JKD NYC — Local services in New York

I have been with Sifu Chris and JKD NYC for about 2 years and I can honestly say that the experience has been excellent and transformative. I had a prior background in judo, and work in law enforcement, and I wanted to explore a martial art with a strong striking component that was flexible enough to complement the skills I already had. I have learned more than I ever thought possible and am still learning. It has been an excellent experience that I would recommend to anyone regardless of their skill level or background. Chris, one of the most accomplished JKD practitioners in the New York area and the country, embodies the principles of JKD. An excellent teacher and a martial artist in the true sense of the word, his style of teaching is as unpretentious and results-oriented as the art itself; it is not a show, a contest, or a crisp uniform beauty pageant, the goal is to improve your technique, skills, and attributes to be as effective as humanly possible and have fun along the way. He is patient, thorough, and ensures that his students understand the principles behind the techniques as well as how and when to apply them. From the first class or private lesson it becomes instantly clear that this man knows what he is doing, and if you listen to what he has to say and practice what he shows you, you will be more than able to hold your own in any physical encounter no matter where you started. With the system that Chris teaches, and how he and his staff teach it, you will feel stronger, faster, more balanced and precise in your movements and over time strongly confident in your ability to immediately stop an assailant’s attack dead in its tracks and make the attacker pay for it. He and his staff are relaxed but efficient, skilled yet humble, pretty much exactly what JKD is. You will know it when you see it, and you will enjoy it. And frankly, regardless of what you might look like on the outside, over time you will be someone whom it would be a very, very big mistake to mess with. Fear and uncertainty create danger; if you are confident in your ability to defend yourself, you often won’t have to. You will exude that confidence because you see it in the students and teachers every day you come to class and feel it grow a little stronger every time you leave. You will learn to box, you will learn to kick, you will learn to stop and intercept attacks, to throw and grapple, to lock joints and trap. You will learn to use and defend against a stick, a knife, and multiple attackers. You will learn all of this, and you will learn to do it calmly and efficiently. I didn’t think it was possible when I saw one of the senior staff go through it my first day, but today I know it is possible. And trust me, it’s not only fun, it’s a good feeling to watch your ability to do these things grow and to know you can do it. Attacks on the street just don't seem quite as intimidating when you see them come twice as fast and stop them dead three different ways in class a few times a week. Predators do not want to mess with that level of skill or confidence. Try it out, you...

Growing up in Jamaica, Queens was very hard and tough. I always wanted to learn self defense but just never had the time. So when I did, I researched a few different martial arts. I figured Bruce lee is the best fighter in the world so why not take his style which is Jeet Kune Do. So I came across Sifu Chris and had to search no more. After my 1st class I felt that I learned more than I knew about fighting in my whole life. I wasn't flexible, didn't know how to throw a jab, and cross. I was just not where I needed to be as far as being able to protect myself. So I continued to take his class as much as he would allow me to. After a full year with him and with over 50 hrs of private training by him, I can say that I am in the best shape of my life and can now protect me and my family. By just sitting and talking with him you can learn so much. I jus watch him and study him and just so amazed how he can take someone with no experience and fix them up so fast. We have females in our class and they are nothing to play around with. I got my girlfriend to join and she has also been trying to make every class possible. We spar in class with his supervision and this allows us to actually see what will work and what will not work. I love how he allows us to seek answers for ourselves and just allows us to try and explore different things. While making sure we fully understand to use what is useful and to disregard what is not. I wish I would have started years ago but I am 1 year in with him and can't wait to see what I look like in 3-5 years.

I promise after your 1st trial free class, you will also be hooked and ready to become a...

I have been studying with Chris for a little over two years now and feel incredibly grateful to have found his studio when I did. As a Phase II student, I now have the opportunity to assist the staff in teaching and in doing so I've been able to see just how much time, effort, and care Chris and the other instructors put into making this a studio Bruce would be proud of. Jeet Kune Do has a wide range of possible benefits; from self expression, to exercise, to self empowerment- but first and foremost it is a form of self defense. With that in mind, students start controlled sparring with each other and with the staff from day one. That may sound a little intense, however, because Chris fosters such a supportive environment among the students and staff alike, (largely in part by insisting egos be left at the door) I have never seen anyone leave with a serious injury, or so much as cry in the two years that I have been there. That is no small feat for a martial arts studio. To be clear, if you train here and give it your all you will leave exhausted, you will be sore the next day, and you may have some bruises, but you will be proud of yourself and your classmates and will have entered into a very loving community of people who excited to watch you grow as a martial artist and a person. I highly encourage anyone who is considering trying out martial arts, or continuing their studies, to pay JKD NYC a visit and see for themselves what a great...