The Status Quo - The state of things as they are at the moment. The current state of affairs.

One of the dangers of the martial arts world is that, on various scales, it has a tendency to operate as a closed environment. Martial artists, instructors and fighters try to find inspiration within their particular martial art itself. Couple this with the idea (mandate) that the rules of combat were written in the 70's and 80's and all that is usefull-functional has been discovered and implemented. Because of this thinking alot of territory has remainded concealed and unexplored. I have trained people over the years who tell me me that they experience "deja vu" when training with various instructors around the country. This is because instead of being introduced to modern technology they are reintroduced to 'traditional JKD training' which has been going on for decades. If a person has extensive training experience why would they be content to simply repeat past training. Some people have become too easily satisfied. They are always learning but never coming to the truth.

JKD In The Crosshairs

The Jeet Kune Do community at large has become a frozen wastland of "fire harded" kali sticks, plastic knives, pretend straight blasts, cooperative energy drills, dead patterns and piece meal grappling. Standardized JKD has been weighed and found wanting. Standardized JKD may be better than traditional martial arts, but in tems of it's promise of being 'complete' and 'functional' it still has a long way to go.

One argument is that JKD itself may only be in it's own adolescense. It seems to be slowly approaching maturity. There are growth spurts here and there. Acceptance and rejection. The attitude of many instructors is what may be hampering it's development however. Lineage, certification, loyalty, organization, tradition, propaganda and subversion seem to be thriving in the JKD community.

Steeling the mind vs. Stealing the mind

At the very least JKD has reached a 'post ideological era'. It's no longer about belonging to a group or haveing a certificate from a big name instructor. It's not about getting anyones approval. It's about the individuals performance. It's about the individual excelling at the various martial skills they train. Self Preservation training is not a vehicle for 'spiritual development'. It's not meant to move you emotionally. One should be seeking the very heart/nature of physical combat and trying to solve the problem therein. There should be a willingness to take a lowly place. If you consider yourself to be better than or above others how will you ever develop past your own personal 'status quo'. Somehow a desire for certification has crept in unnoticed. Certificates being the prize that gives one credibility and belonging as the 'holder' of the certificate and gives another authority as the 'giver' of the certificate. Having a certificate as a record of training experience is fine. But using it to show rank or ability is another story.

Modern JKD training should be geared for Self Preservation and should include the following:

• Threat Recognition
• Empty Hands Striking
• Close Quarter Combat
• Clinch
• Ground
• Stick
• Knife
• Empty Hands vs Knife (Counter Knife)
• Projectiles
• Improvised Weapons
• OC Spray
• Firearms
• Psychological Applications
• Personal Development - Strength Training, Endurance Training, Speed, Timing, Reaction etc.

Functionalize or Fossilize

If you are going to train Counter Assault Tactics (Pain - Pressure - Terminate) you will eventually have to use training gear so that you will actually be able to make contact with your opponent in every phase of your counter assault. Some people have their opponent put on a motorcycle helmet so they can straight blast and elbow strike but their 'entry' is still faked. A motorcycle helmet does not allow you to actually thigh kick your opponent. You need to use proper training gear. FIST and REDMAN gear are excellent products for such training. Those who do not use gear will find out that the "form" that they have spent so much time developing can, will and does fall apart when you make hard contact with a resistive opponent. You also need to include the "Psychological Ammo" along with your tactics. Again, if you have never done your preferred tactics against resistance and while "under the influence of the "Psych Ammo" your game may fall apart the first time you do.

If you want to progress in your knife and stick training you have to get away from 'only hitting the hand' to get a feel for realistic weapons combat. How will you ever know if "your" head is open if no one ever tries to hit it. Likewise, how will you ever be able to take advantage of your opponents bad posture if you never strike at that line. The use of fencing helmets for stick fighting and paint knives for knife fighting are crucial. I personally do not like Kendo helmets for stick fighting. They provide too much protection and create a false sense of security which encourages an unrealistic approach to combat. I do not like the 'expensive' paint knives either. You can use a five dollar product with great results. Padded weapons also have their place for tactical application but must be used methodically.

You must also move away from knife vs knife and stick vs stick. It is of the utmost importance to train 'stick vs knife' and 'knife vs stick' and 'chair vs knife' and 'bottle vs chain' etc. and to understand the tactics involved in each element.

Knife fighting is not empty hands vs knife. Empty hands vs knife must be trained independant of any other knife training. There must be a "realistic methodology" used for counter knife training. 'Counter Knife' is a much more likley scenario than knife vs knife. Cooperative training drills and dead patterns will not take you to the level of skill needed to 'counter a knife attack empty handed'.

Firearms training has been taken to an incredible, heretofore unattainable level with the development of the Simunition® cartridges. Live/Lethal fire range training is crucial but we now can train 'Live'/Non Lethal fire, man against man, with actual firearms. You must first understand safety, basic gun handleing, marksmanship and tactics. Most people will be concerned with 'home defense' (unless you have a concealed weapons permit). Training should encompass tactics for defending yourself/family in an urban environment. The two main home defense firearms are handgun and shotgun.

The use of OC (pepper) Spray is a still unexplored option for many. Some buy and carry the product without any training. This is truly irresponsible. Compehensive safety/tactical training with the use of inert trainers has helped to functionalize this option. There is quite a bit one should know about the product and it's use before trying to implement it.

Many who preach the benefit of learning and training close quarter combat (trapping range???) have never really brought their training to a level of realistic application. The extensive/exclusive use of energy drills and cooperative opponents have hindered the functionality of their tactics. Training the 'clinch' has enhanced the overall feel and application of close quarter tactics and brought the attribute levels up to a new high. Understanding how to get 'inside' your opponent and take a position of advantage and go counter for counter is extremly useful.

Look me in my brand new eye

Don't even say the words "Anti-Terrorism" if all you got is punching and kicking going for you. Anti-Terrorism should have tactics that extensivley cover options that can be used "before hands get layed on". It's not about fighting. We learned that lesson long ago. I still cannot understand it when a "martial" artist is anti gun. Especially when they think they are going to disarm one from six feet away. I've heard some say "I don't want to kill anyone", as if guns we're a magical killing device. Any tactician knows you don't shoot to kill, you shoot to stay alive. Killing someone is incidental if not accidental. You should be shooting to put down a lethal threat to yourself, your loved ones or the innocent, not trying to kill. And yes my martial friends, a person can die from a good strike to the head with a pair of nunchaku, a baseball bat, a pipe or a two by four as well. So wake up and smell the tiger balm. The graveyards are full of people who "flinched when the big, bad wolf came a knockin".

There is always problem number one and problem number two. Problem number one is the lethal force encounter. Problem number two is everything that arises out of that encounter. You will never have problem number two if you don't solve problem number one first. But if you don't solve problem number one, well, who knows???