You sir, get a cigar. Yes, I have been very fortunate to have been given the priveledge of associating with Guro Burton and other "veriafiable" JKD associates. I only wish I could have met him and the methodology of JKD training 30yrs.sooner. I have seen alot of your posts on various sites and feel you also have "it."
Ken

Thanks Ken, although if I have "it", I'm sure there are plenty of folks around here who pray "it" isn't spreading, lol.

I guess you enjoy function as much as I do. It only makes sense that if you train martial arts, you want to be able to (actually) perform. That's all it's ever been about for me and it speaks a lot about you to get connected with someone like Burton.

I got involved with Thornton several years ago and realize that Burton was a big influence on him as well as so many others.

Its great to make your acquaintance! I hope to see you around these parts more. Mind if I shoot you some email?


Cheers!

-John

And here I thought no one would respond to my thread lol. Well I realize that my poll questions weren't perfect, I wasn't trying to get too political, I was really just trying to ask if this is practical typed jkd or if it is just another school using the name to get people interested.

The instructor was taught by Jerry Poteet, who was a student of Bruce Lee's correct? With this information what do you guys think? Is this good enough "lineage"? Does anyone think that this isn't a good place to train? Thank you.

I think I know what you mean. I tried learning a martial art once and the teacher insisted that keep my foot very straight, but for me it felt much more natural to keep it a little more angled. When I tried to do the footwork I was very stiff and felt like an idiot, but if I angled my foot a little I was much more fluid. Would me putting my foot what fits me best be the freedom you're talking about? If so I agree.

Right now I am trying to get the simple footwork of jkd down, and I think I'm catching on (as long as I can keep my foot at the angles I want or close to it). I'm also trying to get a hang of the straight lead. Snapping my hips at the moment of impact is the hardest part for me. Even when I'm still I'm not so good at twisting my hips before the punch.

I plan on trying to make my training more fluid, with some light sparring. Anyone have any recommendations for some 12 oz sparring gloves? Not to pricey I hope? Thanks guys, keep the feedback coming.

Shadowx

A few things to serve as food for thought.

Basics, basics, and more basics. Don't attempt to learn a style of fighting. Learn solid, testable, repeatable, fundamentals. Have someone actually try and punch you in the face (doesn't have to be hard, but should make contact). Then you will KNOW if your footwork is solid, your stance and structure is solid and if your defense is solid.

He shouldn't just "miss" because if he does, then everything else will be a house of cards. You won't have timing, distance and other attributes down. Play for "real" when you train, but keep it safe for the most part. You don't have to "bang" to gain any benefit of training. But, your shots must push at least, through deeply enough to count.

If you train that way, every question about your basics will be answered FOR you.

And that has NOTHING to do with style, JKD, or otherwise. That has everything to do with "truth".

Remember what Krishnamurti said about truth (Bruce Lee was an avid follower of him)? He said, "truth is a pathless land".

As that applies to martial arts, it means, truth is a "style-less" land. So you don't need to learn a style, system or anything else. It just means, learn those fundamentals and get to playing, for real.

That's really what I'm trying to do. I want to get back in shape again, I want to build power, speed, endurance, timing, accuracy and grace. I don't care what the style is, as long as it's simple and effective. This is what drew me to Jeet Kune Do, I want to express myself through how I move, and have my intentions be translated into movements effective for defending myself.

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Should the question be "What lineage is good?" Does it all come down to, are you getting what you think you are getting? If it is the ability to understand what the needs are to survive (truth in combat), then the trainng must reflect that. No bad art, just bad training.

Truer words were never spoken.