training like this - how long to get proficient at JKD?

[jason]

I'm starting private instruction in JKD next week. I'll go twice a week with an hour for each session.

I'm in good shape physically, but have zero martial arts/boxing/wrestling experience or knowledge.

Based on all of this (and I am committed to learning this), how long do you guys think it will take me to become proficient in it?

Also, if any of you get private, or even group instruction, what is the normal charge per hour?

Thanks all.

Jason

[YODA]

It depends who with and where you are.

Filling in your profile would make it easier for us to help you :D

[jason]

Guess I'm missing something, but I can't find where to fill in my profile.

[Cain]

The red boxes at the top to the far left there's a buttoncalled user cp...

|Cain|

[YODA]

Click on User CP (Red button - up and left) Then click on "Edit profile".

[YODA]

I see you've put some info in there now.

How old are you?

Who are you doing the private tuition with?

[Fergie Boy]

What do you mean by proficient?

[MATT_LIQUID]

My spidey sences are detecting Mcdojo. Be careful do research on the instructor you may fall prey to a con artist.

[YODA]

If it's JKD and NY there's a VERY good chance I either know the Instrcutor or know someone who does :D

[YODA]

I think your wasting your time.

Private instruction 2 hours per week is a great supplement to proper regular class interaction with a group of like minded athletes - it's not a replacement.

Private lessons are the fine tuning - you need classes to interact with people of similar level.

In that scenario - regular classes backed up with privates- I'd say you COULD be functional against a lot of untrained guys bigger than you in around a year.

I'll gtry this Q again - who are you doing the privates with? (It's not a trick question).

[Genki_ETHOS]

jason,

I reckon its a good thing that u take private tuition (no disrespect to yoda :)) cause u can go through much more than say in a group session. Though i have to say, if u want to be proficient then u should be looking at training for than 2 hours every week. Say 2 hours every DAY - IF u want to play around with bigger boys :)

However coming back to your question, I reckon it should take u at least 2 years at that rate - for u to grapple with guys that are much bigger than yourself.

good luck

[YODA]

Privates are good - but you need group classes too.

[johndoch]

I agree with Yoda on this one.

Group classes allow you to gauge the different styles, speed and strengths/weaknesses of different people. Just training with one guy WILL be pretty one dimensional.

[Genki_ETHOS]

that one guy is your sifu though!

not to say group sessions aren't good though - just saying one to ones are more important :)

[YODA]

No - classes are more important - privates enhance that.

I'm speaking from experience - having students of both type

[Genki_ETHOS]

ok mate i ain't gonna argue with ya :)

btw yoda do u train at ruff and ready all the time?

cheers :)

[YODA]

No - I just visit when Marc McFann or Ajarn Chai are there usually

[Genki_ETHOS]

ahhhhh... master chai! excellent, he's coming in september mate.

:)

[elbowblast]

Get a buddy to go with you (semiprivate) and then you got your sifu for 2 hours a week and your buddy every day if you guys want. You would have two energies to work with then at least. But the biggest factor is like Yoda says, who is the teacher because the progression is the the thing. Ive seen good teachers, and unfortunately Ive seen some shamefully bad ones.

Elbowblast

[Garma]

Do you all prefer the strict teachers or the easy teachers?

The way I see it, some teachers are testing students on terrible techniques these days. The type of techniques that would be worthless in a real combat situation. As Bruce Lee said, "We are getting wrapped up in this classical mess". I feel that learning should be stressed to the teacher as well as the disciple or student.

[teacher]

Jason you sais yourself you may face two different oppponents.
Diff size diff weight if you train with a group of people you are going to get used to handling it. Private lessons give a great feeling of progress and academically you learn a lot but any art needs practice with fellow learners. Good partners can ramp up the pressure as you progress making it much more likely that you can deliver in a real situation.
If you're shy about naming your instructor use the pm private message button on one of yoda's posts.
I'm still puzzled about your situation.. I'm guessing that you're marrying into the wrong family and are preparing to meet the bride's big brothers.

