training. Finally, the important topic of safety in training will be considered. Having this background will make it easier for you to make an informed and intelligent decision about training in Jeet Kune Do.
STUDENTS WHO WANT TO STUDY Jeet Kune Do will learn best by training directly with a knowledgeable instructor. The challenge for many prospective students is to find such a person. While it is relatively easy to locate a school that teaches a traditional art, such as karate or taekwondo, there are not many Jeet Kune Do teachers around. The majority of those who teach some form of Jeet Kune Do reside in the United States and Europe, so individuals who live in other countries will have a difficult time finding an instructor.
To complicate matters, many of those who instruct in Jeet Kune Do do not publicize that fact. They maintain a low profile, quietly teaching small groups of students in garages and backyards. One usually hears about them only through word of mouth. So, while you can easily pinpoint a school that offers traditional martial arts training in the telephone book, you are not likely to come across a Jeet Kune Do instructor that way.
Someone looking for a local school that teaches a traditional art can easily identify a large organization or association that governs that style. These groups can refer individuals who are interested in learning their art to member schools in their area. However, there is no wide-ranging group that oversees the various Jeet Kune Do schools and instructors that a prospective student can contact.
Given these difficulties, you must possess a strong commitment to learning Jeet Kune Do in order to find the right school or instructor. So how can you find out who is teaching, and where? One place to start is the Internet. A number of Jeet Kune Do teachers and schools have Web sites that can be accessed easily through the various search engines. Another source is Web sites devoted to the subject of Jeet Kune Do or Bruce Lee. These sometimes have links to various Jeet Kune Do schools.
Some well-known Jeet Kune Do instructors have their own associations and students who are authorized to teach. They maintain lists and contact information for these students as part of their own Web sites. There are also other individuals who, as a service to prospective students, keep lists of Jeet Kune Do instructors as part of their Web sites.
Another way that a prospective student can use the Internet to find a Jeet Kune Do instructor is to post a message on a Jeet Kune Do discussion forum. Because these forums attract a large number of people from all over the world, there is a good chance that someone will know of a Jeet Kune Do instructor in a certain area.
A few Jeet Kune Do instructors and schools advertise in martial arts magazines, so it is worth the effort to check out those publications. Also, martial arts supply stores will sometimes have brochures or flyers advertising the services of a local Jeet Kune Do teacher.
Even after you have found a Jeet Kune Do instructor, you must evaluate whether that instructor offers what you want to learn. Because of the myriad of interpretations of Jeet Kune Do, what a particular Jeet Kune Do instructor teaches may or may not be what you want to learn. Different instructors vary significantly in terms of the material that they teach. Some teachers offer training in the curriculum that Lee practiced before he formally developed Jeet Kune Do. Some emphasize Original Jeet Kune Do, the art that Lee taught and practiced when he was still alive. Still others offer training in Jeet Kune Do Concepts, sometimes teaching other arts separately or blended with some of the Jeet Kune Do techniques. There are those who offer limited training in Lee’s original art and emphasize other arts that they like better.
The decision to train with a particular teacher or at a specific school should not be taken lightly, because the teacher or school will greatly influence your understanding of Jeet Kune Do. You should take certain steps in deciding whether or not to train. You should have in mind whether you are interested specifically in studying the actual training methods, techniques, and principles that Lee taught. If so, then you need to make sure that the teacher has sufficient background in the original art and can teach it. You should visit an actual class or training session to see how the teacher relates to students. You should talk to current students to determine what they like and do not like about the training. If one is available, take an introductory class or commit to a trial period to experience the training firsthand. You should also gather information about the instructor’s background, experience, lineage, and certification. Most importantly, you should define your training goals and evaluate whether the school or instructor can effectively assist you in meeting those goals.
IN ONE SENSE, there is no such thing as a typical Jeet Kune Do class, because students must train in a variety of elements. The art has no set curriculum, no set number of techniques, and no required number of drills. Lee recognized that no two students are alike, so when he taught, every session was different.
Individual instructors, even within the same school, have different teaching styles and approach the material differently. One instructor may emphasize kickboxing, for example, while another may stress trapping. Moreover, the particular interpretation of Jeet Kune Do that an instructor embraces will influence the material taught.
An Original Jeet Kune Do Class
That being said, in a class that focuses on Original Jeet Kune Do, there are some common elements that students will often see. Usually students will open the class with the Jeet Kune Do salutation, paying respect to the founder of the art. They may shadowbox and skip rope to help get their blood flowing. Then the instructor, often addressed as sifu, will lead the class through stretches and warm-up exercises. Typically, students will do static and dynamic leg stretches to prepare for kicking drills. Also, students will frequently execute stomach exercises, such as crunches.
When the warm-up is finished, the instructor will teach students punches and kicks. Students will divide into pairs and practice a specific punch or kick that the instructor shows them. The teacher will carefully monitor the students and correct them individually. Drills can involve single or multiple strikes, depending upon what is being covered. Students use this time to develop their tools and to refine their execution. This part of the class is typically the most challenging from a conditioning standpoint.
The teacher may also teach defensive maneuvers to the students. One student may throw punches or kicks at another student, who practices a specific defensive move against the strike. Counterattack drills may be trained as well, so that students learn to strike or kick in response to being attacked.
Next, the instructor may instruct in close-quarters techniques such as trapping or stand-up grappling. Again, students work in pairs, taking turns practicing the techniques. The instructor will correct students as needed.
At more advanced levels, students may spar. Typically, the instructor will teach drills that emphasize qualities such as timing, rhythm, and distance. Students might be allowed to spar using only certain tools, such as lead hand against lead hand, or lead hand against lead foot. Only when they have sufficient experience
