JKD Nucleus

[Wi Kali Group]

Ok on this site here is the start of the feedback from the Paula Inosanto letter. I am taking Aikia (who I believe is Dr Beasley who in Paula's Opinion is an armchair JKD guy. And with all the time Paula spends around Dan I'd say her opinion is probably pretty good. And I don't remeber Linda Lee or Shannon spending alot of time helping Bruce train or teach anything so don't try to compare.) at his word that this is indeed Paula's letter.

Martial Arts Koncepts


NOTE: The response from last months publication of Paula Inosanto's letter was better than I could have expected. In this months newsletter I will share with you the information I gathered concerning Gary Dill, with Lamar Davis and Dr. Jerry Beasley being covered in coming issues ...

Professor Gary Dill
Mr. Dill was the first person to contact me concerning Paula's letter. After a lengthy phone conversation Mr. Dill invited me to attend a seminar he was giving in Northern Virginia the following weekend.



At the seminar Mr. Dill produced a packet of documents that he considered to be indisputable proof that he was a "real JKD man". This packet included a personal letter from James Lee, several certificates from various martial arts organizations (recognizing him as a Grandmaster in Bushido Kempo/SDS-JKD) and letters from the now disbanded JKD Society.

Sifu James' Lee's letter (which is the cornerstone of Mr. Dill's "credentials") does in fact authorize Mr. Dill to train in what he was exposed to during his short time under his (James Lee's) direction; but it also explicitly states, not once, not twice, but three times, that he is to not, under any circumstances, teach or claim to teach JKD. This was stated in such a way as to not be confused or misinterpreted by Mr. Dill or anyone else who read the letter. Obviously it was...



Mr. Dill is using an abbreviated version of the letter, which includes only Sifu Lee's reference to training with a small group of friends, and not the admonitions against teaching JKD. Mr. Dill's version of the letter could lead one to believe that he was given permission to teach; but in no uncertain terms Sifu James Lee it was okay as long as he was "just working out with a select few to keep your skills in JKD and Wing Chun - for your own benefit - not to try to pass yourself off as an instructor in our style of no style".



It appears that Mr. Dill is exactly what he warns people about in his own literature - that he is one of the many "rip-off artists out there claiming to be teaching JKD but wouldn't know JKD if it was in front of them. Many of them have no authentic lineage, no real training ... Let the buyer beware"!

Thanks for the warning ...


Now if I can find his info on Dr. Beasley I'll post it later. But people use your common sense. What the Lee family has done would be like if Colon Powel Died and his wife and daugter waited till their son/brother died after starting to attend west point. Then hooked up with militia guys and went around trying to tell everyone how to train officers for war like at west point.

[Aikia]

Ok here is a letter allegedly by Paula Inosanto to Inside Kungfu written in the 90's correcting the record on some of the lies & myth's about Bruce, Dan & JKD & JUN FAN

Martial Arts Koncept
WI Kali group
__________________________

Interesting that you bring up this 1993 letter from Paula Inosanto to Curtis Wong, former owner and publisher of Inside Karate and IKF magazine.
The fact is that she penned a 6 page letter. People use edited parts of the letter as if it were written about an individual. Here's the facts.
In 1993 writer Paul Bax published and article in Inside Karate magazine titled something to the effect of "The Return of Bruce Lee's original JKD". The publication of the article was misinterpreted by the Inosanto clan as a direct insult.Paula Inosanto sought revenge.
John Soet, editor of Inside Karate had married Lil, Dan Inosanto's sister.
Lil died of cancer and Dan was not present at the funeral.
Apparently ( according to the letter p5-6)there was harsh feelings among Inosanto family members which at the time included John Soet (by marriage).
The 6 page letter written by Paula Inosanto to Curtis Wong was very much intended to reprimand Mr. Soet for publicly embarrassing the Inosanto family by publishing an article that was not approved by the clan. She wanted to have John Soet fired. It didn't work.
The Inosanto letter was trashed by Mr. Wong as libel and became the joke of the office of editors.
To even think that the 1993 article was published solely to embarrass the Inosantos for not attending a funeral borders on paranoia. Certainly the writer of the article intended only to present his opinion that there was a renewed interest in Bruce Lee's original art of jeet kune do.
The fact that Mr. Inosanto coined the term "JKD Concepts" in the late 1970's (years after Bruce Lee passed away) opened the door for future "versions" of JKD, and, for the newly (in 1993) created interest in the "original" art of JKD.
The letter and the resultant JKDC versus OJKD controversy eventually led to the litigation between the Lee family and the Inosanto Academy. The Lee estate has endorsed the OJKD identified as Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do.
The 1993 Paula Inosanto letter is perhaps one of the most divisive and misunderstood actions in the annals of JKD history. Much of the JKD controversy that exists today can be traced to the infamous Inosanto "revenge" letter.
It serves no one to point to the Inosanto letter as something of value.

