#1 You Won’t Get hurt
Whether getting private or class instruction I/we value your safety and work with you slowly when you are new.In our Jeet Kune Do classes you will feel welcome and comfortable as a new member of our crew.
#2 Great People
If attending the Jeet Kune Do classes, all of our students are on a first-name basis, you will get to work with everyone in the class including the instructor.We all coach each other, that means everyone is always helping everyone get better.We are a fun group with plenty of good laughs between drills.And most important, no one is ever made to feel stupid, slow or embarrassed.
#3 Reality
Our zero-B.S. approach to self-defense / martial arts / combatives eliminates the mystique of traditional and sport martial arts.We study real attacks and model our system to win in real situations.
#4 Well-Rounded Fighter
Giving a name to a style automatically puts limits upon it. A boxer doesn’t kick, a kickboxer doesn’t grapple, a grappler doesn’t punch, a weapons school doesn’t grapple or strike, gunfighters go for their gun immediately which could wind you up in prison, etc.Each martial art style aims to be a specialist in their area, whether it be sport, traditional, ground fighting, stand-up, or weapons.We aim to make you a generalist in every area (stand-up, ground, weapons, multiple attackers, etc.) and a specialist in real violence.When you are a specialist in violence and a generalist in all other areas you can then chose to be a specialist in any other area that you choose, this is Jeet Kune Do.
#5 Experience
Our chief instructor Brian Copeland trains a broad spectrum of students from a variety of walks of life to deal with some interestingly unique aspects of violence. Such as:
- Law Enforcement Officers and Corrections Officers to deal with suspects and prisoners.
- Airline Pilots and Flight Attendants to defend their flight decks and jets.
- Blind people to defend themselves with their own unique limitations.
- Men and women of all ages to feel safe in their own cities.
- International Operatives to do… well I am actually not allowed to know what they do.
- International travellers to avoid pickpocketing, kidnapping and escape if God-forbid they are taken!
- Martial artists who want to be well-rounded warriors prepared for anything.
#6 Neurophysiology & Neuropsychology
As esoteric as that may sound, a good understanding of how you will deal with the emotional and physiological rush of adrenaline, endorphins and other stress responses is critical to your success in a real situation.Training your brain to instantly kick into fight or flee mode rather than freezing up will ensure your victory.Using behaviors to influence attackers to open themselves up, drop their guard or intimidate them into backing down are just as valuable, if not MORE valuable than any strike you could do.
#7 Tactics Before Techniques
In military operations as in a real fight or attack, tactics always trump techniques.Tactics put you in the most advantageous position and put your attacker in the least advantageous position.This allows a less skilled, smaller or outnumbered fighter to win!
#8 Scenario-Based Training
An alarming statistic is that untrained individuals will defeat trained martial artists 70% of the time.This is likely due to the development of skills without context or tactics, many martial artists “unlearn” how to fight… we put context to our training.At first you may learn a target to strike, a technique, a tactic. But then we will put you in a situation and teach you to use those skills from those unique positions.On your back, against multiple attackers, during a verbal assault, being shoved, sucker punched, tackled, car jacked, etc.You will be ready for anything!
#9 Legacy
You will be part of the heritage of Bruce Lee.Bruce trained Dan Inosanto, Dan trained Paul Vunak, Paul trained me.Oh and Paul trained the elite Navy SEAL Team Six too!We may not be traditional but we are rich with heritage if that matters to you.
#10 Self-Mastery
As reality-based as we are, we haven’t forgotten the deeper roots of martial arts… self-mastery and spiritual growth.While we won’t be meditating or chanting mantras anytime soon, there is an interesting enigma that happens as you practice violence.You will find that you become a more peaceful and relaxed person.When you know you are capable of hurting people you won’t walk around feeling scared or the need to defend your ego.Thus you become a more calm, controlled, relaxed and ultimately happy person… who just happens to have the ability to handle any scenario thrown their way. This will impact your life and the lives of those you interact with in ways you can’t imagine.
Until next time,
Brian
