"Art Of Action" Seminar Review
11-27-2009 Friday: November 13, 2009
This year’s Bruce Lee Foundation Jeet Kune Do Seminar was held at Universal City’s Sheraton Hotel in the heart of Los Angeles, California. I waited a whole year for this and was also eager to see if any of last years Seattle Seminar attendees would show up as well. Apparently, it was that and more.
The first thing I saw in the distance while walking through the Sheraton Hotel’s hallway was a big blue picture banner of Bruce Lee. “I am finally here,” I told myself. We (myself, my teacher Sifu Richard Torres, James ter Beek, George Sirag, and company) arrived too early. The volunteers of the Bruce Lee Foundation just started to lay out the latest Bruce Lee merchandise for purchase. Early bird catches the worm, I guess.
Minutes later, people started to gather. All were itching to register and buy whatever merchandise that was on the table before anybody else did. In between the volunteers stood the woman of the hour, Shannon Lee (if you’ve been living under a rock, she’s the daughter of the late great martial artist, Bruce Lee). She greeted everyone with a warm “hello” and a great big smile. Then out of the blue, came the inseparable George Lee and Allen Joe (students of Bruce Lee). As soon as Shannon Lee saw George Lee and Allen Joe arrive, she immediately gave big hugs to both of them as if they were her favorite uncles. After registration and buying ALMOST all the Bruce Lee merchandise I could afford, we left the registration area to drive off to a place I’ve always dreamed of visiting…Bruce Lee’s 3rd gung fu school in Chinatown, Los Angeles.
We arrived and parked across Bruce Lee’s gung fu school on College Street. There it was, in all its glory. We were finally at the school were Bruce Lee taught Jeet Kune Do. We walked across the street quickly and carefully, just to be in front of the door that read “628”. Wow, I was standing on the sidewalk were Bruce Lee once stood. It was so surreal and I couldn’t believe that I was actually here. Even though I was basking in the moment, there was one part that disturbed me. We looked through the dirty glass windows were Bruce Lee’s school used to be, and saw nothing but chairs, dirt, and garbage all over the floor. The building was abandoned. We all had a short discussion and concluded that the Jun Fan Gung Fu School on 628 College Street should be preserved and turned into a museum of some sort. This was Bruce Lee’s last school in the United States before he moved to Hong Kong and it should be a landmark for all Bruce Lee fans and Jeet Kune Do enthusiast to see and be proud of. Famous martial artists and friends of Bruce Lee like Ted Wong, Daniel Lee, Dan Inosanto, Jerry Poteet, Steve Golden, Bob Bremer, and others all trained together in this very building. Hopefully one day, someone will preserve its history for the sake of those who want to keep Bruce Lee’s legacy alive.
Later, we then headed towards Jillian’s on Universal City Walk near the Sheraton Hotel. The Bruce Lee Foundation kicked off the “Art Of Action” seminar with the “Art of Fighting Without Fighting” bowling competition. I had a great time. I mean, granted I haven’t bowled in a few years and my bowling average was about 80 something, it was fun to see everyone laughing and enjoying themselves. Shannon Lee gave out prizes to the bowlers that not only had the highest score but had the great style, the best gutter ball…etc. 9:30pm came and it was time for us to rest up. Saturday was the day to start training…
Saturday: November 14, 2009
We ate breakfast at a local restaurant and arrived back to the Sheraton half an hour before the seminar started. The morning weather of the seminar was cool and brisk. It felt like a good day to do some training. From the Sheraton lobby, we headed down the stairs towards the ballrooms, Terrace B and C, which was converted into the BLF training area for the seminar. The training area was still being prepped and no one was allowed inside to even stretch. This was the perfect opportunity to get to know the people who came to train. It was amazing. There were people from all over. People from Australia, Germany, Spain…all came to Los Angeles just to learn from Bruce Lee’s Students and other well-respected Jeet Kune Do instructors. I also interacted with people from the United States as well. People from San Francisco, Los Angeles, Florida, Ohio, and yes, even New Jersey (represent). I was proud to see people from all over travel vast distances to learn a martial art that Bruce Lee left behind some thirty something years ago. There were also non-martial artists that came and were ready to learn their first instructions into jeet kune do. Again, amazing.
As soon as the training area was ready to go, we all entered with anticipation and excitement. First jeet kune do instructor that was ready to teach was none other than Jerry Poteet, his wife Fran, and his JPJKD Association. Soon as everyone finished stretching, Linda Lee Cadwell walked in the room. All of us stood up and waited for her to speak. She and Jerry Poteet greeted each other with a “Hello” as well with his wife and his associates. Linda then stood in front of the crowd and started to thank everyone for coming and supporting the Bruce Lee Foundation. With a gracious smile, she then introduced Jerry Poteet and from there, the seminar began.