The letter set the stage for the eventual litigation discussed in this thread and the separation of Dan Inosanto from the Bruce Lee Foundation/Family.
Contrary to what some would want to conjecture, both sides worked together in creating the divide.

[Kvntu]

Fully agree its not the end of the world, in fact as far as I'm concerned the end result is neither here nor there - as I said in the other thread its just a name.

However, just to be clear, the ruling of the court case prevented Guro Inosanto using the term Jun Fan, Jeet Kune Do and the JKD symbol in any commercial context i.e. any form of promotion where funds change hands. Therefore the name and symbol had to be removed from all Inosanto Academy clothing, advertising, and promotional material. Its fine to list factual information on a website, this is not a financial promotion.

At the risk of going over old ground, its not the end result that bothers me. What I found disgraceful, in fact disgusting, is the financial, mental and emotional stress that the Lee family saw fit to put one of their best friend's through. If that's what they do to their friends, I'd hate to be Wong Jak Man.

I think I've probably said enough on this, I'll retire from the discussion.

Thank you for clarifying that and I wasn't aware he couldn't even use Jeet Kune Do on a t-shirt. I certainly understand your anger and it blew my mind when I first heard about it. Its hard to think this was inspired by just greed and part of me wonders if the Lee family has been misinformed by people like John Little and have really been made to believe Sifu Dan is not "preserving" Bruce's art. If thats the case, then that is really sad. Its sad because if their current exposure to JKD is simply surrounding themselves with John Little and Ted Wong, then I feel they are denying themselves a more complete picture of what Bruce Lee was communicating. So the entire situation is tragic in a way, not just for Dan but the Lee family. Without a doubt if Brandon Lee (Dan's loyal friend and student) had survived we wouldn't even being having this thread. Just my 2 cents.

Fully agree its not the end of the world, in fact as far as I'm concerned the end result is neither here nor there - as I said in the other thread its just a name.

However, just to be clear, the ruling of the court case prevented Guro Inosanto using the term Jun Fan, Jeet Kune Do and the JKD symbol in any commercial context i.e. any form of promotion where funds change hands. Therefore the name and symbol had to be removed from all Inosanto Academy clothing, advertising, and promotional material. Its fine to list factual information on a website, this is not a financial promotion.

At the risk of going over old ground, its not the end result that bothers me. What I found disgraceful, in fact disgusting, is the financial, mental and emotional stress that the Lee family saw fit to put one of their best friend's through. If that's what they do to their friends, I'd hate to be Wong Jak Man.

I think I've probably said enough on this, I'll retire from the discussion.

[Kvntu]

My understanding is Dan Inosanto can't use the term Jun fan jeet kune do, but can use Jeet Kune Do or Jun Fan Gung Fu. I assume this is the case because both terms (jeet kune do and Jun Fan Gung Fu) are still used on the website for the Inosanto Academy. So while it's a disgraceful things that Shannon Lee did by attacking Sifu Dan, its not the end of the world.

[Wi Kali Group]

Ok here is a letter allegedly by Paula Inosanto to Inside Kungfu written in the 90's correcting the record on some of the lies & myth's about Bruce, Dan & JKD & JUN FAN

Martial Arts Koncepts

On the Diana being on the board I don't know. She could be keeping an eye on things for her Dad. She could be friends with Shannon I don't know. She could be trying to bring some sanity to it. It's hard to imagine the way some of the members dumped on Bruce's memory (apparently) and Dan she'd be a part of it. Maybe they are just using her name. They didn't appoint her or Tim Tackett to the board they are just on the commitee.

On the above comment about whore's. It came out harsher than intended. But the sentiment still stands. They are prostituting Bruce's art IMO and as such if people should feel no need to show them any respect what so ever.

I wonder if some of Bruce's students have taken to smearing the facts and rewriting history. They have been teaching since Bruce died (since we all know they wouldn't have dared while he was alive.). And untill they started smearing Dan, sued him & pimped out Bruces legacy. They couldn't make the impact Dan did by being humble and qualified. They taught and people either like it or not. Found it useful or not. But since they didn't know the whole totality of JKD like Dan (or really only knew Jun Fan) people didn't want to stay or didn't need to. And when you look at the Disloyalty they show Bruce and by extention Dan it breeds the same in their students.

Dan is loved and respected by probably 90% of the people who meet him. I think they would be lucky to count 5-10% of their students. Just my opinion.

