Hello Everyone!

I have noticed a tendency on discussion forums for people to talk and talk and talk about Jeet Kune Do, even as if they were authorities, yet when it comes to actual training, they wouldn't have a clue! Some probably couldn't fight their way out of a wet paper sack if they had a razor! How much training time do each of you put in, and what is the primary source of your knowledge in this art? Do you spend a lot of time researching and learning about Jeet Kune Do? If so, what sources have you found to be the best? Who do you see as a wellspring of knowledge in this art? I am just curious as to the experience level of the people who visit my forum, and where you primarily draw your knowledge from. And by the way, this is not intended to offend anyone!

Keep Blasting!
Sifu Lamar M. Davis II
Senior Instructor
Hardcore Jeet Kune Do
sifu@live.com
http://www.HardcoreJKD.com
http://www.DragonBlastMA.com
Phone (205) 296-7070 (Incoming Only)
or (205) 213-2086

"Hit Hard, Hit Fast, Hit First - ALWAYS!"

"The REAL future of Jeet Kune Do belongs to US, the few, the proud, the HARDCORE! Now, what are we going to do with it?" _ Sifu Lamar M. Davis II

Hey Sifu. I train just not formally... AT the present moment. I got into the philosophy of JKD at age 16. Well to be honest mainly Bruce Lee and how he shaped the outlook of Asian Americans in the US film industry. Very interesting man. I took Tae Kwondo formally for 2 solid years. Got good with tricks (you know the 540's 720's butterfly twists) then my interest bled into Brazillian Capoeria. I trained with a guy named Brendan Bohannon up at Johnson City. And guess what the best thing was, he didn't charge me. So I got 3-4 months of Capoeria and I finally broke my arm. After that and a scuffle with a school mate, I found myself saying WOW THIS CRAP DOESNT WORK AS FAR AS SELF DEFENSE IS CONCERNED! So I started boxing with this guy named Gilberto Melendez who found me on facebook... Kinda Creepy.... Anywho, he said I had speed and rhythm (I did hip hop dancing, and Stepping in my fraternity) but was kinda on the scaredy cat side (I had the point fighting mentality). I began doing that for 3 months over the summer. Then I got into the MTSU (I transferred) Martial Arts club. I had alot of sparring partners (mostly because some of the kids were kwasi-racist and wanted to beat up on the only asian guy there :) I was doing basic muay thai, kick boxing and BJJ. Man I thought I was going to be a the new PRIDE Ultra Light Weight Champion LOL. Any who, it was there I met a kid named Max Nolen (RICH MAN) and he took seminars with Vunak and Dan Inosanto. This kid was good, he stop hit me, straight blasted me you name it. I got back into wanting to learn Jkd. Well, fortunately for me him and I hit it off good. You see we had alot in common, I was an adopted Korean and He had an Asian Fetish. To be honest I think he had a crush on me. Well anywho he taught me some concepts, entereing, range finding, straight lead, yadda yadda yadda. And you know I worked with him the entire last semester at MTSU and I got decent. Even Better than I had been. Then all good things end and I came back to Maryville searching for a career in Radio-Television. Then I met this guy named Lamar online, and he seemed like a good ol' Country boy raised in the Christian south, and I said to myself, that is my future SIFU. I like the fact you actually use your JKD and are still grounded in your faith but you are not pretensious with it. Good Quality.

Well, since then I had one altercation at work were this pot head hippy kid told me JKD wouldn't work compared to his greco roman wrestling stuff. Well the guy was being an A-Holio and when I should him a shin Kick (of course I didn't hit him) He grabbed my leg and tried to take me on the concrete. I was about to drive my elbow into his neck but I stopped myself and said Hey, let me show you how to APPLY IT. He said TRY IT. So I stop Kicked his leg and followed with a lead (I actually pulled it) and he ran into my fist. He then grabbed me and said some curse words flipped me off and told me to watch out. I guess he was too scared to do anything, but from that day on I knew JKD WORKED>

Hi Jason!

Sounds good! As for me, not so much a "country boy", but more of a "city slicker living in the country right now". LOL One thing that you definitely got right is that I am strong in my Christian faith, and know without a doubt that I owe everything to God in Heaven, and to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Without God and His Son Jesus Christ in my life, I am NOTHING, and I am certainly not ashamed to admit it!

