July 15, 2008
Every wonder how EDS’s staff trains? What do they do? Last Saturday, admist great weather, EDS staff split the training into three mini sessions covering:
1. Sparring: Heavy accordions, and then a myriad of mass attack scenarios covering 1 vs. 4, 2 vs. 3, group on group, weapons, etc. Might have been the most taxing exercise most of my guys have ever done (with the exception of the next part).
2. JKD Nature Run: Approximately a 1.5 mile hike to and through the nearby forest preserve proved to not be “another walk in the park”. Along the way we stopped for sparring sessions on gravel paths, in waist high grass, along shrubs, on inclines of hills, and on top of mini Midwest mountains (or at least it seemed like it). We also sparred on narrow bridges, and used improvised weapons staff had seconds to find. Great job to everyone!
3. Instructional: We covered functional trapping, and showed how to use it in actual sparring and situations. Pak, Lop, and Jut Saos were all used, and we had guys pulling them off in sparring situations. The best part may have been “Pak Sao”, “Lop Sao”, and “Jut Sao” Numrada, which brought everyone’s functional trapping up to a new level. After throwing in the low lines, everyone looked like Hollywood fight choreographers. As we tied down the straight 4 hours of training, we ended things up with some advanced ground technique work. Advanced guard breaks, sweeps, and a series of moves from a new guard position were all learned.
All in all, it was a great session. It was a very serious workout for everyone involved. Great job to EDS’s top brass!
Lee, Love, and Life,
Sifu
June 16, 2008
There is that point in everyone’s training where they just get it. You can see it in their eyes… They realize, “Oh, this is the way it is in a real fight”. I saw many go through that in the last Adult Beginner Evolution. Over the last three months there was a lot of work on ground techniques, we call them the Basic 18.
After all of that work, it was important for the practitioners to know that in true “street fights” you have this aspect called “the street”. During the Beginner Evolution students logged in around 9 total minutes of straight ground fighting on the asphalt. Add onto that kick boxing, close quarters, stick / knife defense, energy drills, etc. It was incredible to say the least.
At the end of the session, everyone was dirty, sweaty, and tired. It was perfect.
I huddled everyone up at the end, and simply said, “Who else is doing what you are doing? I know of 6-7 ground schools within 10 miles of this place – plus dozens more within 45 minutes… and no one else is doing what you guys are doing.” Now add in the weapons work, stand up, energy drills, etc., and you’ve now put yourself into a group of martial arts students which is smaller than 1%. No exaggeration, I’ve been around.
So my hat is off to those who participated. Everyone did very well, and I’m proud of everyone.
Take care,
Lee, Love, and Life,
Sifu
ps: Make up evolution is being announced soon, keep in touch!
June 12, 2008
Very impressed.
That is the main thing I have to say. Let’s start with the Youth Classes first. Seeing kids as young as 5-6 years old doing the RAT program brought a tear to the old Sifu’s eye. I’m not sure if parents understand what they are giving their kids. While some kids are stuck in traditional martial arts learning “never to be used again” katas, EDS’s parents are giving their kids functional tools. As I talked to a police-school liaison officer just yesterday… He worried about the “NHB/UFC” style schools which are creating little gladiators which are out of control and irresponsible with their self-defense instruction. On the other hand, that is something I am glad we ingrain into the kids… responsible use of the JKD tools.
Although the kids may not totally understand exactly what they are doing in our classes, they are doing it none the less. As children in school learn the alphabet and numbers, they can’t foresee how they will use those concepts in the future. So is it with the JKD concepts they are learning… and now adapting from one range to another. I mean, get a hold of this… we had second graders during the evolution adapt from stand up attacks - to using close quarter tools - to weapons defense - to eye raking when tackled to the ground! Who else is doing that?
It would seem at this point like I’m tooting my own horn. However, I have to give thanks to the parents who have remained patient, consistent, etc.
As a side note, let me stated that at our Rockford facility I would love it for those parents who want to see their children train to observe in the “Observation Nook” by the water cooler. If you want peace and a rest, use the waiting room, however if you want to see your children train (like many parents have done for months) please use open area in the back of the class.
I’ll write about the Adult Beginner Evolution tomorrow.
Lee, Love, and Life,
Sifu
ps: Make up evolutions will be held in early July - more to come.
June 4, 2008
Hey there! Instructors-Students
Elvis is back in the building! Did you know Elvis was an accomplished martial artist? So here’s a chance to talk to the King himselvis!
