jgtwseminar2008

Disciples of the Dragon Seminar
First and Last Students of the Dragon
Jesse Glover – Ted Wong
St. Louis, Missouri
August 2 & 3, 2008

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Our host, Paul Bax has been a passionate Jeet Kune Do historian and writer for many
years. In addition to being a published author and contributor to a variety of martial arts
magazines and publications, Paul Bax runs the most diverse Jeet Kune Do forum in the
world, the JKD Brotherhood.

The Disciples of the Dragon Seminar was the first of its kind. Bruce Lee’s first student
Jesse Glover, and his last student Ted Wong, had never come together to teach a seminar
of this fashion prompting Paul’s organization of – The First and Last Student Seminar. This
unique occasion brought together a broad spectrum of JKD Instructors and practitioners
from coast to coast and all realms. Prior to the seminar most if not all of the participants
have been communicating and networking via the JKD Brotherhood forum. Yet for many,
this would be the first time they would meet in person though there was a comfortable
familiarity.

The facility was beautiful and the mood exciting. This event took a long time to organize and
finalize, I for one had been looking forward to this historic union for many months. On the
morning of the seminar participants filed in. Old friends shared laughs and new friendships
began to be formed as we all settled in and warmed up and stretched on our own. After a
brief introduction and a few announcements it was time to train. Day one of the seminar was
based on what Bruce Lee taught Jesse Glover and Ted Wong while they were his students
and day two was their own development and variations.

First up was Jesse Glover. Mr. Glover, or better said Jesse since he insists on being called
by his first name. In fact, he warned participants that if he is referred to as Sifu, Sir or
anything other than Jesse, that there was a strong possibility that he will not respond. Jesse
is an amazing gentleman, and after a few words we went straight to drills. We did lots of
footwork the length of the basketball court, then again with punching, followed by sets of 100
punches for 500 each and sets of 100 traps for 500 each. Needless to say our shoulders
were on fire and many left some skin from our knuckles on the focus mitts. Jesse finished
the first half of day one with a few trapping sequences. Before lunch Jesse held a question
and answer session. During the question and answer portion Jesse told the story of how he
met Bruce Lee. The following are bullets of some of the topics Jesse Glover discussed, as
well as a few of his comments:

Ed Hart and his application of grappling.
You are going to fight how you train.
If you start to hold back in training, that is what you will do in a fight.
If you are teaching students you will not want to get hit.
Meeting Bruce Lee changed people’s lives, not just fighters but knowing him.
How he met James Lee (Jesse met him before BL).
What made him (JG) want to learn martial arts.
His study if Judo skills and how it influenced his application of non-classical Gung Fu.

After lunch Ted Wong kicked off the second half of day one. He began by saying that if
anyone wanted to learn trapping, that Jesse Glover is the best. Ted Wong was quite
informative holding our attention as he explained how he met Bruce Lee and how their
relationship evolved. Ted Wong explained what was taught by Bruce Lee at the China Town
school, as well as what Bruce Lee worked on in private with him at his home which was very
different. He explained how he realized much regarding JKD and what Bruce Lee was
working on many years later. Before getting into drills, Ted Wong began his instruction
explaining some of the subtleties regarding JKD, the JKD stance and JKD footwork. Day
one drills consisted of working on footwork, deploying the lead hand and lead leg as well as
a few other strikes. Day one of the seminar concluded with a question and answer session.
Ted Wong was in great spirits and as agile as ever, his footwork and JKD insight is second
to none. Ted Wong was very candid and open. The following are Ted Wong bullets, the
reference to “I” refers to Ted Wong, some direct quotes and others paraphrased:

Bruce Lee emphasized footwork, but at the time I did not realize how important it was.
Speed, “the essence of fighting is the art of moving.” (Haislet)
Interception comes from fencing.
I was fortunate to learn from Bruce Lee, most had martial arts experience, I had no
martial arts experience.
I came to the U.S. in 1953 and followed boxing as much as possible. I watched boxing
on TV every Wednesday and Friday and read boxing magazines.
I used to watch Gung Fu martial artists and boxers and could see that boxing was
much more efficient.
I was at the right place at the right time when I took a class with Bruce Lee and
fortunate to be a part of the Chinatown group.
The training at Bruce Lee’s house and the training at the school were two different
things. At Bruce Lee’s house we were worked on what he was working on at the time.
Of the three eras there are few people left from the Oakland group. At the Los Angeles
school there was more punching, kicking and footwork. About 60% of the 3 schools
curriculum was the same.
Bruce Lee kept things to himself, but he wrote everything down. He always carried a
booklet and wrote in his diary every day. He left behind 6,000 pages of entries.
Commentaries does not tell you how, but helps you understand the physical art.
In a single technique there are many things to understand. Speed, leverage,
alignment…true refinement seeks simplicity.
JKD is like a watch maker. You should know all the little things that make it move, how
it works. It takes a long time to understand.
Footwork gives you longevity, not that you live longer, but you can function longer and
are more effective.
Adaptability is very important. What makes a good fighter?...Adaptability.
The essence of fighting is the art of moving. The JKD stance, footwork, timing. Watch
a good boxer he will never cross his legs, or move for the sake of moving.
Every technique is delivered from the stance. Bruce Lee looked at the laws of physics
and the sweet science. Every technique us backed by the laws of physics.
The line of force is arch to toe.
The JKD stance is a long range stance. When in close range the stance opens and
the hips become the baseline. The hip turn lines everything up, speed continues
accelerating (the turning helps pick up speed at the end of the punch) and when you
connect it is at max speed.
At long range the JKD lead hand is like a fencer. The tip of a fencer’s sword is second
in speed only to a speeding bullet.
The front hand lead in Bruce Lee’s art is the most difficult. And it is not found in any
other art, not even boxing.
Hand before feet. When you move your feet first you are done, you turn into a two beat
motion. Hand before feet is unnatural, it comes from fencing.
Power comes from the ground and speed is a big part of power with alignment at
impact.
Toe to arch to go forward, toe to heel can cause you to strike off at an angle. Keep
your alignment as you move with your footwork so when you hit it is more direct.
The JKD stance is a long range stance, almost 90% of the time you throw the lead
hand and the lead foot.
You open the stance to throw the rear hand. In JKD it is not a cross, it is a rear straight.
Speed also comes from how quick you can read your opponent.

