I Want One!

Uchinaguchi is Making a Comeback

The people of Okinawa almost lost their native language. In my youth, I thought since Okinawa was part of Japan that they always spoke continental Japanese. After I started practicing karate, my sensei encouraged me to do historical research. Most karateka (practitioners) know the story of the Satsuma invasion and annexation of the Ryukyu Kingdom. The banning of swords led to the development of kobujutsu (improvised weapons) and uchinadi (empty hand fighting).

Like several other indigenous peoples such as Australian Aborigines, New Zealand Maori, Native Americans, and even recent immigrants and their children to the USA subject to the education policies of the 1970's (Assimilation-Acculturation models), the Uchinanchu (Okinawans) were compelled to stop speaking their language and use Japanese since the 1800's.

Recently, the elder population of Okinawa have been promoting the use of Uchinaguchi (Okinawa Hogen). They have opened schools and sponsored speech competitions in order to promote and preserve their native language. Of all places to find resources for preserving Uchinaguchi is here in the USA. Southern California and the Mid-West have the largest concentrations of Uchinanchu population outside of Okinawa. Some of these elders were interned along with Japanese-Americans during WWII. Without the influence of the Japanese education system, these native speakers have been speaking pre-WWII Uchinaguchi. There are also other populations in South America.


Yaeko Yokota competing in a language tournament in December 2007.
The subtitles are for people who only speak Japanese!

Byron Fija, son of an American, grew up in Okinawa and teaches the Uchinaguchi he learned from all the "aunties" and "uncles" that raised him.

How to Triple String Your Nunchaku

Wow! Making this video was truly an exercise in patience, endurance, and humility ALL wrapped up in one project. I trashed my original footage and shot/edited what you see below. I'm learning "the ropes" as I go with all this non-linear video, various compression algorithms, and bit rates. Life was much easier during the analog years.

Anyway, I 86'ed the idea of narrating over this tutorial. Speaking was what slowed down the original project in the first place. Just follow along with each of the steps, pause and rewind where you need more detail. (Ocassionally, the two rods are tied together, near the wide ends. This was done for ease of videography. It's actually easier to leave the rods loose.)



Tools & Supplies: 4 piece probe set (from hardware store); parachute cord (#650); rope cutter (or scissor); mini torch (avoid short matches, melted nylon drips); sand paper (to knock down splinters/raised grain); flashlight (when peering down bores); tape measure (to check for equal endplay).

Heavy Metal "Nunchaku"

Yup...the band's name is Nunchaku. From what little I can understand underneath all the power chords and screaming, I'm gonna slap an "MA" (Mature Audience) rating on the lyrics.



I'm using this song to help motivate me to finish editing my first tutorial video which should be done tomorrow. Faster, faster!

Disaster!

Sorry folks...I shot one hour's worth of video and then paired it down to ten minutes as YouTube requires. But, my file size was still way too big (2.1 Gigs).

I cut the video into two halves (planning to post them as "part 1" and "part 2" and then my 'puter started screaming for more disk space. I inadvertantly lost some scene information in the second half as I was transferring the project to my external drive. For some reason, I couldn't recover the data from Premiere's autosave file.

Luckily, I exported the entire file in .avi format before the disaster struck. So, I can use that video to guide my "new and improved" version.

Looking back now, even though I spent the whole weekend working on this, I'm seeing this as a blessing in disguise: This project's pace was way too slow. This video shouldn't be any longer than five minutes. What was I thinking?

A few things I know I need to do: Get a proper lighting kit and a higher resolution camera. And, I need some kind of workshop to do these "how to" demos.

It's almost 3:00 AM and that's the reason why I shelving this failed project. But don't worry. As promised, I will post video on how to re-string nunchaku using the "triple string" method.

At least I got to teach a student this morning (uh no, that was yesterday morning).

I need sleep,
Ernie - Chief Lab Rat

First EBL Video in Production

Due to popular demand, my first video will be "How to 'Triple String' Your Nunchaku." Pictured above, I'm not just bringing my work home, I'm literally taking my work to bed. Yes, that's my notebook computer on a breakfast tray on my futon. I'm getting the hang of Adobe Photoshop and Premiere. I was originally trained to edit video on analog linear systems. Non-linear software is super!

You can also see that I'm not big on decorating. If I had a fisheye lens, you'd see I have five rokushaku-bo, a nunti-bo, and a iyeku stored in my custom built wall rack. I ran out of wall space. So, my other small weapons are stored in a military surplus ALICE pack.

Anyway, I should have this first video in "the can" this weekend. Stay tuned in.

Ernie, Chief Lab Rat

Other Famous Ernies

Yeah, like I’m really famous…


Ernie Borgnine Wikipedia Info


Ernie Hemingway Wikipedia Info


Ernie Banks Wikipedia Info


Ernie Dingo Wikipedia Info


Ernie K-Doe Wikipedia Info


Ernie the Keebler Elf Wikipedia Info


Ernie Pyle Wikipedia Info


Ernie from Sesame Street Wikipedia Info


Ernie Ball Wikipedia Info


Ernie Hudson Wikipedia Info


Momma Ernie Bayer
Founder of the Philadelphia Girls Rowing Club & Mother of Womens Rowing

Perhaps one day, I too can join the ranks of these exemplars!

Less is More

The rain and wind here in the SF Bay Area has put the kibosh on my video shoots. Until I get some clear skies, here's some classic Sesame Street:



Ernie Rules!!!

Happy Humbug All You Grinches!

It’s like the bestest Christmas present like forever!!!


The next time you go gift shopping for a serious martial artist, don’t buy anything martial arts related. We already have what we need, or most times we’re either very particular or require specialized materials, fittings, or gear.

If you really want to make a serious martial artist go all giddy like a little kid, find out what other hobbies or joys he or she likes.

For me: I love British science-fiction TV. Doctor Who just happens to be one of my favorites (from Hartnell to the present). Space 1999, Sapphire & Steel, and The Tomorrow People are pretty cool, too.

The gift of the Sonic Screwdriver was courtesy of The Lasit Family. (Kevin cooks a mean rib roast and lives by the motto: Where there’s meat, there’s gravy.)

Twas The Dark Knight Before Christmas