Currently browsing Posts Published December 2015

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With Billy Robinson Circa 2009

Posted by Sam Kressin in Billy Robinson, Billy Robinson Photos, Catch Wrestling, Martial Arts Photos, Personal Journal

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What Do I remember about this camp? We trained for 16+ hours over the course of the weekend. We spend the morning covering stance, movement and footwork then hand fighting and the pivot. The afternnon was all take downs the Half Halch, Flying Mare, Knee Tap, Single Leg, Standing Achilles Ankle Lock, Front Headlock Take Over, Front and Rear Lateral Drops, Grovit, Standing Double Wrist Lock were some the take downs but the Pivot was what Billy was most concerened about. I can vividly recall Billy Instructing that day. The second day was spent on mat work. We did Positional drills, about 5 Different Toe Holds, Double Wrist and Top Wrist Locks, Key Lock, Short Sit Outs, Standing Up from a Defense Position, Arm Rolls, Texas Clover Leaf and a bunch of other stuff.

Training With Billy Robinson Circa 2009

North Shore Oahu Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Circa 2002

Posted by Sam Kressin in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Photos, Personal Journal

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Photo was taken on Oahu, Hawaii after the 2002 NAGA Hawaii State Championships. This was the first time a NAGA tournament was held in Hawaii and the first time a tournament in Hawaii would be hosted by an organization not affiliated with any of the local BJJ Schools. I am on the first row second from your left with the blue rash guard on.

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Latin American Folklore Makes it’s Way into Comics

Posted by Sam Kressin in Animation, Comic Books

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AsustoI’ve known artist and animator Franco Cespedes for several years now. He is a fantastic artist, and has been working with me on an incredible new Worlds Deadliest project that should showcase by the end of this year. In the meantime, Franco has put out an awesome 4 issue mini-series on ComiXology titled, “Asusto.”

Asusto is based on classic Costa Rican and Latin American folktales, stories that have been passed down for generations. Asusto quickly focuses in on Chito, a violent man with a quick temper who doesn’t for a second believe any of the local folklore, but soon finds himself battling for his life. Franco has put together a quickly paced, action packed, thriller / horror saga, showcasing his take on several legendary Latin American tales.

The cartooning and illustration work of Franco Cespedes is excellent. His characters are extremely animated, expressive, and filled with emotion. This is a fast and fun read, filled with Devil Dogs (El Cadjos), She Monsters (La Segua), Headless Priests (El Padre Sin Cabeza) and a host of craziness. Just 99 cents per a 26 pg issue, for a total of three dollars and ninety six cents for the entire series, you can’t go wrong. You can pick up all four issues right here on comiXology. Asusto is available in both English and Spanish pick up a copy here; https://www.comixology.com/Asusto-1/digital-comic/77059

Spike The Bull Dog

Posted by Sam Kressin in Animation, Book Reviews

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Making his first appearance in a 1942 MGM Tom and Jerry cartoon titled “Dog Trouble” Spike the Bulldog has traveled across multiple business and marketing platforms throughout the years. This all begins with a simple how to draw book published in the 1940s.

Spike’s most famous pose comes from a book titled, “Animation: Learn How to Draw Animated Cartoons” The picture below is from the second edition of the book. Blair did not create the character but he used Spike and several other Characters he had animated while working at MGM and Disney Studios to explain the finer points of animation.

Spike the Bull Dog

After publication of the first edition of Preston Blair’s book, “Animation” the rights to use some of these characters were revoked and Blair was forced to go back and change his illustrations to make the characters “generic” and legal to use. Pictured is below are the original, “Spike the Bull Dog” drawings included in the first edition of Blair’s book .

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Kickstarter Success! Strength Monsters is Funded!

Posted by Sam Kressin in Comic Books, Strength Monsters, Uncategorized

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THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE! There are literally only 3 days left I was seriously worried! I was thinking, “man this is going to come down to the last minute,” and then… This morning I get up check my email and find out. It made it! IT MADE IT! I’m jumping off the walls right not. Thank you everyone who’s back this project, liked or shared any of my posts and believed in this! I won’t let you guys down! There are still 3 days left if anyone else wants to jump in and pick up one of the rewards heres the link; http://kck.st/1O4Ersu

Top 5 Reasons You Should Back My Kickstarter

Posted by Sam Kressin in Comic Books, Strength Monsters, Uncategorized

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The link to my Kickstarter is; http://kck.st/1O4Ersu At the time of this writing there are four days left and I am 77% funded. Here are 5 reasons why you should back my Kickstarter!

