Has anybody heard of this guy?

[DJColdfusion]

Originally Posted by Aikia

Mike Brewer ( you were an exellent teacher at Karate College and we would look forward to having you back) this is the first time I have heard the gossip about secret tapings...not true! I did hear that Dan/Paula was displeased about a photo caption that read "The Pope of JKD" beside Dan's photo. At the time quite a few of his people mentioned this nickname to me. I thought he approved of it. Also I heard that the Silat people were unhappy about a caption that indicated that silat was now a part of JKD. No one called me. They just talked about me behind my back. Kind of like this thread.

"The Pope of JKD" and you had the nerve to talk smack about Mike not being sensitive to others' beliefs in your letter to the editor of Black Belt after Mike's "10 commandments of combat" article. Is this perhaps a little self-serving duplicity?

And this thread was never "behind" your back. It was generated in reponse to the original posters question and statements in the following post. Its a good idea to read these things before you try acting like you're being picked on.

Originally Posted by Yuri

I'm gonna be taking Karate (basically Jeet Kune Do) from a guy named Jerry Beasley at my school. Here's a link to his resume:

http://aikia.net/aikia/beasley/jerrybeasley.html

and here's his interview:

http://aikia.net/aikia/beasley/jbinterview.html

Anyway the guy sounds pretty good. My buddy is taking the class right now and I don't think he likes it as much as he did his previous instruction -- he mentioned that he didn't do enough stretching. Still, I think it'd be a good guy to learn from. Has anybody heard anything else from this guy?

Note that the above links are from his own organization, and so they might be biased a bit, but you know, you can't make up some stuff -- the guy did train under Joe Lewis and Inosanto.

What do you guys think?

[DJColdfusion]

akja,

What does that monsterous list of a post have to do with the subject at hand?

[Aikia]

DJC,
It sort of makes sense now. If you are saying that Mike was miffed at me for writing a letter to the editor of Black Belt magazine. The editor made an example of my letter as the "Right Way" to respond. And by writing I drew attention to Mike Brewer in a positive way. The "Pope" caption was pulled from the second edition of the book. And you are right , it was odd that I would object to using the "Ten Commandments" title and then approve of using the title of a religious leader. Now that it is all out in the open I will be the first to say "sorry".
You would have to know Mike well to know that story so tell Mike I really enjoyed his Self Defense Solutions video series. I have recommended and loaned them to many students over the years.
JB

[DJColdfusion]

The only thing I am saying is that the tread was started by someone who thought they would be taking a JKD class from you (Karate that they referred to as "Basically JKD). The rest of the posts grew out of that question. Nothing, absolutely nothing, was done "behind" your back, which would imply that some member of the forum was attempting to keep you from knowing about their posts . . . which nobody has done. It has been here in the open for everyone to see.

I reread Mike's article recently and then saw your response. I PM'd Mike about it here on the forum. He did not express any outrage over it.

I don't have to know Mike extremely well to know that story, I just have to be a longtime reader of Black Belt magazine.

Please don't infer that I am attempting to speak for Mike. Or that I know whether or not he was "miffed," He has never made any indication that he was upset with you in any of my communications with him. You'd have to ask him about that yourself.

And I remember the editor holding your letter out as an example of a "good" response and I personally have to disagree with him. An individual can make a well constructed and even logical argument; however, a logical argument is not necessarily a truthful argument.

[jukado1]

DJColdFusion:
That monstrous list posted by AKJA is the list of 26 principles taught by Joe Lewis, and if you know what jkd is you should recognize them, This was Joe's method of organizing Bruce Lee's fighting principles, Joe first taught these at a 2 day seminar at a Tracy's karate school in north Hollywood, Cal. In 1973 or 74 or in that area. It's these principles that made what Bruce Lee so unique, These are the principles that show you how to be faster, and more effective. Some of those attending this, were Al Dacascos, Howard Jackson, Jerry Smith, Cliff Stewart, a couple more individuals whom I'm sorry but I can't remember and me, I was next to Joe the most important one there, I had the door key.

P.S. The main headings are Joe's, the sub sections are those of who ever posted this list.

[Aikia]

Bob,
You can also find the list in a 1973 issue of Professional Karate magazine. These are the principles I termed "JKD Strategies" and wrote about over and over again. It is a historical fact that Bruce taught different students different information depending on their interests and attributes. For this reason Bruce Lee's students have a difference of opinion as to what constitutes JKD. I have found and maybe you have too, that some of the students of Bruce Lee's students get pretty upset if you don't agree that their particular way is the right way. Remember I am not a JKD instructor but just an observer. What ever way works best for you is the way you should follow.
JB

[jukado1]

Hello Mr. Beasley, Professional Karate Magazine, Probably the best karate mag ever published, somewhere I have the entire set in storage, And I was looking at my copy of Joe's handout for the seminar as I was typing, All this brings back some great memories, Sort of like at the seminar, when Joe asked me to throw a fast round/hook kick for a demonstration, He had me throw the kick, looked at me and said throw it again, this time fast. This time, After throwing the fastest kick I'd ever thrown, Joe looked at me and said, " That was a good example of broken rhythm, Now throw it fast." ---------- O Well, it was funny to everyone but me at the time.

