BLF Seminar Report

[Tim Tackett]

The attendance was not great. There were only about 65 participants there and 10 of them our WNG guys. We had more at our seminar in New Jersey.
We did have a 2 hour meeting on the state of JKD today the future of both JKD and the BLF. The BLF has a lot of plans. One of the things they are in the process of doing is to preserve all of Bruce's notes. It's an expensive process, but the notes will last another 400 years. The 1st volume of his "Commentaries On The Martial Way" is finished and we all got to see it.
When we started to discuss the problems facing JKD we all agreed that:
1. JKD is no longer a family, but rather a group of factions with students of instructors putting other instructors down. We now have code of ethics and each teacher who wants to be a part of the BLF must be responsible for the actions of his students and instructors.
2. Going on forums and saying that my instructor is the only one who knows the "real" JKD is not only inaccurate, but makes JKD look bad. It also doesn't do the instructor any good.
3. That the BLF should in the future come up with a curriclulumn that consists of just what techniques are in JKD along with a list of instructors who are recognized by the BLF.
There were several other points made, but the above were the major ones.
It was great to see old friends again like Taky, Alan Joe, and George Lee.
As for next year, no info yet.

[jkdboxer]

Hope all is well and God Bless always.

Hope your meetings went well just send me an email on any info when you have the time.


Richie WPB

[JKD_08]

It was a pleasure to meet everyone this weekend. Great time.


Jose

[htrain]

Sifu Tackett:

Pleasure to meet you this past weekend. We had 5 guys there from our group that train under Sifu Dane Junod.

Disappointing that several of the instructors on the original agenda did not show up, especially Ted Wong

[Tim Tackett]

I think that Ted had some sort of family emergency and was unable to attend. It was not his fault.
Do you have Sifu Dane's email? I would like to thank him for coming and bringing students.

[simplicity]

Tim, If these events were more about actual training then maybe I would bring a some of my people to it...We train, we aren't fan boy's or groupie's... The way they set it up is more gear toward fans instead of actual Jeet Kune Do training... So, saying that... Which target are they really wanting to get to come to theses events? Do you know?

[Tim Tackett]

I think it's both fans and JKDers which doesn't really work. They need a fan one and a JKD one.

[simplicity]

I think it's both fans and JKDers which doesn't really work. They need a fan one and a JKD one.

Something to think about...

[jack_attack]

So, a list of techniques in the JKD curriculum. OJKD has officially become a style, with certain techniques. Do you think this will put off newcomers from exploring other martial arts themselves and only want to learn THE JKD curriculum?

[D.Stachovak]

This speaks volumes about the need to keep JKD relevent. It may SEEM relevent to you and I,but interest is going away,because we refuse to adapt with the times,we are seen as Bruce Lee "trekkies",and because we lack a standardized curriculum. When you have guys in weak side up,doing Silat(or whatever) saying "this is MY JKD",it gives the impression that JKD is whatever you are currently doing. Dan Inosanto doesn't do this,why do so many people influenced by him do this? For better or worse,there is a process in JKD becoming you,and what you do becoming JKD. I really like how that Richie (florida) guy is showing that JKD CAN adapt to competition. Competition is very important to alot of prospective students,and getting them in the school,this may open the door to them being exposed to the finer points of JKD the art...

Also,we've really got to distance ourselves from the fans somewhat.

[simplicity]

In my understanding of Jeet Kune Do is... Let’s kick the habit of calling Bruce Lee student's Original... They are BLS.... Let's do away also with the term JKDC or OJKD... These terms are bullshit.... I have talked to two of Bruce Lee student about this... In my opinion these three terms are the start that is killing JKD... Plain and simple, you either doing JKD or not.... There was only one leader of JKD and his name was Bruce Lee... So get over it... A few words come to mind here ORAGINZED DESPAIR... I thought Jeet Kune Do was different than any other art which wasn't supposed to be a classical mess.... Listing a bunch of techniques in a curriculum and calling it the way of intercepting fist, are you kidding me?

Was Bruce Lee about the technique? I don't think so from my understanding of his own writing and from training with nine of his students... I've been saying this for years now; technique will get your azz killed... Is this what is happening with the BLF? Are they trying to kill Jeet Kune Do or make it stronger? I know as a JKD instructor my heart is in the art, not student’s wallet... People are smart today with allot of information out there.... I don't give a little to get a lot.... I give two dollars of service to every dollar I get

In my opinion if BLF is going to survive, then they are going to have to change their format... If it didn't work the first time... What make you think its going to work the second time? Favoritism also needs to stop.... True JKDer's aren't a yes-mans....or star-trekkers


I truly believe that they have the to right to govern BL likeness, but when it comes to knowledge in someones head, are you kidding me? Thats like going to college and after you have your degree, the professor calls you up one day and said "you need to do things my way" , the knowledge in your head "I own".... That doesn't sound well does it?


I even thought of teaching a seminar and donating some of the money to them... But what stops me is the classical mess…

[Semper Fi]

John M,

Nice points.

