Layton West?

[Jinzai]

Just a quick question for all you guys who are current on the JKD scene.

Anyone ever hear of a JKD instructor named Layton West?

Site is here: http://www.jkdstreetdefense.com

Just curious - he wants a link from my site and I just want to know if he is legit. Thanks in advance for your replies.

-Mike Massie

[Hardcorelegend]

Oooh boy......

Anybody want to take a crack at this one? I'm tempted to send this link to my instructor. I've never heard of this guy.

Anybody????

[robertlee]

Good bost but no proof Is what I saw. At the site. Private lessons from a top instructor but can not say who he was. And JKD secret training. Looks like buyer beware.

[peopleschamp]

sounds amazingly like that trs style of advertising. never heard of him or his dvd. He doesn't place a sample of the video and since when does jkd have "secret" techniques - seems like he doesn't even understand jkd to say it has any secrets. Not to mention that he has become a master in jkd but convenianetly he can't say who he was taught under. He implicitly implies its Dan Inosanto, but I guess to keep his ass from getting sued he doesn't name names.

For the supposedly most "Successful, Famous and Notorious Jeet Kune Do, JKD, Self Defense training DVD ever produced" I'm sure most of haven't heard of it (me and my friends haven't for sure). Seems like one of those guys who builds himself up and notice how he builds in that no one will recognize who he is because "He was blacklisted and banned for life, from almost every JKD related martial arts school, program and seminar in the world!"

I'd trust this guy to teach me jkd like I'd trust van damme to teach me muay thai.

I'd say no to the link, out of sheer principle.

[Jinzai]

never hurts to ask

Yeah, well I hadn't heard of him either. Still, I always like to give people the benefit of a doubt. Just because you've never heard of someone, it doesn't necessarily mean that they don't know squat.

Based on the claims on the site though, I figured someone would have heard of him. Only thing I was able to find was a passing mention in an article on JKD by Beasley.

But, I haven't met the man, so I'll save my judgment until then.

Thanks for the feedback.

[peopleschamp]

Just b/c I haven't heard of him doesn't mean that he doesn't know squat. The stuff that he is saying on the website, secret this and secret that, indicates he doesn't know what he's talking about. There is a lot of misleading information and its just a malicious marketing ploy to dupe the uninformed.

[Jinzai]

Trs

Yeah, there are echoes of TRS copy in his site. But, I've met guys on the TRS roster who were skilled and knowledgeable in their respective arts, and nice guys besides.

So, I hesitate to totally write someone off just because they're over-hyped in their ads.

But, I'm not going to link to his site either.

[SiY]

Hmm is he an actor? Because he talks about films or is he refering to his DVD?

[george stando]

Layton West released a horrendous video many years ago and it was one of the worst things I have ever witnessed in my life. There was nothing to review, just plain horrible in every way possible. I would save your hard earned money and go elsewhere.

[Jinzai]

good to know

Good to know. Thanks, George.

[peopleschamp]

Layton West released a horrendous video many years ago and it was one of the worst things I have ever witnessed in my life. There was nothing to review, just plain horrible in every way possible. I would save your hard earned money and go elsewhere.

- I suspected as much from his website.

[Ryu (JKD?)]

Layton West had a video advertised in Black Belt during the early nineties if I can remember right. It was long ago.
I don't know anything about him. Any instructor should be willing to let people know their background and lineage.

[Aikia]

It was the very early 1990's. Layton West appeared to be a knockoff from the Paul Vunak linage. His video, sold in Inside Karate for about $4.95 each and he reportedly sold many tapes. His program was very much modeled after the Paul Vunak trapping tape that was sold by Panther as early as mid-late 1980's. I may have mentioned the tape in a column for Karate International. It's been a long time and I don't remember the details. The magazine column entitled "Jeet Kune Do:The Next Generation" was published from 1988-1995. I covered most of the high profile JKD personalities and introduced the term "Original" JKD . A few are still angry about that small detail. It all worked out for the best.

[Jinzai]

Thanks for popping into the thread and sharing that info.

So, the "name" guys got miffed that you mentioned them and this West guy in the same article?

That's pretty funny... I tell you, no good deed goes unpunished in the martial arts world.

- Mike Massie

[Sensei Saki]

It was nothing. Far out. Thanks for the info.I am so delighted that you are amused, .Why did you tell them?
Quite honestly, I wouldn't worry myself about that.