Instructor's Corner
( March 2003 edition)

INSTRUCTOR PROFILE
Name: Marco Hernandez Name of club or organisation: Academy of Jeet Kune Do (Dallas) Website: www.academyjkd.com Contact Address: 3407 El Benito, Dallas, TX 75212

The Ten Questions

1. What was it that made you decide you wanted to learn Jeet Kune Do?

I had been out of the martial arts for over 3 years and decided to get back into it. My previous instructor had moved to Ireland. I started looking through the yellow pages and I searched for over 6 months while visiting/calling schools all over the Dallas area. I found a school that was teaching jkd and I liked how hard they trained and the simplicity of the art. At this time all I knew about jkd was that it was Bruce Lee’s art.

2. Would you describe yourself as an original Jeet Kune Do instructor or a concepts-based Jeet Kune Do instructor?

Well, obviously with Ted Wong being my instructor I would fall under original. But I don’t do what most “original” schools do. We do lots of practical/functional self defense drills. We spar a lot! And we don’t do any chi-sao, trapping, sensitivity drills, in other words we don’t use the Wing Chun stuff other schools do. Plus we are also influenced in functional jeet kune do by Adam and Rory Singer (www.thehardcoregym.net). I bring them in twice a year to work with us on clinch and ground fighting.

3. If you could meet Bruce Lee in person now and ask him any one question, what would you ask him?

To help me with my front hand lead! Sifu Wong calls it the “backbone” of jkd.

4. Have you ever been forced to use Jeet Kune Do in a real life self defence
situation?

Yes, twice but it was a long time ago. In both situations I had to defend a female friend of mine. Once it was one on one and the second time it was three on one. Both times I only had to use 3 techniques: lead, rear and front kick. But obviously you would need more than just that to face a trained/experienced fighter.

5. What is it that makes Jeet Kune Do the best martial art?

No art is the best. Everything has weaknesses and everything has its strengths. I love the simplicity of the art. But being simple does not make it easy!

6. What's your favourite Bruce Lee film?

A Warriors Journey by John Little. It has the ending of the Game of Death just like Bruce Lee wanted it with all the fight footage uncut.

7. Ignoring Jeet Kune Do for a moment, what do you think is the next best martial art and why?

This will depend on what a person is looking for. Just fitness, street defense, a good work out and so on. I think a great art is Brazilian jiu jitsu. That takes technique and finesse. Rolling on the ground is like a great chess match. Very fun to do!


8. Do you have any comments regarding the political quarrels that exist within the world of Jeet Kune Do?

Yes, it’s stupid. Put on the gloves and gear and go at it. Then you can say what works or doesn’t work. Then someone can prove to me that I need more Wing Chung or silat or kali or whatever.


9. What's your favourite Jeet Kune Do move and why?

Footwork! It helps you to avoid getting hit and it helps you generate the power to hit with maximum force.


10. What would be your number one piece of advice for anyone wanting to learn Jeet Kune Do?

Shop around and don’t get too caught up on lineage or certification. An important question I would ask any school they visit is if they cross train with other schools or spar with people from other places. Too many times a student falls into hero worship because of what their instructor can pull off against them. The question should be can this same instructor pull it off against someone at their level or above. Or are they just good at beating up their own students?