Certified under Dr. Jerry Beasley?

[Daedalus]

Is anyone on this forum certified as a JF/JKD instructor under Jerry Beasley?

If so, what do you think of his organization?

[Mike JKD]

I have known Jerry Beasley for a long time, and he is a knowledgable and intelligent communicator and researcher. He is not, however, a certified JKD Instructor. Neither, for that matter, is Joe Lewis, the man under whom Jerry trained in what he has called JKD. I know that Dr. Beasley has been to numerous seminars with JKD instructors like Dan Inosanto and Larry Hartsell, but to those who have seen the way those seminars compare to Dan's classes and private instruction, it is easy to confirm that seminar instruction and conversations are not enough. I think it's great that Jerry has brought so much attention to JKD lately (meaning in the last few years, but I can't help thinking that his outlook and even perspective on what Jeet Kune Do really is might be a little off base. I know he's written books and produced videos. But the best way to decide is to look at how and where he got his material. Look at the history of what he's taught. See if that's in line with what you are looking for, and go from there. Best Wishes,
Mik

Nature is ruled by the redness of fang and claw...
Ernest Hemmingway

[Aikia]

Mike is of course Mike B. who taught JKD at my Karate college some years ago. Mike was not invited back, because of scheduling and nothing personal. mike thought it was personal, hence his less than supportive comment.
No doubt a lot of readers have seen my name along with JKD. In the 1980's I wrote many articles about JKD promoting the careers of Dan Inosanto, Larry Hartsell and others. In 1993 I promoted the all important Original JKD camp with Ted Wong, Howard Williams and an endorsement from Taky Kimura. I also wrote about the "original" JKD, indeed I coined the name "Original JKD" and wrote about the version of JKD that bruce Lee taught between 1967 and 1969. In 1993 I also wrote the lines"he looks like Bruce, he sounds like Bruce, he moves like Bruce" in describing Ted Wong who has become the top proponent of OJKD.
It goes without saying that some readers found offense with the introduction of OJKD . Some in the JKDC camp felt OJKD would compete with JKDC for students. As it turns out the Bruce Lee family chose to promote OJKD (Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do). I was only a writer and promoter of JKD. As far as martial arts are concerned my various ranks are in karate/jujitsu/kickboxing. I am happy with these arts and do not need to claim that I teach JKD. I have, on occasion, taught seminar classes in which the topic requested was my understanding of JKD.
My point in responding to this thread is to let my readers know that I am not connected to the JKD family of instructors and practitioners who compete for students.
I do not certify people in JKD. I write about JKD and that's about it.
As long as readers continue to buy my books and editors continue to ask me to write JKD related texts I guess I should continue to satisfy the demand for my work.
Jerry Beasley
www.aikia.net

[YuanZhideDiZhen]

I have known Jerry Beasley for a long time, and he is a knowledgable and intelligent communicator and researcher. He is not, however, a certified JKD Instructor. Neither, for that matter, is Joe Lewis, the man under whom Jerry trained in what he has called JKD. I know that Dr. Beasley has been to numerous seminars with JKD instructors like Dan Inosanto and Larry Hartsell, but to those who have seen the way those seminars compare to Dan's classes and private instruction, it is easy to confirm that seminar instruction and conversations are not enough. I think it's great that Jerry has brought so much attention to JKD lately (meaning in the last few years, but I can't help thinking that his outlook and even perspective on what Jeet Kune Do really is might be a little off base. I know he's written books and produced videos. But the best way to decide is to look at how and where he got his material. Look at the history of what he's taught. See if that's in line with what you are looking for, and go from there. Best Wishes,
Mik

Nature is ruled by the redness of fang and claw...
Ernest Hemmingway

A prominant book on his shelf behind his desk at the university where he teaches is "how to make money from your hobby".

