Can

A whole new bag of surprises!

Personal Details

Name: Can

Last visit: Jun 17, 2008

Interests

Videogames - (Fighting, RPG, Action/Adventure, Rhythm, First Person Shooters), Dancing, Martial Arts, Bars/Clubs, Karaoke, Plays/Musicals, Dining, Traveling, Music(Rap/Hip-Hop, R&B, Independent, International, Rock, Alternative, Classical, Swing, Reggae, Reggaeton, J-Pop, J-Rock, K-Pop, Techno, Dance, Trance, Jungle, Drum 'N' Bass, Industrial, Jazz, Latin, Salsa, Marengue), Lifting Weights, Working Out, Drawing, Writing, Reading, Swordplay, Bushido, Yoga, Cycling, Poetry

For martial arts, I've studied and delved into various styles such as: Tae Kwon Do, Muay Thai, Lethwei, Western Kickboxing, Japanese Jiu-Jitsu, Brazilian/Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, Aikido, Boxing, Nin-Jitsu, Submission Wrestling, Trap-Fighting, Army Combatives, Special Forces, Japanese Shootfighting, Vale Tudo, and Capoieora. I have an immense love and respect for martial arts such as training, sparring, watching, observing, and analyzing.

Martial arts weapons, I'm proficient in: Katanas, Balisongs, Chinese Broadswords, Tai Chi Sword, 3-Way Staff, Kali Sticks, Kamas, Fencing Foil, Rapiers, Iron Fans, Sais, Knives, Katars, and Nunchukus.

Books

Bushido, Sun Tze's Art of War, Gulliver's Travels, Taming of the Shrew, 12th Night, Tao of Jeet Kune Do, Seeing Yourself in 100 Different Ways, Zero Balancing, The Hermetica, Hamlet, Romeo & Juliet, Shogun, Rainbow Six, Red Rabbit, Patriot Games

Movies

Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels; Snatch; Reservoir Dogs; Kill Bill Vol. 1; Jackie Brown; Natural Born Killers; Downfall Hitler; Behind Enemy Lines; Ong Bak: Thai Warrior; Beautiful Boxer; Y Mama Tu Tambien; Ghost Dog: Way of the Samurai; X-2; Spiderman 1 & 2; Matrix Trilogy, Star Wars, Zato Ichi; Brother; Battle Royale; Sonatime; Saving Private Ryan; Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon; Enter the Dragon; Game of Death; Chinese Connection; The Island; Frank Miller's Sin City; Terminator 2; Aliens; Saving Face; Ace Ventura; Avalon; The City of Lost Children; Westside Story; Steamboy; Cowboy Bebop: Knockin' On Heaven's Door; Appleseed; Ghost In the Shell 2: Innocence; Grave of the Fireflies; Princess Mononoke; Read or Die; Ultimate Avengers; Ultimate Avengers 2; Hellboy; The Transporter; Kiss of the Dragon; Romeo Must Die; Garden State; Fahrenheit 9/11; Shine; 9/11: In Plane Site; Along Came A Spider; Kiss The Girls; The Sum of All Fears; Undercover Brother; Prison Song; Supercop; Legend of Drunken Master; House of Flying Daggers; Land of the Dead; Unleashed; Star Wars; Clear & Present Danger; Patriot Games; Fist of Legend 2; Fist of Legend 3; Monsoon Wedding; Bride and Prejudice; Lagaan; Syriana; Schlinder's List; The Protector

Television

Heroes; West Wing; Blow Out; Survivor; Amazing Race; The Apprentice; Las Vegas; Crossing Jordan; Law and Order; Doctor Who, Stargate SG-1; Stargate Atlantis; Toonami; Adult Swim; Liberty News; Monk; Psyche; Girlfriends; All of Us; Supernatural; Smallville; Everybody Hates Chris; CSI; The Ultimate Fighter; Dave Chapelle Show; South Park; Ghost In the Shell: SAC/2nd Gig; Outlaw Star; Cowboy Bebop, Grappler Baki; Samurai Champloo; Gundam Wing; G-Gundam; Gundam SEED; Paranoia Agent; Berserk; FLCL; Read or Die: TV; Bleach; Full Metal Alchemist; Street Fighter II V; Escaflowne; Samurai 7; Trigun; Trinity Blood; Big-O; S-Cry-Ed; Rurouni Kenshin; All About Us; Family Guy; American Dad; The Simpsons; Who Wants to be a Superhero; Mad Mad House; Henry Rollins Show; At the IFC Center; Afro Samurai; X-Play; Electric Playground; Cheat; Scrubs; The Office; My Name Is Earl; 30 Rock; The Parkers; Frasier; King of Queens

Blog

Anime reviews: Samurai Champloo

"Samurai Champloo" is an anime series that is the perfect mix of Feudal Japan and the culture of hip-hop music. It is created and directed by Shinichiro Watanabe who had also done the same with "Cowboy Bebop." The name of "Champloo" means "chanpuru" which can be defined as a "mix," "stir-fry," or "freestyle." It's an interesting mix of the genres of action and samurai movies. The series seems to be strongly inspired by urban culture such as: hip-hop, rap, break-dancing, slang/ebonics, turntablism, and modernism. But the series still focuses on the element of the Tokugawa era. The time setting takes place a few centuries before the Meiji Restoration.

