I
IFAJKD
Guest
I thought it may be of intrest to many who post here. I asked Paul about copying to this forum as I believe that many who read and post here are very evolved martial artists. So with his permmission I am forwarding this message. First Paul is my friend and Instructor. I am deeply committed to Paul and PFS. Within PFS there has been many egos fighting for recognition. Not unlike many of the OJKD vs JKDC people. Many of these same people miss what JKD is all about. Whos is better and who could do what is not important. I hope you find this useful. They are powerful words from a GREAT martial artist. Because of Length I will do this in 3 parts.
Thanks
Jim Miller
IFA & PFS of Minnesota
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Welcome to what Paul calls his “State of the Union” interview…
PFS: Some have said that this interview is long overdue. Many of us are wondering why we havenÂ’t seen you on the forums very much.
To be perfectly honest with you, I just donÂ’t have time!
PFS: Paul, please tell us your opinion on the title of this interview – what is the “state of the union” as far as martial arts right now?
Well, I’ll put it to you like this…twenty years ago, there were but a few JKD people – let’s say one or two percent – who were competing for 98 percent of the pie. Now there are gobs of JKD people – the 98 percent, competing for just two percent of the pie.
PFS: If this is the case, how does this affect the way people advertise themselves?
You see, back in my day, it was relatively easy; if one was very passionate about what they did, they could be a pioneer. For example, I feel very fortunate to have introduced Savate to the United States; actually, I should say that it was my partner Daniel Duby that introduced Savate to the U.S. - I was his walking heavy bag! Back in the late seventies, early eighties, Dan (the true pioneer) would travel all over the states trying to educate people. The first process of this edification was the introduction of weapons to the United States. It is my honor to have been on the receiving end; watching peopleÂ’s faces light up when we would show sumbrada, numerada, knife fighting, sparring, etc. was very exciting. As Dan would travel from school to school, the next thing he would introduce was Western boxing hands to the curriculum of Karate America. It was a wonderful feeling back then, to be showing people how boxing is so incredibly effective. Watching karate people from all walks of life turning their art functional for perhaps the very first time. We made a lot of friends, and I am very honored to have been a part of that.
Now we come to the eighties, and the next step in DanÂ’s quest was to introduce Thai boxing to all. We received a lot of grief from students who were extremely reticent about kicking below the waist. Again, a very humbling and rewarding experience to watch people become more and more functional as they added these absolutely necessary elements into their personal matrix.
The next major revelation that most of America had, as a result of DanÂ’s teachings, was how lethal trapping/clinch range could be. It was absolute comedy to watch peopleÂ’s jaws drop to the ground as Dan would go through a litany of eye jabs, arm wrenches, elbows, knees, head butts, etc. The only unfortunate part of that was that I was on the receiving end! Introducing Kino Mutai to the world has been interesting, to say the least. I think out of everything, Kino Mutai was the most difficult to establish. ItÂ’s simply too brutal for most people to stomach.
I also feel very privileged to have been able to help introduce Jiu-jitsu to the United States. Although I received a lot of flak at first from many schools that laughed at the idea of lying on the ground and putting a man between your legs, when I look now and see everyone doing it, I have to admit I feel all warm and fuzzy!
This is why I say that pioneering back then was doable; I have to tell you I feel sorry for the kids nowadays who want to make a name for themselves and be different in some way. I’m not trying to say that everything there is to do has been done – but it is getting extremely difficult to be different and stand out. And some people just try so hard!
PFS: Could you give us an example of what youÂ’re talking about?
Well, the simple fact is that before Bruce died, some of his last words were “Jeet Kune Do is only a name; please don’t fuss over it.” Since then, I count roughly 15 factions of JKD; and in the last 24 years that I’ve been with Dan, I know of over 30 people that claim to have created a “new and improved” Jeet Kune Do. This, “My JKD is better than your JKD” shows a total lack of understanding of Bruce’s paradigm. Even within my own organization, I had a student that was a full instructor; in a self-advertising post he was trying to get people to view his new drills, using the phraseology “non-PFS material.” Again, reminding everyone that the purpose of my creating Progressive Fighting Systems was to have thousands of different minds, inventing new and different things. This begs the question: How can one be in PFS, be a full instructor under me, make up a new drill, and call it “non-PFS?” This again just shows how desperate people are to try to be different.
