What is a sling? The sling was likely mankind's first, true projectile weapon. It generally consists of two cords and a pouch. These cords are held in one hand and a projectile is placed in the pouch. The length of the sling provides greater mechanical advantage than one's arms. Projectiles can be slung over 1500 feet (450m) at speeds exceeding 250 miles per hour (400 kph)....
Japanese legend Norifumi Yamamoto, the one-time pound-for-pound king, passed away this week from cancer. The bafflingly named Hero’s was launched in 2005 as an offshoot of the great kickboxing promotion, K-1. An ultra successful crossover event with PRIDE FC in 2002 had left the K-1 big wigs thinking that they had better start working their way into this mixed martial arts malarkey and so Hero’s became...
Home-made sling Home-made sling A sling is a projectile weapon typically used to throw a blunt projectile such as a stone, clay, or lead "sling-bullet". It is also known as the shepherd's sling. Someone who specialises in using slings is called a slinger. A sling has a small cradle or pouch in the middle of two lengths of cord. The sling stone is placed in the pouch. The middle finger or thumb is placed through a loop on the end...
About six months ago, Christian Sam Wirk of Austria turned the heads of our small group of stone slingers when he said there would be an international slinging tournament in Spain. When he told us three months later that it coincided with the launch day of Chamorro month, that sealed the deal. As people of the only flag in the world that bears a sling stone,...
Soul of a champion: This past weekend saw one of the greatest UFC champions ever lose his belt in an extraordinarily close bout after a record eleven title defenses. This post is not about the match, how it should have been scored or whether Demetrious Johnson is the best pound for pound fighter in the world. This is just about how we all can improve...
Master navigator leads canoe voyage. Article by: Marianas Variety By Sophia Perez - sophia@mvariety.com - Variety Features Writer The traditional Chamorro sakman Fanhigåyan Guåhan returned to Guam last Sunday after sailing to Saipan and back. Palu or Master Navigator Ali Haleyalur of Lamotrek led the voyage, working alongside Traditions Affirming Our Seafaring Ancestry (TASA)to revive seafaring traditions in Micronesia. TASA aims to develop and support the documentation, research, and teaching of Micronesian cultural...
THE MAN NGINGE' Spanish Origin? Not? By: Pale Eric Forbes Original Article Here. Recently, I noticed a good number of comments on Chamorro culture social media sites stating that the man nginge' is a Spanish custom. None of the people claiming this provide any historical evidence. How can they? It isn't there. Consider the following : 1. Early European accounts of our ancestors describe different gestures of respect practiced among our ancestors...
Successful trip by the Fineghayan! BIBA and Congratulations TASA! BIBA! Congratulations to TASA, the crew of the Fineghayan, and to the people of the Mariana Islands for another successful voyage on a locally made traditional vessel using celestial navigation and other methods of traditional way-finding. Key to growing the interest and pursuit of traditional way finding in our island--- ---Special thanks and respect to Lamotrek and the...
Traditions Affirming our Seafaring Ancestry. Big respect for TASA amd all the other contributing organizations out there that are wotking hard to reinvigorate traditional sailing and out raditional vessels. With more than 4000 years of history. The people of the Mariana Islands were incredible craftsman and seafarers. Despite the unstoppable reality of modernization Great to see the voices and teachings of our ancestors continues to resonate among us. May...