Keep Blasting!
Sifu Lamar M. Davis II
Senior Instructor
Hardcore Jeet Kune Do
sifu@live.com
http://www.HardcoreJKD.com
http://www.DragonBlastMA.com
Phone (205) 296-7070 (Incoming Only)
or (205) 213-2086

"Hit Hard, Hit Fast, Hit First - ALWAYS!"

"The REAL future of Jeet Kune Do belongs to US, the few, the proud, the HARDCORE! Now, what are we going to do with it?" _ Sifu Lamar M. Davis II

ok my im more on the talking side ... im kidding.


i started martial arts learning modified wing-chun ( more kicks then in the classical one and used the dummy in a freeform way)

i the same time i was getting tapes and some books from wing-chun masters mostly in the Yip Man lineage (that is the best wing-chun guy i ever saw in my point of view)

afther like 2 1/2 years of training like that i started to see that i was not complete as a martial artist, i mean in some situation i could have kicked ass but in others ...not really:P

in the same period i got my hands on the tao of jkd and i became the student of Burton Richardon ( he is instructer under Dan Inosanto).
i got in the same the books, chris kent jkd A to Z cause i knew that there approach was a bit differant and i wanted to know if i was missing something.

so i trained hard got tested for what i was practicing till Burton changed his curriculum for a bit more mma self-defence oriented approach.

and from that im free lance :P

i train 2 hours a day 7 days a week and i train only in jkd and lets say self defence but i do not pass alf of my training in silat or bbj.

except that i try to get good books on jkd and dvds, i use internet to has a tool for learning and exchanging whit others.


ok i dont like to do long post so im sorry :P

id like to hear about others

Sounds great too. Can't Wait to come train. Any way any word from Mr. Dick Jefferies? I hear he's moving to my neck of the woods.

Hi Jason:

I am heading up to Tenn. this weekend to spend
the week up there and look for a home and job.
I don't know for sure if I am moving up there,
yet, or not. But, I will keep you posted.

I saw one home I like that would have tons of
room for a Kwoon and probably enough for Sifu
Davis to do a seminar.

I will keep you posted. Thanks for the interest.

God bless you.

Dick Jeffries

Hi Sifu

Great response! I applaud and appreciate
your stand for Jesus. That goes for me, too,
and several others, I am sure!

It's long past time for us to stand up for
Jesus and our faith in Him. I appreciate
that about you.

Good responses on your question from the others,
too.

I studied Tae Kwon Do and did some Judo training
on my own, first. Then, spent some time training
in Isshinryu Karate. After that, Ngor Chor Kung-Fu
in Mobile. I have studied other arts on my own,
as well.

My interest in Jeet Kune Do begain in January 1994.
However, I did not have a certified teacher until
I started training with you in July 2002. I have
not found a better art than JKD and I greatly
appreciate your background and the training you
give us as well as keeping us informed on what all
is going on in the JKD world.

I do like some of the weapons training that I see
on certain videos....escrima and so forth. But,
JKD is the main art for me.

Thanks again and God bless you.

In Christ,

Dick J.

It is nice getting to know everyone here! I think of myself more of a really good athlete, that stays in really good shape, who found martial arts late in life. I started training in Wing Chun in 2004 with Sifu Ed Berger, who was from Jason Lau and both were located in Metro Atlanta. I was very frustrated because Wing Chun utilized very little of the sports background I had and most of the movements were peculiar and I started having pain every night after practice from using muscles, that I could not even see and I knew I was on the right path.

Sifu Berger was very much a traditional Wing Chun instructor and though he was funny and likeable, he had some old school approaches to training that I could appreciate. After training about 2 days @ 2hrs for about 6 months. I had to stop because I moved to another county and I found Francis Fong Academy in January of 2005 and met Guru Luigi Cuellar, who was the head Jun Fan instructor. I started with Wing Chun and Jun Fanc(concepts), and went to class regularly and progressed quickly. I also did some Kali and Muay Thai, but wanted my mother art to be Wing Chun and Jun Fan as my secondary art.

As for training, I was always in the top 5 of most hours attended. I went to two Dan Inosanto Seminars, one Jiu Jitsu seiminar as well. I currently have green belt in Wing Chun and Blue in Jun Fan and yellow in Kali. I met Sifu online and wanted to know more about the pure JKD and finally came to train with him twice from Atlanta. I hope to come to the instructor program and become one very soon, but have some family matters that keep from resuming my formal training. I have discovered KBX Gym here in Atlanta and they do Krav Maga and Boxing. The head instructor is Marshall and they are all about tip top fitness and it gets rough in there sometimes, but I like that part.

