I would like to begin this entry with a quote, which I think I posted on Twitter a while back: “So much has happened in the past few months. When I look back, it seems like I have lived a hundred lives since.”

The above basically summarizes my feelings on all the events that have transpired this year in my life.

I have not been such an active blogger for a while, and I’m sure most readers have next to no idea on what happened. Allow me to capsulize it all.

1. I had my hair cut short
This was done last 13th July. The photo to the right was taken the day after. I have been planning to change my hairstyle for months and months, and finally decided to take action this time. This is the shortest my hair has been for nearly ten years. I really, really love it.

2. I am writing my first novel series
I started the project in December 2010, but began putting my back into it, so to speak, February 2011 after doing some travel. The book is generally Young Adult fiction, with lots of action, romance, intrigue and, oh yes, martial arts. The heroes and heroines are mostly Asians because I think it’s high fucking time we all stopped being just sidekicks. The outline spans seven parts. I have already set up an official website, Twitter account, Tumblr account and FaceBook fan page for the series. Hopefully, I will finish the first installment this year!

3. I have conceptualized my second novel series
Aside from the first book, I have also come up with lots of ideas for my second. This time, I am going back to my anime roots and my love for Fushigi Yuugi, Hunter X Hunter, Virtua Fighter, Yuu Yuu Hakusho, Soryuden, Recca no Honou and many others. This five-part series is YA supernatural, but with lots of action-packed twists and unforgettable, painfully human characters.

4. I trimmed down my online real estate
Last year, I had more than a hundred domains and more than a dozen hosting accounts. I have realigned my priorities and my needs and have cut down to save up. In fact, I am still selling some domains I no longer plan on keeping.

5. I re-evaluated my personal and professional life
While on holiday in the Philippines last January, I took a close look at my family, friends and relationships. I decided what are the things that mean the most to me. When I finally came to terms with what I really valued in life, all my decisions are much easier to think through and make.

6. I changed my lifestyle
With a fresh perspective on what I have and what I still want, I decided to make changes on my day-to-day living. This meant eating breakfast, always, no matter how busy I am. This also meant giving up carbonated and sweetened drinks, consuming smaller portions, eschewing junk food, and minimizing coffee and tea intake. I now subsist mostly on kid-friendly chocolate milk, an excellent source of energy and protein. I found out that caffeine just gives a temporary up, but eventually causes headaches, lethargy and acid build-up.

7. I lost loads of weight. And I mean LOADS.
As of my last weigh-in earlier this month, I lost 22 kilos since I started my fitness regimen in February 2011. I am 13 kilos away from my goal weight. I hope I will reach it before the year ends, or maybe by the time I turn another year older (24 September).

I am dedicating the following to all my fellow martial artists, especially those who have retired from competition but still practice their craft as part of their lifelong commitment to being modern-day warriors.

Focus the mind,
cleanse the soul,
keep sight of my target,
concentrate,
be prepared for the unexpected,
concentrate mind and body as one,
achieve tranquility through movement,
integrate spirit and flesh,
channel the powers,
separate darkness and light,
give birth to yourself,
define your existence,
create your divinations,
from strength learn gentleness,
through gentleness strength will prevail,
tell me what you see beyond your fist?
AWAKEN…

This is from Street Fighter 2: The Animated Movie. I cut out some repetitive parts so the ideas will flow more smoothly and beautifully.

This is a short, sweet but very meaningful response to one of the current worldwide Trending Topics on Twitter.

I would like to share a passage from Tsunetomo Yamamoto’s warrior treatise, Hagakure. This means “In the Shadow of the Leaves”.

This name served as the inspiration of the ninja clan to whom Kage-Maru, the Shadow Warrior, of Virtua Fighter belongs.

Kage is my favorite character in Virtua Fighter, both in the game as well as in the anime adaptation. In fact, he was the very reason why I fell in love with the entire series in the first place.

When I found out about that the Hagakure ninja clan’s name was inspired by the ultimate bushido manual, I researched the same and eventually got my hands on the full English translation of Yamamoto’s Hagakure. It makes for very interesting and fascinating reading.

It begins with the idea that the way of the warrior is death.

Stupendous. I love it!

In one’s life, there are levels in the pursuit of study.

In the lowest level, a person studies but nothing comes of it, and he feels that both he and others are unskillful. At this point he is worthless.

In the middle level, he is still useless but is aware of his own insufficiencies and can also see the insufficiencies of others.

In a higher level, he has pride concerning his own ability, rejoices in praise from others, and laments the lack of ability in his fellows. This man has worth.

In the highest level a man has the look of knowing nothing.

