Perhaps people can use this as a place to share thoughts about Sonny.
Here's one: Sonny always seemed to be in motion, but he never seemed rushed.
Hey Jeff,,
Thanks for the warm walk through time, well said!
Without question Jim Keating, myself, and others in our group were always amazed at Sonny's dynamic movement and the depth of his concepts. Really so much further and beyond concepts but since we were all part time students that is what we absorbed.
Possibly some remember the old Full Contact Magazine, I was fortunate enough to interview Sonny in the backyard of my home after a seminar. Probably the most important things he shared were off tape. Behind the scenes in his guidance of how he felt my freedom of expression was a gift I should share with all.
Sonny never restricted my deviation of what he shared with me. Much like Professor Presas, Sonny always said to make it my own and never question my own self worth. Yeah I know, up front and on the move I don't appear as one who would. But truly growth comes slowly if Seniors and mentors of the art such as Sonny, Professor Presas, Jesse Glover, Ed Hart, Taky Kimura, and others are not sought out for guidance, physical skill, and ego checking.
However short our physical time was together, telephone conversations were sometimes the most revealing for both of us, especially most recently after my divorce. Sonny was there for me even though he was ill, he shared innermost feeling relative to what he himself experienced in his life.
Honestly ya can't buy that kind of Brotherhood and Compassion, Sonny was that type of man and so much more.
Although I was not a direct student he treated me as a friend and even though I revered him as a senior practitioner, his final words were always to keep doing what I am doing.
So much more to say, and in time I will review my audio interview, his letters, all the videos he sent me because he chose to, and my Cable TV show Sonny was featured on "Street Wise Self Defense."
Last night during training I opened the safe and pulled out the Knife I had made for Sonny and I from a handmade aluminum blade Sonny had produced and given me years ago. The maker used it as a proto-type and completed two knives. I then sent Sonny the razor finished blade which was an almost duplicate of his handmade trainer. As most would know, Sonny carved away on the handle material making it a personalized blade. Although I never got to see the finished version, it no doubt became a classical show piece of collectible value!
Any gifts I offered Sonny he paid back three-fold with his motivational spirit force of brotherhood.
Thank you Sonny, you will never be forgotten in my heart!
Kelly S. Worden
Thank you Jeff for these words, for they best describes what Sonny was about.
"Sonny wasn’t merely a caretaker but a builder, and those who absorbed even a part of his spirit have come away with something uniquely different."
He was one of the best; endowed with transcendent mental superiority. He will surely be missed.
Carlito Bonjoc, Jr.
Thanks for the great artical. Sonny was an great artist and teacher. I met him at a seminar hosted by Kelly Wordens school and got to travel with him in Switzerland for 6 weeks.
When Jesse wrote and told me Sonny had left the memory that came to mind was Sonny saying, "Be the Tree not the Fruit".
I also would like to give my utmost respects to Mr. Umpad and condolences to his family...
God Bless,
please pass my condolences and the condolences of the combate eskrima
orehenal family to the family of master sonny umpad.
if anyone can, please leave a piece of my heart to rest with this
great man,master and eskrimador.
-with one knee down and head bowed,
It really huts my heart to take pen in hand and write letters that touch me so emotionally...I am glad to contribute to Sonny's legacy.
Mahalo,
Sid of Dragunshire
---Sid Campbell, 10th dan
Author, Artist, Actor and Karate Grandmaster
President (Kaicho)
The World Okinawan Shorin-Ryu Karate-do and Kobudo Association
Oakland, California
I'd like to express my deepest condolences and utmost respect to the memory of this great Filipino martial arts Master, Mr. Sonny Umpad...may he rest-in-peace.
God Bless,
Guro Mike Davis (ISES) founder
Sacramento, CA.
Commenting by HaloScan
