Paul Vunak

[Guest]

Sifu Paul has been my teacher and friend for nearly a decade.

More than any other charachter he has taken so much stick in discussions over his colourful career. A while ago I put together a short video for my website, showcasing Paul's ability from a classic DVD from 1987, and I wanted to share it here.

Sometimes when someone's ability is overshadowed by reputation and legend, it is important to focus on what they have contributed.

This was my inspiration to study JKD, the genius and talent of Sifu Paul Vunak.

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtThauwTa_Y[/YOUTUBE]

[DickHardman]

his speed is amazing.

i always hear these stories about how when paul would go to train military personnel, he would offer to fight any of them to show them he was legit despite his size and build. is this true?? i think you would have to be crazy to step up to vunak.

[DickHardman]

so how did it turn out mike? did you end up taking his advice and fight a few soldiers? and how did those fights usually go? were there ever any soldiers that were able to hold their own vs you or paul?

[Guest]

His speed is amazing, I have been on the end of it well into his forties, and it still blows me away.

I have only been present with Paul on two occassions when he was instructing military personnel, and no such challenges were issued, as everyone in the room were friends. However I am not the authority on that, perhaps Mike Brewer could advise futher as he spent far more time with Paul during that period.

Paul has never been afraid to demonstrate, as opposed to talk about, his abilities - that much is true.

[Guest]

you guys are too quick!

[BKing]

Hi,

This is my first post here....

I began training in PFS in 2001/02 while living in Europe. Michael Gruener, Senior Full Germany, was my main intstructor from until 2006 when I move back to the USA. Here are a few short notes from my first training session with Paul Vunak.

Day 1-

When I first met Paul he encouraged everyone in my group to:

*Think Ali not Frazier when in kickboxing range...move...move...move...we worked Jab Drills. We spent the morning doing the entries into the RAT...staying out of range...intercepting/destroying and doing the RAT Flow...

Afternoon- Paul says...
*Find a quality BJJ instructor..."its the best art for the ground"...we then spent hours on the ground that afternoon. Positions, escapes, knee on belly and biting.

Next Day-knife fighting
*"No forward pressure when knife fighting"...stay out of range until THEY make a mistake....quick cat like movements...defang the snake....we spent the afternoon defanging...then RAT...then ground.

Next Day-
* Flowed in and out of ranges. Kickboxing, clinch, ground, weapons....we spent the morning working the clinch. The plum, pummel, dumog, takedowns, strikes.

The afternoon-
We put it all togther while adding sticks.

Next Day-
We worked on Teaching Methods:
*Bookends drills
*Upa drill
*PFS Flow
*and yes...energy drills...we used these drills to practice:
inserts
body mechanics
footwork
half beats
quarter beats

It was great fun. I learned alot. Paul Vunak is a great teacher as is Michael Gruener.

Thanks Michael Wright for the clip,

Brenda

https://www.bkmartialarts.com

[Ghost]

His speed is amazing, I have been on the end of it well into his forties, and it still blows me away.

I have only been present with Paul on two occassions when he was instructing military personnel, and no such challenges were issued, as everyone in the room were friends. However I am not the authority on that, perhaps Mike Brewer could advise futher as he spent far more time with Paul during that period.

Paul has never been afraid to demonstrate, as opposed to talk about, his abilities - that much is true.

any videos of him demonstrating it availiable? would be nice to see

[DickHardman]

Hi,

This is my first post here....

I began training in PFS in 2001/02 while living in Europe. Michael Gruener, Senior Full Germany, was my main intstructor from until 2006 when I move back to the USA. Here are a few short notes from my first training session with Paul Vunak.

Day 1-

When I first met Paul he encouraged everyone in my group to:

*Think Ali not Frazier when in kickboxing range...move...move...move...we worked Jab Drills. We spent the morning doing the entries into the RAT...staying out of range...intercepting/destroying and doing the RAT Flow...

Afternoon- Paul says...
*Find a quality BJJ instructor..."its the best art for the ground"...we then spent hours on the ground that afternoon. Positions, escapes, knee on belly and biting.

Next Day-knife fighting
*"No forward pressure when knife fighting"...stay out of range until THEY make a mistake....quick cat like movements...defang the snake....we spent the afternoon defanging...then RAT...then ground.

Next Day-
* Flowed in and out of ranges. Kickboxing, clinch, ground, weapons....we spent the morning working the clinch. The plum, pummel, dumog, takedowns, strikes.

The afternoon-
We put it all togther while adding sticks.

Next Day-
We worked on Teaching Methods:
*Bookends drills
*Upa drill
*PFS Flow
*and yes...energy drills...we used these drills to practice:
inserts
body mechanics
footwork
half beats
quarter beats

It was great fun. I learned alot. Paul Vunak is a great teacher as is Michael Gruener.

Thanks Michael Wright for the clip,

Brenda
www.bkmartialarts.com

good post. welcome to the forum. im dick hardman.

[Ghost]

Like I've said before - I don't have to be the best guy on the floor. I just need to be able to make YOU the best guy on the floor. That's a teacher's job, right?

For sure you dont need to be the best guy on the floor. look at boxing coaches. i dont think many of them could beat the best fighters they train, possibly cant beat any of the fighters they train. freddie roach is a good example.
I mean the guy even has parkinsons and is coaching some of the very best in the world. teaching is all about knowledge and knowing how to deliver it while having a keen eye for what your student is doing right/wrong.

[aseepish]

The measure of a teacher is in the students

I never had any first-hand experience with the man, but I spent two years studying under a couple of Vu's instructors. I've been learning martial arts since 1994 - and since 1994 I've never spent more than three consecutive years in the same city/state/province/prefecture. I've met/trained under a lot of different instructors.

My experience with Vu's people has been one of the highlights of my training.

I'm also impressed how the man is always quick to give credit to people like Guro Dan and the late Larry Hartsell, while down-playing his own innovations.

[Tom Yum]

Good stuff, Mike.

[g-bells]

i attended a seminar given by one of vunak's instructors and to say the least, he was extremely fast, explained things very well, and was hands on with his teachings. the more you grasp the more excited he became and if thisis any feflection of mr. vunak it speaks mountains of his abilities both as a fighter and as a teacher