by Sifu Martin O'Neill

Question: What is Jeet Kune Do and what does it mean to you ?

Sifu Kimura: JKD is Si Gung Bruce Lee's personal system of combat. The ultimate expression of unarmed combat. When I say combat I mean real fighting, not sport fighting with rules and that kind of thing. Because JKD uses all ways and is bound by none, it has no limitations. This allows the practitioner of JKD to freely adapt to the situation at hand, harmonise and overcome.

Question: What is the difference between JKD and Jun Fan Gung Fu?

Sifu Kimura: In many ways it is just semantics. But, if I was to make a distinction it would be that when Bruce had what he called a, "system" of martial arts that was the Jun Fan method which had a certain set curriculum. When he changed the name to JKD he felt that each individual had to find his/her own "truth". Then the teacher becomes a sign post or a guide to helping the student explore himself. You may also look at one as the root and the other being the blossomings so to speak.

Question: What kind of training methods and techniques are used in you kwoon in Seattle? How long has your kwoon been established?

Sifu Kimura: We practice many of the same techniques handed down by Sifu Bruce. We have incorporated some new exercises considering the advances in sports science and training philosophies in the past few decades. I feel it is important to be aware of new information that pertains to training and how it effects the body. I am talking basically about the best and safest way to get and stay in shape etc. The Jun Fan Club has been operating since 1961 when it was first opened by Sifu Bruce and my father.

Question: Do you follow the original program set down by Bruce Lee? Have you added anything new?

Sifu Kimura: As far as techniques we don't feel the need to add to what we feel is already a complete and functional system. As I have said what we do is very basic and the power of something, I believe, lies in it's simplicity. We mainly follow the original program Bruce left us with. We all have strengths and weaknesses as individuals. Bruce could do many things I cannot, so I must learn to make up for my short comings in other ways. As Bruce said I must find the cause of my ignorance. This of course leads to a different path interpretation or expression of what will be seen as "JKD" in the end result

Quetion: Have you trained with Dan Inosanto? What is his approach to JKD and are there differences in the Seattle approach? How does it vary or is the basis the same?

Sifu Kimura: Yes, I have trained with Sifu Inosanto. Again, Sifu Inosanto's JKD and my father's are at the same time different and the same. The basis of information is in many cases the same but each man is an individual and in the end Bruce taught each individual according to what he thought that person needed. Obviously what we do in our club is different I would say it is not as sophisticated as what they are doing at the Academy. It represents the basics whereas the L.A. stuff is pretty much where you find Bruce's final product. The best way I can put is like this My Father and Dan were both Bruce's assistants and friends and they both ran schools for him. Now if I'm Bruce I'm going to teach them both the same material from the beginning on thru and keep them both appraised of what I'm developing and so forth. Now in my fathers case he was with Bruce mostly in the early years where he stressed different things and when he gets to L.A. he is evolving further and again stressing what he feels is more important to him at that time.

Question: Are their any major differences in the Seattle Oakland and L.A. methods? If so what are they?

Sifu Kimura: Yes and no. Again the root is the same but it evolved and became less classical. The boxing hands were more important in Oakland as well as the more alive footwork. By the time Bruce was in L.A. he had met and was influenced by many prominent and skilled martial artists. My father always said that Bruce would look at someone doing a particular style and point out what he thought was good about what that person was doing and what he thought was not so good.

Question: What is the difference between Jun Fan Gung Fu and Wing Chun? How far did Bruce get in with Wing Chun?

Sifu Kimura: Bruce modified what he learned in that he used what he thought was functional. If you are asking if he "finished" the wing Chun system I'm not sure but in any case he had a deep understanding of the art and fighting. Again I think if you understand the root you understand all it's blossomings.

Question: What would you say to those critics who say JKD is incomplete and needs additional arts such as Jujitsu and other forms of grappling?

Sifu Kimura: I would say that Bruce had a complete system. Few people know of how extensively Bruce trained in the grappling arts and to what extent he incorporated those principles in his "way". What I mean is Bruce knew Wally Jay and Hayward Nishioka as well as other judoka in Seattle one of them being my father who learned Judo in the internment camps during the Second World War. And if you understand Judo you know where it came from (Jujitsu) how it differs from its parent art and what harmful techniques were taken out and why. If the critics are referring to Brazilian jujitsu. I would say to those critics read extensively about the art and watch his movies and it's plain to see the elements of grappling within the art. Furthermore in my opinion it is not practical in a real situation to roll round on the ground and be tied up with someone for that long. Although there is a time and place for everything. My experiences in real confrontations have led me to my conclusions and that is another article.

Question: Was Bruce Lee a great fighter or just a showman?

Sifu Kimura: Bruce was both a great fighter and a great showman.

Question: What was the relationship between your father and Bruce Lee?

Sifu Kimura: They were by all accounts very close friends. They had a unique relationship in that my father was old enough to be his father and yet Bruce was the teacher.

Question: Do you regard Bruce Lee as warrior or a philosopher?

Sifu Kimura: The Samurai have saying, unlike the western addadge "the pen is mightier than the sword" the Japanese say "pen and sword in harmony". A true warrior has a balance of both physical and philosophical. So he was both warrior and philosopher.

Question: How long have you been training?

Sifu Kimura: Well I've been around the arts since I was a baby but I would say I have trained more seriously for the last fifteen years.

Question: What is the future of the JKD nucleus?

Sifu Kimura: It has ceased operations currently. The organisation will reform as the Bruce Lee Foundation with new members and some of the former ones, including my Father, Ted Wong and Allen Joe and of course, Linda and Shannon.

Question: Your self, and Sibak Taky are visiting Ireland what is the purpose of the visit?

Sifu Kimura: To Bring Bruce's message of brotherhood and to share his art with the people of Ireland.

Question: What do you think of the interest being shown in Bruce in Ireland and the U.K.?

Sifu Kimura: I think its great. He really has a positive message to convey via his martial philosophy. He is still a great role model for young people today. I think that is very important.

Question: What does the future hold for Andy Kimura?

Sifu Kimura: I intend to do my best to share the art I've been entrusted with without commercialising and clouding it. I hope to find a happy medium between what my father has been doing all these years and where I would like to see the art go.

Question: Do you intend to go on the seminar circuit?

Sifu Kimura: Yes, I think that would be a good way to reach people from around the globe who can't make it to Seattle and are interested in what we are doing.