[YODA]

Private lessons give a great feeling of progress and academically you learn a lot but any art needs practice with fellow learners. Good partners can ramp up the pressure as you progress making it much more likely that you can deliver in a real situation.

:p Exactly!

[Tireces]

I think your approach of just training until you're "proficient" is an improper one right off the bat. I'm no expert myself, being merely a 3 year student of Jeet Kune Do, but I know enough to say that it should be regarded as a lifelong progression. No matter how "proficient" one may be, there is always the chance of an untrained opponent simply getting lucky and getting the better of him, even one beneath his own weight and size, let alone someone larger. Increased training decreases the chance of that happening, but that chance I don't believe can ever hit zero for even the greatest martial artists. It sounds to me like you have a specific problem coming your way, like two very mean, bullying people who have threatened you. If that is the case, I just recommend calling the police. Anyone here I'm sure can tell you a real fight is extremely dangerous. There are no rules, which means someone can bring in very dangerous weapons, like knives, and even guns, and the fight becomes something totally different, and when a gun is involved, I'd say about 99% unwinnable without one of your own. And as for not hurting them, Jeet Kune do is all about hurting someone who's trying to hurt you. It is designed for the most base, often life threatening street situations. It's the way of the intercepting fist, not the way of the impenetrable defense. If you want to simply humiliate or fight off these opponents without really hurting them, I'd suggest looking into another art. Things like eye gouging, biting, and kicks to the groin and knees are integral parts of Jeet Kune Do. Of course, once again, I'm not really a teacher or anything, I'm just a third year student who does a lot of research, so you should probably prioritize what other people here say over what I do, should their be any conflicts in what I say to what they do, since it seems a lot of them are legitimate instructors.

[FISH]

Well put man JKD is all about destroying an attacker quickly and effectively.No wasted movement or energy is the concept :) In a common streetfight people are going to try to hurt/kill you.Thats one of the reasons Bruce blended boxing into JKD because many streetfighters are boxers.

[inosanto1]

i agree with yoda, classes are imprtant,just like attendin seminars and there should be a good variety of people to train with which helps your growth. Priate tuition is only an addition to help push you along and maybe help in areas of difficulty.

[Kof_Andy]

Private instruction is a waste of money for beginnier, because you didnt have all that much experience. Your instructor might have to slow down a bit to your own haste, you can only absorb so much as a beginnier. The instruction you get from your instructor now will be so basic probably any other senior student can help you with. It will be wiser to take up private class when you advance your basic to certain level first. I agree with Yoda to some point, there are thing you can learn and pick up from other student as well. Wether it is good stuff or silly mistake. Is just different kind of training. Beside without proper class who else are you going to spar with? Your teacher obviously's not going to go all out on you.:rolleyes:

[inosanto1]

i agree, JKD/Jeet Kune Do or crosstraining, however you look at it, is an art form that is designed to get rid of your opponent with whatever means possible.

The best way of getting that real feel situation in Jeet Kune do is either sparr full contact or work the doors.

As i said, I train with Mark Hayes in Sheffield and as far as he is concerned, you have to teach the material the way it is intended.

And you never get to a level of proficiency that you are happy with, Bruce never didand it is a cert that his students do not feel that they have reached that level, otherwise ,why train.

[LS]

wow wouldn't have thought that this one got resurrected somehow. Do any of you guys know his current status? it's been some time now and I just hope he's enjoying it. (that's if he's still doing it of course). Private vs Group. pros and cons to both. (aren't all things like that? :D) Private you get a lot of attention. Things are explained in greater detail, so you might be able to hone execution much quicker. Not only these, but also personalization of instruction. Some students may want to cover some piece of material , other students may want to cover another piece. But with private, you can cover what you want to improve upon. Groups are great because it helps with your... People Skills!! Like yoda and some others have said also, you can gauge yourself against your peers who might be older, younger, bigger, faster, taller, etc... not to mention not anyone individual will fight like another. Each has been brought up differently so they approach things differently as well. although i personally wouldn't want a group class any bigger than 6 to 10 people TOTAL... you get to pick up things a bit better , won't feel lost by the lack of attention from the instructor, and the same time work on your people skills ;).