The Rooted School VSCK

10/13/2026

Awesome talk with Jeff Chang Shannon Lee and Professor Steve McCutchen at the Life Is Living!

08/30/2026

https://youtu.be/oS7d4O_Rp5w?si=Xk2onIYQhwih7Pev

I want to share my teaching approach and the science around it to b...

08/08/2026

Different teachers may use different language, but the roots remain the same.

Last Saturday, we welcomed Jay’s class to train with us, along with Dan, visiting from out of town.

We revisited three of Bruce Lee’s Five Ways of Attack—Single Direct Attack, Attack by Combination, and Progressive Indirect Attack—not simply as techniques, but as different tactical approaches to solving the problem of an opponent.

Those approaches also gave us a practical way to explore Sonny Umpad’s concepts of First, Second, and Third Flow.

In First Flow, we slow things down enough to recognize and develop these choices with quality. In Second Flow, variability enters the exchange—we have to read, choose, adapt, disguise intention, and respond to what our partner gives us. Third Flow takes that progression further, toward expressing authority over the exchange with judgment and restraint.

In other words, the Five Ways give us different ways to attack. The Three Flows change the conditions under which we have to make them work.

The way I teach VSCK—and the language I use to understand and communicate it—may look very different from another practitioner’s. I think that’s part of what makes a living art alive. We may grow in different directions, but we’re drawing from the same roots: Sonny’s art.

Grateful to Jay, Dan, and everyone who shared the floor with us.

07/25/2026

A few weeks ago, these exchanges looked very different.

Last Saturday, I gave our students a bird’s-eye view of how we develop skill in VSCK through a process I call Drill, Flow, Laro.

First, we isolate the skill through drilling. Then we introduce variability through the pendulum flow. Finally, we bring it into laro—objective-based play with restrictions and guidance that gradually prepares students for sparring.

This class focused on three of Bruce Lee’s Five Ways of Attack: Single Direct Attack, Attack by Combination, and Progressive Indirect Attack. In the reel, you’re seeing the flow phase—students learning to attack with intention, recognize what is happening, and defend with alertness rather than complacency.

We also explored Sonny Umpad’s First, Second, and Third Flow, moving from the cooperation and structure of First Flow toward the adaptability of Second Flow.

The difference is night and day. They’re no longer simply exchanging movements. They’re beginning to recognize intention, make choices, and find their own flow.

If you’re curious what this process feels like, come explore it with us.

06/27/2026

Happy belated to the Maestro. He would be 78 today.

Master Santiago “Sonny” Umpad (June 26, 1948 – August 24, 2006) was a Filipino eskrimador. He was born in Bogo, Cebu, Philippines. As a young man, Umpad was exposed to the traditional Filipino martial arts of Eskrima; in his region the term “estocada” was also used to describe these arts. Umpad gave full credit to the Balintawak Eskrima and Doce Pares systems, which made up much of his early training. When he went to the United States, he continued his training with Master Raymond Tobosa in the art of Villabrille Kali.

05/23/2026

Jason shares a hand crafted dueling weapon made by Sonny Umpad.

VSCK Podcast | EP 4 | 260524
On YouTube and Spotify
Sundays at 9am PST

🎥

05/21/2026

I share a hand crafted panabas Sonny created for training.

VSCK Podcast | EP 4 | 260524
On YouTube and Spotify
Sundays at 9am PST

🎥

05/20/2026

Counterattacking as a pathway into the exchange.

This week we explored climbing from 1st point (wrist), to 2nd point (elbow), and eventually into 3rd point (shoulder/body/head).

Starting with single counteroffensive strikes, then progressing into follow-up combinations after the initial entry.

What changes isn’t just the target —
but the distance, body position, angle, and timing required to safely reach it.

Moving through 1st, 2nd, and 3rd point reveals how each layer of the exchange demands different positioning, structure, and relationship to your partner.

Good work from my student this week. A lot of material covered, but he stayed present and adapted well throughout the progression.

Different ranges. Different problems. Same principles.

05/19/2026

Renato shares the first iteration of Sonny’s “Umpadded” sticks.

VSCK Podcast | EP 4 | 260524
On YouTube and Spotify
Sundays at 9am PST

🎥

05/08/2026

Something we worked on in class last week:

Using a tip-up “wave cutter” concept to defend from guard.

On the surface, it looks simple. Basic even.

But once swords are involved, everything changes.

Now there’s edge alignment to consider.
The angle of the blade.
The relationship between your structure and the incoming strike.
The footwork needed to move your body to a safer position rather than simply “stopping” the attack.

In VSCK, even fundamental blocking is less about memorizing techniques and more about managing distance, timing, angle, and pace inside the exchange.

The goal isn’t to force a perfect response.

It’s to develop enough clarity and structure that the right response can emerge under pressure.

That’s why we spend so much time on fundamentals and Pendulum Flow. Over time, they stop feeling “basic” and start revealing depth.

If this approach resonates with you, come train with us sometime.