Portland Jeet Kune Do: Applied Self Defense Training
Intro to the Jeet Kune Do/Eskrima Training at NWFA
Our Jeet Kune Do classes teach a philosophy of movement and self-defense. As taught at Northwest Fighting Arts it draws from, but is not limited to, the arts of Jun Fan Kung Fu, Silat, Panatukan, Boxing, Muay Thai , Chinese Boxing, and Wing Chun. Portland Jeet Kune Do classes are varied, exciting and constantly interesting. Members train techniques from these arts intensely, developing a deep understanding of them, and then apply what works to their personal self defense style. We train in an open environment that is accessible to everyone; beginners to advanced.
NWFA follows the lineage of: Yip Man –> Bruce Lee –>Maesto Ted LucayLucay –> Guro Dan Inosanto –> Punong Guro Leonard Trigg –> Professor Jeff Patterson
One of the concepts taught in our Portland Jeet Kune Do classes is to explore in depth many martial arts, drawing from them the techniques most effective and natural for you. In this way you develop a kind of toolkit of movements to effectively express and defend yourself. The concepts of JKD can be applied not just to fighting but to all aspects of life. What JKD is not, is a form. It is non-attachment to forms.
Bruce Lee on Jeet Kune Do -
“I have not invented a “new style,” composite, modified or otherwise that is set within distinct form as apart from “this” method or “that” method. On the contrary, I hope to free my followers from clinging to styles, patterns, or molds. Remember that Jeet Kune Do is merely a name used, a mirror in which to see “ourselves”. . . Jeet Kune Do is not an organized institution that one can be a member of. Either you understand or you don’t, and that is that. There is no mystery about my style. My movements are simple, direct and non-classical. The extraordinary part of it lies in its simplicity. Every movement in Jeet Kune Do is being so of itself. There is nothing artificial about it. I always believe that the easy way is the right way. Jeet Kune-Do is simply the direct expression of one’s feelings with the minimum of movements and energy. The closer to the true way of Kung Fu, the less wastage of expression there is. Finally, a Jeet Kune Do man who says Jeet Kune Do is exclusively Jeet Kune Do is simply not with it. He is still hung up on his self-closing resistance, in this case anchored down to reactionary pattern, and naturally is still bound by another modified pattern and can move within its limits. He has not digested the simple fact that truth exists outside all molds; pattern and awareness is never exclusive. Again let me remind you Jeet Kune Do is just a name used, a boat to get one across, and once across it is to be discarded and not to be carried on one’s back.”
– Bruce Lee
Portland Jeet Kune Do Lineage

Master Yip Man
Yip Man: Was the first Wing Chun master to teach their art openly. He was Bruce Lee’s Sifu. His legacy is broad and he left the world several masters to continue the art.

Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee (Lee Jun Fan): Was the founder of the philosophy of Jeet Kune Do. He was a profoundly talented individual who opened up the world of Kung Fu. Not only by teaching Westerners at a time when it was frowned upon but by challenging traditional view of the arts. Bruce Lee was an avid student of many styles of martial arts. He advocated adopting what is useful and effective for each individual from many arts and integrating them into a personal form of movement and self defense.

Guro Ban Inosanto
Guro Dan Inosanto: Is Bruce Lee’s heir and leading authority on JKD. Guro Dan continued to develop and refine the art introducing Filipino martial arts like Kali and Silat. Eventually he detached the name JKD from any particular movements or techniques and boiled it down to it’s core of “the concept of cross-training” in different styles and “doing your own thing”

Guro Ted LucayLucay
Guro Ted LucayLucay: “Ted Lucaylucay was born in the Hawaiian Islands and experimented with various martial arts styles. After moving to Los Angeles he became one of the early “backyard” students of Richard Bustillo and Dan Inosanto. He eventually became the first student to graduate from the Inosanto Academy in both JKD and Kali.” He continued to develop throughout his life and founded the LucayLucay Kali/JKD association.

Punong Guro Leonard Trigg
Punong Guro Leonard Trigg: Is an avid proponent of the Filipino martial arts. He accepted leadership of Guro Ted LucayLucay’s organization upon his death as well as assuming the mantle after Punong Guro Edgar G. Sulite died. Professor Trigg brought his deep knowledge of western boxing to the art. He has coached many successful fighters, including sending some to the Olympics.

Professor Jeff Patterson
Professor Jeff Patterson: Has been involved with JKD and the Filipino martial arts for over twenty years. He started Northwest Fighting Arts in 1994 and since that time, has been a full time instructor working to polish NWFA’s curriculum and teaching strategies. He has taught the art to thousands of students many of whom have become instructors, as well as amateur and professional fighters. He has been fortunate to study first hand with many great teachers in JKD and FMA such as Punong Guro Edgar Sulite, Maestro Ted Lucay Lucay, Guro Dan Inosanto and Professor Leonard Trigg.

