Hi guys,
so far so good!
First, my reply to him about the foot work was that, no matter what martial art you do, you MUST have mobility!
You cannot just stand in one place and expect to defend yourself. That's just for movie stars turned Rinpoche's!
I told him that actually, the Jun Fan footwork along with the kali foot work was some of the most direct simple and easy to do mobility you can do! Sifu Burton was moving at a certain speed, some move faster some move slower, but you MUST move, heck even in the classical Japanese systems I study, the stress Tai Sabaki or MOVING! You MUST move!
Regarding Kick boxing training, I agree Sifu, it's like batting practice, it doesn't mean as a JKD man or woman we MUST kickbox in a fight although we are free to do so, but, if you have not trained your eye to see, you will be on the ground in la la land!
And, it is not like just training kickboxing is enough either, for example in you don't train against the shoot, you'll bite it! Point is, you must be used to all kinds of possible attacks (of course practice mostly against the most common ones...)
And resistance! This is a HUGE factor in training! You simply MUST be able to flow against resistance, and you can only do that by training against a resisting partner.
Last point for now, too many people "talk martial arts" or show their techniques in casual situations to non fighters and use that as proof of the simple no effort art.
What I mean is, I have seen so many times, people sitting around talking relaxed, and some one says, heck, if someone grabs me, he Joe, grab me... So Joe gets up ok... Grabs slowly and then the other guy pokes him in the neck, Joe grabs his neck, HEY!!
Other guy says see! Easy, real martial arts take no effort! Of course, if "Joe" seen this guy running a key over his new Mustang, and went to grab him, do you really think a poke in the neck will stop Joe from slamming the guy on the ground? Me neither!
SO yeah, resistance, movement, and line familiarization. But also balance, so we don't become sparring minded, drills also from surprise attacks, and scenario training.
Oh yeah and don't forget to have fun!
Best!
-Rick