Ok, I did not realize I was going to write this much, but geez. Anyway, I go to Fitness 19 3 times per week, I have a spring arm from Sifu, wing chun wall bag and a heavy bag to work with. I have about 15 books and maybe 8 dvd on martial arts. I stretch daily and do sil nim tau most every day(Sifu Fong would not like to hear that) Everyday! Everyday! you have to do it everyday! I can still hear him saying that . Well, that's me.

Jeff

what cracks me up on some of the other forums is when people start mouthing that I should post less and train more... then I look at the number of post that they have and its 5 times higher than mine in a 1/3rd of the time! LOL (Lamar, this is not directed at you... nobody doubts how much you train)

Usually I train with a small group a couple hours each week and then an hour or so 2-3 times a week on my own. My primary source now days is Ted Wong. I like his format and it fits my time constraints well.

I could think of quite a few others that I would like to put serious time training with. Jesse Glover, Joe Lewis and Allen Joe come to mind... But for now with my lifestyle that will have wait. I would have loved to have spent time with Herb Jackson.

Reading and researching comes in waves... I'll read books or watch vids heavily for a month or so then I'll spend a few months training and pondering key points.

Friend Lamar,

That was a very good question. The answer can depend upon many factors. One such is where that particular person is in their own chronological age, and their own development as well as their own experience (measured in terms of time). But none of these should be an excuse to not train, and definitely to continue to pursue the philosophical aspects of the art. Even in advanced age, with cognitive functions relatively intact that particular part of the Jun Fan paradign can still be an active part of one's life.

I believe that you and I began our Jun Fan training during the same period, the 70's, and yet we are still actively engaged in the `daily decrease' that true understanding of JKD involves. additionally, though we are no longer spring chickens, and I am a bit older than you are, ya young whippersnapper Lol, still we both have not given up on maintaining the physical aspects of Jun Fan arts training. I will admit that I don't do much banging these days, BUT I did more than my share coming through all of my developmental years, and my body learned the lessons that part taught such as timing, utilizing the fighting measure, actualizing the ways of attack, getting over being blow shy (afraid of getting hit really hard) and all of the other stuff that hard sparring teaches you. At my age healing and recovery takes longer so I enjoy the elder stateman station Lol. That is an individual choice of course and I am sure that you still get in there on a regular basis and take it to your guys. I punish my students so much in sticking they don't want to spar Lol. Just kidding guys, but really, there is way too many keyboard jockys out there talking a good game but not putting in the hours. Lamar and I have put in the decades. Good training to all here.

Johnny W.

Hi Sifu,
I wish the guys down there knew how lucky they are, I wish I were in their shoes. I would not hesitate to train with you if I live down that way. I have to give you the credit. You sparked my curiosity about ten years ago. In my personal opinion you are one of the most knowledgable if not the most knowledgable instructors in the art of JFGF/JKD.

I try and train just about everyday. Either the basics, mook jong or the spring arms. I do the sil lim tao everyday at least three times a day. Then I train with Sifu Lamar every chance I get. As far as research goes I have all of Sifu Lamar's DVDs, as well as several other JKD, Jun Fan gung fu and wing chun DVDs that I compare and learn from. I even have some non JKD/JunFan/Wc DVDs that I will watch from time to time.

Kent

I started martial arts with Hardcore JKD and for that I am very grateful. I did not have to follow the long path with instructors or styles/arts that many have taken. I will admit the lack in physical martial arts training in recent years. I began my training in 03 and had 2 strong years of training. During that period I lived in the gym and trained no less then 3 times a week. Then I decided to join and Air Force and like Sifu warned me the Air Force took over my life. Since then JKD has been placed on the back burner and I count the days till I get out so I can devote my time back to JKD.

My training has become more self training because of lack in training partners and equipment due to space requirments. Paper drill, footwork, punching bag, wall ( I decided to eliminate the wall bag and hit the wall)

I will research anything from swimming, jogging, yoga. They way I feel about it; if I can get healthy doing it I will look into it. Though most of my equipment and books are somewhere else I still pick up what I can and read it when I can. With that one of the best things I have available to me is this forum because as long as I can get to the internet I can read whats here.


Positive Energy Activates Constant Elevation
P.E.A.C.E.

