.

Perhaps it is all simply being jaded, a front to a world that is full of idiocy, I know I feel that way very often. Hrmm . . .

I think I ran out of steam, I'm not sure if there is more to it. I hope you at least understand what I meant. I don't have any answers really, just felt I needed to share this. Maybe in the hopes that there will be less of this silliness and a greater understanding all around.

I'll leave you with the words I say after every fight call I run;
Good? Safe? Ready to do it again tonight? Feel comfortable with it? Excellent,
Good Fight.

En Taro Adun

WINNAH!

Dan, from Canada, won!
After sending in a heartfelt submission Dan won out over all the other contestants.

To be honest the other submissions were very lame, not even worth mocking or riposting, really.
So thank you Dan, for standing out, head and shoulders above the rest by being honest. Enjoy the beta and here's to hoping a rush never gets through.