That evening we all got together and ate dinner at probably the largest buffet that I have ever
seen. We had a private area of the restaurant and I would say that we all made at least a
couple of trips to taste the variety of Asian cuisine and seafood. Back at the hotel Jesse
Glover and Ted Wong spent time talking, answering questions and sharing stories in the
sitting area of the lobby. Others shared some spirits at the lobby bar as well as spending
time with the guests of honor in sitting area (me for one). Martial arts are not the only talents
of some of the participants of the seminar. Rumor has it that a few ventured to a local
karaoke establishment to showed off their vocal skills.

Ted Wong retired early and Jesse Glover spent at least a couple of hours with us in the
sitting area telling stories about his life and about Bruce Lee. He is a soft spoken gentleman
with a casual way. I stood there listening, not asking questions just listening in a certain aw.
Taking in what he was saying and letting my imagination take me to those places and times
that he vividly described.

The next morning Jesse started day two of the seminar with a couple of his own variations of
Chi Sao, building the drills and working with all of the participants. From there Jesse
instructed a few situational trapping sequences, and finished his portion of day two with
punching drills. An interesting aspect of Jesse as he teaches is that he has the participants
switch partners often. We all worked with a variety of practitioners during Jesse’s sessions.
Jesse Glover’s approach to non-classical Gung-Fu is effective and practical. He is easy
going with immense martial arts knowledge, a lifelong practitioner; he held our attention with
every word.

Lunch was provided at the training site which enabled us to get back to training quickly. Ted
Wong took over the second half of training and went over such topics as interception,
countering, and Progress Indirect Attack. To bring his points home Ted Wong incorporated
various focus mitt drills and made his rounds working with participants. He emphasized on
footwork, speed, accuracy and timing to name a few. Once again the following are Ted
Wong bullets, the reference to “I” refers to Ted Wong, some direct quotes and others
paraphrased:

Attack is primary, you go to your opponent. Counter or interception is secondary.
Countering is more difficult then attacking, it requires reflex and judgment. You can
intercept before, during, or after you opponent’s attack.
Bruce Lee had a sixth sense, a keen ability to read his opponent. Speed also comes
from how you recognize, how fast you see thing.
For a successful Progress Indirect Attack you need to understand distance and timing.
For PIA speed is not as critical, first half the distance you can go slow and still hit the
opening.
The most difficult is the single attack.
Control the range and you control the fight. Once you control the range interception is
easier.
When sparing and training don’t think about power, rather speed, accuracy and
timing. When you try to hit hard you might miss everything.
How fast you kick depends on how fast you get your knee up.
JKD does not have blocks; parries are better, not touching is even better.
While training with Bruce Lee I took some notes, I wish I took more. Bruce Lee left
behind so many notes, he left us his research. You can go into his mind because of
what he left behind, all his notes, the Tao, the John Little books. It is a treasure map
not a GPS, the clues are there.
Bruce Lee’s mind was just incredible.

At the end of the seminar was our last chance to ask Jesse Glover and Ted Wong
questions. They were very gracious with their insight and answered every question posed.
These two martial arts legends are gentlemen in every sense of the word. It was an honor to
have been in attendance and to have experienced first hand from Jesse Glover and Ted
Wong themselves what Bruce Lee was teaching in the beginning when he first moved to the
U.S., and what he taught toward the end of his life, as well as some of their own
development.

As previously mentioned, instructors and practitioners came from all realms. They are
extremely knowledgeable and were very helpful as parts of instruction were more familiar to
some then others. I made friends for life. One comment during the final question and
answer session that stuck in my mind was regarding the many documents that Bruce Lee left
behind. As Ted Wong says, thankfully Bruce Lee was an avid note taker, he left behind a
road map. Paraphrasing Ted Wong’s final comments - As Bruce Lee evolved his art of Jeet
Kune Do he found the road, but he did not finish his journey. - There was a definite sense of
brotherhood during this seminar; a warm unity and friendship, some old and some new, all
genuine.

Writers note: Ted Wong spent more time explaining aspect of what he was teaching which
enabled me to take more notes and create the above bullets. Jesse Glover went into drills faster
and worked hands on with participants explaining as he made his rounds. Thus, I was not able to
take as many notes during drills. Also, this weekend seminar should serve as an example that a
martial arts community can place personal opinion and differences aside to share and learn. We
can disagree, but we should not disrespect.

Victor C. Colón