hello everyone
i have a question for those of you who teach jkd. i have some injuries that limit my practice and development as a martial artist now. in 2001 i was injured in a car accident. it left me with two permanent ruptured discs in my neck. two years ago i had developed a bone spur in my right big toe. the first surgery was done to remove it and a plate was put in with the hopes that my toe would fuse to the foot. it didnt. and the plate broke. i had the surgery redone in oct 08 and am still recovering. ive also developed a thyroid condition as well as an injury to my right shoulder which is supposedly healed but inflammation causes pain and weakness just at the top of the shoulder where the clavicle sits.
because of the surgery my right foot is almost useless. i cannot impact at all with it right now. its tough to push off of also. in time if it fuses i hope to be able to strengthen the foot enough to work on my footwork again. but alas, ill never be able to use it as my target tool. (im right handed) so, my left lead will have to be retrained as my new strong side forward. ill have to spend time redeveloping my attributes and techniques.
now, i have a great desire to be certified to eventually teach what i consider to be true jkd. but i am pretty much unable to spar with people or impact with the right foot in any way. i have noticed my balance needs to be retrained as well. the big toe doesnt touch the floor. they put the plate in and set it so it is off the ground for walking purposes. that way the plate wont bend as much. they took bone from my hip this time and used it almost like a biscuit joiner, for the woodworkers out there.
i have to certainly alter what i do but i do not plan to be a pro fighter or anything so will i still be able to eventually become certified to teach jkd or is it something that requires full body use?
with the arts i have studied thus far i have created a teaching system i call "creative martial arts" and have been using this format over the years to teach people a progressive training program. and while what i do is as close to true jkd as possible i want to train with someone and eventually get certified to teach. it has been my goal since i was about twelve years old. with the lack of qualified instructors of jkd in my area (princeton il) i have to find ways to self train and then seek someone out. sifu davis' website shows a kenneth jones in bowling green kentucky that i hope to get to someday and try to work with.
any suggestions or ideas from jkd instructors would be helpful. or any ideas from those of you who have similiar situations are welcome as well. thanks for listening.

Hello Kevin!

Your power side is actually determined by the hand you hit the hardest with, not the leg you kick the best with! But, if you have problems with your right shoulder also, and don't think that will get better, then maybe you should retrain yourself to left lead! I know at 51 years of age, I would hate to be faced with a sudden lead change, but everything seems to be working pretty well, so that is something that I don't think I'll ever be faced with! With strong will, determination, and the help of the good Lord, everything is possible! Good luck with your training, and defintely get with Ken Jones whenever you can! Ken is a wonderful person, and also he is a DOCTOR, so maybe he can give you some helpful tips along the way as to your injuries as well!

Keep Blasting!
Sifu Lamar M. Davis II
Senior Instructor
Hardcore Jeet Kune Do
sifu@live.com
http://www.HardcoreJKD.com
http://www.DragonBlastMA.com
http://www.IWCJKDA.com
Office (205) 467-9039
Cell 1 (205) 296-7070 (Incoming Only)
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"Hit Hard, Hit Fast, Hit First - ALWAYS!"

"The REAL future of Jeet Kune Do belongs to US, the few, the proud, the HARDCORE! Now, what are we going to do with it?" _ Sifu Lamar M. Davis II

thanks sifu. i know i addressed this issue to you in my private email. i didnt know that mr. jones was a doctor as well. thats cool. i dont really mind training my left side. but my right foot was my target foot and it hits all by itself, so now i have to tell it stop that!! ha ha. i plan to research this shoulder issue too. see if i can get it strengthend somehow. ive heard alternating heat and ice might help. im all about the research. but the words of encouragement are very helpful.