By David Gimberline

Does anybody even remember the question?    Sorry this has been so long in coming, but some of us actually have jobs, y’know.  

Originally I said:

This is a question for all those out there who use sanbon or gohon  kumite drills in their training.

Assume you are the defender.

Starting, of course from the traditional positions; the attacker has the left leg forward, assumes gedan barai position, and announces “jodan” (head (I know, not really)).

From 2^nd position, you nod or say “Hai” and the attacker steps in oisuki , which you counter by stepping back and blocking with an age-uke (rising block).

In that first step, do you step back with your right (and block with your left) so you and the attacker are toe to toe, or do you step back with your left (and block with your right)?

Why?

Is it different if the attacker attacks chudan (stomach)?

I didn’t get all that many responses.  In part, I feel this is the fault of Mal Diamond, who was the first to answer and was exactly correct.  This, of course automatically disqualifies him from any further contests, where I already have the answer. (or at least AN answer)   ;-D

I did get some interesting responses and the all bring up good points:

Joe Kras said:

My preferred response is to step back with my right, and end up toe to toe.  This minimizes my exposure to the attacker’s “other weapons”, specifically his left arm and leg.  With a little bit of maneuvering I end up in the opponent’s shikaku.  HOWEVER, I realize that there are going to be times that, for whatever reason, moving to this side will be impossible, or less desirable (2nd attacker in that direction, less advantagious position because of terrain, etc.)  Therefore, I also train responses to the other side. I do this whether the attack is jodan, chudan, or gedan

These are excellent strategic considerations.  But I believe for this drill, they do show a blind spot (IMHO).

Jon Keeling  (Jon, thanks for the spelling corrections , dg)  said:

In that first step, do you step back with your right (and block with your  left) so you and the attacker are toe to toe, or do you step back with your  left (and block with your right)?

Either way.  It depends on what is being trained.  Could be a change in strategy, timing, followup technique, etc.  Sometimes only one way is correct. Sometimes, either leg forward could be acceptable.  >>>

Is it different if the attacker attacks chudan (stomach)?

Yes. You don’t block with age-uke.

Funny :-)

Otherwise, not really.  Please note: this is not the norm for other SKdA or JKA dojo
where I have trained….<snip> I also teach variations in many other ways, during all types of kumite.  I also vary kata performance, which we can discuss sometime in the future.

I also believe variations are important, and many of the drills you have suggested (in the past) are interesting and valuable.  I still maintain there is a basic reason the drills should be primarily performed in one particular fashion.

Paul James said:

In that first step, do you step back with your right (and block with your left) so you and the attacker are toe to toe, or do you step back with your left (and block with your right)?

We block with our left first, stepping back with our right.  Probably so that we finish left leg forward, blocking with the left and countering with the right (usually our strongest side).

Again an excellent reason, but not, I feel the most important.

I think the emphasis of the exercise (not technique) is really on the final attack and counter, the first four punches are used just as blocking practice.  Although it’s important to be able to defend and fight with either side forward I think it’s important to be at least competent with one side first.

Here enters some of the confusion in the use of blocks that stems from this drill.  This is a totally different subject that I would like to address in a different post, but I would say this is not even a blocking drill.  It is a tai sabaki (body shifting), maai (effective distance) and timing drill.  You should be able to do the sequence with out the blocks.

Is it different if the attacker attacks chudan (stomach)?

No, it’s the same as long as you are blocking soto uke.  It’s even more important to block their right with your left so that you turn the attacker away with your block so that you can counter to their ‘blind’ side.  If you block their right with your right then you must block further across your body, exposing your ‘closed’ side to the attacker’s ‘open’ side (not good!)

Again, some excellent strategic thinking going on here.  Unfortunately, falling right into the blind spot trap. 

The blind spot I’m referring to here is the idea of defending primarily against a straight punch, because that is what we practice with oisuki and gyakasuki.  This drill is practiced all over the world, and I feel many have lost the basic idea (not the idea I referred to above) of blocking a punch someone throws at your head.

The single most common strike is going to come from the right side and it’s going to be curved.  (some would call this a haymaker).  If someone throws a right punch at your head and you step back with your left and block with your right age-uke, you will get punched in the head.

I agree there are many ways to vary the drill, (and Michael brought up an excellent point regarding the methodology of training and the development of the proper mind set; again this needs to be discussed in a separate post) but I feel if the practitioner doesn’t train primarily toe-to-toe for the head attack, with an understanding of why, then they may be training themselves to reflexively respond to an attack by stepping back and getting punched in the head. 

With the stomach attack, it’s the same consideration.  The attack is much more likely to follow an arcing path than a straight path, so stepping back with either foot is NOT just as effective.  Here when the attacker steps in with the right, you should step back with the left and soto-uke with the right arm.