  1. Because it’s awesome. Don’t believe me go to the Strength Monsters Website to the Latest New Page and Scroll down for awhile. Check out all the illustrations art work and ideas I’ve been posting on there for the last month plus. All of that stuff is in these comics!
  2. You’re not just helping me finish the books. You’re getting behind everyone who worked on it. You’re helping local San Diego Artist A.J. Fulcher reach his dreams of becoming a successful published comic book artist and old timer Mike Witherby make is come back. Don’t believe me go and read the interview I did with Witherby about his comic career what he did, how it ended and how he’s returned! Then read this interview with A.J. Fulcher about his back ground as a Table Games Dealer, his struggle with his Neck and Spine and his motivation to prove to his kids they can make anything of themselves despite their challenges.
  3. Because you’ll have something unique and original no one else has! I only printed 50 hard copies of the first issue of Strength Monsters and those are gone. I don’t plan on doing a large print run of any of these Kickstarter books. It’s just not financially feasible at this time and it’s not part of my business plan. In fact my ONLY plans for a large print run of Strength Monsters will be after I’ve finished the first 5-6 issues. Then I have plans to printed a large run of a collected edition of all the books in one volume. If you have any of these floppy issue you will be one the few fringe members of society!
  4. Because of all the other cool stuff you can get! I’ve got Pro Wrestling Comic Book Association Stickers, Post Cards, Catch Wrestling Instructional Videos Clips,  Original Art and in addition to all that you can immortalize yourself by having your name on the Appreciation Page of the Strength Monsters Website or on the Special Thanks Page inside one or both comic books. Everyone can know how rad you are for getting behind such a cool project before anyone else even knew about it! But if you are too humble and don’t want such well deserved recognition and credit for being so totally awesome well that’s fine too. You don’t have to put your name on any of those places or you can have a secret code name printed that no one other that yourself and maybe a few friends would even know who it really is…
  5. Finally it would be a great help to me. What else can I say. All the money is going towards finishing the comics and getting everyones rewards out that’s it. There won’t be a dime going into my own pocket in fact if there is any money left at all after paying everyone and paying for everything  you have my word of honor it will go right back into making the comics better.

Last of all I want you to take a look at this Screen Shot of my Kickstarter Profile you can go to my project page and it’ll be exactly the same. I’ve backed 20 projects myself. I believe there’s value in believing in someone else’s idea and supporting it. Once again here is the link to my Kickstarter Project; http://kck.st/1O4ErsuScreen Shot 2015-12-13 at 11.46.56 PM

A.J. Fulcher Interveiw Part II

Posted by Sam Kressin in Comic Books, Strength Monsters, Uncategorized

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AJ_DinosuarThis is part II of my Interview with Local San Diego Artist Aj Fulcher all the Pencil drawings you see in this interview where done by A.J. for Strength Monsters comics. If you want to get a good idea of what the next two issues of my Strength Monsters comic books will be like then read this interview! I have a Kickstarter going right now for these comics and when you support stuff like this you aren’t just helping me finish the project you are supporting local guys like A.J. work towards their dreams and old timers like Mike Witherby make their comebacks! http://kck.st/1O4Ersu is the link to the Kickstarter it’s also at the beginning and end of the article attached below.

Source: Interview with A.J. Fulcher Part II

My Art Work in Novembers Jiu-Jitsu Magazine

Posted by Sam Kressin in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Comic Books

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Jiu_Jitsu_Mag_CoverJiu Jitus Magazine ran a really cool interview article with my Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu coach Chris Haueter this past month. In it he talks about the Graphic Novel Project we’ve worked on over the years and you can check out the comic book page we collaborated on a number of years ago. You can see the most recent illustration I finished for this project here.

 

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