PFS: WeÂ’re going to name some names, and would like your frank opinion of these people.
Jerry Peterson, Jerry Beasley, Matt Thornton, Ron Prather, Lamar Davis, Erik Paulson, Chris Clugston, Burton Richardson.
First of all, I cannot answer that question because I object to the way it’s stated. I do not believe it is appropriate or respectful to clump Burt Richardson, Matt Thornton, and Erik Paulson in with the rest of those guys. Burt and I go back a long way, I believe him to be my friend, he’s always shown nothing but respect and admiration for Dan, and is a very good martial artist with lots to offer. I feel the same way about Matt Thornton. Matt is what I would call a distant cousin of ours – much like the Machados and the Gracies are cousins. Matt learned his JKD from Tom Cruse, who you all know is a student of mine. I respect Matt very much – he’s an excellent fighter, an excellent teacher, and I always recommend his tapes to everyone. And Erik Paulson – Hell, what can I say about Erik? He’s probably one of the coolest guys I’ve ever met in my life.
PFS: Does this mean that you agree with everything that Matt, Erik, and Burt have to say?
Of course not! I donÂ’t believe everyone in any field can agree on everything. As IÂ’ve said before, two doctors donÂ’t always agree on the way each patient should be treated; two lawyers donÂ’t always agree on how every detail of a case should be argued; etc. This does not affect respect or friendship.
PFS: What do you think about the infamous question that has been flying around for the last few years: Does trapping work?
First of all, the main problem with such an ambiguous, open-ended question as this is simply a question of semantics, and peoples’ respective different levels in the martial arts. I’m going to do a drill with you guys: Shut your eyes, say the word “trapping” three times in a row, and then say the first technique that comes to mind. Please do not read on, because I do not want to give the answer yet. Now, here’s the answer: If your technique was “pak-sao,” you have a very limited, antiquated understanding of trapping. Trapping is, first and foremost, a range, not a technique.
Thanks
Jim Miller
IFA & PFS of Minnesota
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Welcome to what Paul calls his “State of the Union” interview…
PFS: Some have said that this interview is long overdue. Many of us are wondering why we havenÂ’t seen you on the forums very much.
To be perfectly honest with you, I just donÂ’t have time!
PFS: Paul, please tell us your opinion on the title of this interview – what is the “state of the union” as far as martial arts right now?
Well, I’ll put it to you like this…twenty years ago, there were but a few JKD people – let’s say one or two percent – who were competing for 98 percent of the pie. Now there are gobs of JKD people – the 98 percent, competing for just two percent of the pie.
PFS: If this is the case, how does this affect the way people advertise themselves?
You see, back in my day, it was relatively easy; if one was very passionate about what they did, they could be a pioneer. For example, I feel very fortunate to have introduced Savate to the United States; actually, I should say that it was my partner Daniel Duby that introduced Savate to the U.S. - I was his walking heavy bag! Back in the late seventies, early eighties, Dan (the true pioneer) would travel all over the states trying to educate people. The first process of this edification was the introduction of weapons to the United States. It is my honor to have been on the receiving end; watching peopleÂ’s faces light up when we would show sumbrada, numerada, knife fighting, sparring, etc. was very exciting. As Dan would travel from school to school, the next thing he would introduce was Western boxing hands to the curriculum of Karate America. It was a wonderful feeling back then, to be showing people how boxing is so incredibly effective. Watching karate people from all walks of life turning their art functional for perhaps the very first time. We made a lot of friends, and I am very honored to have been a part of that.