With perfect JKA technique, many variations will work, and either foot is a good option.  I submit, however, if you want to retain self defense ability, you should train with the most likely street attacks in mind.

The assumes you are using these uke primarily as blocks, and that you are stepping back away from your attacker.  IM(apparently)NSHO, neither of these concepts is valid if you examine the kata.  The uke were not meant to be used this way.  (oh, well another lengthy post)

Mal said it much more succinctly:

its simply a matter of receiving the attack with the correct arm, that is, the attacker is punching with their right arm (which would be on the defenders left) so the defender blocks with the left arm first.

I have noticed the English have a much better understanding of the practicalities of fighting.  I mostly attribute this to Enoeda Sensei setting up such a strong spirited core group.  (however it could be they frequent the pubs a bit more than they should   )

He also said:

its a little presumptive to assume that there is only one right way to perform these blocks, and that the only “right” way is yours…

I agree.  In this particular case though, I was trying to offer a bit of a challenge, not be presumptuous.  Also, if I said there is only one way to do a kata, or a front kick, it would be different than the situation I described, I think.

After sitting at my computer for the last couple of hours, I know remember why it took me so long to put this answer together. 

Respectfully and Sincerely
David Gimberline
ITKF/AAKF
Minneapolis, Minnesota

by David Nishimoto

So, as a Martial Artist that has practiced standing meditation, one hour a day, for a year; your ready to advance to the next level. In last year, a rare form of discipline has evolved, as a part of your new found martial art discipline. You now possess the ability to clear your mind of distractions, at will. You are centered and powerful. Much more powerful than you’ll ever know. You have gained a deeper understanding of focus and Zen. As a great Martial Artist you realize the mind extends through out the body moving chi energy through your body. You realize chi movement is controlled by the mind. The mind can move chi. Chi is the battery. Jing is the electrical current or kinetic force. You can feel chi, but not necessary Jing. A sense of balance and softness has been strongly integrated into your frame. You understand the mind controls how the mind and body root to the earth. You’ve learned to use redirection and rooting to repel external forces. You may be starting to understand the basics of jing. This largely depends on your chi levels, understanding of chi and its application, and your natural capabilities. A strong feeling of spirituality has emerged, as deeper levels of concentration and focus have been obtained, and you have greater control over your emotions and mental state. Your mind is centered. You are at one with yourself. These are the basic requirements, you must have, before working on the next level.

The next level is called warming the chi. Return to a standing position, let your arms form a circle, like your holding a large pot, legs are slightly bent, palms facing towards the body, and fingers from both hands face each other, with a six inch gap. Focus chi energy up from your center along the spine, down the arms, and into the palm of the hands. You may feel a energy current and resulting vibrations, as the energy starts to flow. Be sensitive and thoughtful about what your doing. Don’t force the affect or try to hard. Your breathing should be deep and relaxed. Image each breath brings an oxygen rich resource to your body. Remember the energy flow is determined by your singularity of mental focus. Concentrate with real intent. The energy will radiate from the both palms creating a sensation of warmth. Also, visualize energy flowing down to the bottom of your feet, and spiraling deep into the earth. As the chi warms, it is like being suspended in warm water. Let the energy flow continuously, warming and relaxing your body. As the chi warms your body, it will start to feel more relaxed. This is very healthy for your mind, spirit, and body. Its important to keep your mind clear, open and focused. The relaxation represents the balance between positive and negative. As you relax you may feel an excitement pertaining to your mastery and control of your energy. Obtainment of energy flow and control is a great achievement. Appreciate and value what you have and what you have accomplished. This is a very satisfying, state of being. It should take about ten minutes to create the necessary energy flow to feel a warm sensation; focus on warming the chi, and you will find it easy to maintaining your standing meditation of the hour, without pain. If your arms start to hurt drop them down into the standing bear posture. If your feet feel like they are falling a sleep, move the weight from side to side. Its important to remain comfort, safe, and focused. It is important to generate this energy balance in every aspect of your martial art training and life. This experience will definitely change your conceptualization of power. You will start to understand what the master knew throughout the ages. As you do so, the correct path will emerge for you to follow. Good Luck in your mastery.

Continue this practice for the remainder of the year, and I will provide additional instruction.

By David Nishimoto

Bouncing or uprooting the person is not mystical. First, relax and create a feeling of sinking into the earth. Connectedness with the earth is the fundamental principle to the bounce. The feet are integrated with the earth. Gravity is pulling body mass towards the earth. The legs and feet are supporting the body from falling. The knees are slightly bent and have a rubbery characteristic. External force is perceived and directed from the center through the legs, to the feet; and a counter-force is generated. Just like a bumper car hitting the edge of the pit, the reflected force is compressed by the legs and reflected back through the body into the opponent. So minimal external force is amplified and reflected back into the opponent with maximum effects. The hands or body propel the opponent back as the reflected force exceeds the force of gravity holding the opponent down. The hands or upper body are the transmitted force generated from the legs and center.