[Tim Tackett]

The idea is to just list what Bruce Lee taught during all 3 eras. We started doing this during the old BLEF. You can then take what you anything that works for you from that list. I guess you would call it original JKD. The BLF calls it Jun Fan JKD. No one is bound by what is on that list. By using JKD principles you may investigate other arts and techniques to create your own JKD. This is what some of the WNG guys like Richie Carrion, Dennis Blue, and Jim McCann are doing with their grappling techniques using JKD principles. What anyone comes up with could be called so and so's JKD, but not JFJKD.
I don't know what is the best approach is. People need to know what Bruce Lee felt was a part of his art. A lot of people feel that JKD needs to grow and keep up with the times. The problem is what and how much can you add until what you are doing bears little relationship to what Bruce was doing? I don't think that JKD is doing what ever you want and then calling it JKD. There are such a thing as JKD principles such as intercepting, hitting with power and avoiding passive moves.
All I know is the WNG is getting tired of people saying that some of the things that Bob Bremer learned from Bruce Lee is not "real" JKD because their teacher didn't learn it. Even worse is saying that Bob made it up.

[pepbar2]

All I know is the WNG is getting tired of people saying that some of the things that Bob Bremer learned from Bruce Lee is not "real" JKD because their teacher didn't learn it. Even worse is saying that Bob made it up.

On a positive note, I for one am very grateful for Mr. Tackett, Mr. Bremer,the WNG etc for continuing to share their knowledge through the videos, postings, books etc. My path and journey is clearer...

Can't wait until the new book comes out!

[Tim Tackett]

Thanks! I know it's not anybody who posts on this forum. I know that there guys out there who teach a seminar and say that Bruce never taught anyone to do the straight lead punch the way Bremer showed us. I know that Bruce taught a couple of ways to different students. Why not try them both and then decide which way you may want to punch? Just please stop putting down the way we do things. It's the same as calling Bob Bremer a liar, and we will not let that go by. 1 person even wrote in a new JKD book that the leg obstruction does not work. It is clear that the author does not really know the purpose of said technique.

[D.Stachovak]

For the record...

Bob Bremer was one guy I would have really loved to have learned from. His body type and mine are very similer,so I think his stuff would "fit" me well. Plus,he had that no-nonsense approach & attitude. I think the WNG shows a LOT of Bob's influence. Cut through the fluff guys...

[simplicity]

Please note, forgive my long post... I usually like to keep them short and simple...



Tim.... Here are my thoughts... If there wasn't the three terms Jeet Kune Do Concept or Original Jeet Kune Do and Original Bruce Lee Student... There wouldn't be much to argue about, right?... In my opinion and understanding, "JEET KUNE DO" is what BL wanted a few to use as a road map to self - understanding... To simplify one's life, using martial arts sound principle's to reach one's goals... So, do we really need to call "IT" anything more than what "IT" is?... Jeet Kune Do is just a name according to the founder, right?... Do we keep adding term for the sake of it, causing more problems with in fraction groups? Or... Is Jeet Kune Do in the state it is in, because we have loss scope of its essence of simplicity? Can “IT” really be organized?... Should it be organized?... I don’t know but there are a lot of question that needs to be answered…

What if anyone involved with Jeet Kune Do that learns or teaches does; 1) learn the principle's, 2) abide by the principle's, 3) Lets the individual dissolve the principle's (don't teach your third stage of cultivation, this is where some of the problems begin I think)... Is this not BL's road map?... So, what would there be for any of us not to agree upon?... I believe every BLS that I trained with, had something to offer me... Bob Bremer was very cool to me when I came out to the camp before (all of you guys welcomed us)… and he took the time to show me the hammer principle’s... I know it works, because he hit me with it (LOL)… I also can see where its principle applications can be use else where... I've learned a lot of info from BLS, but I don't go on the internet saying this person is better than that person... This group has "IT" and this group doesn't... The only person I'm in competition with is John McNabney... My friends/students are only in competition with themselves as well... Have you ever heard of any of my friends/students run their mouth on the internet?... This is one of the main reasons why Purple Dragon Studio doesn't join with anyone group or just train with one teacher... We just train what our understanding of Jeet Kune Do is and tomorrows understanding with hard work will even be better, as it should be…

Something to think about...


p.s. just expressing myself

[Tim Tackett]

The truth is that no one JKD teacher has the whole truth. You are wise to learn from as many as possible. That's what we've tried to do. Too many go on forums to state that their teacher is the only one who "knows" real JKD.

[Stombaugh]

Sifu Tackett: I wonder if these same cowards think that Ted Wong made up the footwork that was taught to him by Bruce Lee during their private training sessions? Is James Demile's claim that he and Bruce created the 1 and 3 inch punch concepts a lie? Is Leo Fong spinning tall tales when he states that he convinced Bruce Lee to incorporate boxing techniques into his fighting method? Funny, but I didn't hear anyone talking smack about Bob Bremer's credibility when he was introducing the techniques in question to the WNG. It's easy to cast stones at someone who is no longer physically capable of kicking your ass. In a perfect world, these unnamed punks would be transported to a 1969 class at the Chinatown school and they would have to spar with Bob Bremer.

[Tim Tackett]

It would certainly make a believer out of them. You can see what Bruce thought of Bob by looking at what Linda said about him on our website:
www.jkdwednite.com
Click on videos to find it.

[Lak Loi]

An attendee has kindly posted a positive detailed account of the BLF "Art of Action" Convention on the following link...

http://www.thejerseymonk.com/emotional-content/2009/11/27/art-of-action-seminar-review.html

Enjoy,