[Aikia]

The concept of "Certification" in JKD has always been of dubious reputation. Bruce Lee offered only a few certificates in his lifetime. The certificates were from the Jun Fan Gun Fu institute. Students were recognized for years of practice. Ted Wong received the level two for two years of training and Dan Inosanto received the level three for being a student for three years. No person ever received a certificate from Bruce Lee stating that the person on the certificate was designated as Instructor of JKD. Hence technically no one can claim to be "certified" to teach JKD under Bruce Lee. It is true that Bruce appointed several students as class leaders or teaching assistants. Taky Kimura, James Lee and Dan Inosanto were all teaching assistants. However none received certificates stating that they had been "Certified" as instructors of JKD.
According to Dan Inosanto in a 1975 article for Black Belt Best of Bruce Lee #2 Bruce moved to LA in December 1966 and sought to get a few guys together to train as of 1967. They practiced Jun Fan Gung Fu. According to Dan "JKD was not formalized until 1968". Bruce taught jeet kune do as an art fron 1968- 1970 until he left for Hong Kong. Upon his return to the US Bruce closed his JKD school. JKD as an art lasted only three years. Here's why.
In 1970 Bruce was injured trying to lift 125 lbs on his neck and was confined to bed for 6 months. During that time Linda notes that Bruce studied and absorbed the philosophy of Jiddu Krishnamurti. As a follower of Krishnamurti Bruce agreed that "truth" could not be conveyed as an organization or art/style. He abandoned his desire to open JKD schools and disbanned the art and formal practice of JKD. The JKD Concept reflects the post 1970 conversion to Krishnamurtianism. Note that the famous British rock group the Beatles studied Indian spiritualism in 1966 and three years later the Beatles as a group were history. Their music had evolved from a recognizable genera to something previously unknown/unheard. Bruce had similarly positioned JKD from a fighting art to a "pathless path" by using the Krishnamurti philosophy. The JKD concept is very much the art of no art.
Today their are two very different versions of JKD. There are those who rightfully claim that JKD is the art taught by Bruce Lee from 1968-1970/71 before his conversion to Krishnamurtianism. And a second school of thought led by Bruce's protoge Dan Inosanto claims that JKD is only a concept and can not be identified as an art/style. Both are correct an reflect two distinct eras in the development of Bruce Lee as a martial artist and teacher.
Several of Bruce's students have elected to teach what they know about JKD. Some were with Bruce before he named his art jeet kune do. Some were students when Bruce taught JKD as an art fron 1968-1970 ( before he hurt his back and converted to Krishnamurtiasm). Perhaps only Dan Inosanto was with Bruce both before the name JKD existed, during the time in which Bruce taught JKD as an art, and after Bruce disbanned the teaching of JKD to follow the teachings of the Indian guru Krishnamurti.
I am familar with the JKD concept and published the first book on the subject (endorsed by and dedicated to Dan Inosanto) in 1988. I promoted the Original JKD camps from 1993-1997 with Ted Wong so I am familar with the original JKD as well. However the most outstanding fighter to ever work with Bruce was Joe Lewis who trained in jeet kune do under Bruce from 1968-1969. I have been a student under Joe Lewis since 1982. I should note that I earned the 1st dan in 1971 and after five advancements I earned the 6th dan in 1985, the 7th dan in 1990 and the 8th dan in 1995 all from Joe Lewis.

Jerry Beasley
www.aikia.net

[Ford Prefect]

Interesting. I always though Krishnamurti played a role in Bruce's life because many of the things he said about JKD were almost word-for-word what Krishnamurti said about organizing "truth" in general. Glad I can have that afffirmed.

[YuanZhideDiZhen]

Dr. Beasley,

Dr. Martin, if he's still around, has a book on the teachings of krishnamurti as a part of his philosophy of religion course. have you read it?

thanks,
lamp-post smasher.

[MoiFah]

.... .No person ever received a certificate from Bruce Lee stating that the person on the certificate was designated as Instructor of JKD....I have been a student under Joe Lewis since 1982 and been certified to teach JKD by Joe Lewis (1993)....
www.aikia.net

How then can you claim to have been "certified to teach JKD by Joe Lewis, when in fact Joe Lewis himself is not certified to teach it? And in fact he only studied with Bruce for less than a year which certainly not qualify him to teach ANY style of martial art. I don't have a problem with Dan Inosanto or Jerry Poteet or any of Bruce's other original students writing books or producing videos, because they were with him for a great lenght of time. But when Joe Lewis (or even worse, the number of "instructors" who never met Bruce at all much less studied under him) try to cash in on Bruce's name, it only serves to make them look like snake oil salesmen.