Think about walking. Each step is a balance between falling to the earth and a counter force pushing back. A connectedness exists between the minds timing perception which connects with the earth and generates an counter force pushing the body back up. Likewise, as an external force is approaching, a connectedness needs to be perceived relating time to impact and the counter force necessary to bounce the opponent away. The external force compresses the your body downward to the earth. A certain degree of compression is realized and expansion series initiates at will cause the counter force. Expansion generates a greater force greater than the force of gravity holding the person down causing causing a bounce or uprooting. The degree of bounce or uprooting depends on the intent and degree of expansion.

The discovering the center-line means finding the opponents body location where yielding becomes difficult. The body pivots around the center. Double weighted-ness means pushing too hard, at a miscalculated center and losing one’s own center of balance. If one pushes against a door thinking that it is rigid but instead it swings free open; the over extension will cause him to fall. This is called double weighted-ness and is bad. The test of double weighted-ness is the objective of pushing hands. If the body is soft and yielding to external force the center can not be discovered. However, any points of rigid-ness or resistance can be compressed and the opponent’s center of balance exploited causing him to step back or jump back to absorb the incoming counter-force.

Focusing on feeling increases awareness. Remove the ego of looking good and start thinking about the moment. Surrendering and yielding to the opponents movements allows you to blend with them. Blending is the key to find their center. Blending can lead to a bounce or a yield, control, and neutralization. Blending can start at formation of intent by your opponent. A punch, kick, tackle can be sense before it starts. It more important to feel what the person will do and blend with that feeling. Feeling is more important than seeing. With experience fighters the feeling is very subtle. Connectedness with your body, the earth, and the opponent is the key. Remove the ego of superior strength, credentials, pride, and prestige immediately proceeding listening to feelings. Concentrate on the sensation in the body: breathing, integration with the earth, confidence, integrated energy, and feeling the other persons energy.

Relaxation increases the ability to connect with the earth. Relaxation reduces the number of mistakes in technique. Relaxation keeps the body soft and prevents the centerline from being discovered. Test this principle by having a person push forward gently on your shoulders, swing your body with the force. Alternate between left and right parts of the body. Repeat the push on the left and right hips also. Relaxation is the key to not getting bounced during pushing hands.

Focus on the purpose of the technique. Executing a technique without understanding the intent will result in failure even if it looks perfect. Technique changes as the understanding of the purpose changes.

by David Nishimoto

Standing meditation builds great marital artists. Lets start with standing. Standing builds the frame. The frame is used to repel or redirect all forms of force. Once a student has been standing for a few years they build a integrated frame. The integrated frame becomes the beginning of advance drills for refining balance. All martial art systems have some forms and methods for improving balance. Here’s how to begin.

Select a private and secluded area where you can stand without interruption. In many areas of the country, if you go to a park you will experience more interruptions than its worth. Its important that you select an area where you can devote 100% concentration on what your doing. Don’t be afraid to explain to people, who may see you, what your doing. Just say, “standing meditation, minimal investment and maximum results.”

Start with your feet separated at shoulder distance. Slightly bend your knees keeping the back straight. Image your body is suspend from a rafter. Let the arms hang down and slightly in front with your fingers separated. Concentrate on breathing slowly and rhythmically.

Later move your arms upward forming a ring shape in front of your body. The palms of your hands should face inward and the fingers pointing at each other with a small gap in between the hands. Image you are hugging a tree. Working on the feeling of expansion and contraction as you stand. Adjust your balance as you feel slight changes in weight.

Standing requires you to focus on your breath, weight distribution, and mental focus. At first your mind will be racing. What do you think of? Nothing. You’ll be able to free your mind and reach a state of mental activity similar to one just before waking up. This is the beta state. An advanced form of relaxation where learning is maximized and the maximum benefits for your body are achieved.

Stand for only small periods of time, but over the year work up to a hour of standing. Once you’ve reach this level contact me for additional instructions. I recommend working in groups. If you have the determination to stand then more advance concepts can be taught later.

by Morne Swanepoel

Many a times have I heard Martial Arts instructors & schools state the amount of techniques they know etc. and classify themselves at different levels with these achievements.

I think we can all agree that there is Unlimited amount of techniques to study in any Martial Art system and that we all have limited time or even lifespan to train these techniques in. This is more the reason why we need to be true to ourselves and
identify the reason for training. We live in a time and era where our time is limited. That’s why it is so important to prioritize your training methods.