Iconic actor David Carradine, 72, best known for his work in the Kung-Fu television series and the Kill Bill movies, was found dead in his Thailand hotel room earlier today.

A maid reportedly discovered the actor’s naked body hanging inside his hotel room closet. He was in the city of Bangkok for the filming of the movie Stretch.

This is an end that I never imagined for one of my favorite actors and martial artists.

David was fairly successful in his acting career – with hundreds of film, television and stage performances to his credit. He is also famous for various Tai Chi instructional videos, enabling the ancient Chinese martial art to reach millions of people, from all walks of life.

I was very young then, but when Kung-Fu: The Legend Continues first aired on television, I followed the series religiously because of him. There was something irresistible about his calm aura and quiet yet compelling voice. He also performed his martial arts sequences with grace, ease, and confidence in his abilities.

When I heard that David was selected to play Bill in lieu of Warren Beatty in Quentin Tarantino’s action-packed, blood-drenched revenge feature Kill Bill, I was so happy that the former was given another shot at mainstream movies in his later life.

David’s mysterious death was most unexpected. Police and investigators believe this to be suicide, but his manager thinks otherwise.

The actor’s personal life was arguably more volatile than one would expect from his serene, charismatic onscreen persona. He had a history of alcohol and drug use, and had time and again entertained thoughts of taking his own life. He was married and divorced multiple times.

Rest in peace, David. You are a legend who will continue to live on the screen and in your fan’s hearts.

In preparation for various Saber Forms that will be part of my Wushu curriculum in the coming weeks, I was asked to look for a sword that is suitable not only for the training but also for my, well, comfort.

“Comfort” meaning it has to go with my height (or lack thereof). Also, I could choose to have a light or heavy sword, which depends more on the weapon’s material rather its actual size.

My father had always taught me that heavier swords usually have stronger steel structures.

Anyway, I did not have to buy a new sword or anything. Father gave me a katana that he got back in the mid-1980s when he and my mother lived and worked in a different province.

This particular weapon was, simply put, perfectly suited for me. When I held it with arm slack, it extended to a good several inches off the ground.

It was neither light nor heavy, but had a solid weight that will condition my arms to move quickly with a weapon as well as maintain my balance and grip.

Here is a katana image I found online that very closely resembles my own. In the future, I will try to take a picture of my sword itself and post it here.

Finally, a most apropos quote from the anime BLEACH:

What a letdown, Kurosaki-san. A real letdown. After all, there’s nothing but fear reflected in your sword.

When you dodge, “I’m afraid of getting cut.” When you attack, “I’m afraid of cutting someone.” Even when you try to protect someone, “I’m afraid of letting them die.”

Yes, your sword speaks to me only of absurd fear. That’s not it. What’s necessary in a fight isn’t fear. Nothing can be born from that.

If you dodge, “I won’t let them cut me.” If you protect someone, “I won’t let them die.” If you attack, “I’ll cut them.” Well, can’t you see the resolve to cut you reflected in my sword?”

~Kisuke Urahara

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I was so delighted to finally get my hands on a discounted copy of Asia’s answer to Charlie’s Angels: So Close (2002), also known as Chik yeung tin si.

I spent just a little over two dollars for my very own original video CD of this movie.

The film stars three of the hottest female leads in Hong Kong cinema: Qi Shu (Jason Statham‘s leading lady in 2002′s The Transporter), Wei Zhao (Stephen Chow‘s leading lady in Shaolin Soccer) and Karen Mok (Tracy Lee in the 1996 Black Mask production).

So Close begins when a crooked businessman brings in a pair of high-tech assassin sisters, Ai Lin (Qi Shu) and Ai Kwan (Wei Zhao), to murder his older brother so he can take over the family’s business empire.

When a determined policewoman, Inspector Yat Hong (Karen Mok), starts to put the pieces of the puzzle together, the businessman realizes that he must destroy all evidence – including the assassins and the cop.

The three women are left to fight for their lives, while helping each other, albeit reluctantly at first, along the way.

Happy, happy, happy birthday, Mommy!

My paternal grandmother turns 78 years old today. Before I went on my scheduled trip, I called and greeted my grandmother.

I was back in town in time for the last two evening screenings of Jet Li‘s martial arts swan song Fearless, also known as Huo Yuan Jia.

This film tells the story of Chinese martial arts master Huo Yuan Jia (1869-1910). Yuan Jia was the founder and spiritual guru of the Jin Wu Sports Federation, which exists until today.

The story begins with a young Yuan Jia, who was born with asthma, aspiring to become a powerful martial arts master just like his father (portrayed by the magnificent Collin Chou), who owns and runs the Huo Wushu school.

