Scientific street fighting

JKD: Scientific street fighting?
Instructor DR.Jerry Beasley has marketed this discipline. He was trained by Joe Lewis,who awarded him a 8 th degree BB in JKD.

Many including myself question his reputation. Having said this, I still believe that he can offer some perspective on the topic.

Yet as scholars believe that true JKD, was the extension of a wing chun form. Bruce believed in expanding this form,and called it JKD.

To the point: In the Panther video series, featuring Dr. Jerry Beasley four photographs of Beasley are shown. All deal with the trapping of one hand,and finnished with Wing chun techniques.

Question?? If people are concerned in tactics that Bruce may have taught Joe Lewis. It is interesting that Beasley is using many of the extensions from Wing Chun.
I find this so interesting,since many of the new JKD schools have trashed this curriculum,and have added tones of ground fighting.

I agree,that ground range should be introduced, as JKD is the "EVOLVE & PROGRESS",martial art. But the core foundation of the art, EVADE<BLOCK<DESTROY<REDIRECT<INTERCEPT,should still be used.

Just a thought
Kobun

I dont even have to question his credentials as there is no belt structure in JKD

I have always held Beasley in contempt. Maybe it's just something about a guy in a karate gi practicing JKD, all the while mandating a "Pre-73" JKD curriculum, as if it didn't continue to exist or evolve beyond that date.

Beasley was a student of Joe Lewis who did train with Lee for about two years. They parted ways without Lee ever having certified him to teach or certify others. Of course, certification doesn't mean a whole lot in my eyes, but when you market yourself as Beasley has, you'd figure he'd have a little more credibility than he does.

-John

[This message has been edited by JKogas (edited 08-29-2004).]

I'm ignorant. When was the Tao of JKD written?

Opinions as to what is the current best text on opinion and commentary on fighting?

Does this mean the Dr. knows what he is doing. As the extension of Larp Sao,the doc uses many of these movements.

Did Joe Lewis learn this in two years?
Bruce is said to not have learned the third form of Wing Chun. He had to return,to finnish the Biu Gee.

As his training in the art of JKD had started.How could he have taught Joe Lewis the Biu Gee?

Dan Inasanto,has said to BB Mag. that only two others were in fact certified.

Does this weaken the art?

Kobun

It depends on whether you think commercialization hurts an art. Personally, I think so. How does an art continue if no one cares enough to take it? People drop out of classes when they learn that the teaching is substandard. When you have a guy like Beasely teaching outdated material that he learned from someone who did not learn the truth of the artthen it definately hurts the art.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by loki:

Does this mean the Dr. knows what he is doing. As the extension of Larp Sao,the doc uses many of these movements.
[/QUOTE]

Who knows. I've never personally trained with him. But I CAN see his approach and that's what I don't like. Why "just" do what Lee did? It weakens the art when you make it rigid and incapable of evolution -- just as with ANY "fixed" combat art.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by loki:

Did Joe Lewis learn this in two years?
Bruce is said to not have learned the third form of Wing Chun. He had to return,to finnish the Biu Gee.
[/QUOTE]

Forms? Forms don't teach a person how to fight. Learning a third, or for that matter a fourth, fifth, sixth or SEVENTH form wouldn't have made Lee any better as a fighter.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by loki:

As his training in the art of JKD had started.How could he have taught Joe Lewis the Biu Gee?
[/QUOTE]

JKD doesn't use forms in it's teaching. Though he may have done some for himself, he didn't push those onto students, therefore it wouldn't have mattered. There are no forms in JKD.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by loki:

Dan Inasanto,has said to BB Mag. that only two others were in fact certified.

Does this weaken the art?

Kobun[/QUOTE]

There were only three that LEE certified. Now there are hundreds if not thousands who became later certified by THESE men, myself included.

-John

I thought "Biu Gee" was simply a finger jab, not a form?

Bil (Biu) Gee is a form, bil sao is thrusting hand/fingers.


-John

Not trying to be complicated:

Question? JKD has a foundation, I believe it to be Bruces first art;Wing Chun. Thus would it be wise to hold it's foundation. I think it does merit some hold.

As I have said before, I have a personal art. It is called Kobun-Do,and is simply an extension of the first art I studied. Karate.

As Bruce did, I found many flaws in systems, that were in fact taught at half capacity. This done to commercialise the art.(Karate)

JKD evolves, but I find (Chen) that outdating foundations should be keeped sacred. The Biu Gee,third form helped Bruce in rounding up the whole JKD Matrix.

I guess new foundations have been laid,as I see many terms such as Pre 70 JKD,Jun Fan ect...

Kobun Out

[QUOTE]Originally posted by loki:
Not trying to be complicated:

Question? JKD has a foundation, I believe it to be Bruces first art;Wing Chun. Thus would it be wise to hold it's foundation. I think it does merit some hold.

As I have said before, I have a personal art. It is called Kobun-Do,and is simply an extension of the first art I studied. Karate.

As Bruce did, I found many flaws in systems, that were in fact taught at half capacity. This done to commercialise the art.(Karate)

JKD evolves, but I find (Chen) that outdating foundations should be keeped sacred. The Biu Gee,third form helped Bruce in rounding up the whole JKD Matrix.

I guess new foundations have been laid,as I see many terms such as Pre 70 JKD,Jun Fan ect...

