The Saber Martial Arts Podcast

¡Bienvenidos a Episodio 70 de SMAFcast, con nuestros amigos fantásticos Puertoriqueños, los hermanos Andinos! Maestros Aureo, Victor, y Roberto de "Saber Legends" ofrecían una charla divertida sobre varios artes marciales y cómo enseñándoles en un "dojo" balletístico, las dinámicas de la familia cuando el hermanito tiene el primer Cinturón Negro, el papel de Puerto Rico dentro del mundo más grande de espadas, y mucho más para hacerse sonreír. ¡Gracias máximas a los Andinos por todo lo que hacen por los estudiantes, y gracias a todos ustedes por suscribiéndose a SMAFcast y compartiéndolo con sus amigos!

Welcome to Episode 70 of SMAFcast, featuring our great friends from Puerto Rico, the Andino brothers! Sensei Aureo, Sensei Victor, and Sensei Roberto of "Saber Legends" brought us a fun chat about various martial arts and what it's like teaching them out of a ballet studio, the family dynamics that occur when Little Bro earns his Black Belt first, Puerto Rico's role within the greater world of sabers, and lots more to put a smile on your face. Many, many thanks to the Andinos for everything they do for their students, and thanks to all of you for subscribing to SMAFcast and sharing it with your friends!

The Official Site of Saber Legends! Please check out their classes as Mauro Ballet Studio in San Juan, Puerto Rico whenever you're on the island!

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The Official Home of Saber Martial Arts!

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Train & fight in an Official "SMA Duelist" Jersey!

Once again, Kay Sensei brings us a guest who is a Master in his craft: Sensei Thanh Nguyen is a chief protege of Grandmaster Fumio Demura and a high-ranking Black Belt in Shitō-ryū Karate. As jovial as he is wise, Thanh Sensei's Yoda-like demeanor serves him well as Chief Instructor of Genbu-Kai International. He shared many stories, and we all shared many laughs over the course of two hours. We thank Thanh Sensei for the gift of his time and his mind, and we thank all of you for Subscribing to our show! Please Share with your friends!

Sensei Thanh Nguyen on the Official Genbu-Kai website!

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Train & fight in an Official "SMA Duelist" Jersey!

Kay Sensei is back for another dojo-cleaning session! We sort through some hot-button tournament-related topics in anticipation of our biggest SMA event to date (despite being released after said event), as well as some fun "Star Wars" banter to liven the mood. Please don't forget to Subscribe to all the stuff, and Share that stuff with people who like similar stuff! Thank you for listening, friends.

Join Saber Martial Arts on Patreon!

The Official Home of Saber Martial Arts!

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Train & fight in an Official "SMA Duelist" Jersey!

As you may have guessed by the titling of this episode, we're joined by a lovely "lightsabre" chap from the UK, Mr. Faisal Mian of Silver Sabres Combat Academy! A longtime Tai Chi artist, Headmaster, proponent of youth saber training, and believer in the "Power of the Force" as it were, Sifu Faisal was an astonishingly delightful guest, and someone we are proud to now count among our friends and Budo-brethren. Many thanks to Mr. Mian for sharing his time with us, and thanks to all of you for subscribing and sharing this show with a new listener!

Check out London's Silver Sabres Combat Academy online!

Register for UNLIMITED Saber Martial Arts divisions for ONE LOW PRICE using the code "SMA100" at checkout and JOIN US in Columbus, OH on February 28th and March 1st, 2025 for the 2025 Kumite Classic/Arnold Sports Festival!

Read about the Kumite Classic's legacy in this recent article from Black Belt Magazine! Thanks for the SMA shoutout, Sensei Viola!

Official Site of The Arnold Schwarzenegger Sports Festival

Train & Fight in an Official SMA "Duelist" Jersey!

Join Saber Martial Arts on Patreon!

The Official Home of Saber Martial Arts!

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It is our extreme privilege to have Sensei Bill Viola Jr. and Sensei Rocky Whatule on the show! Bill Sensei is the owner of the upcoming Kumite Classic Tournament and Viola Karate (PA), a champion karateka, author, and namesake of Sensei Viola Sr., one of the Godfathers of modern MMA. Rocky Sensei is the coordinator of the Kumite Classic and owner of Zanshin Shotokan (CA), a stand-up comic, and accomplished competitor in his own right. The legacy these gentlemen are building with the Kumite is one to behold, and we are honored they've allowed us to be the shield-bearers for SMA within that legacy. Thanks on top of thanks to Bill Sensei & Rocky Sensei, and thanks forever to all of you who subscribe and share!

