Author: M. Jacobs
M. Jacobs reviews the history of Martial Arts and JKD, in an interview with Stewart for Tokyo Classified.
Nearly a quarter of a century since the death of Lee Jun Fan (aka Bruce Lee) why does his disciple Mark Stewart wander the world with such missionary zeal?
It may seem like an odd odyssey, but Mark’s journey to spread his evolving martial arts gospel started 2500 years ago at the time of Buddha’s birth in India. Way down south in Kerala was where the emerging Buddhist monks first met Keralans practicing a form of mock combat called Kalarippayat; this skill was of self defense with hands and sticks allied with esoteric mental strengths is still daily practice for many students around the area.
On their journeys across Asia, the monks defended themselves with further refined skills against disbelieving robbers, impressing all and sundry with their neat disarming ways. After centuries of gradual development, the various Buddhist factions fashioned these defensive arts into many ethnic variations or schools. One branch ended up as karate and, in many shapes and guises, is one of the leading global forms of martial arts today.
Two places where martial arts arrived to take a strong local flavor were in the Philippines, via Indonesia; and Okinawa, via China. Mark Steart became one of the world’s youngest 5th degree Dans in Okinawan karate and an instructor in Lucaylucay kali, the Philippine style of keeping foes at bay with hands and feet. From “Boxer Rebellion”, his Chinatown gym in Los Angeles, not far from Bruce Lee’s original gym, Mark teaches the JKD style of Bruce Lee (Jeet Kune Do - The Way of the Intercepting Fist) and kali, besides touring the world to give enlightenment.
Coming to Tokyo to teach oriental skills developed on the US West Coast takes some chutzpah, but “that’s the way Bruce Lee would have liked it,” Mark says. “I come each year to give classes for a few weeks and everybody’s welcome. They’re open to all levels of fighters and I try to demonstrate and explain all the aspects of my art.”
Martial arts are not sports, they are ways to develop a harmony between mental and physical efforts to bring body and mind into unison. There are no champions only masters who teach.
Even when Bruce Lee was on his upward thrust to fame, he never attemtped to become a champion, preferring instead to give exhibition bouts against all comers. He was a purist who sought to perfect a dynamic shell of controlled violence, into which not even a dragon would dare enter. Mark points out: “Life or death is up to the opponent as the flight or fight option is always open. Even in the movies, Lee never chased the villains after they ran off. If you can understand that being unbeatable and winning are two differing things then you can get some insight into his way.”
Bruce Lee, without a doubt, is a cultural icon. His fame spread easily from Hong Kong to the West. The ability of audiences to identify with a Chinese hero was especially strong in the United States. As Mike Schatz, a magazine editor, says “There’s a lot of affinity between Bruce Lee and Rambo.” One man taking on hordes of foes at the same time to defend righteousness and surviving well into the last reel is a hallmark of box office winners.
Mark agrees that the values of Lee’s movies found accord within young American hearts: “He was someone to admire who played out almost archetypal role of hero. It was possible for fans in the audience to acquire some of his magic.” Off the screen Bruce Lee stunned top karate competitors at the Gynasium in Chinatown, Los Angeles, with his innovative style of fighting: clean, crisp, pragmatic blows geared to speed with no wasted motion. Bruce Lee perfected a blend of three fighting styles which relied on speed and balanced footwork: Chinese martial arts, boxing, and fencing. The fencing lunge sending the outstretched fist to its fullest possible extension, while at the same time being capable of instant retreat. Mark likens the JKD style of fighting to: “Creating as large a ball of action as possible so that foes will be kept far away.”
Judging by the hordes of movie foes around Lee, that must have been some large sphere. “Actually, Bruce took such fight choreography from the Japanese samurai movies he loved watching,” informs Mark. “Accepting that the hero will never use dirty tricks or be attacked by all opponents together is the price we pay to enjoy fantasy.”