Kobun Out[/QUOTE]

I still use much of the original curriculum. However, some things are not as effecient. A lot of the Wing Chun is impractical. As much as he tried not too, Bruce's own biased toward his core art is reflected in much of his original curriculum. He's only human. No one could expect that his art be perfect as no one is. Or ever will be. Just as I use the original curriculum I use other techniques as well. Im sure I even have my biased opnion as well, but it isnt the same as Bruce's.

Thanks guys.

Gentelmen,
I have noticed that much mininformation has been circulated on some forums. First Joe Lewis did not promote me to 8th degree in JKD ( I earned the 6th dan '85;7th dan '90; and 8th dan'95 in the Joe Lewis American Karate Systems). By the way it's not the karate your parents learned but represents the kickboxing/clinch/grappel methods now popular.
There are no degrees in JKD. I am administrator to a large karate/Tae kwon do organization now celebrating our 25th year. And I recently published the book "Mastering Karate" for Human Kinetics. Therefore most people identify me as "Karate". No problems. I do not consider myself to be a JKD instructor. However I apparently have taught many, perhaps some of you about JKD.
In 1981/82 a magazine editor asked me to write a story on Larry Hartsell and the JKD group in Charlotte NC. There I met Dan Inosanto. I was a college professor with a master rank (5th) in karate/tkd. I had begun training in kickboxing with Joe Lewis.
So Dan and I seemed to hit it off quite well...we had much in common. I traveled to Chicago, Atlanta, NC etc over the next five years training with Dan at perhaps a dozen camps/seminars. In 1984 Dan sat down with me after a graduation and outlined a program of kali drills for me to follow when teaching at my karate studio. At no time did I express interest in receiving an "apprentice" certificate...I was already a professional martial arts instructor. With Dan's endorsement (he received the manuscript in advance to review) I published the first book ever written on the JKD concept in 1988. Paula, Dan and I rode together in the same car to the photo shoot by the lake in NC. The pictures are used on their website and in my book. After the book was published I lost contact with Dan.
My interest had shifted to the fighting system of Joe Lewis. Also in 1988 I became the JKD columinist for Karate International Magazine.
As columnist I received hundreds of letters from individuals that had become confused about the JKD that they saw Bruce perform and the JKD concepts seminars that had become so popular.
In 1989 I began to write articles calling for a return to the "Original art" of JKD. Many who worked with Dan must have thought that I now opposed them. Not true. I always gave credit to Dan as the authority on JKD. By 1993 there was much interest in the OJKD, a term I developed to recognize a difference in the two views of JKD. I promoted the highly successful Original JKD camp in Radford University with partners Ted Wong and Howard Williams. And published a follow up JKD book entitled "Way of No Way".
In my articles I continue to stress that because Bruce did not tell anyone exactly what he meant by the phrase "Using no way as way" the definition is open to interpretation.
OJKD proponents understand the phrase to mean...using no (particular) way as (the only) way...when performing the skills taught and performed by Bruce Lee. In other words I can use all variations of a backfist (for example) and still be within the definition of JKD. Remember that in the 1960's most martial artist were proud of the limitations imposed by their style. If I were a TKD practitioner I could say I punched this way. Karate guys would claim the punched another way. Bruce said in my art I use all ways to punch and futhermore I am bound by no way! I am therefore free of the limitations of only one way. Revolutionary..at the time.
The JKD concept understands that uning no way as way actually means using no particular art as the only art. To be JKDC I would want to develop the ability to flow from one art to another. I am no art but I can represent all arts. I become free when I am bound by no particular art.
I called the OJKD the micro view and JKDC the macro view. I regret now that I started a controversy when I intended only to help others better understand the definition of JKD. OJKD and JKDC seem to be at odds only because proponents do not understand the value in being open to interpretation. On the upside there are more JKD enthusiasts today because of the two interpretations!

There is only a problem when one group decides to call their view "the one and only true JKD " to the exclusion of all others.

One also has to recognize the fact that Bruce closed his JKD kwoons in 1971 and sought to disban the practice of JKD. Bruce asked all of his students not to teach physical skills and call them JKD. He was concerned that someone would mistake the physical drills for the art. He was right. After 1971 JKD became a philosophy, a method for finding personal liberation from the bondage imposed by fixed arts.
As a "way of no way" martial artist I have specialized in the kickboxing/contact sparring method that contains elements of both JKD and the highly refined Joe Lewis system. Joe invented the sport of American kickboxing in order to hurt his opponent in the ring and not get disqualified (as in point sparring). If you watch the 1970 match you will see the first JKD competition ever. No rules (they could kick with shoes, use any kind of strike and grappel if they knew how).
In 1996 after interviewing other artists Joe Jennings approached me to complete a series of videos to be called JKD Scientific Streetfighting. I sold all rights to Panther Productions (like Paul Vunak did for his Panther JKD series from the 1980's). Tapes in the series remain in the top 10 list best sellers for Century martial arts. They represent elements of both OJKD and JKDC. And just in case you feel it's not the JKD you know, that's O.K. It still represents a high level performance from a master instructor. Empty your cup and everything will be all right.
Jerry Beasley ,Ed.D.
Black Belt Magazine Hall of Fame
Instructor of the Year 2000 www.aikia.net

Thank you, Dr. Beasley.

- KiDoHae

[This message has been edited by KiDoHae (edited 09-29-2004).]

[This message has been edited by KiDoHae (edited 09-29-2004).]