Jerry Poteet started us on the straight lead and also explained the fundamentals of the arch punch. Octavio Quintero, Jerry’s lead instructor under him, demonstrated lead kicks to the leg, interception to the opponents shin, as a matter of fact. We drilled on that interception according to Octavio’s instruction. Barry St. John, another instructor under Jerry, showed us techniques on how to get out an assailant grapple.
Andy Kimura, son of Taky Kimura, was up to teach. Taky Kimura also thanked everyone for coming and expressed to everyone that they were going to teach Jun Fan Gung Fu not Jeet Kune Do. He pointed out that even though Bruce moved from Jun Fan Gung Fu, it’s important to know where he started from.
Afterwards, Allen Joe started his part of the seminar. Even though he didn’t teach jeet kune do, he strongly expressed that you should be in shape for any type of physical activity. We trained on our breathing, stretching, and went over some great work out regimens to apply in any weight training routine.
Next session to instruct jeet kune do was Greg Smith Sr., student under Ted Wong. Greg Smith demonstrated the body mechanics of executing a straight lead. He also showed us to tuck in the thumb inside the index finger when shooting out the straight lead to hit. “Alignment” is the word he used. He then also showed us the body mechanics of the hook punch for us to practice on.
The seminar ended and the JKD Summit that everyone was looking forward too was about to begin. A larger crowd started to form in Terrance B and C Ballroom of the Sheraton Hotel. Trainers from the morning and walk-ins who heard about the JKD Summit stood aimlessly to discuss the current state of Jeet Kune Do.
Shannon Lee walked in holding to what appeared to be an album of some sort, the type of album that held photographs. On its cover, the Core Symbol of Jeet Kune Do. Walking in right behind her was Linda Lee Cadwell and a few advisors from the Bruce Lee Foundation. They all sat in the front, waiting for Shannon Lee to being the summit.
Shannon Lee stood up and commented how the seminar was going and was grateful for everyone that participated. She looked over to the big crowd that was looking back at her and discussed what was in stored for the Foundation. One particular project that the Foundation was working on that caught everyone’s attention was releasing Bruce Lee’s HANDWRITTEN notes on Jeet Kune Do. She stood the album up on the table where she was sitting on and explained that for the last couple years, she wanted to release Bruce Lee’s handwritten notes to the public but fell short of its progress. Finally, the project was revitalized and now it’s on full steam ahead to be released! She then introduced us to a gentleman from Browns River Records Preservation Services that is helping her with this project. From what I gather, this gentleman’s company preserved Bruce Lee’s handwritten notes by somehow retaining its actual details to clearest degree. All of us were intrigued and was eager to look into the book. I was relieved that finally there was something that any JKD instructor, martial artist, or non-martial artist can look back and research from. Now it was time for the Foundation's issues...
Shannon Lee suggested that the only way that ALL OF US could get a say or get feedback is to break up into groups. In the groups, we were to express our ideas or concerns we had for the Bruce Lee Foundation and we had to list them down on a large piece of paper. Everyone had to pick ONE person to represent and speak in front of everyone about what the group came up with. My teacher looked at me and told me I was chosen to represent the group. Yay!
Many groups had great ideas. One expressed a real biopic, in three parts, on Bruce Lee. Another one mentioned a concern about how the Bruce Lee Foundation events are not being publicized, as it should be. Others expressed that the BLF needed a strong leadership and objectives to meet new goals. The group behind me had a great idea of some sort of emailing system where we can get in touch with Bruce Lee’s students and their student about questions on Jeet Kune Do.
It was my turn to speak. My group and I discussed about the politics in the realm of Jeet Kune Do. ONE man doesn’t have all the answers (except Bruce Lee). The Foundation used to be a family but all of a sudden a conflict of whose jeet kune do was “better” or who is “right” in teaching in the way that Bruce Lee taught it, caused a separation. Factions were then later formed and it no longer was a family. In order for us to make the Bruce Lee Foundation bigger than it already is we have to get passed the “who is right, who is wrong” annoyances and finally to start letting go of OLD problems, OLD conflict, OLD rumors of the past. We all have to move on from the past or otherwise it’s going to presently destroy the future of the Foundation.
The next concern was the art, which Bruce Lee left behind, jeet kune do. Jeet Kune Do has taken a back seat instead of being the forefront in the eyes of those who exploit Bruce Lee through personal gain. Be it as it may, even though Bruce Lee is an iconic figure in martial arts, his jeet kune do has been in the line of question. There are those who still do not know what jeet kune do is let alone have others who do not know of its roots, teach it as something else. Jeet Kune Do needs to be preserved as a whole. In order for us to know what jeet kune do is, we must research it through the notes Bruce Lee wrote down (hence the NEW Commentaries of the Martial Way via Bruce Lee’s handwritten notes project) and understand why he chose these particular elements.