[X-Warrior]

MoiFah raised an interesting question. If you are saying that no one has really been certified as an instructor under Bruce Lee, and especially we know for a fact that Joe Lewis only studied with Bruce Lee for less than a year how can Joe Lewis certify anyone? Why would you accept ANY type of certification from someone who spent less than a year with Bruce Lee and you also know that he is not certified by him? No one questions the fighting ability of Joe Lewis and that he is a good kickboxer/instructor, but the fact that he is certifying students in an art he merely learned for a year is very questionable. Makes it sound like Joe Lewis is just adding to his income by cashing in on the luck that he could spend some time with Bruce Lee.

FYI: I also have several seminar certifications as well as many photos signed (for me) by Dan Inosanto.

[Aikia]

Dear White Dragon,
In Jan of 2007 Dave Cater at Inside Kung Fu magazine asked me to write a book on JKD. That book is now available from Unique publications . The title is "JKD: High-Risk Sparring". Look for it.
And White Dragon, chill out on the "I hate Jerry Beasely" concept. I am not a bad guy. Come to RU and meet me. See why I was voted "Instructor of the Year 2000" by readers of Black Belt magazine and inducted into the Black Belt magazine Hall of Fame.
Jerry Beasley
www.aikia.net

[San Soo Sifu]

In January of 2007 Dave Cater at Inside Kung Fu magazine asked me to write a book on JKD. That book will be available from Unique publications before Christmas 2007. The title is "JKD: High-Risk Sparring."

Dear Dr. Jerry Beasley,
Can you describe the thesis of your book with the rest of us? (Without you giving away too much, of course.)

[Aikia]

"I believe you had no business making Jun Fan/JKD video's in the first place Aikia, along with the Ninjitsu gig you tried in the early 80's; it is safe to assume your credibility is almost as bad George W. Bush's. If it is acceptable for someone to write articles' and make videos' on systems they have never trained in I could have instructional DVD's out on White Crane System, Wing Tsun and ..."
White Dragon

My Dear White dragon,
If you had any idea how many people 'tried out' for the opportunity to make the Panther JKD video series that I won you would have a different feeling. Paul Vunak made the first series in 1989. My series came out in 1997. Joe Jennings (owner of panther) turned down offer after offer before contacting me to send him a test video. He immediately accepted my application because of my high level of skill at both teaching and performing martial arts. My expectation was to perform a JKD kickboxing series showing how fighters could add JKD inspired full contact training to their martial arts practice. Could you have instructional videos yourself? Maybe. But only a select few have the goods to be paid by a producer to make a professional series that would be marketed nationally.

As I pointed out I did train in jeet kune do. I just never developed a desire to be a teacher of JKD. Here's some quotes for you:
"Jerry,
Thanks for all your work in jeet kune do"
Larry hartsell

"Jerry,
It is my pleasure to know you. I really appreciate your work in jeet kune do"
Ted Wong

" Jerry,
I am not just telling you this. Right now I am speaking from my heart. That's the best article I've ever read by a person outside the clan. No one has ever seen that."
Dan Inosanto

"Two of the biggest names in the JKD universe are Jerry Beasley and Paul Vunak. Although they did not train directly under Bruce Lee they certainly have some valuable knowledge to offer."
Sara Fogan, editor Black Belt magazine

Writing about Dan Inosanto from his book "Dan Inosanto: The Man, the teacher, the Artist" author Perry Kelly writes " In addition former students Larry Hartsell, Jeff Imada, Jerry Beasley, Chris Kent, Tim Tackett, Paul Vunak..." p.129

Sounds like a lot of people identify me as a proponent of JKD. You need to get free of that hostility. As I said if you had any idea about how many people tried out to become an artist for Panther video under the JKD section you would understand just what an accomplishment that video series was. It is still a best seller. The DRB JKD video series is about JKD sparring. If you truly understand what it means when I say JKD is bound by no art but may be expressed in many arts you could understand why I was selected among the many who auditioned or were considered for the part of JKD video artist.
I don't usually toot my own horn but as I just went back and actually read your post it seems you are have a grudge for some reason. So rest assured, no worries mate!
JB