Saying this Let’s take Sport & Self Defence as an example. There are certain techniques that would score your points in tournaments but would not do the job in the street, and the same applies for the opposite. So if your aim is to learn how to defend yourself against an aggressive opponent it doesn’t make sense training techniques that would not work in the street. Learn as much as possible but you must also be able to distinguish between those techniques that are only good for demonstrations, and those which will give you results in an all out street fight.

How do you know which techniques will do the job?

At JKD Unlimited we make sure we test all our techniques. You have to try it out against a resisting, aggressive opponent who is going to do everything in his might
for you not to be able to apply your techniques. So yes unfortunately when you put on your protective gear and undergo a vigorous sparring session you will quickly find out what works for you and what doesn’t. This is exactly the same concept as what the late Bruce Lee used to refer to as swimming on dry land. You can learn all the strokes to become an excellent swimmer on dry land. But can you apply your strokes if
you get thrown into the ocean where the water is freezing, currents are pushing you all over the show, huge waves and maybe some other factors such as man eating sharks Thanks to my personal coach- Founder and President of Jeet Kune Do Unlimited, Burton Richardson, we have two very important guidelines we always refer to:

• Knowledge is not power. The ability to apply your knowledge is true Power.
• If you want to learn how to fight, make sure you train against someone who is fighting back.

Always practice the basic fighting techniques using training methods that are alive first. After you have improved in each range, then you can take the time to play with the other techniques which may improve some attributes, but which are difficult to apply against an aggressive opponent.

The main goal for Martial Artists should be for the individual to develop him or herself towards their Unlimited potential physically and mentally. By training in the Martial Arts we have a guideline for training in any other area of our life, from business to relationships. The concepts learned in your training should be transposed into your whole life experience.

You will never be able to learn each and every technique. Instead learning the Martial Arts should be like learning how to write.

First you learn the alphabet, then learn how to spell words, then learn how to make sentences and paragraphs and you can create as many stories as you wish. You don’t learn how to spell and then spend the rest of your life copying stories written by other people. You get to write what you want to write, your own expression. The same is true in the Martial Arts. Learn the basics well and you are only bound by your imagination. If you imagination is unlimited, then you too are truly unlimited.

Morne Swanepoel
President Jeet Kune Do Unlimited – South Africa
President World Taiji Boxing Association – South Africa
Website www.jkdu.co.za
Email morne@jkdu.co.za

By Morne Swanepoel

The Defensive Edge (A look at realistic Knife fighting)

‘The most constant thing in life is change. Everything that has been mummified belongs to the past. Mummification is a blockage in the body, there is no spirit. We are all alive and need to progress and go beyond…’ – Morne Swanepoel

In all of my training and experiences, the one area of the martial arts that frightens me the most is the knife. It is hard to convey the ugliness of the knife as a weapon. Anyone, trained-untrained, man-woman, is at a significant advantage with a knife and a great disadvantage against one.

So, how do we prepare ourselves for this fatal encounter?

REALITY is the key here, as most martial artists train primarily to defend against a face to face ‘Hollywood’ type knife attack. We need to distinguish between that which looks good for demonstration purposes and that which will work in actual knife fight. Look at the way you are training. You need to develop your training to gain the necessary skills and attributes to deal with high-speed blade attacks. Training with edged weapons is virtually useless unless it is balanced out with experience. We get this experience via resistance training or through actual sparring. Reality knife fighting occurs at combative speed and this is where we need to be functional & effective. This doesn’t mean that you should neglect the various drills that allow for creative, relaxed and playful training.

When you are in a confrontation that can cost you your life, you have no excuses for not having prepared as thoroughly as possible in your training. This means that your training exploration has to involve everything that works in a full resistance environment, and that you have to thoroughly prepare yourself for these defensive and offensive tactics. Martial Artists tend to focus on self-defence rather than offensive tactics. So why then should you train in offensive knife fighting skills? You need to understand the offensive elements in order to develop defensive tactics for any offensive techniques you might encounter. Knowledge of weapons working will give you an advantage if you must defend yourself against one.

You must always consider surrendering whenever a weapon is used, unless you believe that doing so will place you in greater danger. This is by no means cowardly reaction. Your possessions can be replaced – your life cannot. There can only be one winner in a knife fight and more often than not there are two losers. There is an old saying that says ’ When two tigers fight, the one will die today, the other dies tomorrow due to all it’s wounds it suffered’

Don’t just dismiss training with weapons because you think that you’ll never use them and that you will be able to avoid this type attack in the street. You will gain more insight, be more prepared for any situation, improve your attributes, and its loads of fun. Training with weapons is part of becoming the best that you can be.

Morne Swanepoel
President Jeet Kune Do Unlimited – South Africa
President World Taiji Boxing Association – South Africa
Website www.jkdu.co.za
Email morne@jkdu.co.za

By Morne Swanepoel

‘Knowledge is not power, the ability to apply your knowledge is true power.’

