Jeet Kune Do - Seminar 2024
Highlights, experiences, and insights into using no way; as way and having no limitation; as limitation…
Over the course of 4-days, our students experienced the teachings of Bruce Lee’s very own Jeet Kune Do (JKD), demonstrated by Sifu Fran Poteet-Joseph, president of Jerry Poteet Jeet Kune Do Association (JPJKD) with a direct lineage to the legend himself, Bruce Lee.
Seminar insights
Students learned about;
- Catching beats of time
- Broken Rhythm
Amongst many other JKD applications including three speeds of JKD and secret power principles.
Catching beats of time
Referring to combat beats of time in JKD, students learned and practiced how to combine 3 or 4 separate movements into 1 whole.
Take a strike for example…
Move 1 – Parry and slip the opponents strike
Move 2 – Move off-centre from the opponent strike
Move 3 – Strike the opponent
…all became one move (or one motion), without intention, therefore catching the beat of time. One motion without any pausing in-between. By applying ‘’catching beats of time’’ to each JKD movement, students were able to strike and kick faster.
Photo featuring Zen Combat members practising Pat Sao JKD Application and striking - catching beats of time.
Broken Rhythm
In pairs, students also practiced the ‘’broken rhythm’’ JKD application, using focus mitts. Primarily focusing on ‘straight punch’ with the lead hand (1) followed by a rear hand cross (2), followed by another lead hand straight punch (3).
3 strikes in total, applying the broken rhythm throughout. What do we mean by broken rhythm? That no strike is ever the same. Take the below as examples...
1,2,3 (striking one after the other)
1,2…..3 (striking one, two –break rhythm– followed by a quick three)
1….2,3 (striking one –break rhythm-, followed by a quick two, three)
Photo featuring Matt during Broken Rhythm and Reaction drills. Looking extra focused!
During the seminar, students also worked on three speeds of JKD, secret power principles, reaction times, sweeps and groundwork.
Always requiring pure focus and awareness, ensuring every student took the opportunity to catch beats of time, stay unpredictable by breaking their rhythm whilst keeping up their speed and as Sifu Fran mentioned ‘’explosive power’’.
Photo featuring Caroline and Valerie demostrating a take-down.
What did our students think?
‘’Great learning environment. Full of friendly and helpful people. I look forward to attending again in future’’ - Will
‘’Valuable and informative. Beats of time are hard to control in combat sports so it was fun learning about them.'’ - Tom
‘’We both really enjoyed the JKD weekend seminar. We covered a lot but the pace was good. We liked the fact that Sifu Fran broke the moves down further to help us understand them more. Amazing experience!’’ - Sarah and Richard
‘’Incredible experience and training from the best of the best. Very fortunate and grateful to have been taught by Sifu Fran. A huge thank you to Norm for organising the seminar and to everyone else within this family for making this weekend one to remember.’’ - Andrea
‘’Having taken part last year in this seminar, I was sorry that owing to physical illness I would miss this year. However, both Norm and Fran were very kind in letting me take part within my own limits. Fran was very gracious in praising me for doing what I could. I would thoroughly recommend taking this seminar next time she is in town!’’ - Jon
Seminar highlights
Sifu Norm Willis – Zen Combat Academy
After years of hard work, pure dedication, and his interest & passion for Jeet Kune Do, Sifu Norm Willis has received his full Jeet Kune Do Instructor Certification. Officially becoming the third generation of Bruce Lee's students - carrying on such an important legacy.
What an incredible moment this was for all of us at Zen.
Photo featuring Sifu Norm Willis being awarded his full JKD Instructor Qualification by Sifu Fran Poteet-Joseph.
More certifications…!
Amongst Norm, other students received their instructor qualifications ranging from Level 1 to fully certified, including;
- Caroline
- Valerie
- Terry
- Andrea
Photo featuring JPJKD Instructors; (L-R) Norm Willis, Fran Poteet-Joseph, Terry, Caroline and Valerie.
Private Training
Students had an incredible opportunity to privately train with Sifu Fran the day before and the day after the seminar. Providing more opportunities to learn, practise and narrow down to the bare essentials of Jeet Kune Do.
Special Thank you to Sifu Fran Poteet-Joseph...a great martial artist and a friend
A huge thank you to Sifu Fran Poteet-Joseph for travelling all the way from Beverly Hills to share her knowledge of Bruce Lee’s very own Jeet Kune Do. We are grateful not just for this weekend’s seminar but also to be part of JPJKD Association and thankful that Sifu Fran is carrying on such an incredible legacy – all around the world.