[Aikia]

Mike,
As I said in an e-mail you have skill and talent and it was great to have you teach at Karate College. You hit on this ninja thing again. At no time did I take lessons or attempt to teach anything about ninjutsu. I had the crystal ball ie., knowledge of the history of MA in the US and deduced that what they needed was an outlet for sport. They did not take my advice and lost out on the oppurtunity. I was right.
This guy Michael Krivka was apparently a ninja before he became Bruce Lee and he must have read everything I published about the subjects. He is the guy that decided to post Paula's ( like I said I knew her when she was skinny and waiting tables so I wouldn't put anything past her) letter and pull me back into this mess. I hope someone will contact him and tell him to stop. I have. But he thinks I am a big fish and he can get attention if he insults me ( kind of the Michael Moore mentality).
Regarding the "secret" tapings or interviewing without permission, it never happened. I don't think there was a riff between Dan and me. Paula was the control freak who got in the way. I have heard that more than a few times. Of course we are talking about the early-mid 1980's perhaps before many even started JKD instruction. Things change. People change.
Students at Radford University come from all over the country. Perhaps a student had prior information and sought approval from this forum. I teach and practice American karate , Taekwondo and kickboxing. It's not the karate your parents learned but represents the modern Karate College influence "The best from all styles". And we have the very best teach at Karate College. You don't get through the Joe Lewis system by pretending to fight. It's contact and it's hard. I was the first person to make 8th dan in that system back in 1995. I have taught the principles to quita a few JKD guys. "Karate" is just a name like "gung fu". Traditionalists would call it kickboxing . If you think karate doesn't work think again.
I have stayed with the name karate because I think character building is an important element in the martial arts package. The Asian focus and classical thought provides a good fit in the University setting. I have been successfully teaching here for 30 years. That was the basis for my induction into the Black Belt Magazine Hall of Fame.
JB

[Aikia]

I forgot to mention that Sport Ninjutsu was practiced in Japan. In fact they featured a 1985 TV program inviting ninja contestents to compete in the obstacle course, walking on tires on water, etc. There was a group in Okinawa that I reported on that used "Ninja" competitions as sport on the military base. Shuriken throwing was popular. I also santioned the first American sport ninjutsu event at the 1984 Elvis Presley Invitational in Memphis. If you are a grandmaster then of course you don't want any competition. I saw Stephen Hayes at an event in DC a few years ago ( I was teaching with Daniel Lee at a college conference) and he told me at dinner that the sport idea may still work. Who knows?
Bad blood between the Inosantos? Of course not. I have had no contact with Dan since 1988. As you have informed me some of his students have spread rumors that are not true. Until now I had no idea what the problem was. Paul Vunak once said in an interview when asked why some had badmouthed him "they only tackel the guy carring the ball". I passed the ball a long time ago. No need for continued attacks from the JKD contingent.

Hope to see some of you at the Black Belt Magazine Festival of the Arts in LA,CA the last weekend in July '05. And don't forget Karate College 2005 June 23-26 in Radford Va.www.aikia.net.
JB

[Aikia]

Mike, thanks for the PM's. Last thing I wanted to mention. No need for a response. I have just visited the web site of Michael Krivka. He claims to be a Tanemura "ninja" and a Bruce Lee devotee..certified by Dan Inosanto. He also claims to be master of "Kane Fu" and "Tai Chi Feely"! There are pictures of him with his whip. And other pictures of him holding a gun to the camera as if he has taken the viewer hostage. I have attempted to engage Michael Krivka in public debate on this and other forums but he refuses. Seems to be a loose cannon.
Members please let me know if you hear from him.
JB

[Jeremy Lobdell]

The one thing I find abundently clear by reading this forum is that if I ever find myself in your neck of the woods ( To both Mr. Brewer and Dr. Beasley), I will seek you out for high quality instruction. The ability at which you have debated your differing points while maintaining a high quality of character is what all of us should constantly strive for. I applaud both of you for your professionalism. Bravo gentlemen, and I look forward to meeting and learning from you in the future. This lesson has been well recieved!
Mahalo, Jeremy

[redtail]

I know this thread is old, but just wanted to say that the Warriors Way Arkansas site is up under a slightly different name.

www.warriorswayar.com is now www.warriorswayar.net

"Arkansas doing a seminar (check out www.warriorswayar.com for the pics), and I just now got home to read all of this. "

[Aikia]

