Oakland Tribune/SF Chronicle
Obituaries
Guest Book for
"Maestro Sonny" Umpad
August 31, 2006
Our
heartfelt love, prayers and sympathies are with Maestro Sonny's family and
students. He was a very special and unique individual whose talents and skills
were limitless as well as innovated. We will miss his greatly.
Joe Olivarez and Crystal Suan (U.S. Karate & Boxing, Hayward, CA )
crysuan1213@usa.net
Sonny
- I don't know if you realized how much you're missed and by so many. You left
far too soon, but the legacy you created is strong and will grow. Mabuhay Ang
Eskrima!
Jeff Finder (El Sobrante, CA )
stickman@stickman-escrima.com
May
I offer the condolences from our schools in Monterey Bay.
Sensei Jerry Jaeger
Monterey Bay
Family Martial Arts
Jerry Jaeger (Marina, CA )
j.jaeger@sbcglobal.net
I
had only met Sonny Umpad once many years ago but his reputation as a Martial
Artist, person, and Maestro of his Art in character and execution has been well
documented.
My condolences to his family, students, and friends.
When we lose someone of like Sonny Umpad we lose a little of our selves in
tradition and history.
Senior Master Jerry A. Hyde
Jerry Hyde (Oakhurst, CA )
hydestangsoodo@hotmail.com
Sonny,
you will be sorely missed. I praise the Lord for the time we spent together. I
appreciate the training,the teaching and most of all our conversations. Good
bye my friend. The lord is blessed with your presence with Him forever.
Wade Williams-Williams home of Escrima (Tracy, CA )
serrada8@inreach.com
Our
deepest sympathies and fervent prayers for the eternal repose of Sonny. May he
rest in peace with the Lord.
Alberto "Babe"& Hermie Herrera (Clanton, AL )
bebsherrera@yahoo.com
September 1, 2006
My
sympathy and prayers go out to all his family, friends, and students. He will
be truely missed. Although it has been years since I have spoken with Sonny, I
clearly remember and treasure our many conversations. I have no doubt that his
legacy will outlast us all. My condolences to us all.
Steven Magness (Hayward, CA )
I
consider it an honor to have known
Sonny for over 30 years. He was a Fellow Comrade of Martial Arts. His
teaching, thoeries, and applications have infuenced me much.
I consider him in the same realm as Bruce Lee , James Lee. He will always be
remembered by me and I will not hesitate to tell others about this outstanding
Gentleman.. He was the most humblest person I have ever met realitive to his
instinctive abilities. He was always training and gaining daily. He would
always help others. He was never selfish or moody. We all can and should learn
from this Real Master of Life. Peace to you Sonny!
Thank You so much bruddah
greglon lee (berkeley, CA )
My
heartfelt condolences to Sonnys family. Many in the Escrima world where unaware
of his incredible dance ability. Sonny was/is my best dance partner. We danced
in the early 80's when Disco was king. No one could match his lead technique on
the floor. I truly miss this wonderful man.
Tulsa (Daly City, CA )
TulsaLee@Yahoo.com
Maestro,
when I woke up this morning, God put your name on my heart. I never knew you,
but am a devout believer in God, and He has guided me on the noble path towards
Eskrima. I will always look at you as someone to aspire to become like. I know
you rest in the hands of the Lord. May the comfort of the Lord be upon your
family, friends, instructors, and students. We all celebrate the life you
lived, and the legacy with which you've left us. Psalms 6: 5-10.
John Montes (Santa Clara, CA )
My
condolences to his family and legion of friends. I prize my time with him very
highly and will always be enriched for having known him.
James Owens (Minneapolis, MN )
September 2, 2006
Tribute
to a Warrior and a Martial Arts Innovator
…to my lifelong friend and budo brother Sonny Umpad
Over 20 years ago I had to pleasure of meeting Maestro Sonny Umpad during the
filming of a Paul Kyriazi motion picture titled Ninja Busters starring Eric
Lee. It was through my friends and martial arts constituents Joe Olivarez and
Crystal Suan that I was introduced to Sonny and shortly thereafter I had the
opportunity to witness his phenomenal knife fighting skills and I suggested to
Paul that he should try to feature his martial arts talents in the movie.
