Starting JKD from a Wing Chun background

[pseudoswitch]

Hi All,

I was wondering if anyone here had studied Wing Chun before moving on to study Jun Fan/JKD? I am curious as to how comfortable the transition is, especially regarding footwork. As i understand it, JF/JKD footwork is mainly based on boxing and fencing footwork, and although there are minor similarities with Wing Chun footwork, it seems like a dramatic change to me. Should a Wing Chun person learn some basic boxing before moving on to JF/JKD?

Please excuse me ignorance

Cheers,

pseudo

[swan104]

Originally posted by pseudoswitch
I was wondering if anyone here had studied Wing Chun before moving on to study Jun Fan/JKD? I am curious as to how comfortable the transition is, especially regarding footwork. As i understand it, JF/JKD footwork is mainly based on boxing and fencing footwork, and although there are minor similarities with Wing Chun footwork, it seems like a dramatic change to me. Should a Wing Chun person learn some basic boxing before moving on to JF/JKD?

pseudo

Welcome to the forum. My sifu originally started in Wing Chun and then moved onto JKD. The footwork is a lot different to the Wing Chun footwork, but you will probably find it to be a lot more mobile!

As for the minor similarities between Wing Chun and JKD footwork, I believe Dan Inosanto has said that movement is universal. You will find that there arent really that many ways to stand and fight, therefore there will be similarities in all (unless you have 5 legs or something).

I started in Hung Kune Gung fu, which had a variety of (classical) stances. When I started doing JKD, I adopted the JKD "bai-jong" and never looked back. I also started JKD knowing very little about it, and no boxing whatsoever, so you don't have to do any boxing prior to your JKD training.

As with all things in martial arts, have fun training and improving! There are bound to be things you've never done before (like the boxing, footwork), and things you will be good at (like the trapping stuff).

I see you are based in London? Who are you thinking of training with?

Good luck!

Steven

[pseudoswitch]

Hi Steven,

Thanks for the reply. I think you are right about similarities in footwork across styles. From what i've seen, JKD footwork, as with boxing, is more fluid than that found in Wing Chun, at least the Wing Chun i practice! I suppose different footwork approaches have their benefits and drawbacks.

Yes i am based in London, i was hoping to join Bob Breen's academy in Hoxton square, i've heard very good things about them. Where do you practice?

Peace,

pseudo

[Lost Ronin]

Originally posted by pseudoswitch
Hi All,

I was wondering if anyone here had studied Wing Chun before moving on to study Jun Fan/JKD? I am curious as to how comfortable the transition is, especially regarding footwork. As i understand it, JF/JKD footwork is mainly based on boxing and fencing footwork, and although there are minor similarities with Wing Chun footwork, it seems like a dramatic change to me. Should a Wing Chun person learn some basic boxing before moving on to JF/JKD?

Please excuse me ignorance

Cheers,

pseudo

Starting JKD from a Wing Chun background is not bad at all. It'll probably give you more insight into the principles of movement and economy of motion of JKD because many of them are based on Wing Chun principles ( it was Bruce Lee's mother art after all.)
Just as long as you keep an open mind and are willing to learn and change what you know you should be alright. I do recommend at least some research on Boxing though, JKD's hand work is mostly boxing and Wing Chun and I have to tell you, it's an excellent mix. Good luck on your training.

[pseudoswitch]

Originally posted by Lost Ronin


Starting JKD from a Wing Chun background is not bad at all. It'll probably give you more insight into the principles of movement and economy of motion of JKD because many of them are based on Wing Chun principles ( it was Bruce Lee's mother art after all.)
Just as long as you keep an open mind and are willing to learn and change what you know you should be alright. I do recommend at least some research on Boxing though, JKD's hand work is mostly boxing and Wing Chun and I have to tell you, it's an excellent mix. Good luck on your training.

Hi,

Thanks for your post. I will definatley keep an open mind when i begin my JKD training. After all, i wouldn't begin it's study if i wasn't willing to let go of certain things from my Wing Chun

I've already done some research into the basics of boxing; footwork patterns, stepping left and right, circling, the switch and pivoting, jab, cross, hooks and uppercuts on both levels. Also slipping and the bob and weave. Is this enough to get started you think? Obviously this is all just in theory so far.

Cheers,

pseudo

[swan104]

I've heard really goof things about Bob Breen and his academy in London. I've never trained, or met Bob Breen, but if I was to move to London anytime in the future (which I am considering at the moment), that would be the first place I would look at.

I'm training under sifu Dave Carnell in Stoke-on-Trent. The majority of what I train in is JKD, but I also do a bit of Kali and Silat. Kali is a whole lot of fun once you get into it!

It seems like you really have done your research into boxing! You'd be suprised how well the Wing Chun, boxing, and all the other arts fit in together.

Let me know how your first training session goes! I'm curious to see what training is like at Bob Breens academy.

