Ranking System for Jun Fan Gung Fu / Jeet Kune Do and Filipino Martial Arts

Ron's ranking system for Jeet Kune Do as well as the Filipino martial arts, out of the Practical Self Defense Training Center is basically a combination of the ways his teachers rank their students. Jun Fan Gung Fu / Jeet Kune Do should be understood to the fullest, within the different era's of Bruce Lee’s fighting methods as seen in the evolution of it's development.  A comprehensive combination of , Thai Boxing, Boxing, Wing Chun along with different grappling styles (Integrated Grappling Systems) will also be completely understood to develop certain attributes needed to be a good well rounded Jeet Kune Do player. The basic breakdown of how it is taught at the PSDTC goes as follows: 

• Getting yourself into fair physical condition is a good foundation to being able to start to contend with a serious self-defense situation and survive.

• Foot work for being evasive which leads to the development of skills for proper response in kicking, boxing and trapping range (Jun Fan Gung Fu or Panantukin)

• Boxing mechanics (Jun Fan Gung Fu or Panantukin)

• Kicking mechanics (Jun Fan Gung Fu, Jeet Kune Do)

• Bobbing, weaving, slipping, ducking (Jun Fan Gung Fu or Panantukin)

• Faking and feinting (Jun Fan Gung Fu or Panantukin)

• Kicking mechanics from Thai boxing or Pananjakman 

• Wing Chun concepts and theories  (Jeet Kune Do)

• Trapping along with entering into trapping (the use and understanding of head-butts, elbows, attacking the eyes and knees within this range also for self-defense purposes) 

• Intercepting methods (Jun Fan Gung Fu, Jeet Kune Do)

• Functional use of all tools done  with all the different training equipment such as striking apparatus and protective gear for a realistic feel along with timing rhythm and power (Jun Fan Gung Fu, Jeet Kune Do)

• Use of when and where to utilize the straight blast (jik chun choi) and all possible follow ups (Jun Fan Gung Fu, Jeet Kune Do)

• Nerve and joint destructions as it is done from Panantukin 

• Grappling take downs to good positions, riding, submissions and escapes with skillful sensitivity (for self defense purposes, wrestling with and without a stick or a blade with an armed partner is part of this curriculum). All this is to be learned to do without the use of strength so techniques work for anyone (The grappling range of Jun Fan Gung Fu, Jeet Kune Do)

• For Kali students, the use and defenses for weapons (stick and knife mostly) training from long range, right to grappling range (Kali, Arnis, Escrima)

Kali empty hands and weapons:

             Long range, mid range, what is considered to be trapping range and not surprisingly, clench range drills along with the understanding of the interpretations of all drills for a good understanding of Filipino Martial Arts as a combat discipline. A constant progression is accomplished and that will be noticed right away if all these different ranges are practiced with the empty hands aspects of Kali and needless to say, with weapons. You learn and evolve with different types of sparring drills in all ranges, with and without weapons to help you to attain the skill that will get you to each level. Below are the weapons areas to start with in all the before mentioned ranges to understand for Kali, Arnis, Eskrima as it is taught at the PSDTC:

• Stick Vs Stick

• Double stick Vs Double stick

• Knife Vs Knife

• Double knife Vs Double knife

• Flexible weapons Vs Flexible Weapons

• Flexible Weapons Vs Knife 

• Flexible Weapons Vs Empty hand

• Flexible Weapons Vs Stick

• Empty hand Vs Empty hand

• Empty hand Vs Stick

• Empty hand Vs Knife 

• Stick Vs Double stick

• Stick Vs Knife

• Knife Vs Double knife

• Double knife Vs Stick

Testing in Jeet Kune Do or Kali is done while you are training in class, being observed all the time, especially when it comes around the time to achieve your next level. For private students Ron occasionally brings in local students to train and do different drilling and sparring exercises with you. Ron looks for proper form, relaxation (especially in tight situations), explosiveness, and proper response with proper form together with the proper attitude a responsible martial artist should have.

"Education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance."

A note to remember for a more complete self defense skill level

          *Kali stick and knife fighting as well as flexible weapons, in all ranges the way it is taught at the Practical Self-Defense Training Center, is a very good additive for Jeet Kune Do student to have a good weapons base understanding to add to your empty hand skill, especially for self defense purposes. Which in turn makes the combination of the two a more complete self defense oriented martial science  (please note that Kali weapons as well as the empty hand portion are separate fighting methods or "styles" taught from Jeet Kune Do and carry two separate rank certificates with separate curriculums. That is a very common misunderstanding about Jeet Kune Do now a days). The Kali fighting system taught by Ron, although he had learned ideas from different Filipino martial arts instructors, is based mainly on the Lecosta / Inosanto and Lameco system of Kali, Arnis and Eskrima. Ron teaches it the way it was taught to him by Sifu/Guro Larry Hartsell, Paul Vunak, the late Guru Edgar Sulite, Grand Supreme Tuhon Leo Gaje and of coarse, Magulang Na Guru Dan Inosanto.

Ranking system for Jeet Kune Do and/or Kali goes as follows:

1. Beginning Level Student

2. Intermediate Level Student

3. Advance Level Student

4. Apprentice Instructor

5. Associate Instructor Level 1

6. Associate Instructor  Level 2  

7. Associate Instructor Level 3

8. Associate Instructor Level 4

9. Full Instructor  

10. Senior instructor  -  No one at the PSDTC is here as of yet 

"Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens."
 - Jimi Hendrix