About Me
I began my Martial Arts journey in 1973 in Tuscon Arizona by studying Ed Parker's Kenpo Karate. After some years in that system I eventually earned a black belt. At this point I chose to spend some time away from Kenpo to look at other Arts, to see what they had to offer.
While researching different methods I found Jeet Kune Do (JKD). I started my JKD training in Los Angeles in 1987 with Sifu Steve Grody (Originally under Guro Dan Inosanto, 1st generation LA Chinatown student of Bruce Lee and the person who took the Art forward after Bruce's passing) and studied with him privately for 5 years.
At this point I began to work with Sifu Chris Kent (Also originally under Guro Dan Inosanto) and studied in his JKD and Kali/Escrima group classes until he left Los Angeles in 1997, at which time I received my instructor-ship from him in JKD and Kali/Escrima .
Around this time a small informal group was formed consisting of students originally from Sifu Chris's advanced class. We met twice a week to train, experiment, research and test theories. Since most of the group had studied various arts over the years, we all brought something different to look at and play with. Sifu Chris would come back over the years to visit or train and frequently would put on a 1 or 2 day seminar for the group and our students.
In early 1999 I was invited into a small group headed by Sifu Pete Jacobs (1st Generation LA Chinatown student of Bruce Lee) and trained with him until late 2013.
Over the years since I began my JKD training I've had the great fortune to have been able to study with many of Bruce Lee's 1st and 2nd generation students, each representing either the Seattle, Oakland or LA Chinatown School eras. They all have different pieces of the puzzle to offer.
With 40+ years of martial arts training experience and more than 20 years as an instructor I bring an approach that is based on the most simple, direct and economical way to deal with a situation. I believe the training methodology must closely represent realistic circumstances. My main interest is in the practical application of JKD principles and scientific analysis of the physics of motion.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Jeff Scharlin