This next issue was about jeet kune do instructors being responsible for their students, especially on Internet forums. I pointed out that there are certain Internet forums that allow students of highly respectable jeet kune do instructors; act irresponsible on the nonsense they post up. Students should and must always be respectful to people and to other martial arts. Isn’t that a given? I also suggested that these jeet kune do students SHOULDN’T post at ALL on these Internet forums ONLY IF they were to act careless. Teachers should always put their student in place if such recklessness is being presented. As it should be.
The following was not a concern but a suggestion. I mentioned that the group I arrived to the seminar with went to Bruce Lee’s school in Chinatown in downtown Los Angeles. I told the crowd how much it was a blessing to be at a place where Bruce Lee stood and taught and also iterated about how it was abandoned. Of course, I suggested to everyone to encourage the Bruce Lee Foundation or anyone that wants to get involved to preserve the school Bruce Lee left behind. It would be a great addition to California’s landmark. It’s a part of history that California would be proud of especially to jeet kune do practioners and martial artists alike.
The issue that I also talked about was the Bruce Lee Educational Foundation, formed late 90s/early 2000s, had nearly 200 some odd members. When times changed and it became the Bruce Lee Foundation, somehow politics got involved and the members varied in numbers. Is it a lack of promotion or involvement? Could it be because of the undisputed politics its nonsense tarnished what was a promising outlook on carrying the legacy of Bruce Lee? Or maybe the divided factions within the jeet kune do family ruined a chance of being a united foundation?
After I and the other groups that were left to speak finished expressing concerns and issues, Shannon Lee responded in a way that all made sense. She pointed out that it’s very hard to run a foundation especially where an iconic figure like Bruce Lee is involved. One person can make things happen however, when the going gets tough, you need help on your side. The Board Members and the Advisory Board isn’t running the Bruce Lee Foundation 24/7. These individuals have day jobs and family to take care of. Shannon then offered anyone who really want this Foundation to be strong, to go out and organize a jeet kune do seminar and get it approved by the Foundation in hopes for their participation. All of us need to do our part and help out the Foundation exceed its limitations. She also said that families do fight and argue. The Foundation is a family and there will be times of conflict but when it all comes down to it, we are still a family. Shannon Lee was on point. No matter what faction was formed or what rumors were spread, or whose jeet kune do is right, everything points back to Bruce Lee, a man who believed that under the heavens, we are but ONE family. We rise together, we fall together, and we get back up together. We are in this family together whether we like it or not.
Sunday: November 15, 2009
It was another brisk morning in the city of Los Angeles. We began the last day of the seminar with Bruce Lee’s student, Richard Bustillo.
Richard Bustillo instructed us to form lines. I was in front of the line standing at least 8 feet of Mr. Bustillo. We started out with stretches and out of all people Mr. Bustillo could have chosen, he chose me to show everyone how he wanted everyone to stretch. He demonstrated how to stretch your legs with the help of your partner. Then he got down to business and started to teach jeet kune do. He taught a few things like a stop kick from a static position. Right after, he had us practice on a few kicks with punch combination and hitting while parrying.
Tim Tackett and the Wednesday Night Group were up next. Mr. Tackett showed us a way gain more reach with a straight lead from a static position. Jeremy Lynch, instructor under Tim Tackett, explained the body mechanics of the hook kick, and Dennis Blue, another instructor under Tim Tackett, had us practice on the shoulder roll with a rear hand follow up.
Tommy Carruthers, international jeet kune do instructor from Scotland, addressed that "Agression" was missing from everyone's training. Mr. Carruthers had us kick as if someone was attacking us, in other words, using emotional content with the intention of laying down the opponent make them hurt. He wanted us to really work it out so we did two kicking drills to amplify the training session. He ended his seminar with shaking everyone’s hand with a job well done
Last but not least to teach was Mario Magdangal, student under Bruce Lee and James Yimm Lee. We started with footwork. Mario emphasized that footwork was important especially in a fight that was moving quickly. We then practiced on a few more things like my favorite, the Five Corner Kicking. Lastly, we ended off seminar with trapping hands.
