Dan Inosanto has seen it all… As martial artists, especially instructors or competitors,

Dan Inosanto has seen it all…

As martial artists, especially instructors or competitors, you’re always subject to a fair amount of pressure testing. When Bruce Lee introduced JKD to the world in the 1960′s it went through various stages of ridicule until it became accepted. As evolution has shown Sigung (founder) Bruce Lee was on to something, the fingerless gloves, the blending of the styles, it all paved the way for modern MMA.

Guro (teacher) Inosanto has traveled his own path in tandem with Jeet Kune Do with the methods of his cultural background Kali and Silat. Kali is the warrior art of the Philippines, which lends itself very well to modern society. That’s because Kali starts with tools and weaponry that can be invaluable in self defense. Guro Inosanto has been teaching and sharing these methods literally all over the globe since the 70′s.

Yet still to this day there’s a struggle to demonstrate the efficacy of Kali to the masses. At RCW in Tigard we believe that’s because Guro Dan has been so giving and generous to put this information in the hands of the people that he cares little for the credit given to him. One look at the quote above and you can see a glimpse of his philosophy. We’d like to parallel that stellar example at our school, which is why you will always find a friendly and welcoming environment at River City Warrior.

As a result of this laid back attitude and constant sharing, sometimes other disreputable people try to lay claim to the legacy. This is in all martial arts and on this blog we’ve been all over the topic several times. Take Gracie Jiu Jitsu schools for example, a program we also offer, they’re all over! 10 years ago you couldn’t find one in the phone book unless you were extremely lucky. So where do all these qualified instructors come from? The tragic answer is there’s a lot of fakers out there trying to make a living, take credit for something they haven’t earned or simply boost their fragile ego. Martial arts has never been about that, and we caution everyone out there to do their homework and determine a school’s credibility before joining any program. Many of the instructors at RCW went through this process for you. We wasted countless hours of time, hard earned money and suffered injuries starting out with the wrong people.

If it says Inosanto Kali and JKD on the sign outside, make sure they have it on the inside. Any solid instructor would be happy to provide credentials, and emphatically show curriculum and what you’ll be learning at the drop of a hat. That’s because inside we’re all big fans of Guro Dan, he sets an incredible example of that pursuit of self growth and perfection. It’s infectious and highly motivational, and we believe once you have a taste of real authenticity you won’t want to train in any other fashion.

If you’re interested in JKD, Kali, or any of our other programs you’ll find free trials in the side bar or by simply using the contact us link and sending us a message. We’d love to hear from you and help you begin or continue the incredible journey of life through the lens of martial arts.

- Guro Joe