🎙 Welcome to "Vitruvian 5000" – Ep 132: The Mafia, Martial Arts, and Making Art in NYC

In this raw and revelatory episode, Nick and Jesse sit down with special guest Luigi Scarcella Perino, a full-contact karate champion, artist, and co-founder of the cult martial arts brand Half Sumo. 

From the shadowy docks of Naples to the vibrant streets of New York, this conversation explores the deep roots of Sicilian identity, the global reach of organized crime, and the battle of self-expression through martial arts and art.

🔍 We touch on everything from the Camorra and corruption in modern Italy to Brooklyn’s gritty past, New York’s alchemical energy, and how creative resistance blooms where dreams are threatened. 

Luigi also shares the story behind Half Sumo, the philosophy of martial artistry, and what it means to live like a modern-day warrior in a world built to break you.

⏱ TIMESTAMPS:

01:00 Welcoming Luigi from Messina

02:46 The Unique Charm of Sicily

03:11 Life in New York vs. Sicily

07:08 Cultural Differences and Traditions

15:24 The Entrepreneurial Spirit

35:37 The Mafia's Influence in Italy

42:21 Mafia's Influence on Infrastructure

46:17 Personal Family History and World War Stories

50:48 The Evolution of the Italian Language

55:27 Renaissance Artists' Wild Lives

59:13 Journey into Martial Arts and Art

01:01:14 The Birth of Half Sumo

01:10:27 Half Sumo's Unique Products