Is this guy legit?

[John McNabney]

I'm new to the forum and to martial arts, but i have been wanting to train for a long time. I met a guy who teaches Jeet Kune Do at my local gym. His name is Shadow Thundercloud, he said he was half native american. He seemed like a good guy. He had some crazy stories that were almost hard to believe. The trainers at the gym said he is legit. I was just wondering if anyone here has ever heard of him before.
thanks,
adam

dykomobile........I'm a 2nd Generation JKD Instructor under Jerry Poteet and I have never heard of this guy........That doesn't mean he's not good at what he does.......But take it with a grain of salt, if a teacher is lieing to you......Can he really be trusted?

Sifu John McNabney

[7r14ngL3Ch0k3]

Is this guy legit? http://www.mysecretstuff.com/rot/ Sounds like bozo to me.

[totaltwatdeano]

your website's pretty cool!

[elitecombatives]

a video clip of him demonstrating it would be nice (prove it)

Sounds more like an info-mercial. nothing against the guy since I don't know him, but anyone claiming things should perhaps show it off (atleast) Especially since he got his video hooked up.... It will be very credible if he also showed off what he claims by demonstrating some visuals of him in action.

[dm_l]

The idea has become the institution

I first met Shadow Thundercloud 10 years ago. I have been to EVERY big-name "certified JKD" instructor's seminars and have yet to experience ANYONE who can compare to him. He did an in-depth analysis of the human body and honed his skills in underground fight circuits run by street gangs and outlaw biker clubs in the 80's and NEVER lost. His speed is almost incomprehensible. His teachings convey the most complex definitions in the simplest of terms.He has a loyal contingent of students nationwide going back 15 years. As he once told me, "if JKD is about self-expression....how can ANYONE certify you in that?!" The idea HAS become the institution! There's a lot of money to be made off Bruce Lees name, so THEY open JKD schools in Yardley and Princeton....where the money is! Someone entered the 1st UFC as a JKD practitioner and was readily beaten. What I learned from Shadow is that there IS an ideal way to get speed/power from the human body and an ideal way to take it apart....THATS what JKD is and if its what THEY are doing than were NOT JKD! There are natural laws that we ALL must adhere to but, there is plenty of room for self-expression. He is truly an underground legend!

[Guest]

You stake your claim as to what JKD is, and ask how can anyone CERTIFY in that? Sijo Bruce Lee believed in certification, and he founded the art and philosophy of JKD, so with all due respect I don’t believe you are in a position to tell people what JKD is and isn’t, and that certification doesn’t matter.

If you truly believe that your martial arts should be the pure expression of yourself, and not confined by names, ranks or certification, then follow though on your beliefs and create your OWN label of personal expression – as opposed to riding on the back of the name JKD. As interesting as your theory is, it doesn’t detract from the fact that anyone seeking JKD will be looking to understand the base art of Bruce Lee, so whether you like it or not you are misleading people. To quote your own post “there is a lot of money to be made off Bruce Lee’s name”.

[Ghost]

You stake your claim as to what JKD is, and ask how can anyone CERTIFY in that? Sijo Bruce Lee believed in certification, and he founded the art and philosophy of JKD, so with all due respect I don’t believe you are in a position to tell people what JKD is and isn’t, and that certification doesn’t matter.

If you truly believe that your martial arts should be the pure expression of yourself, and not confined by names, ranks or certification, then follow though on your beliefs and create your OWN label of personal expression – as opposed to riding on the back of the name JKD. As interesting as your theory is, it doesn’t detract from the fact that anyone seeking JKD will be looking to understand the base art of Bruce Lee, so whether you like it or not you are misleading people. To quote your own post “there is a lot of money to be made off Bruce Lee’s name”.

you arent suggesting a grading system in JKD are you, although this exists i find the idea rediculous.
how can you grade someone in a system that it is entirely individualised.
you have nothing to measure against.
But this is JKD commercialism for you. screw it.

[Guest]

you arent suggesting a grading system in JKD are you

No I wasn't mate, I'm not sure how you have interpreted that from my post. As I'm sure you know many teachers use a ranking system already, I don't personally, its not my thing.

The essence of my post was that its far too easy for someone to say "JKD is a purely individual art, this is my JKD, I don't need credentials". 99% of the time its just an excuse for a complete lack of any credible lineage.