I don't have much of a background really. I started my formal training in JKD in 1995 under Sifu Davis and had to pause for a while. Then I moved to San Antonio and met a guy named Jerry Smith (no relation) who is a Full Instructor under Vunak (as well as many other arts). In 1999 I contacted Sifu Davis and got back into gear with him and haven't looked back since.

If you aren't staying sharp with your training, then your "slop" factor will be higher in a real fight when you actually need it. I am a firm believer in the basics and working your foundation over and over again.

I have lots of books, videos, magazines that I pull from. I like to see how other JKD instructors formulate lessons and pass it along. In fact, I am more into watching HOW they teach than what.

Andrew,

Where are you stationed and what is your job in the AF?

Misawa JP , F-16 Avionics

Positive Energy Activates Constant Elevation
P.E.A.C.E.

Began my trainig in the early 70's in Tae Kwno Do like so many others have. Later spent a few months in Kung Fu before they closed the school for the summer. Still a teen, my family and I moved out of state. I found the only school in my new town and eventually earned a black belt in a Japanese style of karate. The training was brutal. No AC, no windows and a painted concrete floor. Hours on basics and sparring. All the while I read everything I could find on JKD. My main sources of course were the Tao of JKD and Bruce Lees Fighting Methods. As I lost faith in classical styles, I left formal instruction and began training on my own and occasionally with some student/friends. Spent years on the heavy bag and double ended bag, modified my punching to use the vertical fist and worked on body mechanics, effeciency, simplicity, foot work and power for the next 20 years. In the early ninetys I gained access to videos by Vunak, Grody, and a number of others. Added some trapping as best as I could but lacked training in sensitivity I was very profecient at striking, moving, knees, elbows and basic set up trapping but again lacked sensitivity. I was in great shape and trained every day but was missing a piece of the puzzle. I met a Wing Chun teacher and thought a few classes to pick up some chi sao would do me some good. I had no idea of the depth of the art I was about to begin. My introduction to the art was at the receiving end of his one inch punch. I weighed over 200 pounds and the wall behind me broke my fall. I had never been hit so hard from any distance. During sparring and from chi sao my 25 years of past experience did me no good. I was slammed into every wall in the school and stop hit repeatedly. Here I am now, 11 years into Wing Chun, still in formal lessons and I have only begun to scratch the surface. I train daily on the mook jong, heavy bag, 3 empty hand forms, wall bag, speed drills and of course chi sao. I guess you could say I'm a lifer.

Hi,Sifu. great question! I am definetly a trainer. but i also love to talk about martial arts especially j.k.d. I have trined in several styles like many others on this site.I started at 12 with 3 years of hung gar kungfu until the sifu moved along with wresteling. I then purchased the Tao of jeet kune do and after that the Bruce Lee fighting method books.i have earned my black belts in shoto kan karate and vee jitsu ryu i also trained for 3 years in j.k.d under an instructor that was part of the jeet kune do alliance. i was forced to move and could no longer train in that art so i have been helping my sensi train students in shoto kan he is a very traditional man. although he admires bruce lee to him it is kata and fixed self defense patterens in tournaments. i just hone the j.k.d i was taught the three years i was in new jersey i also attended 2 of your seminars.I am very passionate about j.k.d.and the fact you are leading the way in preserving it. i have recently joined H.J.K.D.C.G.F.A. and have been digging into the mannual I LOVE IT! and cant wait until the time is right to come and train with you at your kwoon for one of your camps. thanks for a great forum!

I noticed most people posting seem like, well over 22 years old. Anyone have any tips to give to the 22 year old who has some experience but not a life time? I had to learn the HARD way it is very DIFFICULT to break STYLE HABITS. Anything else I need to know while training on my own in the mean time in between time?

hi jason
I know training on your own is a tough task.i unfortunately have been in your situation many times of my life. the key is to stick to it! but you must have a good foundation to build on. And from reading your posts you are buiding one. use a mirror if you must train on your own and do the movements that you are trying to get down if you start slow to make sure the movements are simple direct and effective. Then if you dont want to or have the time to join a kwoon or just a place to do bag work it is good to try and find training partner that doesent have an ego and wants to explore martial arts with the same goal you have.I hope i helped. take care and good luck!

Yeah it is hard. I had to gain most of my knowledge from youtube, and Barnes and Noble. However I did have some partners at school. It helped however most were really into to helping you grow, more like stunting MY growth. LOL, oh well, I can always shadow box, I seem to do that every day. As of now I practice my right lead punches and My JKD style kicks. Its a start right.