Thanks to Paul, we have captured some of the essence of his incredible martial
arts acumen on film so it will be preserved for countless generations to come.
I fondly recall one day that Gary Cagaanan---a student of Sonny’s and a
practitioner of Jeet Kune Do--- approached me about the possibility of
collaborating on a book about the art of Visayan stick and knife-fighting.
After witnessing Sonny demonstrate his skills in the movie Ninja Busters, and
knowing that he was the best knife fighter that that ever seen in action, this
would be a literary endeavor that I would like to pursue. And, consequently,
over the course of the next six-months we spend an inordinate amount of time
meeting and charting a course that would lead to the publication of Balisong:
The Lethal Art of Filipino Knife Fighting.
It was also during that time that I truly got to know Sonny at many levels.
Among these distinguishing qualities were his very articulate demeanor, his
quite yet pronounced presence, his depth of martial knowledge, his interesting
sense of humor, his enlightening smile, his captivating charisma the moment he
demonstrated weapon fighting technique and his subtleness in correcting a
student’s combative maneuvers without an overbearing ego standing in the way of
conveying the essence of his teachings.
Sonny was truly the consummate friend for those that shared a common interest.
He loved his privacy yet he was open in sharing his vast knowledge. He was
never one for touting his own abilities buy those that knew the art of stick
and knife fighting knew that he knew his capabilities. It was those
distinguished goro, sensei, sifu and martial masters that praised him and his
uncanny ability to wield a weapon with such artful finesse. This is perhaps
what raised many people’s consciousness of who Sonny Umpad was and what he
stood for in the final analysis. His actions were a reflection of the great
deeds he shared with those that he chose to call friends. I have been proud to
call Sonny Umpad a friend, a confidant and comrade-in-arms for the better
portion of two decades.
Over the course of that time, Sonny and I shared much about the martial arts
and his innovative Visayan corto kadena system of self-defense and combat. He
was the epitome of what I consider to be a consummate martial artist. He was a
quite man with a powerful mission to share his art with those that truly were
interested in learning. Perhaps what strikes me as most interested is the fact
that great and skillful stick and knife-fighters in their own right found
Sonny’s knowledge, skill and martial technique uniquely distinct and in his art
found some of their art. Sonny never boasted of his skill but anyone that truly
knew the art of stick and knife combat knew---especially after one glimpse of
this warrior in action---that he was indeed the “real deal”. Many sought out
Sonny to learn his art simply because it was not only practical and devoid of
superfluous theory, but worked effectively in all combative situations. Anyone
that has walked the warrior’s path of the stick and knife for years conceded
that they could improve their own fighting skills by learning what Sonny had to
offer. And he offered and shared gladly without consequences that reflected
that he was a superior warrior. In fact, he always viewed other martial artist
that trained with him not so much as students but more so as contemporaries or
peers that shared a common interest in the love of stick and knife combat. In
my mind, this reflects the true spirit of the warrior to share and teach without
an ego involved with the teaching and learning process.
Sonny spoke often about his Visayan culture and the rich traditions that
evolved from that are of the Philippine Islands. He was proud of the traditions
and gave praise to the great maestros that contributed so much to the art of
Visayan corto kadena that he created.
His art was steeped in these traditions and it reflected the love he had for
preserving the ancient ways of the knife and stick and he always recognized and
honored the ones that had contributed to his craft by praising them for their
unique talents and incomparable martial prowess. He was never one to steel
other’s thunder or put himself above those that attributed to his greatness.
For Sonny would assuredly have never called himself great or superior in skills
but I will proudly stand a deliver a message that he was truly one of the great
martial artists of our times…and perhaps of all times!