[Baki Hanma]

The trademarked term is "Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do". "Jeet Kune Do" by itself is NOT copywrited. Rick Faye still has a "Jun Fan" class on mondays,so I think that term by itself is OK too. Dan Inosanto has a class called "Jeet Kuen" listed on his web site. You can still use the name "JKD",but really,why bother? People should judge your art by what YOU can teach,not Bruce Lee's legacy. Most senior instructors have been doing JKD longer than Bruce did,Inosanto has been in JKD longer than Bruce Lee was alive! JKD belongs to the world now,for better or for worse,interpret the philosophies for yourself.

I agree with what you said for the most part but just because senior instructors have been around longer than Bruce has and had the chance to do JKD in their own way doesn't mean it makes them better, Bruce Lee and Bruce Lee alone was the only person who understood JKD to the deepest of depths as he founded the art, I do feel however that if there is one other person who can honestly understand the art to such a deep depth would have to be Dan Inosanto, as from what I hear is teaching the art the way Bruce wanted it to be.

JKD is not suppose to be a style but a free art, and it was most of all suppose to be just a name, not something you cage yourself within, who ever practices JKD should understand that it should be their own interpretation of if the art, in other words their own expression.

I don't care what anyone says I have gotten every book Bruce Lee has out, and books that his students have put out, I have studied the context and done all i can to apply the concepts and ideas to my own way of the martial arts, I do not go around saying I'm JKD Certified And I'm more than sure if i had the chance to train with the first generation students I could learn a lot, but regardless from the books and what I have applied in my sparring and training I would say I have being doing something of my own version of JKD, even if i don't call it JKD.

AS I have said, I'll say again, with what I'm hearing about Linda and Shannon makes me very disappointed, and what I'm confused about is if this crap is going on, than why is Dan Inosanto's daughter part of the Bruce Lee Foundation Run by Shannon and Linda?
Anyways Whatever the case I don't believe Bruce Lee would have wanted any of this to happen, and so I don't want to Judge anyone, all I want is to Train with everyone and be the best I can be, and I hope regardless of what he or she does, no one puts Bruce Lee's name in vain or bashes the art he developed, himself and with his best friends.

[Wi-Stickboxer]

The trademarked term is "Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do". "Jeet Kune Do" by itself is NOT copywrited. Rick Faye still has a "Jun Fan" class on mondays,so I think that term by itself is OK too. Dan Inosanto has a class called "Jeet Kuen" listed on his web site. You can still use the name "JKD",but really,why bother? People should judge your art by what YOU can teach,not Bruce Lee's legacy. Most senior instructors have been doing JKD longer than Bruce did,Inosanto has been in JKD longer than Bruce Lee was alive! JKD belongs to the world now,for better or for worse,interpret the philosophies for yourself.

[Wi Kali Group]

Well I didn't know about the lawsuit. So I suppose if you face facts can take 2 path's.

1. Forget the Bruce Lee foundation and only study the Form of JKD taught outside the foundation (that totally bastardized Bruce's art). You can find many instructors from Dan's lineage.

2. Learn what you can from any of them. Then like any type of whore kick them to the curb when they are done servicing you. This is no different that what any of them have do to Bruce.

The main thing (and I don't disagree with anything Mike posted on this no matter how this come out.) Is to distinguish between Bruce & his real art. And his family and former students who are bastardizing it for a buck.

[Baki Hanma]

Ok this website has this info on the subject.

Bruce Lee's grave


Bruce Lee certified three instructors: Dan Inosanto, Taky Kimura, and James Yimm Lee (no relation to Bruce Lee). James Yimm Lee, a close friend of Bruce Lee, died without certifying additional students. Taky Kimura, to date, has certified one person in Jun Fan Gung Fu: his son and heir Andy Kimura. All other instructors are certified under Dan Inosanto. Prior to his death, Lee told his then only two living instructors Inosanto and Kimura (James Yimm Lee had died in 1972.) to dismantle his schools. Both Taky Kimura and Dan Inosanto were allowed to teach small classes thereafter without using the name Jeet Kune Do.
As a result of a lawsuit between the estate of Bruce Lee (also known as Concord Moon) and the Inosanto Academy, the name "Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do" was legally trademarked, and the rights were given solely to the Lee estate. "The name is made up of two parts: 'Jun Fan' (Bruce’s given Chinese name) and 'Jeet Kune Do' (the Way of the Intercepting Fist). The development of Bruce Lee’s art from 1961 until the end of his life was one smooth and indivisible path. In the beginning, he referred to his teachings simply as Jun Fan Gung Fu. Later he further refined his art as a unique Gung fu all its own – Jeet Kune Do" (from the Bruce Lee Foundation Web site).
Some martial arts instructors, in an effort to promote themselves or their martial arts schools, make dubious claims about learning from or teaching Bruce Lee. There are only a few living people who can trace their lineage directly to Bruce Lee.


