JKD & other Questions

[Tom Yum]

Burton,

1. When you used to write for Inside Kungfu, did you ever get a chance to work and train with Sifu John Funk? I used to read both of your columns frequently back in the 90's.

2. Also what kind of testing requirements does JKD have and do you encourage your students to compete?

3. What's your favorite dish/recipe & movie?

Thanks

[armlok]

Burton is away for a couple of weeks so I don't know if he checks the forums when on trips. I can answer the question about competition and training.

Burt does encourage compettion (for those who wish to participate), several students have done submission grappling (NAGA) here in Hawaii. A few weeks ago Molly Helsel competed in her first Pro MMA fight in Indiana with Burt cornering her. You can read about Molly at www. groundnpound.org. Our people do well in sub-grap considering they're going against (mostly) dedicated grapplers. Our classes usually split 50/50 striking / clinch-ground, so we're not specialists in one field. Our focus is also less competition oriented and more "self-defense" JKDU South Africa puts on and competes in competions also and I'm quite sure the European JKDUers likewise participate in comps if it appeals to them.

In JKDU we used to test for phases (1-6) by perform techniques on pads/mitts and against an opponent. Burton's made rcent changes to our curriculum,so we don't have "phases," we just perform and improve. Instructors have a "lively" time performing seven rounds of sparring against an opponent (stick, knife, kickbox, ground, etc)

[Tom Yum]

Cool. That was informative, thanks.

[kolekinc]

Hello,

I understand that Jerry P. is able to teach his students on how to tap into energy. How do we learn this technique? For example Bruce friends where trying to knock the the coconuts off a tree but none of them could so Bruce Lee told them that all they had to do was tap into the trees energy. When he demonstrated he of course knocked down the coconuts.

If I new Jerry personally I would ask him. I figured this forum might help me answer this question. Unfortunately the version of JKD I plan on Learning was under Inasanto and apparently they don't teach this.

Thanks
kolekinc