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INTERVIEW WITH JEET KUNE DO INSTRUCTOR CHRIS KENT
What is your background and martial art experience
I started training in martial arts when I was thirteen years old. The first arts I studied were judo and ju jitsu, which I did for about two years. Later I studied Shotokan karate for a short while, then classical five animal kung fu in Los Angeles Chinatown. It was while I was studying kung fu that I began training in Jeet Kune Do with Dan Inosanto in his backyard gym. I was seventeen 17 ½ years old at the time.
How would sum up the changes in JKD over the years?
There have been numerous changes over the years I have been involved in JKD. Some changes I think are positive, and some I think are negative. I guess it depends upon which camp or group you are involved with. On the positive side, I think it has grown in terms of embracing up-to-date, scientific training methods and enhancing understanding of various aspects of unarmed combat. By this I don’t mean simply studying some art like Brazilian Jiu Jitsu or Muay Thai and tossing that into the mix so to speak. I mean in terms of people developing a greater understanding of the essential elements involved in fighting such as grappling, striking, etc. and looking for better and more functional ways to develop one’s combative skills. On the negative side, I think it is the fragmentation that has taken place amongst people with differing viewpoints, each of whom thinks that they are right and the other person is wrong. But I guess that’s no different than in many other arts when the main man dies. Take a look at what’s happened with Kenpo since the passing of Ed Parker. Another negative thing is all of the people who have been suddenly coming out of the woodwork, claiming to teach JKD and making instructors right left and center. Many of these people worked out a few times at one of Bruce’s schools, but what makes them instructors? I guess that leads to the question, “What does it take to become a JKD instructor? Who gets to decide what the prerequisites are?” I know when I came up there was a clear delineation between a JKD practitioner and a JKD instructor. And, as I have said before, it seems nowadays that getting certified has become the ‘black belt’ of JKD. Also, I feel that the term “Jeet Kune Do” has in many ways become trivialized. For example, some martial art schools are now incorporating “JKD” as an addition to the rest of their martial art school curriculum. So you see a martial art school advertising things like “Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Kenpo, Muay Thai, Jeet Kune Do”, etc. My question is, if JKD is about doing away with the whole idea of separation of various styles and names, and about “totality” in martial art, then one do you include it as one of a bunch of various arts. It’s like saying, “We have “totality”, but also this and this and this. It might be a philosophical point, but it doesn’t make sense to me. But I guess it has to do with marketing.
What are the essential characteristics of your approach to JKD at the Kent Institute?
My approach is the same as it has always been. I haven’t changed the overall process. It’s pretty simple, really. I look at the body as a ‘martial instrument’ and my job is to help an individual cultivate their own instrument to the highest degree of efficiency and effectiveness which they are capable of. It gets back to the whole idea about, ”We have two arms and two legs. How do we learn to use them with maximum efficiency?” I know it’s been stated countless times before, but Jeet Kune Do is a ‘process’ not a ‘product.’ There is definitely a form of training progression, a guiding a person from point A to point Z, while at the same time allowing them the freedom to explore and create as they develop into a complete martial artist capable of expressing themselves combatively. As a teacher, one of my main priorities is to encourage students to think for themselves as they develop what we call the ‘educated eye’ and the ‘discerning mind’.
Who would you have liked to train with that you have not (dead or alive)?
I consider myself one of the luckiest people on the planet to have had the opportunity to train with and assist Dan Inosanto for thirteen years. And through my involvement in JKD I have had the opportunity to meet and train with some of the top professionals in numerous martial arts, some briefly, and some for a longer time. So I cannot really think of anyone off-hand that I would like to have trained with.
How has your personal JKD developed over the years?
It goes back to what I discussed in question #3. It’s all about cultivating the body as a martial instrument. I am always on the lookout for better ways to train and better ways to impart knowledge to my students. I am always seeking to increase my level of understanding in all of the various aspects such as technical training, physical conditioning, mental training, etc.
You have trained with many first generation students of the Chinatown school as well As the formation of the Bruce Lee Foundation. Give us insights into the unique characteristics of each person.
I’ve been fortunate to train with so many of the first generation guys, all of whom I considered my big brothers as I was coming up in the art, that it would honestly be impossible for me to define how each of them approaches the art. Suffice it to say that some have a greater depth and breadth of knowledge than others. Some are more laid back and quiet in their approach, while others are more outgoing. One similarity I have noted is that Taky Kimura, Dan Inosanto, and Ted Wong are all very similar in their demeanor. They are all quiet in their speech and always quick to defer the spotlight away from themselves onto someone else. Richard Bustillo is very honest and forthright. He won’t pull any punches and will tell you exactly what he thinks of you. I always felt that he and Dan were the perfect team, because it was like Yin and Yang. Bob Bremer has a very dry sense of humor. But most important, each of these guys can offer you some insight into JKD and Bruce Lee. With regard to the Bruce Lee Foundation, as you know, I resigned from the Board of Directors of the original Bruce Lee Educational Foundation in 2002. This summer I accepted Shannon’s invitation to serve as an advisor to their new organization.
Is there a connection between attaining mastery of a martial art and social obligation?
Absolutely. With any form of power comes responsibility. Jeet Kune Do is about relationship, and we as people of this planet have to relate to each other, be it neighbor to neighbor, state to state, or nation to nation. We are all part of the greater whole. As a martial artist I believe you have the obligation to try and help make the world a better place. And how do you do that? By helping people become better human beings. If all you are interested in is fighting, you’re going to have a pretty bleak and depressing life. If you really understand what Bruce was talking about, you cannot help but realize that you have social obligation.
What is the philosophical basis of your training?
My philosophical basis is built upon the words surrounding the JKD emblem – “Using No Way as Way; Having No Limitation as Limitation.” That says it all. And that not only relates to my training but also to how I try to live my life.
What is the training progression at the Kent Institute?
My current training progression is a variation of the training progression established by Dan Inosanto when he opened the first public JKD school. We have four levels or phases of training, each which builds upon the previous one. The idea is that by the time the student attains level four, they have not only a functional working knowledge of most of the technical elements of JKD, but also a clear philosophical understanding of what it’s all about.
What are your future goals?
To keep perpetuating the art and philosophy of JKD to the best of my abilities through all the various ways; teaching seminars, writing books and magazine articles, creating training dvd’s, etc.
Chris Kent can be reached at www.kentmartialscience.com
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