It is sorta backed up by the usage of Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do. And the fact that some schools still use JKD and Jun Fan.

Honestly I don't know what to think about this shit anymore, I mean Bruce was always my hero as a kid, someone who i looked up to and motivated me to train hard, since I couldn't train with him I had hoped that i could train with each of his students, and get what even they had to offer from their own experience and training in the martial arts, It seems impossible for me to reach anyone though, I once emailed Taky's son Andy and he told me to give him my number to be contacted so we can talk, and never replied or called and once I have been emailing people on def replies for the longest time...

Seriously whats going on with people these days, often times i wonder what Bruce would have thought about many things today if he were still around....

[Baki Hanma]

Jeet Kune Do can fall off the face of the planet as far as I'm concerned. I teach Inosanto Martial Arts, and am proud to do so. There is so much written on here about what Bruce Lee would and wouldn't have wanted. I'm pretty sure he wouldn't have wanted his family to **** his best friend over for a few extra quid. But hey - when was the last time you went to a Shannon Lee seminar?

Do you hold a grudge against Bruce Lee?
I would hope JKD doesn't fall of the face of the planet, but at the same time if what you are saying is really true, than that shit is f***ed up, honestly no I don't think Bruce would have wanted any of this, Dan was his friend, and so were the others Ted Wong, etc....
Besides Dan was one of Bruce's best friends I would think he wouldn't want Bruce's art to fall of the face of the planet either... =/

Honestly I had always wanted to train with Bruce but since I was born before he had passed away, I could never fulfill that dream, and so I've always wanted to learn from those whom learnt directly from him, and to learn what they learnt in hopes to create my own way with such a great art, but if what you have said is true, it seems like my dream of training with all the first generation students and so on, is starting to fall apart faster than i can grasp hold of it....

I Heard many times about the beef going on with the whole JKD world but i figured they were nothing more than rumors considering Dan's daughter is apparently part of the Bruce Lee Foundation which is run by Shannon...
Its honestly kind of sad....

But just because Linda and Shannon are doing whatever, I hope no one will bash Bruce Lee himself.

[Jujujason]

Thank God for Michael Wright!!! Later brother =)

[Wi Kali Group]

The thing that strikes me. It's like the people who run around trashing the way other people train to make them self look good. It seems like a person could come to the conclusion that what the Lee estate is pushing is crap and since they knew it was crap they had to take Dan to court. Dan didn't get to where he is by putting people down. People eventually sought him out cause of what he is. I guess the nucleus couldn't. It's sad as talented as Bruce was Brandon was the only one with talent and decency.

[Wi Kali Group]

Ok this website has this info on the subject.

Bruce Lee's grave


Bruce Lee certified three instructors: Dan Inosanto, Taky Kimura, and James Yimm Lee (no relation to Bruce Lee). James Yimm Lee, a close friend of Bruce Lee, died without certifying additional students. Taky Kimura, to date, has certified one person in Jun Fan Gung Fu: his son and heir Andy Kimura. All other instructors are certified under Dan Inosanto. Prior to his death, Lee told his then only two living instructors Inosanto and Kimura (James Yimm Lee had died in 1972.) to dismantle his schools. Both Taky Kimura and Dan Inosanto were allowed to teach small classes thereafter without using the name Jeet Kune Do.
As a result of a lawsuit between the estate of Bruce Lee (also known as Concord Moon) and the Inosanto Academy, the name "Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do" was legally trademarked, and the rights were given solely to the Lee estate. "The name is made up of two parts: 'Jun Fan' (Bruce’s given Chinese name) and 'Jeet Kune Do' (the Way of the Intercepting Fist). The development of Bruce Lee’s art from 1961 until the end of his life was one smooth and indivisible path. In the beginning, he referred to his teachings simply as Jun Fan Gung Fu. Later he further refined his art as a unique Gung fu all its own – Jeet Kune Do" (from the Bruce Lee Foundation Web site).
Some martial arts instructors, in an effort to promote themselves or their martial arts schools, make dubious claims about learning from or teaching Bruce Lee. There are only a few living people who can trace their lineage directly to Bruce Lee.


It is sorta backed up by the usage of Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do. And the fact that some schools still use JKD and Jun Fan.

[Wi Kali Group]

I'm glad Mike typed that out. All I have to say is AMEN.