I am often surprised by how much the word ‘practical’ or ‘effective’ is used to describe a certain Martial Art system. While I agree that many fighting skills are practical and effective within realm of fighting, I question how practical these skills are within modern society and against an aggressive, skilful opponent.

People study Martial Arts for various reasons. The most prominent being for self defence purposes. Now if you are studying the Martial Arts to stand a better chance to defend yourself in the street try and answer the following questions to see if you think along the same lines as we do at Jeet Kune Do Unlimited. Remember that when answering these questions there will never be a definitive ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ but try and answer them in a way that makes the most sense to you.

• Is the Martial Arts primary purpose for impressiveness or effectiveness?
• Do you think that Martial Arts is primarily derived as a sport or a self defence system?
• For Self Defence should we only stick to the techniques that have been passed down through time, or should we just use whatever techniques work for the given situation?
• If you want to know the effectiveness of a technique should you just take your instructors word or test it for yourself?
• If you decide to test a technique, should the test be in a controlled, passive environment? Or should the test be in an environment that resembles a real, all out street fight?
• The amount of possible techniques in Martial Arts is it limited or virtually unlimited?
• The amount of time you have to train each week is it unlimited or limited?
• If the time is limited should we prioritise which techniques and training methods we use?
• Shouldn’t we prioritise training the most probable scenarios along with the most useful techniques?

I have found that most people answer these questions in the same way.

They conclude that most Martial Arts is supposed to be designed for effectiveness in the street using whatever techniques that will work regardless of their origin. You should test the techniques yourself in an environment close to a street confrontation. There is unlimited amount of Martial Arts techniques & combinations, but we have limited amount of time to practise them in and therefore we need to prioritise our training. In a real street fight or limited rules sporting event your opponent will resist your efforts 100%. The only way you can deal with that resistance is to practise against a resisting opponent. We make choices about which road we will take long before we take the step. Sometimes we make unconscious decisions and leave the rest up to fate. I hope that after answering the above questions sincerely you would make sure you are taking the right direction with your training to make sure you reach your goal. Just remember that ‘What is spectacular is not always practical. What is practical is not always spectacular’, and ‘If you want to learn how to fight make sure you train against somebody who is fighting back’

No Rules-Anything goes–Are you ready? is a guideline we use in all our gyms. The Martial Arts circuit has been taken by storm with all the no rules tournaments such as the likes of the Ultimate fighting challenges (UFC’s). These tournaments are great to see which techniques are effective when full resistance is applied but it is still just a tournament. These tournaments will most probably be the closest thing to a street fight but people must not misjudge it with a all out street fight. Let’s compare the two,

Street fight vs. Tournament:

• Ambushes vs. ready– time to prepare
• No pre-fight posture vs. pre fight posture
• No Rules vs. rules
• All attacks & targets allowed vs. tournaments allow limited or no striking to eyes, throat & groin as well as pinching & biting
• Unfavourable variables i.e. multiple opponents, assault, broken glass etc. vs. single opponent, agreed to allow attacks, arranged environment
• Always be ready with no stretching or warming up vs. the luxury of warming up before your match.
• No referee vs. Referee
• No time limit vs. time limit
• No divisions vs. divisions i.e. rank, weight etc.
• Any time vs. tournament date

These are just a few differences, but I am sure you get the picture. So again make sure you monitor your training to ensure that you are training correctly for your goals that you have set. It doesn’t help training pre-arranged forms the whole time if you want to defend yourself in a violent street situation.

All our members at Jeet Kune Do unlimited train techniques that have a high chance of success in a real, all-out situation where life and limb are at stake. My aim and that of all the members of Jeet Kune Do Unlimited is to continue the work that Bruce Lee started and continue investigating the Martial Arts realm for those techniques, training methods and strategies that work in the environment of a street attack. A fight is full of resistance and you must practise against real resistance if you want to be able to protect yourself. Life is full of resistance too, so the lessons you learn training should translate directly to making you a more successful person. Enjoy the process, and apply what you have learned to all aspects of your life!

Morne Swanepoel
President Jeet Kune Do Unlimited – South Africa
President World Taiji Boxing Association – South Africa
Website www.jkdu.co.za
Email morne@jkdu.co.za

By Morne Swanepoel

The end of the last century saw the birth of a new era in the Martial Arts world. With the advent of events known variously as ‘Ultimate fighting’, ‘No holds-barred’ matches and ‘Mixed Martial Arts’, martial artists across the world learned the value of learning more than one art, and becoming complete in what does work and what doesn’t in the real world.

The effectiveness of ground fighting or grappling cannot be denied. In the concept of Jeet Kune Do you always push towards totality in combat.