Mike,
Haven't been on the forum for a while and noticed this old thread from 2004 still up. The other evening I was flipping through some cable channels an came across a sport called "Ninja Warrior". Seems a popular activity in Japan is an obstical course where "ninja warriors" compete for the best time. Funny. In the 1980's as you pointed out, I created an obstical course and shuriken contest and billed it as "Sport Ninjutsu". The first event was held at the Elvis Presley Mermorial tournament in Memphis about 1986. Same format except the people in Japan have invested money in a very eloborate obstical course with water traps etc. 2006 would be the 20th anniversary of the concept of Sport Ninjustsu. It may catch on in the US again.
While I am on the subject of this thread I'll mention that I caught a lot of flack about creating the OJKD versus JKDC controversy back in the late 1980's. This thread was no doubt started to discredit my written work on JKD.Now it seems that everyone accepts the fact that Dan Inosanto created the JKD concepts method. Vindication? Maybe. What do you think?
JB

[Aikia]

Mike,
The Karate College celebrates it's 20 anniversarry this June 2007. Hard to beleive. Everything is good, thanks.
I have been pretty inactive in JKD for years except for an occassional article for Black Belt magazine. I have a student that is very active on forums so I read the Bax forum often. Recently Tim Tacket and Del Pollard wrote that Dan Inosanto created the "concepts" approach in the mid 1970's. Apparently Del, Kris Kent, Cass Magna and others were with him when he came up with the word as a way to teach principles from other arts that he felt were similar to the principles he learned in jeet kune do.
It seems like they were saying that as long as you achieve your goal or destination then it matters not what road you take to get there. If kali teaches sensitivity and jeet kune do teaches sensitivity it doesn't matter which art you practice to learn sensitivity. If you want to learn a good kick then Thai boxing may be a good method. If you adopt this concept then it seems natural that any art may be used to get results. And at some point it becomes standard to investigate many arts to experience principles that are similar to the principles found in jeet kune do.
The "concepts" and the "concepts method" are not jeet kune do. Rather, the concepts method was designed by Dan Inosanto as a way to identify principles that are, in his experience, similar to those found in jeet kune do.
The Dan Inosanto concepts method may well be an improvement over Bruce Lee's jeet kune do. That's has never been my question. I could tell that the concepts I studied under Dan were not the same as the jeet kune do I learned from Joe Lewis/Ted Wong. Two different animals. For one thing the core principle in "concepts" appeared to be "if the technique does not work then change the technique". If that is your approach then it helps to have a lot of arts to choose from.
In the jeet kune do I was taught (Lewis)that if the technique does not work change the delivery. I was told ( by concepts instructors)that jeet kune do was not a style. But it was (is) a style. Joe Lewis has told me that Bruce Lee was very meticulus in his teaching. Bruce required that the hand was placed just so, the elbow was exactly here etc. Jeet kune do, under Bruce Lee was a style (1967-1969), until he closed his schools in Jan 1970 and disbanned the teaching of jeet kune do.
The OJKD versus the JKDC controversy was nothing more than a state of confusion. There is no JKDC. What we call JKDC actually refers to the concepts that Dan developed so he could teach principles he had learned in jeet kune do through other arts. JKDC has been mislabeled as "jeet kune do" when in fact jeet kune do ( also being called Jun Fan/Janfan arts/Jun fam gung Fu etc) is simply one of the arts/styles that are used in the Dan Inosanto concepts method.
Wow! Pretty hard to swallow but it is apparently true. People who have read my articles know I went to extremes trying to tie Bruce Lee into the concepts method. I was wrong. No wonder when I wrote about OJKD members of the Inosanto organization would say " you mean Jun Fan gung Fu don't you"? Because Jun Fan is of course the term they use to designate jeet kune do. There is no OJKD. There is only jeet kune do. There is no JKDC there is only the Dan Inosanto concepts that have been mislabeled all these years...by writers like me.
In saying this understand that I am making no value judgements. In no way can it be said I consider the Dan Inosanto concepts equal to, or less than or greater than Bruce Lee's jeet kune do. Jeet kune do is jeet kune do and nothing more. JKD is not a concept it's an art. It's time we identified Dan Inosanto as the genius who gave us the DI Concepts method. The DICM (Dan Inosanto Concepts Method) is the forunner of MMA much more so than jeet kune do. It's a shame that some will say that that's an insult to Dan to say JKDC is not jeet kune do. I think you will agree. Dan Inosanto is a master of masters. He doesn't need to lean on Bruce Lee anymore. Dan can look around at the Inosanto academies worldwide and say "This is what I have built".
Only the very insecure are going to cling to the idea that Bruce Lee developed the concepts method and Dan was designated to spread the concepts of jeet kune do. Even in the late 1970's Dan designated others (Tim Tacket/Larry hartsell etc) as teachers of jeet kune do while Dan taught the arts that sharred principles that were similar "in concept" to jeet kune do.

Jeet kune do is only jeet kune do. It's taken me a long time to firgue out what I seemingly always knew. It's like living in the fantasy of "Circle of Iron". When you find the book you discover you know nothing more than what you already know.
JB

[Aikia]

Good idea.