The series revolve around three people as they travel across Japan. Personality and style-wise, the three of them contrast from each other.

There's Mugen who is a vagabond from Ryukyu or Okinawa. He is one of the most unorthodox fighters in all of Japan. He uses a special type of katana. Without the sword, Mugen uses a combination of breakdancing and Capoeira. His named is derived from Mugen which is Japanese for "infinite" or "endless." He's more of the ruffian and the street-fighter in Samurai Champloo. In the dubbed version, he is voiced by Steven Blum who also voiced the role of Spike Spiegel in Cowboy Bebop.

Jin is a ronin who has a more refined style contrasting to Mugen. He's the more refined swordsman that uses finesse. In combat, Jin uses traditional kenjutsu. Without the sword, Jin uses Jiu-Jitsu. He is voiced by Kirk Thornton in the dubbed version. This is one of the many works of anime that Kirk Thornton had worked along with Steven Blum.

The two of them are recruited by a feisty young girl named Fuu who's about fifteen years old. She's looking for the "Sunflower Samurai" or the "samurai that smells of sunflowers."

The trio travels around Japan as they owe Fuu from saving them from execution. All three run into their own pasts along the course of the series when they try to find the samurai that smells of sunflowers. Despite the elements of modern and hip-hop culture, Samurai Champloo relies on the factual events in Edo-era Japan uch as the Shimabara Rebellion.

Most of the tracks in Samurai Champloo is compiled and sung by Japanese hip-hop artist Nujabes. Overall, Samurai Champloo is a very interesting series to watch despite some of the inaccuracies. If you enjoyed watching Cowboy Bebop, you may enjoy watching Samurai Champloo.

Steven Blum does an excellent job of voicing Mugen while Kirk Thornton does a great job of voicing Jin.

http://www.helium.com/tm/652299/samurai-champloo-anime-series

February 2, 2008 10:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | Add Comment

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About Me

I'm currently a freelance screenwriter, actor, and novelist. Just recently started an event planning business and have a huge project that's being unveiled summer-fall of 2007 in Washington DC. I should be moving to DC pretty soon. I'm also a college student majoring in acting, art, writing, and history. Probably going to minor in international studies, religion, and political science. I'm also a US Army Reservist and a former substitute teacher. My arse almost got sent out to the Middle East. I got about 2 more years in the service.

I also have a background in mixed martial arts, military martial arts, and classical martial arts. My former instructor is a former UFC fighter and a current judge in Pride Fighting Championships that takes place in Japan.

Whenever I want to kill time or come up with storyline/character ideas, I hang out on a roleplaying board known as Arcane Academy. My character's name on the RPB is The Director. If you're from Storylink, hit me up on AA.

Arcane Academy

I roleplay as Keith Lucifer - "Devil's Right Hand" on PHS #259.

PHS #259

I'm also the admin known as Dr. Xing of the role-playing board known as Mugen Hall.

Mugen Hall

Role-playing boards are pretty much a good way to develop characters if you can't afford to buy character development software at the moment.

I have a deep interest in politics, religion, current events, life in general. I am somewhat active/interested in politics but I'm not a person that lives, eats, and breathes that stuff. But I'm a person that enjoys studying and living life in general. My life experiences and my imagination are what fuels my writing. It's what inspires me to write.

I enjoy telling stories whether they are real life stories or any other stories in general. I've lived a pretty interesting life so far. Currently an Army Reservist that was almost sent out to Iraq. I worked as a substitute teacher for almost 2 years, which was pretty grueling work; I was the youngest and only Asian sub in the county of Florida I live in. I also worked the John Kerry Campaign of '04, that was a pretty interesting experience. Spent most of '05 honing my screenwriting skills; still honing them in.

In summer of '04, I took on a small role for a student film at Florida Metropolitan University's Orlando Campus called "Street Wok'n." I was supposed to do voice work for this studio in Tampa but I think the project got cut due to the barrage of hurricanes in '04. That pretty much motivated me to take a deep interest in environmentalism and alternative fuel sources.

I currently have one screenplay set to be filmed Winter of '07 and another screenplay being talked over at the moment.

I'm also a huge anime and videogame fan. And music is my life blood. The type of music you listen to defines what kind of person you are. What I watch usually depends on my mood. It ranges from Japanese Anime, shows on G4 which I feel the channel pretty much sucks because they took off the videogame shows, a few reality TV shows such as The Apprentice, to a good indie film or documentary. I usually watch stuff on Bravo, A&E, CNN, MSNBC, Spike TV, G4, and Cartoon Network.

You can also find me on Helium.

TFactor

Goal

My goal is but a simple sounding one: to make a huge impact in the world in whatever positive and ways possible. Remember nothing is impossible and impossible is nothing. All things worth striving for in life are never simple. It's basically the path you take is what matters than just going from point A to point B.

Also, to fight for the underdogs. They're the ones who need us the most. Basically bring hope and such to others. No need to be negative. Way too much negative energy in the universe. Why create more negativity?

For this year, I got a few goals. But I can't reveal them yet.