Steven

[pseudoswitch]

Hi Guys,

Just thought you might enjoy reading this article i found concerning cross-training in boxing and wing chun, if you haven't read it already:

http://stickgrappler.tripod.com/jkd/pswckbox.html

It's an interesting read

Peace,

pseudo

[pcarney]

I don't see why you would need to go train some where else before you started JKD - obviously, you would learn the footwork, etc. in your JKD school.

[lordguaca]

Hi

I am currently learning JKD in London, but at Impact Martial Arts. It is run by Sifu Stephen Foy who is an Intructor under Sifu Dave Carnell (from Stoke-On Trent). He is the only certified Instructor under the Magda Institute (from L.A. USA) to teach JKD (as well as Silat and Kali). He is based in West London (near Barons Court/Fulham Broadway).

Check their website

jkdlondon.co.uk

I have also trained at Bob Breen's Academy, and whilst very good, personally I felt I wasnt being taught enough JKD. It was more along the lines of Thai Boxing.

Thanks

Lord Guaca

[pseudoswitch]

Originally posted by lordguaca


I have also trained at Bob Breen's Academy, and whilst very good, personally I felt I wasnt being taught enough JKD. It was more along the lines of Thai Boxing.

Thanks

Lord Guaca

Exactly how long did you train at the academy? and could you be more specific as to why you thought you were learning only Thai boxing when there are approx. 6 sessions covering JKD, Kali; stickfighting, knife defense, boxing, grappling; vale tudo, as well as kickboxing per day, 6 days a week. So i don't really understand how you felt that you were learning just 'thai boxing'.
Do you mean the JKD element felt like thai boxing?

This is strange because, both Bob Breen and Terry Barnett are full instructors under Guro Dan Inosanto, as is your sifu's sigung, Cass Magda. So it's strange that there might be stark differences in the JKD at the respective schools.

Regards,

pseudo

I trained with Dave Carnell in Wing Chun in the early to mid 80's. He had a partner at Impact MA then, some guy called Kevin? Looked a bit like a rat......... Anyway, they asked me to become an Instructor. I had about 6 months training under my belt.

I made my excuses and left..............

I do hope he has raised his standards. It was a long time ago. Maybe he has.

[swan104]

I'm sure that the standards have been raised! I, and many others have been training for a few years now, and haven't reached anywhere near instructorship level yet. Or maybe I'm just crap!

Instructorships are not something that is handed out like paper. I think that would kill any respect for JKD as an art, and I hope the JKD community is aware of that.

Based on what knowledge he has given me, I have upmost respect for my sifu. I've trained in a few places in my time, and I have enjoyed and learnt the most training at Impact Martial Arts Academy...

[swan104]

Oh, and I don't know who this Kevin is!

[swan104]

Originally posted by pseudoswitch


Exactly how long did you train at the academy? and could you be more specific as to why you thought you were learning only Thai boxing when there are approx. 6 sessions covering JKD, Kali; stickfighting, knife defense, boxing, grappling; vale tudo, as well as kickboxing per day, 6 days a week. So i don't really understand how you felt that you were learning just 'thai boxing'.
Do you mean the JKD element felt like thai boxing?

This is strange because, both Bob Breen and Terry Barnett are full instructors under Guro Dan Inosanto, as is your sifu's sigung, Cass Magda. So it's strange that there might be stark differences in the JKD at the respective schools.

Regards,

pseudo

Sorry to hog this thread with 3 posts one after the other! A lot has been said and its taken a while for things to sink in!

Hi Lord Guaca, from one Magda Inst student to another! I know in the JKD I train in, there is a certain amount of Kali and Silat in the syllabus. Maybe the blend of arts differ according to instructor?

Ask him about Kevin, he will remember.

As for JKD, he didn't represent it then. But I do remember being confused at some of the things we did and, looking back, I suspect he was only toying with the idea of branching out from Wing Chun then.

There is a book "The Path to Wing Chun" by Samuel Kwok. He was the senior to Dave and Kevin, and they are both in the pictures.

In the Wing Chun there were three coloured sashes before black. They were red, green and brown. But you had up to three white stripes on each, meaning that there were nine non black grades in all.

I was only on Red Sash, 2nd level when they asked be to set up a club and be instructor. I believe it was merely cash oriented, as I lived in Stafford, which wasn't within too easy reach of their Burslem club. I'd "instruct", and they would take the cash. But I have too much respect for the martial arts and potential students to do that. Apparently they didn't.

One of the many things that made me leave was being graded by "Master" Kwok himself. We had to punch the wall bag, and all did it exactly as Dave and Kevin had shown us. But Sam the man found a fault in all our techniques. It was the same fault in all of us, but WAS the way we had been shown by Dave and Kevin. But they bollocked us for being crap, and accepted no responsibility for it at all.

Like I said, it was all a long time ago. We all develop. I hope Dave Carnell has, for your sake.

No offence. You seem like a good guy. But it is all true. And there is more if you are interested.