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**Ryu (JKD?)** · 12-08-2003, 04:03 PM

8-9 years is a decent amount of time.
I'm sure he knows his stuff. If he was certified as a instructor under Dan Inosanto, you can't really go wrong.
Make sure what he has is really a legit instructorship, and not merely a "seminar completion" type certificate.
Dan is arguably the biggest name in the JKD world. He takes the art seriously, and if he personally certified someone, that should be perfectly legit.

Hope that helps.
Ryu

**Andrew WA** · 12-08-2003, 04:15 PM

I dont know if he perosnally certified him. He just said he has 10 hours under him.
He told me his test had like 300 people there and stuff.

I dont even know how Jeet Kune Do works so people would need to explain to me the truth about rank and how to obtain it.

In Taekwondo if you train for 8 years like me you can get pretty good at least 2nd dan or 3rd dan and really be that good. But you are in no place to really open up your own school unless your grandmaster says you can and everyone in your school tests under YOUR grandmaster. Only when you become 5th dan can you truly test your own students to black belt and all of that.

Now how does Jeet Kune Do work? I know you dont have belts. The guy told me that it has begginner, intermediate and advanced and then instructor. So 4 ranks I guess.

With 8 or 9 of years TKD you are really in no place to start teaching everyone. I am guessing JKD is much different and WAAAAY more intense and hardcore so all of the people who train in it become totally awsome within 8 or 9 years???

So is it realistic to be an instructor of Jeet Kune Do and own your own school after only 9 years of training?

The guy did tell me that his sifu was in cincinatti and that he got his rank when he tested over there and Dan Intosanto came to their school and all that.

Maybe the guy owns his own school and when you test for rank he takes you under his sifu? I dont know, but I just want to learn some awsome fighting skills that I dont already know in TKD.

**IPON** · 12-08-2003, 04:54 PM

Originally posted by Andrew WA

I just want to learn some awsome fighting skills that I dont already know in TKD.

Caveat emptor "let the buyer beware". I am not trying to flame (and no disrespect RYU) but the reality is that JKD instructors are a dime a dozen, he can become an instructor in a year. But who has he trainined with? Just at a few seminars? Your 8-9 years is definately not his 8-9 years unless he went to a school and studied under an certified instructor, not mail order (you can become an instructor in 6-12months). 10hrs under Inosanto means he went to a weekend seminar

. 300 people at the test isn't impressive, the majority (if not all) were testing which can speak to the quality of the tests.

Now, I am not trying to change your mind just see a different side. This guy may be sincere, but I would ask what he has been doing for the last 8-9 years. Has he had other students and have they all left, why? Has he stopped for awhile and now wants to start again? Ask to see his certifications and how long it took him to become an instructor (if he gets defensive that says something). Who is his sifu? How has he been practicing? Which version of JKD (seattle, Oakland or LA lineages)? While there are differences, it would be more important to me that he give a competent answer, if he can't he is full of crap!! You have to find out if he is still competent in what he learned. With your experiece I think after one 1-2 sessions you would know if what he is teaching makes any sense (whether it is the verson of JKD or the instructor). If you take MA serioulsy, you can tell after talking/training with somone if they are full of crap or if the style is solid but they are crap instructors. That is the only way to really make a decision.

I would definately ask for 1 or 2 trials classes to see if you are interested before you spend the money (I know its only $35, but hey you could buy an Inosanto video with that). If you are worried about the working relationship, just say that you are open to see new techniques, but not necessarily desire to learn a new style. It is really his job to convert you with his skill and knowlege.

Anyway just my 2 cents.

**El Mastero** · 12-09-2003, 10:19 AM

Here's a friendly word of advice. Whenever a JKD instructor says that he trained under X guy and was certified. Go to X's website and look under the instructor's listing. If his name is not on it then I would suggest you look for instruction else where.

**Tim Mousel** · 12-09-2003, 12:10 PM

The best thing you could do would be to train with the guy. If he can help you improve your skills then continue training with him. Whether he's a legit JKD instructor or not is questionable, but if you can learn then go for it. 10 hours under Inosanto means he only attended one seminar. Anyone can do that and it means nothing. You can get an official listing of Inosanto instructors at http://www.inosanto.com.

Hope that helps,

Tim

**Andrew WA** · 12-09-2003, 01:31 PM

Thanks for the helpful answers. Thats more then I can say for budoseek.

Anyway yeah I dont know much about what he said ive only talked to him for a few minutes. I am going to take some free classes when he starts it up to see his skill.
I forgot his Sifus name. But ill ask him again and then look on the website if there is one and see if his instructor is real as well.

I hope the guy is legitimate because I really want to try JKD out and see what I can learn. I know most TKD schools are NOTHING AT ALL compared to what JKD teaches so I am hoping to learn a lot.

One thing he did say that sort of turned me off at the beggining was how he openly dissed TKD. I asked him about his martial arts training and did not even tell him that I am a martial artist and he started bashing TKD in my face. Not in an aggressive manner, just saying a lot of BS like everyone else in the world. But then I told him what I am and what I do and explained to him what TKD is and all that then he said "Well you explained it better then me". But still I cant wait to start training in something. He told me he is going to have a work out with his friends and I can come hang out so that will rock if he lets me know when it is. He has to call me.

All the guys he knows are way older then me, so I think that will be a plus and I can get better experience by training with older people that are more skilled and stronger.

**Ryu (JKD?)** · 12-09-2003, 01:44 PM

I don't think instructors should openly bash other arts. If they have constructive criticism then they can by all means say it, but if not..... they should keep it to themselves and train.

At the very LEAST, they should have proper knowledge of something in order to critique it.

I misread your post. If he's not a certified instructor under Dan, then by all means find out who he's certified under.
10 hours is a two day seminar. Nothing more.

P.s. no disrespect taken, IPON.

(in fact...it's something you're right about, and is starting to worry me as well.)

Ryu

**Andrew WA** · 12-09-2003, 02:54 PM

How does ranking even work anyway in JKD?

Is it really like going to college and you have to get credit hours?

**lssanjose** · 12-09-2003, 05:32 PM

the accumulation of hours is one thing ..but not the ONE thing. one has to be able to do it, and teach it, and have verifiable connections, and i might have to say integrity as a person. I know a few instructors that wouldn't give instructorship to dishonorable people. Ranking in JKD is open ended but typically goes by apprentice instructor, associate, full, then senior.

**tekshow** · 12-09-2003, 07:45 PM

just make sure you learn more than the idea of fighting but actual techs. i've studied under many JKDers and most of them have a few key concepts down and not much else. they've been educated at the seminars but that's the extent of their JKD. the sifu i currently train from is also trained in Jun Fan and Wing Chun, both are arts integrated into JKD. it also helps if the practioner knows the escrima portions such as Kali.

just be careful - train with who you like, i would just want to make sure i'm getting somehting out of it. no one can tell but you if this guy is the real deal since we haven't been able to work with him or not.

good luck, it's difficult to find the right instructor... and cross training will show you much about fighitng -

peace,
joe

**Andrew WA** · 12-10-2003, 03:30 PM

Yeah if I can cross train I will be happy.

So are Jeet Kune Do instructors rare or something? Like most people just buy tapes and claim to be masters by watching video and mail order certificates from some bogus nut?

The guy told me he isnt good with weapons, but he is good at hand to hand. He says he works some with weapons.

Anyway dude next time I go to work ill ask him a lot more. He told me I could come to this work out, but he never called me so I dont think im going to get to go.

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