JKD was commercialised a long time ago, I think we all know that. You clearly see this as a bad thing, thats fine. From my point of view, if JKD had stayed in Guro Inosanto's backyard then I, and millions of other people around the world like me, would have never had the experience of training in the art, and all the great things it has brought to my life. If thats commercialisation, then I can live with it.

[Ghost]

No I wasn't mate, I'm not sure how you have interpreted that from my post. As I'm sure you know many teachers use a ranking system already, I don't personally, its not my thing.

The essence of my post was that its far too easy for someone to say "JKD is a purely individual art, this is my JKD, I don't need credentials". 99% of the time its just an excuse for a complete lack of any credible lineage.

JKD was commercialised a long time ago, I think we all know that. You clearly see this as a bad thing, thats fine. From my point of view, if JKD had stayed in Guro Inosanto's backyard then I, and millions of other people around the world like me, would have never had the experience of training in the art, and all the great things it has brought to my life. If thats commercialisation, then I can live with it.

no i see what you mean now, not what i thought you meant from your original post.

[dm_l]

Its just a name, please dont fuss over it.

Bruce Lee himself regretted naming it Jeet Kune Do; as you can intercept motion with anything! I personally have intercepted motion by spitting in my attackers face! Whats Cantonese for "Way Of The Intercepting Phlem"?! How many instructors can claim a continuous membership of the same students for over 12 years? What Shadow has forgotten about killing, most people will never know! You ALL have way to much free time! You should practice more and gossip less and U2 may find the cause of your own ignorance; after all THAT is what JKD is all about. Lets remember also, ALL knowledge comes from ONE source. Bruce didnt "discover" anything new. He identified what was always there. The Tao Of Jeet Kune Do is a compilation of notes that he never intended to publish and is a monument to plagarism. Bruce Lee even predicted the current state of JKD. You've got the Seattle crew thinking they've got the REAL JKD; the Oakland crew; the Los Angeles crew. All bickering about what IS or is NOT JKD. There are only so many ways to move the human body. There are "striking arts" and "grappling arts". JKD is ultimately about a highly developed sense of Spirituality and physique not petty technique. Who owns the copyright on concussive force or kinesthetic awareness? Musashi said the same thing Bruce did. This underlying thread of personal freedom is what you are all missing. "In memory of a once fluid man, crammed and distorted by the classicel mess".

[Guest]

What Shadow has forgotten about killing, most people will never know!

And ain't that exactly what the world needs right now.

You seem to have this all figured out fella, so I'll leave you to it.

Outta here.

[dm_l]

Last post on this subject

Most people dont have any stories to tell. Some squeeze the max out of they're existence. You all seem to "concentrate on the finger (Bruce), and miss all that heavenly glory!" You need you're art spoon-fed to you. You havent taken the art far enough to see how it transcends EVERY facet of human existence; philosophical, political, existential, etc. The human herd is unchecked and that is why the Earth is suffering. As Shadow has said many times, "dont look at what you're killing but, what you're allowing to live." As Bruce said, "without style, without technique....whats to teach?" I leave you women to your bickering and gossip.

[dm_l]

Shadow NEVER claimed to have certification. You turned it into a certification issue. Hell, you can get certified with on-line JKD courses. Dan formed a JKD organization and then abandoned it. Your response to everything I posed to you, was a type-o?! As a fighter, believe me Shadow's not worried about anything or anyone; believe what you want as your limited lives and experiences will allow. As a Teacher he's only as good as the students he produces....and you could only hope to be as liberated.... judging by what you're posting, and how you perceive the points that I brought up....you never will. Good luck and much happiness in your journeys.

[Jujujason]

So, who was this 'JKD' guy in the first UFC? I'm pretty up on my UFC history & I don't recall ANY JKD guy in it. Isn't it hilarious how a lot of these self-proclaimed, deadly masters all owe their claim to fame to these underground matches in the 80's sponsored by gangs and outlaw bikers??? HEY, crazy weirdo martial art cult groupie internet troll...please, PLEASE vacate the discussion forum. That's right, back away from the keyboard. They rest of us'll appreciate it greatly. Thanks, J~

[jubaji]

As a fighter, believe me Shadow's not worried about anything or anyone; believe what you want as your limited lives and experiences will allow. As a Teacher he's only as good as the students he produces....and you could only hope to be as liberated.... judging by what you're posting, and how you perceive the points that I brought up....you never will. Good luck and much happiness in your journeys.

Oh, now I get it...you're a fuckin' moron! It all makes sense now!