Tim Tackett Comes To JKD-EXTREME


Tim Tackett with a few students that were at the seminar there was a total of 20 students that attended

This seminar was held in West Palm Beach, FL., at the JKD-EXTREME Martial Arts Academy. My name is Richie Carrion I'm the instructor and founder of JKD-EXTREME also an apprentice under Sifu Tim Tackett the seminar was held on December 2nd & 3rd, 2000. It was an open seminar, we had a great turn out their were schools that came from Orlando (JKD Institute) and Ft. Lauderdale also local schools (Advanced Martial Concepts).

This was Sifu Tackett's first time to West Palm Beach. My students were very excited to finally meet Sifu Tackett also very nervous due to they trained so hard to make sure they new all their foot work and so on for the seminar. I explained to them not to worry that it was ok because this was for them to learn new things from someone who has so much knowledge in JKD. It was funny because I was kind of nervous myself since I hadn't seen Sifu for a while I wanted to be on my toes also, lol.

We started with the Bi-Jong stance. He showed everyone how to get into the ready position easy and quickly with out thinking about it. We went over broken rhythm and how to apply. He also showed us the different sounds between rhythm and broken rhythm when applying punches to a focus mitt what they would sound like. He had us hit the focus mitts with rhythm and in a broken rhythm, also explained how your lead punch should hit heavy due to most people fight weak side forward and some people hit with the lead hand weak and hit hard with the rear hand just like a boxer would do using a jab as a set up punch for the rear cross and so on. But in JKD it's the opposite we hit heavy with both hands.

We also covered PIA (Progressive Indirect Attack) HIA (Hand Immobilization Attack). Which was very good he demonstrated when, why and how to apply certain things. Many students that were there had several questions on these ways of attack, which Sifu had answered. Also it's amazing to see different schools from different systems all under one roof working with each other. Thai Boxers, Shaolin Chin Na, Kenpo Karate also Jujitsu. No one at the seminar was cocky or had a Mr. know it all attitude everyone was very humble just wanting to learn no matter who was teaching or what he or she were learning, they just wanted to learn about Jeet Kune Do and understand the philosophy that Bruce Lee had come up with. Other instructors that have been studying JKD for a while were helping other students that weren't from their school when they needed help with a question or a certain technique. I also helped around when needed. Sifu Tackett had everyone working together, which this is how it should be.

What I like the most about Sifu Tackett's seminar is that he just doesn't teach things and move on. He goes into so much detail when, why and how which is very important in any system of martial arts because the student needs these tools to help them understand when, why and how to apply certain things. Without this the student would be lost.

The second day he went over stop kicks and it was great. We pulled out the hockey or baseball shin guards and took turns intercepting each other followed up with a strike. New guys that never trained in JKD were amazed on how effective the stop kick was. Also, they liked the type of equipment we used and they loved it as now they had a new way to train. We switched back and forth for the ones who did not have the equipment. One person told me; is this how you train? I told him this is how most JKD people train to be realistic and to work on the kick and the timing, which is very important. As Bruce Lee once said; the way you train is the way you will fight, you train hard you will fight hard, you train weak well you know the answer to that.

We also went over Tai Chi drills to help some students that were a little stiff to help them flow better. Sifu explained to us how important it is not to be stiff or tense when applying certain things due to you become slower and people can pick up on your preparation. Also, getting used to being relaxed, you're faster and more observant about your opponent and your surroundings, which is very important as well. So he had us do several Jao-Sao (Running Hand) drills this also helped with not being so tense. After awhile everyone was getting use to being relaxed and striking faster. Mid day we went over how to stop an aggressor when they try to enter from different angles which was good, by using the inverted hook kick, straight kicks to the groin and shin kicks to the knee or shin. The entire seminar was a success. We all learned something new and we all had food for thought. It was funny towards the end of the seminar one person walked up to me and asked what's the real secret technique in Jeet Kune Do? And so I looked at him with a smile and said simplicity.

I like to thank Tim Motter and Alfonso Ocasio for their support and for bringing great students with them to the seminar. Also, Steven Teebagy for inviting his friends from Ft. Lauderdale, and inviting everyone to his home who attended the seminar for a great cook out. Kerwin Rodriguez and Fernando Lum for their support and their friendship it means a lot to me. To my students keep up the good work, your all doing fine especially you little one. And last but not least Sifu Tim Tackett, thank you for another great seminar. I learn something new every time we get together, thank you Sifu for everything.

Written by Richie Carrion from JKD-EXTREME Martial Arts Academy in West Palm Beach FL.