Yuan Jia eventually got his wish as he grew up. He defeats the Master of the Zhao Wushu school, their family’s primary rival in their hometown of Tianjin, as well as the powerful Master Chin, said to be the best fighter in Tianjin. He becomes the undisputed martial arts champion of their town.

Vengeance from Master Chin’s family, however, leads to a tragic fate for Yuan Jia’s own family. The champion became an aimless wanderer and ends up close to death in a distant rural town where he is cared for a blind girl named Moon. He stayed in this serene farming community for several years.

Upon his return to Tianjin, Yuan Jia discovers that so much has changed since he left, and that China has been dubbed as “The Sick Man of the East.”

This gave him the impetus to accept the challenge issued by undefeated American strong-man Hercules O’Brien (Nathan Jones) to all Chinese fighters. With his more serene outlook in life and an infinitely clearer understanding of the principles of Wushu, Yuan Jia defeats Hercules, restores the badly bruised honor of China, and gains worldwide acclaim in the process.

In the days that followed, Yuan Jia’s loyal friend Nong Jin Sun decides to close his restaurant business in Tianjin and use his money instead to build the Jin Wu Sports Federation. Yuan Jia is named the organization’s leader and guru.

Yuan Jia’s celebrated victory gains the attention of a group of businessmen from various parts of Asia and Europe. They challenged Yuan Jia to fight four of the best warriors from their own countries. Yuan Jia accepts this challenge. He also asks Jin Sun to take over the Sports Federation after the fight.

This fight pits Yuan Jia against the British boxing champion, the European fencing champion, a highly skilled German military officer and the undefeated Karate hero of Japan, Anno Tanaka (deliciously and delightfully brought to life by Shido Nakamura).

Unbeknownst to all the fighters, especially to Yuan Jia and Anno, this match will not only decide their own fate as warriors, but will also make a strong statement about the destiny of the countries they represent.

I enjoyed Fearless very much, mainly because of the beautiful, brutally raw fight sequences.

The martial arts choreography was far from stylized or embellished with camera tricks – what I saw were fighters willing to give and take actual punishment. Wire work was rather minimal, too.

What is also pleasing was that Jet Li had to fight against quite a number of opponents skilled in a wide variety of styles – from wrestling and boxing, to fencing and Karate, among many others. The action sequences really gave Jet many opportunities to showcase his excellent Wushu skills.

The film also reminded me of the 1973 Bruce Lee classic Enter the Dragon, wherein he incorporated his own philosophies on martial arts and life as a whole into the message of the movie. That is, at one point, Bruce’s character says: “My style, you can call the art of fighting without fighting.”

In much the same way, Jet Li sends a message that violence is not the answer to everything and that revenge only leads to more bloodshed.

In a nutshell, being fearless is not about rushing blindly into a fight, but having the courage to settle the conflict before someone gets hurt.

Today is the first local screening day of Jet Li‘s movie Fearless, also known in other parts of the world as Huo Yuan Jia, which is the name of the film’s protagonist.

I was supposed to watch Fearless tonight, however, something came up and I was forced to cancel my plans.

To make me feel better, my father borrowed a video of Unleashed, Jet’s 2005 movie that was originally entitled Danny the Dog.

Unleashed also stars Hollywood veterans Morgan Freeman as the kindly blind piano tuner Sam and Bob Hoskins as the ruthless gang leader Bart.

I loved the brutal, in-your-face martial arts sequences in the film. No excessive wire work or wuxia allusions this time around – only a raw, earthy forcefulness in each punch and kick delivered by both the protagonist and his enemies.

Amazon.com provides a good skinny on Unleashed:

Luc Besson wrote and directed the stylish thrillers La Femme Nikita and The Professional; though he didn’t direct Unleashed, the script has his trademark fusion of outrageous sentimentality and over-the-top violence.

Hong Kong action superstar Jet Li stars as Danny, a man raised to be a brutal attack dog by a nasty gangster named Bart (Bob Hoskins) – when Bart removes Danny’s collar, Danny pulverizes everyone in the room.

But a chance encounter with a blind piano tuner, Sam (Morgan Freeman), reveals to Danny the possibility of a less brutal life, and when a retaliation attack gives him the chance to escape, he does – but Bart won’t let him go that easily.

The fighting in Unleashed is effectively jolting; Li and fight choreographer Yuen Wo Ping have purposefully stripped away the smoothness of most movie combat (especially with a genuine martial artist like Li) with raw, unnerving results, especially when juxtaposed with the sweet and earnest scenes of Li regaining his humanity with Freeman and his step-daughter (Kerry Condon).

