Do you have questions?

[Roy Harris]

After having returned home from Germany this week, I've decided to take a little time to answer anyone's questions regarding BJJ, submission wrestling, JKD, FMA and Kalis Ilustrisimo.

If there is something you would like to know or learn, ask me and I will share it with you. If I do not know, I will tell you or direct you to another source.

I will answer most of the questions this weekend, Saturday and Sunday, May 15 and 16. However, I will answer some questions between now and then. So, if you have questions, fire away!

Good training to you,

Roy Harris :D

[ElCativo]

1.) What do you think about JKD-Training-Videos ?
F.e. I have a big mirror and a TV in my Trainingroom.
Do you think it´s possible to get trained good ?

2.) In "Freefighting", how often do you use Kicks (from distance) ?
20 % or more ? Because I think high kicks are more "Show" and not as effective as they look. So.. what do you think about kicks ?

Thanks
Alex "ElCativo" Koenig

[jkdberlin]

Dear Roy

Welcome to our Forum once again. Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge with us.
If possible, please stick to the forum topic, i.e. Grappling, BJJ and Submission question here, but transfer JKD questions to the JKD forum and Kalis Illustrissimo question to the Kali, Arnis, Eskrima forum.
Once again thank you ver much for your time and sharing!

Greetings

[Sebastian]

Dear Roy,

what do you think about using JKD abilities in Freefights? During your Freefight sparring, how much do you use your JKD abilities such as trapping, intercepting, and so on? Is it useful or does the freefight reduces the JKD repertoire to some kickboxing and thai technics additional to the grappling part? What's your opinion?

Best Regards

Sebastian

[Roy Harris]

Alex,

1) I think training videos can be a great resource to one's training regiment. I have over 400 instructional videos myself. I have learned a great deal from them. The most important elements for video training are personal discipline and perserverance. Without these two elements, it will be hard to progress and stay motivated.

Additionally, you must always look for ways to become more efficient with your training and use of time.

2) I use kicks a lot while sparring. However, I rarely kick above the stomach or kidney line. Now, high kicks can be used. However, they should really only be used by fanatical kicker. When I write fanatical, I mean someone who has put in a minimum of 2000-3000 hours on high kicks alone, someone who has phenominal speed, power, accuracy and control, someone who has great endurance, someone that has dedicated themselves to the development of high kicks. Unless a person is willing to put in this amount of time, or more, I recommend sticking with the los line kicks.

Kicks can be used to punish, probe, push or as a ploy. They can also be used as an entry method for closing the gap. Kicks are great. But care must be taken not to over emphasize them. Kicks must be used in combination with punches and takedowns.

Good training to you,

Roy Harris

[Roy Harris]

Sebastian,

In my opinion, JKD is a training method, not a style. Yes, I know there are those who would disagree. However, after experiencing all that I have experienced, I would state that JKD is a training method designed to teach each practitioner to adapt their training to their own purposes.

With that said, JKD can be very useful in Freefights. I use my varied skills in the various ranges to mix things up. It is difficult to intercept or trap someone who is experienced and knows your game, but it is possible to do these things against someone who is not accustomed to them.

Because I have trained all of the ranges of combat, because I have trained and sparred in 25 different styles, because I have pitted the different training methods against each other, because I have combined the different training methods into a synthesis, and because I've asked the hard questions (like "What are the strengths of this system and what are the weaknesses of this systems as compared to..."), I have a unique perspective on fighting. I can adapt my techniques and tactics to the person in front of me. My JKD training has been very useful.

Good training to you,

Roy Harris

[Roy Harris]

No questions? :(

I asked if you guys had questions to inspire all of you to write a question or two so I could help you. Keep in mind that I am donating my time here. I thought for sure that someone would take advantage of my background and training and ask several questions.

I am a resource with thousands of hours of disciplined training in JKD, Filipino Martial Arts and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. I also have a heart that truly wants to give and give. I have trained extensively with JKD and FMA Sifu's Dan Inosanto, Richard Bustillo, Larry Hartsell, Salem Assli and Paul Vunak. I have also trained extensively with FMA Guro's Tony Diego and Romy Macapagal (Kalis Ilustrisimo), Michaelangelo Buot (Balintawak Eskrima) and Rick Faye (Inosanto Blend of Kali). Finally, I have trained in BJJ with the Gracie brothers (Rorion, Rickson, Royler and Royce), the Machado brothers (Rigan, Jean Jacques, John, Roger and Carlos), Nelson Monteiro and Joe Moreira. I have committed over $30,000 in group and private lessons, 10,000 + hours to my personal training and have driven more 200,000 miles on my cars just for the sake of my martial arts education. As you can tell, I have taken martial arts training very seriously!

I was hoping to have answered a few questions for all of you to help you in your martial arts training. However, it is now Sunday morning and I have to work all day. Tomorrow I have to go back to the grind of teaching all week and will not have time to answer questions :rolleyes:

Until next time,

Roy Harris

www.royharris.com

pfs@sprintmail.com

[marq]

Hi Roy!

Do you believe competions are nessesary for all BJJ students?

[Roy Harris]

While many BJJ instructors require their students to compete AND feel it is necesary before they can be promoted to the next belt level, I do not. Some of my students compete, most do not.

Most of my students are professionals. They have wives, kids, a career and a life outside of Jiu Jitsu. Jiu Jitsu for them is a way to relieve stress, get in shape AND have fun. So, I provide them with a training environment that allows them to accomplish just that.

Now, for my students that want to fight, I provide them with an environment that allows them to prepare for competition. These students are usually younger than the others. So, they train together in the normal classes, as well as have the opportunity to train in the wrestling class and the competition class.

About the only time I require a student to compete is for the promotion from brown belt to black belt. You can read about that requirement on my website on this page:

http://www.royharris.com/findArticle.do?docId=298

I require them to have competed a minimum of ten (10) times. Why? Because one they don the black belt, they will more than likely open their own school and begin teaching. I want them to have experience as a competitor and/or coach so that they can train others to prepare for competitions. I think having ten recent competitions is a reasonable number to give them enough experience to help them prepare others and tell others what it is like.

Does this make sense?

Good training to you,

Roy Harris :D

[Roy Harris]

Any other questions?