Paul Vunak

[Domstarr]

I've trained with Paul Vunak and have found him to be a flake. He advertises that he videos all sessions of your private training. (That you pay good money for) but then doesn't even have a video camera when you get there. If his girlfriend calls, he cancels your 5 hour class after 2 hours to go see her. He promises to make up the time he owes you, but then never returns phone calls. When you finally get him on the phone, he CONFIRMS a date to train again, and after you have motel reservations to spend two days with him, he cancels at the very last minute and says he "forgot" you were coming.
Anyone else have similar problems?

[lssanjose]

quite an anecdote you just posted. A lot of people have spoken highly of vunak

[Domstarr]

Don't get me wrong, when you train with him he's great. I learned a lot. He made me an Associate Instructor because I have a few black belts already and trained his stuff from his videos for months with other black belts I know. However, I've spoken with guys who trained with him ten years ago who said he was always flakey.

[Jkd_SiLaT]

Hi Domstarr,

How long ago was this? because isn't Paul married? I heard you can video tape the course but you will need to bring your own camera. I am planning to take an IPTP sometime this year or early next year. I am going with the semi private for $475 I think. Which one did you sign up for? How much did you end up paying? Did you end up finishing your course (the full 10 hours)? Thanks

[Domstarr]

Dear JKD_Silat,

Paul got divorced, his wife left him. He moved to a dumpy little house at the beach, which is where he trains, in a 12' x 12' little room with mats on the floor, or out on the front lawn. You would have to bring your own camera, because he doesn't have one. I paid $1,000- for a private. He says it's one on one with him, but when you get there, he doesn't want to work himself, so he brings some of his new students and you train with them while he just sits and watches. You basically help him train them is what is also happening. We did two hours the first day when he cancelled and made everyone go home so he could go to his girlfriend's house. (When we drove all the way down from L.A. to spend the two days with him. Extremely annoying.) We trained for four hours the next day. He said that he would give me two free days to make it up to me. We had two days scheduled three weeks later. He wrote it on his calendar. That Thursday I called him to confirm before I made my motel reservations. He said "We're on, buddy" On Saturday I called him to say "See you tomorrow morning" which is when he told me that he "forgot" I was coming and made other plans, sorry. I tried to schedule the days he owed me for months, but he would confirm a weekend and then cancel at the last minute. Then he stopped returning phone calls. Maybe he's back on drugs, or just losing interest, who knows. It's been a year and no Paul Vunak. I did get my Associate Instructor rating from him because I had trained for months from his video tapes and have two black belts already so I picked it up real fast.

[Jkd_SiLaT]

Domstarr,

Thanks for replying. Wow, what you said is starting to make me think. I would be really piss if I was in your situation. You said you had to pay $1000 for the course. I noticed on his website that it would cost $2000 for a one on one IPTP. Did you bargain with him? You mentioned you received an Associate Instructor rating, is that the Phase One Instructor? Well, I hope you get your 2 other classes that Paul owes you. Have you tried contacting him? I know he teaches a group class on Saturdays in San Clemente. Anyways, do you think you learned enough of PFS to teach it? Thanks again.

[Domstarr]

Hey, JKD_Silat,

I did try to contact him, left at least eight phone messages. Last year he did return my calls and schduled the days he owed me. Then at the last minute, (like the night before I was to drive down there) he would cancel. I've called him and left another eight messages in the last two months and have not got him to call back to talk to me. My last message told him that he was a flake and a lousy business man and that I'm giving up on him.
I did bargain with him for the $1,000- instead of $2,000- He gave me that price because I had a few black belts already and trained his stuff for months from his video. I did learn a lot and I teach about eight guys now. Any other questions?

[Domstarr]

JKD_Silat

If I might add.....If you have martial arts experience, you will be able to learn enough and pick it up in a short period of time to be able to teach it If you don't have any fighting experience, you will not be able to walk away from the two days able to teach it. I would suggest watching and studying some of his videos, like energy drills, straight blast, etc. BEFORE you go. If you will get pissed that you plan a weekend and then have it cancelled at the last minute, or if you will get pissed that you didn't get the ten hours you were promised or a good quality video, don't even think about spending the money.

[Jkd_SiLaT]

Thanks again for replying. Do you teach your students PFS JKD or do you have another art you teach that you combine jkd with? Based on your messages, it seems like you put a lot of effort and time into this and didn't get what was expected. I am assuming you are no longer affiliated with Paul. Have you tried talking to other PFS instructors to see if they can get a hold of Paul for you? Anways, thanks for everything.

[Ryu (JKD?)]

Yikes! Never once did I have problems like that with Paul. In fact, Paul usually treats me pretty darn good and cancels his own stuff to train.
I think Paul tends to be closer to people he considers "friends" in a sense (maybe that sounds a little strange). But you've got to get to know him to kind of get him sometimes.

JKDsilat, I just got your email, and I'll reply soon.

Ryu

[Jkd_SiLaT]

Hi Ryu,

Good to hear from you again. Just email me whenever you get the chance to. Thanks.

[Domstarr]

JKD_Silat,

I have given up trying to get in touch with Paul through his friends or otherwise. As far as what I teach, according to Paul, (and everything else that I've read) for it to be considered JKD, it must include interceptions, destructions and straight blasts. Adapting and throwing in a little tai chi, dumog, mui thai, arm locks or wrenches, head butts, knees and elbows, whatever is applicable at the time, is what I teach. I also teach my guys some Hapkido for the times when someone might be talking to you and grab you somewhere on your body, or when you don't want to strike someone maybe for legal reasons, but want to take them down, etc. Some of my guys don't have fighting experience, so I teach them basic kicks so they can take out legs, nothing high. Anything else?

[Jkd_SiLaT]

Domstarr,

I think what you are doing is great. Hapkido has some effective joint locks. Well, as for your question, "anything else?" I guess you have answered all my questions, thanks. Keep up the good work and take care.

[Domstarr]

Hey, JKD Silat,

I'm curious what martial arts you've done. I would also like to know if you go train with Paul how you like it.
and RYU, I know you said sometimes you have to be "friends" with him to get to him, however, I'm a business man and I feel that when you pay someone for a service you should get what you paid for. I don't like people lying to me like Vunak has on a few occasions. There is also no excuse for someone to not pick up a telephone and call even if it's to say they'll be too busy for a month or so. You agree?

[Jkd_SiLaT]

Hi Domstarr,

I have studied TKD, a little JKD under "surfdog" a dog brother. I took some Pencak Silat under Guru Art Rhemrev. And right now I take BJJ which is more a sport so that's the reason I want to take JKD under Paul because his version of grappling is more street oriented. I agree with you when you say you should get what you pay for. When I take the IPTP with Paul, I'm going to ask him if I can pay in 2 increments over the two days. I am not too far from him so I am going to ask him if I can take the 2 classes over a period of a month. I'll let you know how it goes. Take care.