Now we come to the eighties, and the next step in DanÂ’s quest was to introduce Thai boxing to all. We received a lot of grief from students who were extremely reticent about kicking below the waist. Again, a very humbling and rewarding experience to watch people become more and more functional as they added these absolutely necessary elements into their personal matrix.
The next major revelation that most of America had, as a result of DanÂ’s teachings, was how lethal trapping/clinch range could be. It was absolute comedy to watch peopleÂ’s jaws drop to the ground as Dan would go through a litany of eye jabs, arm wrenches, elbows, knees, head butts, etc. The only unfortunate part of that was that I was on the receiving end! Introducing Kino Mutai to the world has been interesting, to say the least. I think out of everything, Kino Mutai was the most difficult to establish. ItÂ’s simply too brutal for most people to stomach.
I also feel very privileged to have been able to help introduce Jiu-jitsu to the United States. Although I received a lot of flak at first from many schools that laughed at the idea of lying on the ground and putting a man between your legs, when I look now and see everyone doing it, I have to admit I feel all warm and fuzzy!
This is why I say that pioneering back then was doable; I have to tell you I feel sorry for the kids nowadays who want to make a name for themselves and be different in some way. I’m not trying to say that everything there is to do has been done – but it is getting extremely difficult to be different and stand out. And some people just try so hard!
PFS: Could you give us an example of what youÂ’re talking about?
Well, the simple fact is that before Bruce died, some of his last words were “Jeet Kune Do is only a name; please don’t fuss over it.” Since then, I count roughly 15 factions of JKD; and in the last 24 years that I’ve been with Dan, I know of over 30 people that claim to have created a “new and improved” Jeet Kune Do. This, “My JKD is better than your JKD” shows a total lack of understanding of Bruce’s paradigm. Even within my own organization, I had a student that was a full instructor; in a self-advertising post he was trying to get people to view his new drills, using the phraseology “non-PFS material.” Again, reminding everyone that the purpose of my creating Progressive Fighting Systems was to have thousands of different minds, inventing new and different things. This begs the question: How can one be in PFS, be a full instructor under me, make up a new drill, and call it “non-PFS?” This again just shows how desperate people are to try to be different.
PFS: WeÂ’re going to name some names, and would like your frank opinion of these people.
Jerry Peterson, Jerry Beasley, Matt Thornton, Ron Prather, Lamar Davis, Erik Paulson, Chris Clugston, Burton Richardson.
First of all, I cannot answer that question because I object to the way it’s stated. I do not believe it is appropriate or respectful to clump Burt Richardson, Matt Thornton, and Erik Paulson in with the rest of those guys. Burt and I go back a long way, I believe him to be my friend, he’s always shown nothing but respect and admiration for Dan, and is a very good martial artist with lots to offer. I feel the same way about Matt Thornton. Matt is what I would call a distant cousin of ours – much like the Machados and the Gracies are cousins. Matt learned his JKD from Tom Cruse, who you all know is a student of mine. I respect Matt very much – he’s an excellent fighter, an excellent teacher, and I always recommend his tapes to everyone. And Erik Paulson – Hell, what can I say about Erik? He’s probably one of the coolest guys I’ve ever met in my life.
PFS: Does this mean that you agree with everything that Matt, Erik, and Burt have to say?
Of course not! I donÂ’t believe everyone in any field can agree on everything. As IÂ’ve said before, two doctors donÂ’t always agree on the way each patient should be treated; two lawyers donÂ’t always agree on how every detail of a case should be argued; etc. This does not affect respect or friendship.
PFS: What do you think about the infamous question that has been flying around for the last few years: Does trapping work?
First of all, the main problem with such an ambiguous, open-ended question as this is simply a question of semantics, and peoples’ respective different levels in the martial arts. I’m going to do a drill with you guys: Shut your eyes, say the word “trapping” three times in a row, and then say the first technique that comes to mind. Please do not read on, because I do not want to give the answer yet. Now, here’s the answer: If your technique was “pak-sao,” you have a very limited, antiquated understanding of trapping. Trapping is, first and foremost, a range, not a technique.
