Hello there Sifu Davis. I've been reading this forum for about one year, I've also checked out you site for the cool pictures and articles and that very long interview. Its a great site, very informative. Great work! Was wondering what where your thoughts on the jun fan gung fu/ jeet kune do Oakland era? Have you trained with any of the students such as Howard Williams and what things did you learn from him? Cheers and thanks in advance.

My name is Javier by the way. Sorry for not posting it.

Hello Javier!

The Oakland Period was, in my opinion, sort of a transitional period for Bruce Lee's martial art. Of course this was where the famous "Bruce Lee/Wong Jak Man Fight" occurred that caused Bruce Lee to change his way of looking at fighting! The material taught during the Oakland Period was awesome to say the least, as those students got to actually see the changes that took place as Jun Fan Gung Fu evolved into Jeet Kune Do!

I have trained with several of the Oakland students. Most notably Sifu Leo Fong and Sifu Howard Williams. They are both great instructors. Howard has greatly streamlined what he was taught by Bruce Lee and James Yimm Lee, so there is not much to what he teaches (as far as quantity of material). But, Howard is VERY GOOD at what he does! Leo Fong has evolved to teaching more of his own method, Wei Kuen Do, which is his version of what he learned from Bruce Lee and James Yimm Lee. I also had the opportunity to train with several other Oakland students back when the Nucleus still existed! There is much to be offered to the serious Jun Fan/Jeet Kune Do practitioner from the Oakland Period!

Keep Blasting!
Sifu Lamar M. Davis II
Senior Instructor
Hardcore Jeet Kune Do
Sifu@HardcoreJKD.com
http://www.HardcoreJKD.com
Kwoon (205) 274-9011

"Hit Hard, Hit Fast, Hit First - ALWAYS!"

"What is Jeet Kune Do (JKD)? Chinese martial art, definitely! It is a kind of Chinese martial art that does away with the distinction of branches, an art that rejects formality, an art that is liberated from tradition." __Bruce Lee

Thanks for the info Sifu. I recently bought a book called Jun Fan Gung Fu: Seeking the Path of Jeet Kune Do. Have you read this book, is it a good resource according to your experience?

Thanks.

Hello Again!

That book was published by the same Publisher that published my book. The book was sent to me as soon as it became available. The first thing that I noticed was that it had very little to do with Jun Fan Gung Fu, and that the terminology was wrong in parts of the book. Jun Fan Gung Fu is the art that Bruce Lee taught in Seattle. It is very much like Wing Chun Gung Fu, as it is primarily modified Wing Chun. What is shown in the book you ask about is primarily Jeet Kune Do, NOT Jun Fan Gung Fu! I mean, there ARE some things that are in Jeet Kune Do that came directly from Jun Fan Gung Fu, but what is in this book is primarily Jeet Kune Do! The author is a student of Dan Inosanto, so the "JKD concepts" influence is definitely seen throughout the book also! I hope that helps!

Keep Blasting!
Sifu Lamar M. Davis II
Senior Instructor
Hardcore Jeet Kune Do
Sifu@HardcoreJKD.com
http://www.HardcoreJKD.com
Kwoon (205) 274-9011

"Hit Hard, Hit Fast, Hit First - ALWAYS!"

"What is Jeet Kune Do (JKD)? Chinese martial art, definitely! It is a kind of Chinese martial art that does away with the distinction of branches, an art that rejects formality, an art that is liberated from tradition." __Bruce Lee

As a jeet kune do book, is it any good Sifu?

Also is the Oakland jeet kune do bai jong the same as the Los Angeles, Chinatown bai jong. Thanks in advance.

Javier.

Hello Again!

The book is at best "OK" as a Jeet Kune Do book! Some parts of it I like and other parts I am not overly enthusiastic about!

Howard Williams has talked with me about the excitement of seeing the bai jong change from the position used in Jun Fan Gung Fu to the position used in Jeet Kune Do! And yes, once it changed, it was the same bai jong as taught in the L. A. Chinatown kwoon!

Keep Blasting!
Sifu Lamar M. Davis II
Senior Instructor
Hardcore Jeet Kune Do
Sifu@HardcoreJKD.com
http://www.HardcoreJKD.com
Kwoon (205) 274-9011

"Hit Hard, Hit Fast, Hit First - ALWAYS!"

"What is Jeet Kune Do (JKD)? Chinese martial art, definitely! It is a kind of Chinese martial art that does away with the distinction of branches, an art that rejects formality, an art that is liberated from tradition." __Bruce Lee

Thanks a lot Sifu Davis! I'll talk later. Cheers.

Javier.