Lafourche sheriff’s deputy practices kung fu lifestyle
By Raymond Legendre
Staff Writer
Published: Monday, August 24, 2009 at 11:00 a.m.
Last Modified: Monday, August 24, 2009 at 11:26 a.m.
THIBODAUX — He practices kung fu while tying the knot on his tie, telling a joke to a co-worker and making mental notes about an investigation — none of which require fists of fury or airborne kicks.
Kung fu is more than feats of outward grace and power in Jeff Bordelon’s eyes.
“I look at kung fu as a way of living,” said Bordelon, a special investigator for the Lafourche Sheriff’s Office. “The passion I have for martial arts goes beyond what you see on television and what you see in the commercial world.”
Bordelon, a Bayou Blue resident, credits his training in the ancient Far East martial art of Shaolin kung fu for giving him clarity under pressure and a deep respect for others. Both allow him to perform better in his job, he said.
Bordelon, an 11-year Sheriff’s Office veteran, teaches Shaolin kung fu to more than 40 students, ages 5 to 54, at Body Elite in Houma.
Shaolin kung fu, which originated centuries ago from the Shaolin Temple in China, does not reward fighters’ growth with belts. Instead, it ranks participants as prospects, students, pre-disciples and disciples.
Bordelon is a pre-disciple to Grand Master Liu Xiang Yang, who he first met in 2004.
He estimates he spends eight to 10 hours weekly at the gym, using much of the time to “educate and cultivate” his students.
“He cares about people,” said Yang, who is known to students as Shawn Liu. “That’s very important. He always wants to improve himself and improve others and to discipline others.”
Bordelon became serious about martial arts at age 16, about the time his instructors deemed him to be a natural talent.
Bordelon began teaching in 1992 at the Southern Kung Fu Academy in Metairie. He continued till 1998, when he joined the Lafourche Sheriff’s Office. He has served as a patrol deputy, detective, correctional officer and, most recently, a special investigator.
He also taught hand-to-hand defensive techniques to prospective officers at the Lafourche Sheriff’s Training Academy in Thibodaux. In that role, he reminded trainees that their brains are often a more effective weapon than their hands.
“What most people don’t realize is that the majority of this work as law-enforcement officers is 90 percent mental and 10 percent fighting,” Bordelon said.
Bordelon’s teachings are easy to grasp and highly informative, said the academy’s head instructor, Sgt. David Robichaux. He added Bordelon remains humble about his expertise.
“He shares his knowledge very well,” Robichaux said. “That’s just because he cares.”
Bordelon says he’s not sure what his martial-arts future holds.
“There is no next level other than waking up every morning,” Bordelon said. “There’s no belt to obtain, no title to obtain, it’s living life everyday. ... Every day is an advancement because we learn something new.”
Staff Writer Raymond Legendre can be reached at 448-7617 or
raymond.legendre@houmatoday.com.
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Originally Posted by Psycho Mantis
give them a call. 