It was time for the BLF Luncheon that was located at the top of Sheraton Hotel. I raced to my hotel room, took a shower, and got dressed. I anxiously waited to see what the BLF had in store for the luncheon. As I took the elevator up to the top floor I had a momentary flash back of what had happened for the last two days. This seminar was indeed a memorable and a great experience at the same time. The first thing I saw when I got out of the elevator was the Bruce Lee traveling exhibit. Shannon Lee mentioned during the JKD Summit that the exhibit was something to look forward to for the luncheon. The luncheon was in an incredible decorated ballroom. There was a sea of tables and chairs occupied by the people I’ve trained with for two days and many other individuals that supported the BLF. On one side of the ballroom were items that were up for silent auctioning (UFC material, History Channel DVDS, Bruce Lee books, Bruce Lee shirts, posters, etc). At the last table, on the far end, were THE Bruce Lee collectables that were going to be auctioned off to the public. There was the JKD Dragon Ring, the 600 dollar price ranged statuette of Bruce Lee made by Enterbay, the Nokia Cellular Phone “Bruce Lee Edition” that was release in China, and last but not least, every Bruce Lee collectors dream…two of Bruce Lee’s business cards. BLACK AND WHITE. Truly amazing. One of these days I’ll own at least ONE Bruce Lee business card. Only time and money will tell.
Shannon Lee stood behind the podium and started to speak. Everyone took their seats and listened to what the daughter of Bruce Lee had to say. She discussed how the seminar training went and thanked all the instructors that taught. Also, she thanked the participants that went because without them, there would be no seminar. Shannon Lee then took out the album of Bruce Lee handwritten notes and discussed the plans and its progression to the public who weren’t aware of its purpose. It was time for us to eat. I grabbed as much food off the buffet line before it was all gone. Hey, that’s just me, I guess.
After the lunch, Shannon introduced George Lee, student of Bruce Lee, to the podium to speak about his memories with Bruce and the book he had out “Regards from the Dragon: Oakland”. He talked for a few short minutes and apologized. He says that sometimes he gets choked up when talking about Bruce knowing that he’s not alive. Immediately, after George Lee walked away from the podium, a slide show of Bruce Lee and George was displayed.
Shannon Lee then introduced Taky Kimura to the podium to also share his memories about Bruce. Taky spoke about the history of how he met Bruce and how he changed his life. Very touching, especially from a man that was oppressed during the days that the Japanese wasn’t fully accepted in the United States. He also told the story about how Bruce wanted him to be in the movie “Game Of Death” and how after a long process of convincing, Taky said yes. Unfortunately, ten days after Taky agreed to do the movie, Bruce Lee died. He thanked Bruce for what he has done for him and will never forget his friendship. Another slide show of Bruce Lee with Taky Kimura was displayed after Taky left the podium.
The last guest speaker of the luncheon that Shannon Lee introduced to the podium was none other than Dianna Lee Inosanto, the daughter of Dan Inosanto (instructor under Bruce Lee for the Chinatown Los Angeles Gung Fu School). Dianna introduced her film “The Sensai” and talked about its importance of why it was made. The film addressed many things on many levels rather being a martial arts film. It showed bigotry, confliction of homosexuality, breaking tradition, extreme discrimination, and most importantly gaining courage to rise above it all no matter who you are in this world.
The auction for the Bruce Lee collectibles commenced and it was unbelievable. Bid ranged from 1,000 dollars and up. The most expensive bid for a Bruce Lee collectable was of course, the Bruce Lee Business cards. The bid passed 2,000 dollars in less than 30 seconds. Believe me the bid was nearly almost to 10, 000 dollars after a minute.
Before the luncheon ended, Shannon thanked everyone for coming. She also thanked the volunteers that helped out for the last three days and was blessed to have them around. She also mentioned that the bid money was going towards a good cause and will also help build the Bruce Lee Action Museum (BLAM) that is being built in Seattle, Washington. She mentioned that everything is progressively moving and soon enough the Bruce Lee Foundation will be bigger and will continue to grow as time permits. With that said and done the luncheon was over and everyone tried to get their last minute signature and picture with Shannon, Linda and the rest of the Bruce Lee Foundation Instructors.
This seminar was a great learning experience. The JKD Summit WILL always be something to look forward every year. It will definitely be a long road ahead and it is up to us to help the Bruce Lee Foundation be what it can be and should be. It is our duty to make people aware of who Bruce Lee was and is to martial arts..ESPECIALLY, the jeet kune do he left behind. Its simplicity, directness, and its non-classical roots of fighting are there for us to explore and learn. With the soon to be release of Bruce Lee’s handwritten notes, we will gain a better understanding of what jeet kune do is and why it is important to learn the science of it, the strategy of it, and the way it was intended by the man himself. We must keep his legacy alive and by doing that, we must keep reminding and re-introducing the world that there is one man on this earth that will definitely kick your ass if he was live today. Bruce Lee is that man.
