I am having a hard time keeping up on my training because, I compare myself to different people because, over the past 5 years, I have shadowboxed or sparred with different people and when I think I have reached a certain point then I realize I haven't. IT's very difficult, but I continue training because I don't believe in giving up!!! It easy to give up but even harder to stay the path with no light on the road. I read a lot of books, like from Bruce Lee, Benny the Jet, James Yimm Lee, and books produced from the beijing military police academy. I have a goal in mind, but I am lost on this path and don't fully understand the reason. I realize I am not Bruce Lee, So I must find myself and grow within and without. But, I often ask myself, What would bruce say to me when I feel like I am not no good at something? Or worry about my ability, whter or not I can properly handle conflict? The final question is what do I train for? And is it worth the time and effort? Should I stop since I have no rank or certificate from a creditable source? Or should I continue to train?

Hi Ty,

I dont have any rank or certificate and I dont want one. I have no need for it. Its only a bit of paper to show people. Why not just show them some moves instead and let them judge for themselves? Paper is inanimate, you are not. Well I guess you could origami it (golly ive been reading to manny of Joes posts LOL someone hit me)

You mention you have an image of yourself, is it realistic, are you doing the things that will achive it? BY that I mean say your fat, now doing sidekicks is not going to actualise that image, no you must diet. Look at what your doing, look at its proposed effect, if it doesnt actualise this image then why do it? step by step evaluate what you do and only you.

hope that helps.

...I had this exact conversation about what to do with this lethal fighting machine called self once its built. Like whats it do, just sit there waiting to fight, after all thats what its built for, so there you are the baddest meaneast man on the planet all ready to fight and thats its sole purpose? no its not and if you find a good teacher they will show you the beuaty of gung fu. It is not all about fighting, and it is not all empty external rotations of arms.

Good luck with your journey.

Results, i think, is not the way of martial arts. The way is the road to obtain results. Training is the road!! And probably to reach the perfect things, the road will be very long. This is the beauty of this affair!

But you have to like to drive on this road. If training is your passion, you will become probably a excellent JKD practionner. And if you like and you're good to transmit this passion and ability to train in JKD to other people. Wow! You become probably a good teacher of JKD!

Forget the paper and certicicate! The people will recognize in you many other things like youre passion, structure, knowledge, experience, pedagogy and your rigour to transmit correctly the art of JKD.

I read you often on this forum! It's seems to me that you are very motivate and passionnate guy.

I think you're on the good way! Have a nice day!


Martin D.

You train in this art of JKD for self defense. You train for improvement and to keep that edge. If you don't use it (training) you lose it.
Sifu Lamar has a very good family tree and all the creditials but that means very little if he did not show it. I see in his instruction of not only myself but the class I am in, the dedication/passion, time spent in personal training and desire for this art. Which would you perfer a piece of paper or the ability of others to see it in you. Remember as Sifu said in one of his dvd's that you don't bend for JKD it bends to you. If you can't kick head high the art allows you to kick to the mid-section, groin, knee. This is the art bending to you. But you must keep striving and training for that head kick.
Don't be satisfied with where you are as there is always room to improve. Martin D was spot on in his post. Sifu Lamar does not seek validation he just proves it.
As far as not being sure of your form, movements etc... You might need to travel a bit to attend one of Sifu's seminar or to one of his apprentice instructors. If you haven't buy his instructional dvd's.

kent

Hi
There is an old saying, some grasses grow long some grasses grow short , We are all diffrent, dont follow a path create your own path .The light you are seeking is within yourself . Watch the film Silent Flute
Ive beeen there
Greytowel

Hello Ty,
Don't worry. WE all have doubts from time to time and seem to sort of waver or wander a bit and then find ourselves again. Take me for example. I have been a lifelong Bruce Lee fan. I always wanted to take or learn what he practiced and wanted nothing to do with any sort martial art but what Mr. Lee practiced but never could because of various circumstances. I knew he practiced Chinese martial arts, Gung Fu and Jeet Kune Do. Growing up in small town Alabama about all there there was was Tae Kwan Do. Now it is on every corner it seems. But back in those days I never heard of any Gung Fu in these parts. So I did not take anything. At 17, in 1972 I went off in the service for four years. Then travelled the country working construction for years, remodeling motels and hotels, etc.. Never had a chance to do much of anything but work (and wasted much of my life drinking and chasing gals in bars).

Well now I am settled down, got two kids and have been working with the Alabama Dept of Corrections for the last 13 years (with horrible off days and work schedules too!) and raising my kids. Now I am 51 yrs old, teribly out of shape and am around 6' 1" and weigh around 330lbs. Now I find out about a Jeet Kune Do class/academy up above Birmingham. So by Jove I and my 16 yr old son are going to by Jove take that class.

Now like you, I worry about all sorts of things; such as am I too old and out of shape? Should I even bother! Will my body hold up long enough to get back in some semblence of shape? Will my knees or lower back hold up until I manage to lose some weight? I worry about failure in Jeet Kune Do due to such things. And beside several people I know have been brow beating me telling me not to try it, that I am too old, out of shape, can't afford it or the gas to even get to the classes, etc., etc..

But by kracky I figured to just get on in there and go for it. Over the last three weeks I have been dieting, cut out most of my sugar, carbs, etc, and have been walking, etc, trying to get some excercise and lose some of this weight. In fact I just walked three miles at the local track a couple of hours ago. That is not a lot to some folks but it is something to be proud of when about all you have done for the last 13 yrs is maybe a fence check or walk around the dorm counting inmates (I am a Correctional Officer in an Alabama prison).

So, I reckon what I am trying to say just keep on chugging along and you'll drift back onto track in life and your puruit of Martial Arts where you will find yourself and feel all is well.
I hope I have made some sense.
Take care,
David Edelen
Millbrook, Al.

Hi David,


Its the effort that counts. A walk to you is the same as a sprint to someone else. By that I mean its always a struggle, it always should be...if it aint then you aint working hard enough [:)]

bets of luck with your journey
john

should have added WELL DONE!!!!!

[:-)]

Hello again Ty,
I came across a quote by Bruce Lee and thought you might appreciate it. It is part of the introduction of the book, "Jeet Kune Do; Bruce Lee's Commentaries on the Martial Way": Mr. Lee says:
----------------
".....to live is to express and to express you have to create. Creation is never merely repetition. Remember well my friend that all styles are man-made and man is always more important than any style. Style concludes. Man grows.

So martial art is ultimately an athletic expression of the dynamic human body. More important yet is the person who is there expressing his own soul. Yes, martial art is an unfolding of what one is--his anger, his fears--and yet under all these natual human tendences(which we all experience, after all) a 'quality' matial artist can--in the midst of all these commotions--still be himself.

And it is not a uestion of winning or losing but it is a quesion of being what is at that moment and being wholeheartedly involved with that particular moment and doing one's best. The consequence is left to whatever will happen.

Therefore to be a martial artist also means to be an artist of life. Since life is an ever-going process, one should flow in this process and to discover, to actualize, and to expand oneself.
--Bruce Lee
-------------------

Just thought you might find that interesting and a bit enlightning or helpful.
Take care,
Dave E.
Millbrook, Al.