This freewheeling cocktail of bloody noses and ice-cream cones isn’t for everyone, but fans of both Besson and Li will leave satisfied.

Today was salon day. I had a thorough foot scrub and massage, then had both my fingernails and toenails done.

Although my fingernails are cut short and square-shaped so as not to get in the way of my computer work and martial arts training, my manicurist insisted on giving me French tips. Thus, each nail was fully painted with translucent pearl polish, then tipped with matte white.

Almost everyone who saw my manicure and pedicure commented on how good these looked. Whoever said that French tips are only for those with long nails?

Afterwards, I went to one of the local malls to meet someone as well as catch a glimpse of the first ever region-wide Pencak Silat tournament.

The event was mostly for juniors, 17 being the age limit, I believe. There were weight-class competitions in both sparring and artistic areas. Some of the relatively more senior Silat practitioners did a couple of exhibition routines, too.

In other news, my rashes and sores that manifested several days ago have been healing nicely. The irritations on my skin are gone, although my mouth sores are still a bit painful. Methinks I need more cut-black tea and citrus fruits in my daily diet.

Right now, I am too awestruck for words.

Just look at the really pretty blue poster below and commence dying with my most heartfelt blessing. Then I will die right along with you.

This is, of course, for the movie SPL: Sha po lang. It is a dark, gritty and violent crime action-drama.

And I am truly, madly, deeply in love with it.

The fact that the magnificent Donnie Yen is in the film is immaterial and irrelevant. Even more so that he is clad in black leather.

Right now, I am suffering from a three-fold obsessive affliction.

That is, a coffee craving that shows no sign of abating, Kill Bill: Volume 2 and, of course, Rurouni Kenshin. As I write this, I am downloading a helluva lot of RK images and wallpapers to tide me over through the long Ramadan weekend.

I also wish to share with all and sundry that my father is now, officially, a Kill Bill convert.

This past week, I was able to purchase a video CD of Kill Bill: Volume 2 as it came out in our local stores and ended up watching it when I got home.

Father passed by the television set, paused for a glimpse of the action, and asked if it was David Carradine (Father being part of the Kung-Fu generation) playing Bill, to which I answered yes. The rest, as the cliche goes, was history.

From then on, Father proceeded to watch both installments of the Tarantino sword-slinging saga. He also made this analysis: “Bill loved Beatrix, and still did, even until his dying breath. Things could have worked out if the Bride had not left his side to give their child a different, if not better, life.”

Amen to that, Pops, and everything.

Amazon.com provides the summary of the movie:

With this thrilling, must-see movie event, writer and director Quentin Tarantino completes the action-packed quest for revenge begun by The Bride (Uma Thurman) in Kill Bill: Volume 1.

Having already crossed two names from her Death List, The Bride is back with a vengeance and taking aim at Budd (Michael Madsen) and Elle Driver (Daryl Hannah), the only survivors from the squad of assassins who betrayed her four years earlier.

It’s all leading up to the ultimate confrontation with Bill (David Carradine), The Bride’s former master and the man who ordered her execution!

As the acclaimed follow-up to the instant classic Volume 1 – you know all about the unlimited action and humor, but until you’ve seen Kill Bill: Volume 2, you only know half the story!

Over the course of the past week, I was able to have some unique video acquisitions.

First was Invincible, originally a made-for-television movie that was later released on video.

This film is a surreal martial arts fantasy, rife with cliches and rip-offs from more popular film and video game fare, such as The Matrix and Mortal Kombat.

However, I do love both Billy Zane and Byron Mann to pieces, so I contented myself with the hunky eye candy and the display of varied martial arts techniques.

Second was Kill Bill: Volume 1. Finally, it arrived in our area after waiting for more than two months since the home video edition was released last April.

I suppose this is some sort of an appetizer for the local premier of Volume 2 next month. I am already raring to catch the David Carradine goodness, he who portrays the suave, sleek, debonair and very, very deadly Bill.

Anyway, here is the Amazon.com summary of Invincible for the curious:

Invincible stars Billy Zane in an invigorating martial arts fantasy about the ultimate fight of good versus evil.

Os (Zane) is a martial arts expert whose life purpose is to train a band of misfits to fight the ultimate evil. Once part of the Shadowmen, a cult of dark angels who want to destroy the Earth, Os was shown “the Way” and gave up his immortality to help mankind.

Now, Os and his students must take on his former friend, Slate, the ultra-powerful leader of the Shadowmen, in a battle to save the world.