Register for UNLIMITED Saber Martial Arts divisions for ONE LOW PRICE using the code "SMA100" at checkout and JOIN US in Columbus, OH on February 28th and March 1st, 2025 for the 2025 Kumite Classic/Arnold Sports Festival!

Read about the Kumite Classic's legacy in this recent article from Black Belt Magazine! Thanks for the SMA shoutout, Sensei Viola!

Official Site of The Arnold Schwarzenegger Sports Festival

Train & Fight in an Official SMA "Duelist" Jersey!

Join Saber Martial Arts on Patreon!

The Official Home of Saber Martial Arts!

Follow our Instagram!

Subscribe on YouTube!

Fode, Alan, and Kay preview the new SMA partnership with the Kumite Classic, a massive martial arts tournament that is now part of the incredible Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus, OH on Feb. 28th & March 1st! The SMA Instructors are honored to spearhead this huge leap for LED saber sports and participate in such a massively credentialed martial arts event. We chat about the Official Weapons Glossary and some of the rulesets, including a few novel SMA divisions, and learn you up on how YOU can be a part of Saber Martial Arts at the Kumite Classic! Thank you all for listening, and WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

Register for UNLIMITED Saber Martial Arts divisions for ONE LOW PRICE using the code "SMA100" at checkout and JOIN US in Columbus, OH on February 28th and March 1st, 2025!

The Arnold Schwarzenegger Sports Festival

Train & Fight in an Official SMA "Duelist" Jersey!

Join Saber Martial Arts on Patreon!

The Official Home of Saber Martial Arts!

Follow our Instagram!

Subscribe on YouTube!

7th Degree Kenjutsu Black Belt, globetrotting Master Instructor, and the inventor of our favorite ActionFlex brand of foam "full-speed" weaponry, Shihan Dana Abbott finally bows us into the SMAFcast SaberDojo! Treat yourself to an exclusive pow-wow with one of the most prominent American swordsmen and a true lifetime martial artist whose contributions to the arts run deeper than a three-body katana's deadliest slash. With the utmost respect and gratitude to Abbott Sensei, and to you our faithful subscribers, THANK YOU for joining us!

*To preserve the organic integrity of the conversation as it was recorded, moderate use of expletive language is left unedited.

"Learn The Sword" from Shihan Dana Abbott, and check out his ActionFlex line of weaponry available from Century Martial Arts!

REGISTER for Saber Martial Arts at The Kumite Classic/Arnold Sports Festival! Use code "SMA100" at checkout for unlimited SMA divisions at one low price!

Train & Fight in an Official SMA "Duelist" Jersey!

Join Saber Martial Arts on Patreon!

The Official Home of Saber Martial Arts!

Follow our Instagram!

Subscribe on YouTube!

Yes, the title of this episode is a geek thirst-trap: we are unfortunately not posing for any saber-thicc wall calendars. We are, however, VERY BUSY in 2025 bringing Saber Martial Arts from literal coast to coast! Fode and Sifu break down all of the events planned for this year (so far, with more to come), and you can see the calendar by clicking these words! We hope to see many of you in person at these awesome SMA events, and we thank you all for sticking with us into our biggest year yet!

Register for Saber Martial Arts at The Kumite Classic/Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus, OH on February 28 & March 1! Use code "SMA100" at checkout for unlimited SMA divisions at one low price!

Train & Fight in an Official SMA "Duelist" Jersey!

Join Saber Martial Arts on Patreon!

The Official Home of Saber Martial Arts!

Follow our Instagram!

Subscribe on YouTube!

Take a knee on the dojo mat and listen to storyteller Brian Takahashi regale you with tales from the life of a stunt performer, martial artist, Star Wars fan, and the actor under the gi top for Young Miyagi-san in Cobra Kai! Brian offers sage advice for aspiring artists and humorous accounts from decades of filmmaking experience, and his uniquely charming delivery is sure to make this episode an instant fan-favorite. Thanks to Senpai Brian for joining us, and thank you all for the continued support! Oh, don't forget to visit those links below.

Follow Brian Takahashi on Instagram and YouTube, and watch him take on old Daniel-san as young Miyagi-san from Cobra Kai!

Join Saber Martial Arts on Patreon!

The Official Home of Saber Martial Arts!

Follow our Instagram!

Subscribe on YouTube!

Fode and Alan break down the Official SMA Patreon tiers for individual martial artists and saber academies! Becoming a Patron is an incredibly helpful way to support and perpetuate Saber Martial Arts, and thus our ability to give back to this community we love. Please enjoy this bonus release, and click that Patreon link above (and below) to level your SMA game up! Thank you for subscribing and sharing!

Join Saber Martial Arts on Patreon!

The Official Home of Saber Martial Arts!

Follow our Instagram!

Subscribe on YouTube!