There were technically 3 differnt JKD schools associated with Bruce Lee.
The June Fan Wing Chung Seattle, WA group, The JKD Oakland, CA group and the Dan Inosanto group (I forget the city). Bruce also had some backyard training sessions.
So there should be a fair ammount of 1st Gen Students.
Bruce was not really consistant with his issueing of certificates (I don't really put wieght in a certificate anyhow) Only 3 people that I know of were actually given a certificate to teach by Bruce. I think it was D. I., T. K., and T. W.? I'm probably mistaken though.
The Seattle branch and the Oakland branch I think are what is called Origional JKD. Very Wing Chung and traditional June Fan era JKD.
The Inosanto acadamy is what I've heard called JKD Concepts. Its a more non Wing Chung late era JKD the Bruce had evolved into.
Bruce did Visit the old schools and show them the newer JKD applications.
I think T.K. sent one of his sons to train with D.I. for a while too?
There has been a number of conflicts between the schools and various students and teachers, be polite to everyone because its hard to tell who is on who's side and it can close some doors for you.
With all the differences in stages, names and almost "styles" of JKD I think the main point is exactly what you concluded with...."Be polite to everyone....it can close doors for you". It would seem in a "way" that this could be a limitation of having no limitation.... A possible bottom line for how you practice your art is that your form should follow your function......if you desire to preserve a way in purity and respect for its original method then your function would dictate a possible more traditional approach to training, however if your funcytion is to enter into a no-holds-barred competition then a competition oriented form\style\training method should be sought out.....the issue is not who's style is better than the other or who is more pure but does the style or form you practice follow your function and how efficiently does it accomplish your desire? Is it economy of motion to spend energy attempting to convince others of style superiority or would it be more economical to say , "Hey I like what you do and when I am with you I will do your thing and enjoy it, but I like those other guys to and I enjoy what they do to"....Keeping the doors open by being polite and respectful is wisdom we could all cross apply.....creating openings.....
HEY GUYS THATS NOT TRUE THE ONLY ONES GIVEN PERMISSION TO TEACH WERE TAKY KIMURA UND DAN INOSANTO FUNNY BOTH DONT TEACH TODAY WHAT LEE TAUGHT THEM WHILE KIMURA TEACHES ALMOST TRADITIONAL WING CHUN INOSANTO PROMOTES FILIPINO MARTIAL ARTS I GUESS THE BEST PICK TODAY WOULD BE GETTING INVOLVED WITH STEVE LEE JOHNSON OR THE STUFF THAT JESSE GLOVER AND TED WONG DO BY THEN YOU MIGHT HAVE AN IDEA OF THE RANGE OF LEES WORK AS FOR THE OTHERS HOWARD WILLIAMS STOPPED TEACHING JIM DEMILE PROMOTES HIS OWN SYSTEM WING CHUN DO AND DEMILE DEFENSE SYSTEM
DON T GET BLINDED BY THE CONCEPTS APPROACH WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY QUITE POPULAR WITH YOU US-GUYS
THE IDEA ITSELF IS NOT BAD BUT MASTERING THE ORIGINAL STUFF FIRST WOULD BE THE CORRECT START NOT MIXING IT UP WITH OTHER ARTS RIGHT FROM THE START
YOU SEE INOSANTOS STUFF IS FOR JOINING THINGS TOGETHER WHILE LEES STUFF WAS ABOUT RIPPING THINGS APART
OVER THE MANY YEARS STARTING BACK IN 1974 I MET DANNY INOSANTO. THRU HIM MY FIRST INSTRUCTION WAS WITH JERRY POTEET TILL I WAS VOTED IN TO THE SENIOR LEVEL WHICH WAS THE JKD CLAN. I ALSO TAUGHT AT THOSE SCHOOLS (THE FIRST BEING LOCATED IN TORRANCE, CALIF KALI ACADEMY, THEN THE IMB ACADEMY AND THE INOSANTO ACADEMY IN MARINA DEL REY). ANYONE THAT HAS STUDIED WITH DANNY INOSANTO, RICHARD BUSTILLO, JERRY POTEET AND I MEAN REALLY TRAIN WOULD NOT GET MIXED UP AS TO WHAT IS THIS OR THAT. REMEMBER IF YOU SHOW A GROUP OF PERSONS ONE THING, IN TIME THEY WILL ALL PASS IT ON DIFFERENTLY. JKD IS A WAY NOT AN ART, AS I WAS TAUGHT FIRST THE BASICS (BY JERRY POTEET) THEY WILL NEVER FAIL. AS TO WHO I AM, WELL ANY OF THESE THREE INSTRUCTORS CAN STATE WHO I AM, I NEED NO PAPER, NOR DEGREES NOR BELTS. BACK IN THOSE DAYS, IN THE JKD CLASS WE WOULD TRAIN AND THEN TELL THE PERSON HOW WE GOT IN, IT WAS THE BEST YEARS OF MY MARTIAL ARTS TRAINING (1974 - 1991). NOW WHAT I NOTICE IS EVERYONE SAYING WHO TEACHES WHAT. TRUST ME WHAT ALL THE JKD INSTRUCTORS TEACH IS CORRECT ON A DIFFERENT PATH, DIFFERENT LANGUAGE. IF YOU ONLY STAY ON ONE PAGE YOU WILL NEVER KNOW THE BOOK.......BRUCE WOULD NEVER HAVE WANTED ANY OF HIS STUDENTS TO FORMALIZE JKD, BUT INSTEAD TO GROW WITH IT. TIMES DO CHANGE, DO NOT MAKE JKD A STYLE, BECAUSE THAT WOULD KILL IT. REMEMBER FLOW LIKE WATER.
wrong. AL Novak was a co-instructor a police officer at that time. I saw the business card James Lee and Al NOVAK were the sifu's. James Lee put Novak on the cover of the book and had been in jujitsu since 1936 had a black belt in shotokan karate.Bruce lee sought him out because he was the real deal.