There are a number of Martial Art instructors and students out there that believe that no one will take them down to the ground. Even Guru Dan Inosanto has stressed the importance of ground fighting in his latest video series on the Martial Arts. You must be fierce, but have patience at the same time. Most important of all you must have complete determination. The worst opponent you can come across is one whose aim has become an obsession. For instance if a man has decided that he is going to bite off your nose no matter what happens to him in the process, the chances are he will succeed in doing it. He may be severely beaten up too, but that will not stop him from carrying out his objective.

The main modes of fighting one will find oneself in are weapons, Stand up, Clinching & grappling. Whenever the skills and tools of fighters are equal, victory will generally go to the person who possesses the stronger will and most cunning strategy.

As with any form of fighting, one of the biggest mistakes is to take the opponent lightly, and with grappling the main mistake is to loose ones sense of calm and to waste energy with inappropriate use of physical strength. Opportunities will surely be missed.

Too many students & instructors train their techniques without properly testing them under a full resistance environment. How would you deal with somebody that’s goal is to take you down to the ground? No matter how good you are, if your opponent wants to take you down he will. Remember, the opponent is not only NOT co-operating with you but he is very much out to knock your lights out!

In any encounter, one is always searching for the advantage. Speed, angling, superior technique and especially pain compliance are great to have, and it is generally preferable to remain standing on your feet, but, Murphy’s Law…….If you should loose your advantage such as slipping in the mist of throwing blows, be pulled off balance in the process of executing the best throw or take down. What do you do then? What if you apply the perfect joint lock, and the opponent doesn’t react to it or counters it. Worst yet, what if you are not afforded the luxury of having the advantage in the first place and forced into a wrestling situation. It is not the best place and time to get your first grappling/wrestling lesson lying on your back in the street with your opponent on top of you busy blasting away. Fluidity of tactics and skill within all the ranges of combat is a must. No matter how good you are on your feet with or without a weapon you must be equally proficient on the ground in order to be a complete fighter. Especially when dealing with a bigger, stronger opponent, or with someone who can close the distance and force grappling, or might just be better than you with stand up fighting skills.

Weapons training is to be included in your grappling and overall skills. To round out your training, include drills and sparring sessions that would pit empty hand vs. various weapons, weapons vs empty hand and weapon vs. weapon grappling.

With co-operation vary sessions from light to full contact, lots of rules to limited to no rules. The benefits will be many for all involved. You should not be afraid to try different methods in your training, for it is never complete (as much as we may believe it is).

Nature has shown us that all things evolve, therefore, so should we. The only thing constant in life is change itself.

Morne Swanepoel
President Jeet Kune Do Unlimited – South Africa
President World Taiji Boxing Association – South Africa
Website www.jkdu.co.za
Email morne@jkdu.co.za

By Morne Swanepoel

South Africa is known as the land of sunshine and scenic majesty. The world’s strangest and most dramatic landscapes…nature’s richest treasure chest of gold and diamonds…a unique wealth of animal and plant life…a kaleidoscope of exotic, sun-blessed people…can there be a land anywhere on earth more enticing than Southern Africa?

Southern Africa is still home to the mysterious San people, whose legends seem to go back to the beginning of life itself and to the descendants of the Iron Age people who wandered down from the far North. Here too are the people’s ancestors who journeyed from the East and the West, bringing with them influences good and bad, innumerable subtitles of thought and ideas and a complex range of life-styles, foods and customs.

On the East coast of Southern Africa lies a small province called KwaZulu Natal and has long been described as the “garden province” of South Africa. Here the Zulu’s became the most formidable military power ever to grow from any indigenous African people. Battles and Wars stain the rich soil with blood and many a maize field of today has been fertilized by the charred ruins of destroyed huts and the calcium of human bones.

The great Natural harbour of Port Natal on who’s shores the city of Durban now stands was founded by Vasco da Gama and became a great trade point for pirates and slave traders, merchants and shipwrecked crews and thus the start of European invasion to the Zulu land began. It was during that time and in that land that there lived an African Martial Warrior named King Shaka. It was he who founded the unique fighting style of the Zulu’s that took the Zulus from a tribe of a few hundred to a nation of millions.

Even to this day the Zulu nation is revered as strong, powerful fighters. Shaka Zulu had made such an impact on the lives of the Zulu’s that the “ripple-effect” has been carried through to every tribe living on South African soils from generation to generation. The story of Shaka lives in the hearts of many and has been told for over 2 centuries and has made him the most famous Southern African in history. Shaka implemented a new system of military organization that incorporated regiments from defeated tribes. When a chiefdom was conquered it became a territorial segment of Shaka’s kingdom-at-large.

