About JKD Concepts - Marcie looks at some Frequently Asked Questions - FAQ's

What is JKD concepts?

Jeet Kune Do (JKD) originates with the famous Martial Artist Bruce Lee. He originally adapted Wing Chun Kung Fu (which he studied for several years) to become Jun Fan Gung Fu - his own version. After incorporating principles and training methods from other arts into the system ( e.g. Western Boxing, Fencing and Small Circle Jujitsu among others), Jun Fan Jeet Kune do (The Way of the Intercepting Fist) was born.
After his death, his students (including Dan Inosanto and Larry Hartsell) further evolved Bruce's teachings by introducing aspects and training methods from other Arts such as Kali-Eskrima, Indonesian Silat and Brazilian Jujitsu to further enhance the system. Many believe that had Bruce Lee lived he would have evolved his system along similar lines.

What is the Lineage at Malvern?

I learnt JKD Concepts from Guro Krishna Godhania who has studied with Larry Hartsell and Paul Vunak.

What style is JKD Concepts similar to?

JKD Concepts is not a fixed style. More it is a set of principles and methods that encourage you, the student, to eventually develop your own fighting style based on your strengths and weaknesses and does not try to make you fit a rigid style. It does this by using principles and techniques derived from a variety of Arts. The saying goes 'There are many paths to the top of the mountain, but my path may not be your path. We're all built differently; we all have different instincts.' That's what Bruce Lee believed. You have to pick your own path. My role as Instructor is to guide you to it.

JKD Concepts operates on many levels - one being the fact that certain arts blend very well, others do not. There is no point in blending two very different Arts that have very different principles that operate at the same range! Those arts with similar concepts and approaches at different ranges make up the JKD Blend. This Blend plus the approach and training methods make JKD Concepts very special.

What Arts are used at Malvern Eskrima when JKD concepts are taught?

At the Malvern Eskrima Group, Kali-Eskrima is the foundation art used to demonstrate the many principles of Jeet Kune Do, however other Arts such as Muay Thai and Silat are also used to demonstrate these principles.

Why else is JKD Concepts Special?

Another reason is that JKD Concepts covers all of the fighting ranges including Trapping and Grappling ranges.

What is Trapping Range?

Trapping range is normally only practised by handful of arts and is best suited to defending against street attacks. Unless you are defending against someone trained to use this range you have a massive advantage. The reasons a JKD practitioner wants to learn and fight at trapping range are that the main tools used (such as elbows) need little or no conditioning and maintenance. Therefore the Art does not rely on strength and is still effective when you are old and infirm!