The movie also stars Byron Mann and features amazing fight scenes staged by renowned martial arts choreographer Tony Ching.

Everything that has a beginning has an end…

I just got home from watching the simultaneous world premier of The Matrix Revolutions, the final chapter of The Matrix Trilogy.

I went straight to the theatre right after I got back from my trip to Cebu City. I left last Sunday, 2 November 2003.

Just a few random blurt-outs, so as not to give away anything that would serve as a spoiler:

1. Evil Elrond.
2. Seraph. SERAPH. S E R A P H.
3. The Battle of Zion. Can anyone say overwhelmed?
4. The Zion mecha! Gundam! Macross/Robotech! Zoids!
5. Neo. The Messiah allusion is heartbreaking.
6. Seraph. Yum.
7. Lambert Wilson will make a good Dracula. He looks luscious in red and black and slicked-back hair.
8. Morpheous x Niobe!
9. Where was Theresa Loyzaga?
10. The Kid is rather Luke Skywalker-ish. Or, if you prefer, Anakin-ish circa The Phantom Menace.
11. The girl who fired the rockets alongside Zee looked A LOT like Demi Moore in G.I. Jane.
12. Have I mentioned Seraph?

Without a doubt, Seraph is my favorite character in The Matrix movies.

As some of you know, this role was originally offered to Jet Li. However, due to certain circumstances, he turned it down.

Collin Chou, formerly known by his screen name Sing Ngai and credited as such in numerous high-octane Hong Kong movies, was then opted for as the player of the ultimate cyber-bodyguard.

Today, while listening to some rather old RAM files I found in an obscure hard drive folder, I was struck at how the theme of Jet Li’s Once Upon a Time in China series had so many versions.

I have seven of them at hand:
1. The original one, used in the opening synchronized forms sequences of the movies, with the heavy percussion and male choral voices
2. The instrumental one with the lead flute
3. The one with the Jacky Cheung vocals
4. Another instrumental dominated by a very heavy gong
5. The “pop” version, with a lead singer and some backup voices
6. The “Westernized” one, used in Once Upon a Time in China and America
7. Another Western rendition, less heavy, with a banjo for a lead

Shi’s suggested remakes:
1. By Rob Zombie, with the shrill voice of the White Zombie main man himself singing in Mandarin
2. Eminem remix
3. Charlotte Church and Andrea Bocelli duet
4. Westlife remake, as they are quite fond of coming up with their own remake of everything
5. N’Sync version, with the guys making a cameo in the next OUATIC installment
6. Shakira mambo, with Jet Li making an apperance in the video, riding charging horses (Ah-whah-whah.)
7. Carlos Santana acoustic
8. Elton John!!! Piano!!!
9. Linkin Park remix, to be included in their Reanimation album, with Jet Li to appear in the music video alongside Oriental members Mike Shinoda and Mr. Hahn
10. M2M squeaky, mellow number
11. Britney Spears version, with numerous “Uh!” gruntings in between instrumental refrains
12. By Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman, love song style

For more information on the series, visit The Internet Movie Database.

This afternoon, I caught Jean-Claude Van Damme‘s co-written starrer Jihad Warriors (The Order) on the silver screen.

Van Damme plays an antique thief/smuggler who searches for his missing father. Along the way, he runs into the deluded Messianic plans of an obscure religious sect’s leader.

Hot action, lukewarm adventure, cold acting and gratuitous torso-baring at its finest.

My only three consuelo de bobos from the flick were:

The fight scenes
Not a surprise, since Van Damme has an innate grace that makes his moves so fluid. This time, his technique veered away from the balletic, acrobatic Colonel Guile full-blast Karatedo and has gotten more close-in, a la Steven Seagal’s Aikido.

Charlton Heston
A veteran Hollywood name makes his rather short-lived appearance as an archaeology professor who is friend to Van Damme’s missing father. Heston had a few classic car-chase lines, among them the likes of “Up yours!” and “Be careful with the car; it’s a classic model.”

The Soundtrack
Almost all of it was performed by the Belgian Symphony Orchestra. The sound was an integration of Western choral and Arab influences.

Here is an Amazon.com movie summary:

In The Order, Van Damme plays a thief of religious artifacts whose archeologist father has found the lost scripture of a mysterious religious order.

When the old man is kidnapped, Van Damme soon finds himself cruising around the twisty streets of Jerusalem, getting into dynamic kickboxing battles while disguised as a Hasidic Jew.

With the help of a beautiful Israeli cop (Sofia Milos), Van Damme uncovers a plot within the religious order that leads to secret catacombs beneath the holy city.