We are looking to fill out some teams from EDS to participate in the Saturday June 21st NT & JT Charity Bocce Tournament. We have a half of a team ready to go so we need 1 male and 1 female to fill it out. $25 per person will get you a minimum 2 bocce games, a gift, pasta dinner and the opportunity to experience ELVIS HIMSELVIS as our dinner entertainment! We’ll have a silent auction, raffle prizes and a 50/50 drawing.
Dead line for entry in the tournament is June 7th. You can respond via this blog or call 815-282-6530.
If you are interested in the Pasta dinner only - tix are $15 per person/2 for $28. And you still get Elvis! Once again contact me via this blog or at the number above.
As Elvis (himselvis) would say “Thank you, Thank you Very Much!”
TCB baby!
Bonus question!!! The first person to respond to this question “What does TCB mean?” with the correct answer will get your choice of a cannoli or parodi cigar! (2nd bonus question ” what is a cannoli” - 1st person to ask this question is automatically disqualified from everything!)
JT
May 30, 2008
Please check out the updated schedules on this site… a few minor tweaks… Nothing that big. They will start Monday, June 2nd! We’ll also be announcing the winners from the referral drawing!
PLUS- Don’t forget, Adult Evolution Prep this Saturday, and Evolutions next weekend!
Too much stuff going on - enjoy!
Lee, Love, and Life,
Sifu
May 28, 2008
First off, tons of congrats to the NAGA Team… I am so proud of everyone. To think it was all 7 competitors first time, and 5 out of 7 recieved a medal. I already emailed the participants yesterday, but I want every student to know how exceptional I think everyone did. Can’t wait till the next one in Fall!
Many of you have faxed your applications in for the CATT Team, but our fax machine has “been sick”. We should have things up and ready by Thursday at 9am. Please refax them, and then drop me an email to let me know you did just in case. If accepted, you’ll recieve an email from me with specific directions. The first official session is THIS Sunday from 10am-2pm… you won’t want to miss it.
If you want more info - email now at matt@elitejkd.com.
Lee, Love, and Life,
Sifu
May 23, 2008
I just wanted to let everyone know how beneficial the NAGA training has been to me, and I am sure, to the other team members. Before I started training for NAGA I weighed about 220-225 (240 before I started classes at EDS, I’ve been here for about a year and a half). Doing NAGA gave me the motivation to eat healthy, work out every day, and keep it consistent. On top of that the whole team has helped everyone and encouraged them to keep it up. It has been a month or two since I first started NAGA training, and I am happily down to a stable 209 and dropping.
If anyone is thinking of doing NAGA next time, at LEAST do the training, it is one of the best workouts I ever get. On top of that if you plan to compete, you get the motivation to stay consistent and not slack off.
I want to throw out a big thanks to Dustin, Mike, Travis and all the rest of the NAGA people for just being there, making it fun, making it worth while. Let’s go win that tournament 
- Noah
When in class this week Dustin announced that he would sadly be taking a step down from teaching at EDS to pursue other options in his career. I just wanted to say “Thank You Dustin” During my time with you at EDS you have been a great teacher. You truly care about the training of your students and have a true respect for the art. I am very privileged to have had the chance to train under you. Your patience, knowledge and work ethic has had a huge impact on my training and development of my skills and so again I thank you. I wish you the best in your future endeavors and I hope that you will come back to the gym from time to time to let us know that you are doing well and to have some fun and train with us. For personal reasons I am sad to see you go, but for your own needs and reason I wish you the best of luck. For all you have done for me and my training I greatly appreciate it and hope to see you walk back into EDS one day. God Bless. Now bring back some belts from NAGA to close out your stay here.
May 22, 2008
Hey Gang,
Good luck to the team this weekend at NAGA that is representing Elite Defense Systems. If you get a chance log on and let us know who grappled and what the outcome was I would greatly appreciate it. Be safe and be dominant!!!!
Brian
May 15, 2008
Please check out our online calendar, as I just updated several of the events coming up. One which has been getting a lot of talk is our Counter Assault Tactics Team, or CATT. This is a group made up of highly intense students who will be taught some highly intense information. Our training on Sunday, June 1st from 10am-2pm will cover Carjackings.
This is a membership group, for several reasons:
1. The level of instruction and training will be intense, therefore I feel comfortable only letting those students in who I know can handle the level of stress.
2. This training forces the student to “think like the bad guys”. In order not to overkill this point, let’s just say I believe I have a responsability to make sure I’m putting this line of thought in the right peoples’ hands.
3. Once you’re in the group, I’m expecting that you stay in the group. We’ll meet 2-4 times per year, and past instruction will build on future instruction. Therefore, having “seasoned” CATT members will only benefit the group.
If you are interested in learning more, please email me at matt@EliteJKD.com. I’ll send you info about the group, with the application process.
Lee, Love, and Life,
Sifu
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