The warriors became a part of his royal army and were drilled and fought beside combatants from other chiefdoms. Shaka’s Zulu warriors or ‘amabutho’ were truly legendary and stories of the grueling and often cruel training are innumerable. However, Shaka never expected his men to do anything he couldn’t or wouldn’t do himself and he set the example. Forced marches of up to 70km per day carrying weapons and surviving on what they could find in the bush, proficiency in handling their weapons and the methods of dispatching the enemy were the order of the day.

Shaka discovered that the crude sandals traditionally worn by Zulu men hampered his speed and agility and as a result the army marched, ran and fought bare foot – on sharp stones, through thorn bushes, in deep sand, rivers and every type of terrain possible. Another innovation of Shaka was the short stabbing spear (assegai) a great improvement on the longer handled throwing assegai’s that broke when used against the enemy at close range.

The forging of his spear is a story in itself, involving magic, secrecy and tradition. Coupled with the large hide covered shields, the stabbing spears were wielded with deadly effect on the enemy, accompanied by the terrifying war cry Si-gi-di! Perhaps the most successful of Shaka’s great battle tactics was the fighting formation he devised. Known as the “horns of the buffalo”, it was supremely simple. The warriors would form the horns and encircle the enemy, while the chest took on the main weight of the attack. Reinforcements were held in reserve behind the safety of the chest. Total warfare became King Shaka’s policy, causing a ripple effect, which affected a vast area of Southern Africa for years afterwards.

It should be remembered that life in Shaka’s time was not like ours today. A harsh land called for harsh measures, and Shaka was quick to use them. He ruled his kingdom fairly and with compassion, but those who disobeyed him met with harsh punishment. Change has been a constant in South Africa, and a huge change happened with the overthrow of apartheid. Political violence was at an all-time high as many were ruthlessly killed for not boycotting certain shops. Killers waited outside while a mother went in to buy oil and soap-powder and then was forced to drink and eat that as she came out as punishment – never returning to her home and family.

Even fathers who belonged to the “wrong” political party would be stoned to death with rocks and boulders, their skulls crushed in front of their children. The apartheid stigma was abolished with the release of President Nelson Mandela from prison where he was serving his sentence on Robben Island. South Africa became known as the rainbow nation, it was Mr Mandela’s wish that everyone should live as one in one country, with criminals shedding the blood of innocent victims on a daily basis. As you may guess, martial arts training has become very popular in South Africa. South Africa consists of many different cultures and within these cultures stem many different martial arts systems.

South Africans are known as a very competitive nation even within the martial arts circles. The variety of martial arts systems found in South Africa is very wide, matching the different races and personal preferences of the people. From Zulu to Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, and Filipino, almost every type of martial art is practiced here. Now, though, people are re-examining their training and out of necessity are opting for a more practical approach For many years the African Warrior has been asleep but with violence on the increase, it is time to arouse the African Warrior within each South African – Zulu or not.

The concept of Jeet Kune Do has allowed even it’s African practitioners to explore and absorb what is useful and reject what is useless. The need for functional training has grown positively in South Africa and thus Jeet Kune Do has been the one to awaken the sleeping African Warrior! Bruce Lee said: “The ultimate achievement in Jeet Kune Do is not the wholesale destruction of one’s foes but rather the annihilation of things that stand in the way of peace, justice and humanity.

The art thus becomes the embodiment of life and not of death. A punch or a kick is not to knock the hell out of the guy in front but to knock the hell out of your ego, your fear, or your hang-ups.” The fact is JKD for him was not an end in itself, nor was it merely a by-product. It was a means of self-discovery. JKD is a prescription for personal growth, or to put it another way, it is investigations of freedom – freedom to act naturally and effectively, not only in combat but also in life.

Although Shaka’s methods of fighting were revolutionary at their time, they are certainly not applicable for today’s situations. In a confrontational situation in Shaka’s time, the solution would have been to go to war with the whole tribe and killing would have been the answer to any situation to be able to win and get what you wanted. In this same regard, the methods taught by Bruce Lee during his lifetime were and still are effective, but JKD would not be the functional art it is today without constant improvement by it’s innovators striving for better and higher.

Jeet Kune Do was introduced to South African Martial Arts practitioners in the mid 1990′s by Burton Richardson who heads Jeet Kune Do Unlimited association. Burton is one of JKD’s leading innovators, keeping the training progressing towards an evermore functional and efficient approach. After years of visiting South Africa, Richardson has recently appointed and certified South Africa’s own Jeet Kune Do Unlimited instructor and role model in Morné Swanepoel. “I chose Mr. Swanepoel because of his willingness to train hard, his skill, and his dedication to teaching JKDU. We spar every time I visit South Africa, and Morné has progressed to such a degree that he is now the only instructor in my organization to be given full credentials of heading the only fully licensed Jeet Kune Do branch outside our International headquarters in Honolulu, Hawaii.

