The Art & Philosophy of Jeet Kune Do (JKD)

We were taught that the base of JKD is Lee Jun Fan Gung Fu, and that JKD is a philosophy, a way of thinking, a concept, a process of one’s evolution and personal research and development in what works best for the individual. One of the main concepts in this life-long journey is to ‘absorb what is useful, to reject what is useless and to add what is specifically your own’, in other words to learn, experience and evolve. Knowledge in the martial arts ultimately means self-knowledge. This something that Si Gung Bruce Lee stressed at a time when the paradigm for martial arts was based on styles and systems, when individuals were discouraged from exploring other styles and approaches (even if they remained loyal to a style).

Jun Fan or Lee Jun Fan is the Chinese name of Bruce Lee. Lee Jun Fan Gung Fu represents the training methods originally developed by Si Gung Lee in the 1960’s during his exploration of the principles and theories of JKD. It is a core foundation that can help an individual to discover the concepts of JKD.

With Wing Chun at the core of his system, Si Gung Bruce Lee incorporated a modification of various techniques from Northern Praying Mantis, Southern Praying Mantis, Choy Li Fut, Eagle Claw, Western Boxing, Wrestling, Fencing, Judo, Jiu Jitsu, and some of the more refined kicks of the Northern and Southern Chinese styles. Innovative and radically ahead of his time in his training and teaching methodology, Si Gung Bruce Lee developed a martial system and fighting strategy that has lost none of its effectiveness over time.

Emphasizing the ‘ranges of combat’ students are taught to flow from long distance ‘kicking’, to middle distance ‘punching’, to close quarter use of elbows/knees/trapping/grappling.

Our approach integrates additional drills gleaned from the other systems we offer – ‘using no way as way – using no limitation as limitation’.

The Lee Jun Fan Gung Fu - Jeet Kune Do sessions taught in our club are devoted to the innovative teaching and training methods developed by Si Gung Bruce Lee and preserved and taught by his protégé, student and training partner Sifu Dan Inosanto.

The Filipino Martial Arts

The Filipino Martial Arts have something to benefit everyone. Developed for ‘mass attack’ as well as single opponent confrontations, the training heightens student’s awareness of their surroundings and teaches them to use their environment as tools of combat. Use of left and right body techniques develop coordination. Drills taught in a fluid, non-restrictive manner allow students to enhance natural attributes and improve their sense of timing, speed, awareness, balance, agility, and confidence.

This highly sophisticated and comprehensive martial art is weapon based, but ultimately an empty hand system. Close range fighting incorporates the use of elbows, knees, head butts, punches, and kicks. Grappling techniques including locks, chokes, throws, sweeps, and takedowns.

Our club teaches the Filipino Martial Arts as taught by Tuhan Dan Inosanto.

Maphilindo Silat & Madjapahit Martial Arts

Maphilindo Silat and Madjapahit Martial Arts are hybrid combat systems popularized by Guro Dan Inosanto. They synthesize various Southeast Asian fighting disciplines—focusing on empty-hand striking, weapon disarmament, and fluid grappling—into highly practical self-defense systems. 

Maphilindo Silat is a system named after a proposed federation between Malaysia, the Philippines, and Indonesia. It was created to organize and preserve the diverse Silat systems Guro Inosanto learned from various Southeast Asian masters. 

There is heavy emphasis on "crashing" the opponent's guard, off-balancing, trapping, and executing throws or sweeps while maintaining an upright or kneeling base. 

Madjapahit Martial Arts takes its name from the vast 14th-century Madjapahit Empire, which spanned modern-day Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and parts of the Philippines. Encompassing multiple indigenous fighting styles of the region,  it incorporates elements of Indonesian Silat, Filipino Kali, Muay Thai, Kuntao, and Krabi Krabong.

Our club teaches the Maphilindo Silat  and Madjapahit Martial Arts as taught by Tuhan Dan Inosanto.

Wing Chun Kung Fu

Wing Chun is a Chinese system of kung fu that specializes in developing dynamic, explosive and street-oriented practical self-defense. It relies on developing leverage and sensitivity rather than muscular strength to overcome an opponent. Training develops reflex speed, coordination and power to enable someone to quickly and effortlessly dispatch a larger and stronger attacker without relying on size or strength.

Through the use of solo forms, training equipment (such as the wooden dummy, pole, butterfly swords and focus mitts), as well as two person drills, students develop attributes of body coordination, sensitivity and leverage to apply the principles of Wing Chun in all situations including trapping, grappling and puching/kicking.

Our club teaches Wing Chun as taught by Sifu Francis Fong.

Mixed Striking

Our striking curriculum includes drills and progressions gleaned from years of study in Kickboxing, Muay Thai, JKD, Wing Chun, Panantukan Filipino Dirty Boxing, and Western Boxing. 

This is a deep dive into efficient mechanics and power development, footwork, striking exchanges, countering, through the use of equipment (focus mitts, thai pads, shin guards, gloves, empty hand), shadow boxing, two person drills – all to enhance your abilities to kick, punch, elbow, knee (while learning how to combine all 4).

Our club teaches a curriculum that mixes common elements from the learnings (but not limited to) of Guro Dan Inosanto, Sifu Francis Fong, Master Chai Sirisute, and Mr Mike Lee.

NOVA ‘an explosion of here & now’

NOVA is a system focused on a dynamic form of standup ‘sticking/grappling’. It is based on techniques, principles and elements that support and enhance true fighting abilities. Through the lens of an ‘abstract arena’ specific shot patterns and progressive stages of development are introduced (relationship, movement, combination, countering and interception). Students learn to breathe emotionally and respond in the moment in dealing with and around conflict. To facilitate this we use specific conditioning movements, pole work, functional footwork patterns, and partner energy drilling along with rotation/pummeling with both 2 on 1 and 2 on 2 scenarios.

With wing chun, boxing and judo at the core of his system, Mike Lee (of Seattle - not to be confused with others of similar name) developed NOVA during the ‘70’s and early ‘80’s in Seattle WA as an outcome of his early training with Bruce Lee, but more importantly his own research and development. Inspired by what he felt and witnessed studying with Bruce Lee, NOVA was created. Mike trained directly with Bruce Lee over a 5 -year period during the Seattle era, as well as with his brother Jesse Glover (Bruce Lee’s first student and assistant instructor). Mike never referred to NOVA as JKD but clearly he used and followed the concepts and principles of JKD in its manifestation.

Bill was a student and a selected private student of Mike (having logged over 1000 hours with Mike) and one of only a few that were given permission and direction to teach NOVA. Over the years Bill has expanded the system in his own limited way, particularly in the 2 on 2 ‘sticking’ and how it relates closely to grappling and wing chun in its principles, elements and concepts.