Some video footage of Sifu Mark Stewart teaching fundamentals of JKD:

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Straight Lead Gym

Sifu/Guro Luis Martinez

827 Bridge St. N.W.

Grand Rapids, Mi. 49504

616.589.2288

Mon. thru  Fri. 6:00-9:00pm

www.straightleadgym.com

Please no drop in's...call for an appointment.

Kalamazoo, Michigan

JKD/SKD Studio 370

Sifu John Windsor 

157 S. Kalamazoo Mall Plaza Suite 370

Kalamazoo, Mi. 49001

269.598.8771

Friday's 7:30-9:00pm

Philip Zimbardo is the original social psychologist who carried out the infamous Stanford Prison Experiment.  In the following video, he describes some of the things that he learned.

Good Reads for Martial Artists

 Good, realistic overview of violence:
http://www.amazon.com/Facing-Violence-Unexpected-Rory-Miller/dp/1594392137/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1325303541&sr=8-1
This one will help you avoid the cult-like mentality that some martial artists develop:
 http://www.amazon.com/Herding-Moo-Exploits-Martial-Legend/dp/1412085144/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1325303651&sr=1-1
Historic text by Bruce Lee on Jeet Kune Do:
 http://www.amazon.com/Tao-Jeet-Kune-Do-Expanded/dp/0897502027/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1325303699&sr=1-1
Gavin DeBecker's book on threat assessment:
 http://www.amazon.com/Other-Survival-Signals-Protect-Violence/dp/0440508835/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1325303753&sr=1-1
Protect yourself from bad thinking:
 http://www.amazon.com/Dont-Believe-Everything-You-Think/dp/1591024080/ref=sr_1_sc_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1325303844&sr=1-1-spell
Basic injury prevention/first aid for martial artists:
http://www.amazon.com/Essentials-Martial-Injury-Prevention-Second/dp/1880336898/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1325303913&sr=1-1
Good book on the theory and mechanics of the straight lead:
 http://www.amazon.com/Straight-Lead-Core-Bruce-Lees/dp/0804836302/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1325303990&sr=1-1
Basic adult learning theory:
 http://www.amazon.com/Adult-Learning-Basics-ASTD-Training/dp/1562865331/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1325304035&sr=1-3
Basic verbal de-escalation strategies:
http://www.amazon.com/Verbal-Judo-Gentle-Art-Persuasion/dp/0060577657/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1325304541&sr=1-1

Signs that a person is concealing a weapon

Here is an interesting article from the folks at the Crisis Prevention Institute:
http://www.crisisprevention.com/Resources/Article-Library/Nonviolent-Crisis-Intervention-Training-Articles/Seven-Signs-A-Weapon-Is-Being-Concealed
As martial artists, we train to develop mastery of a physical skill set.  It is even more important, however, that we train our awareness.  Sometimes this means checking our ego at the door.  Even the most highly trained martial artist can be surprised and overcome by some thug with a weapon.  It is important to understand the basic emotional, psychological, and cognitive processes that accompany the escalation of violence, so that we can act proactively in protecting our own lives, as well as the lives of our loved ones.  Here are some further resources:
https://www.mosaicmethod.com/
 http://www.amazon.com/Gift-Fear-Survival-Signals-Violence/dp/0747538352
http://www.amazon.com/Combat-Psychology-Physiology-Deadly-Conflict/dp/0964920549/ref=pd_sim_b_3

This topic will be explored further in posts to come.

Introduction

Greetings! Welcome to the blog of the Southwest Michigan Jeet Kune Do/Eskrima Association. Jeet kune do was the art founded by Bruce Lee, and is best thought of as the application of scientific principles to martial arts training.  Eskrima is a much more ancient art that originates from the Philippines.  Eskrima includes training in the use of the stick and knife, as well as hand-to-hand techniques.  Most of the instructors/practitioners who associate with us have training in various other arts/systems, and this knowledge is certainly incorporated into individual teaching styles.  The intention of this blog is to connect people interested in realistic and scientific martial arts training.  This site will post original works by site authors, as well as links to interesting articles on other sites.  Instructors that are associated with us are encouraged to post training biographies, as well as information about seminars/workshops and training schedules/locations.