Sonny was a private man that valued and treasured to closeness of family
friends and students. In the dedication section of our book Balisong: The
Lethal Art of Filipino Knife Fighting his statement perhaps says it best. “I
wish to dedicate this book to my family; my children Brian & Jackie; and to
my students who have supported all of my efforts.” And I believe that to be the
sentiments that I choose to remember by good lifelong friend Sonny Umpad. May
he rest in peace for eternity and his knowledge be passed along for millions to
share over the many millenniums that will undoubtedly in generations to come.
Sid Campbell (Oakland, CA )
Dragun3@aol.com
September 3, 2006
As
a brief aquaintance of Sonny's it was clear from the start that he was one of
the rare true gentlemen of the martial arts. It seems the more knowledable and
proficient a fighter becomes, the more grounded and real the person. I thank
Greglon Lee for introducing me to Sonny, and I thank God, whom Sonny now sits
beside, for giving us all the gift of Sonny Umpad.
Jim Morin (Salem, OR )
JEM1930@aol.com
September 5, 2006
Maestro
Sonny I only met you once at a seminar but the impression you left is
everlasting. I offer my sincerest condolences to the friends, family and
students.
Robert Koenig (Honolulu, HI )
robertlk70@islandwarrior.com
September 8, 2006
I
first met Sonny at Dieter Knuettal's big shindig in Dusseldorf, Germany. I was
greatly impressed by what I saw and asked to train with Sonny and he humbly
responded by suggesting we exchange techniques. We sat and talked a while.
It is to my lasting regret that I foolishly did not step through this open
door.
The two days with Maestro Sonny while shooting for "Grandfathers Speak Vol
2" a few weeks before the end left me deeply moved. His calm composure was
extraordinary and profoundly inspiring.
"The wood is consumed, but the fire burns on."
Marc "Crafty Dog" Denny
Marc Denny (Hermosa Beach, CA )
Craftydog@dogbrothers.com
September 9, 2006
When
I first met Sonny, I came with my teacher and friend, Joe Olivarez. Sonny was a
soft-spoken man with a very humble demeanor. He had an approachable
personality, that you can talk to. When you walk, through his doors. He would
not only treat you as a student. But as a friend.
I remember, my first blade and escrima lesson with Sonny. It was like sparring
a blur. Because, that's all you would see " a blur.". Then, he would
go on and on, until there was a puddle of sweat under me. Sonny on the other
hand, was cool and calm. Like it was a walk on the beach. Here I am, considered
in great shape from my boxing training. Left me gasping for air and leaving me
little "love taps" marks on hands and arms. Then, he would let me
have a much needed break and let Joe have a turn. I was truly amazed, by this
man.
I am going to miss the long talks about martial arts, philosophy and the
stories of back in the day (espicially the one's of Joe, Crystal, and Sonny at
the club).
I will miss you, my friend...
Hiram (Chino) Zagala (Weisbaden, Germany, CA )
hiram.zagala@us.army.mil
September 25, 2006
I
met Sonny in 2000 and was invited to train with him in his living room.
Unfortunately I didn’t have time to train with him as much as I had wanted to
but I’m very grateful for everything he was willing to share. Sonny was an
amazing martial artist and, more importantly, a great person.
Rest in peace, Sonny.
Ingmund Forberg (Oslo, Norway)
September 28, 2006
There
are not enough words to describe the utter sense of loss I feel to this day.
More than a maestro to me, I have lost a brother. Sonny's passing has left a
void in many of our lives, a void that perhaps will never be filled. It will be
my brothers and sisters not only in Corto Kadena, but in all sister arts that
will help carry me and hopefully the rest of us through. May we who learned
from this extraordinary man close ranks and carry on with keeping Sonny's art
and memory alive. Sonny, may you rest in peace and may God bless you and your
family always. And to those brother and sister practitioners of all styles, and
friends who expressed their sorrow via phone calls, cards, or by just being
there, thank you and may God bless you too.
Gary Cagaanan (Oakland, CA )