Since the 1990s, a wealth of video resources now make it feasible to train effectively in martial arts at home. Jiu jitsu and jeet kun do are two of the many options available for this kind of training. Jeet kun do, the martial art Bruce Lee developed near the pinnacle of his career, is a stand-up fighting style. Brazilian jiu jitsu is a sport offshoot of the traditional fighting art from japan.
Training Area
Any student who wants to train in martial arts at home will need an area in which to practice. For Jeet Kun Do training, you will need an open area at least ten feet on a side, preferably with a heavy punching bag for striking practice. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu practice requires a larger area -- at least 20 feet on a side. You won't need punching bags, but you should cover the floor with a layer of soft matting.
Program Quality
Several professionally produced DVD programs for either art are available online or from martial arts supply houses, and you can find training videos on media sharing websites. The problem for prospective students isn't finding at home instruction, but in sorting the quality programs from the less valuable. Although there are some exceptions, the best programs are those taught by people closest to the "source" of either martial art. Video programs by the Gracie family are good choices for Brazilian jiu jitsu, since they are a widely respected martial arts dynasty in Brazil and abroad. Dan Inosanto and Paul Vunak, both direct-line students of Bruce Lee and accomplished practitioners in their own right, produce reliably good videos for jeet kun do instruction.
Training Equipment
Jeet kun do is primarily an open-hand fighting art. However, if you dedicate yourself to serious training in the art, you will need a pair of escrima sticks and a soft-surface training knife, You can find both at internet and storefront martial arts supply shops. Brazilian jiu jitsu requires nothing in the way of special equipment, but you will need a training partner to properly practice nearly all of its core techniques.
Live Instruction
Although you can begin to learn the basics of either jeet kun do or Brazilian jiu jitsu via distance learning, there is no replacement for live instruction from a qualified instructor. Not everyone is in a position to attend a regular class, which is why there's such a strong market for at-home training programs. However, both arts have instructors who tour the country putting on seminars. If you keep an eye out for these opportunities, you can get occasional access to live instruction.
References
- "The Tao of Jeet Kun Do"; Bruce Lee; 1978
- Dave Coffman; Martial Arts Instructor; Hillsboro, Oregon
- Troy O'Conner; MMA Coach; Beaverton, Ore
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