He has the physical and mental talents that I am looking for in a representative of JKDU.” Morné with more than 25 years experience in Martial Arts has found since being exposed to JKD that it is vitally important to recognize what you are looking for in your training and to train what is functional and realistic in today’s times. Since introducing Jeet Kune Do to his students, he has been amazed to see how eager and enthusiastic the students became to learn more, how keen they were to attend their classes and that the whole attitude toward their Martial Arts training changed.

The training was in a more fun-filled, relaxed environment which proved to be the right training environment to learn in. Morné found that more and more people were also moving away from the competitive ‘Karate’ scenes as point scoring and political arguments were no longer what they were looking for in their training. Students were now coming to class where they were given positive input and encouragement not just with respect to their training but towards life itself. Self defense is knowing how to minimize the risk of violence by using observation, commonsense, assertiveness and escape. Jeet Kune Do Unlimited is a total concept of self-improvement. The idea is for the individual to take responsibility and develop themselves toward their unlimited potential.

The goal of Jeet Kune Do Unlimited is to develop complete martial artists. A complete martial artist is one who strives to become a great person, a great fighter, a great technician and a great teacher. Fighting wise means training to be proficient in each range of combat, with or without weapons, against one or multiple armed or unarmed opponents in a variety of environments. Combat takes place in different ranges. In each range there are different postures. For each posture in each range you have a multitude of techniques. The qualities the fighter possesses to bring the techniques to life and make them functional are called attributes. Merely being aware of the ranges, postures, techniques and attributes is not enough. Regardless of style, there are various combat ranges: weapons, kicking, punching, trapping, clinching and grappling.

Most Martial Artists spend time learning techniques that only fit one or two ranges of combat. Regardless of their range specialization, most martial artists assume they can fight and finish an encounter at their chosen range. Such an assumption can prove fatal. The essential point to remember is that there is no superior art! All systems of martial arts have strong and weak points. Bruce Lee observed: “There is a range in which Western boxing will counter any kicking art. There is a range in which Wing Chun will counter boxing. There is a range where Tai Chi Chuan will counter Wing Chun.” The end result in JKD training is the production of a man who possesses no structure or form. Hence, he possesses all structures and all forms. He is able to adapt to any situation, like water adjusting to the shape of any container.

“Moving, be like water. Still, be like a mirror. Respond like an echo” – Bruce Lee

Jeet Kune Do Unlimited offers the functional and realistic training methods that South Africans have been looking for. It is important to spar and to put on protective gear and to spar with progressive resistance so that you can become familiar and comfortable in an environment with resistance that occurs during an all out street. You do not want to find out what it is like for the first time in the street. JKDU instructors undergo a strenuous test to check their abilities as functional practitioners in all the ranges of combat. They partake in several rounds of full contact sparring in a high-pressure situation with a non-cooperative opponent. This is where you quickly find out what is functional and what is not! This is the basis of JKDU: to experience the truth in combat, and be able to handle that truth through proper training.

Self defense begins with awareness of the nature of violence and the circumstances in which it is likely to occur – forewarned is forearmed. But there is no substitute for knowing how to deal physically with an assailant. Training the mind to assess dangerous situations accurately, to avoid confrontations and to stay alert and positive is an integral to successful self-defense. This positive mental outlook, combined with knowledge of self-defense techniques, will reduce the risk of being attacked and becoming a victim. The people of South Africa will see the benefit of Jeet Kune Do Unlimited training with daily improvement in themselves and in every aspect of life. “Don’t just think positive, act positive. When in doubt, remember that you are unlimited!” Don’t be a spectator, experience life. Live to the fullest, go where you want to go, do what you want to do and most importantly, do whatever it takes to become the person you want to be.” – Burton Richardson.

These are the concepts which I would like to see brought, taught and nurtured in our JKDU schools in South Africa,” says Morné Swanepoel who heads Jeet Kune Do Unlimited South Africa under the guidance of his teacher Burton Richardson. “JKD teaches us about subduing a violent opponent through various methods under the most stressful conditions when our very life is at risk, most people will go through a lifetime without facing death at the hands of another. However, to gain that attribute known as experience, we need to train our students with the most realistic training methods.

As Morné has seen the benefits of teaching JKD to the South African students, he believes that it would not only be beneficial to them, but also to anyone in the rest of Africa who is wanting to train in a more functional and realistic training program. South Africa has seen great changes over the years, and now the functional JKD revolution is sweeping the country. Our hope is that as JKDU students develop personal confidence and peace of mind, that our embattled country will also develop the confidence to live in peace.

Morne Swanepoel
President Jeet Kune Do Unlimited – South Africa
President World Taiji Boxing Association – South Africa
Website www.jkdu.co.za
Email morne@jkdu.co.za