Jeet Kune Do Concepts - Survival Solutions

Richard earned the nick name "the little pit bull" in junior football because, once he got hold of an opponent, he didn't let go and hasn’t let go since. As he got older he noticed that times were getting more violent and decided to find a way of protecting himself. Richard started training in martial arts in 1991 after several years of searching for something he believed worked. He found that in a system called "Yugi" which was taught at that time by 5th Dan and Founder, Sensi Tim Henry. This system was designed for street self-defense not for competitions and was years ahead of other systems. After several years of training under Sensi Tim Henry the school closed. Sensi Tim Henry decided to move to another, larger city and open a traditional school in Jujitsu, which was his main area of expertise. Richard continued his training under several of the Instructors including Mister John Mitchell, who was one of the head instructors at the Yugi School. However, after a year and a half all the instructors moved to pursue their respective careers. Mr. Johns was then the senior person left teaching and continued to learn new things from different people in the martial arts field. In 1999, Richard started a successful private security and investigating business and began to train the security officers that were employed by him, in the street defense system he began to call "Yugido" which meant "the way of gentle power". It was a combination of the system "Yugi" which he was trained in, plus all the training he had learned from the different people over the years and a lot of just plain common sense! Mr. Johns had to use what he was taught in several confrontations, including a situation in which a convenient store clerk was stabbed and the assailant then tried to stab Mr. Johns. He survived the attack without being harmed by using the training he had received. Then in 2004, Richard, by chance, came across Sensi Lawrence Valadez and began training under his guidance. Sensi Valadez convinced Richard to properly finish his Yugido system so it could be recognized as a style of its own. In 2005, "Yugido" was officially completed and is now recognized as a new system by several martial art organizations. Mr. Johns greatly appreciates all the help and guidance that Sensi Valadez has provided and credits his success to him. He is truly a great friend. Over the past few years Richard has received Instructor Certification in Jeet Kune Do Concepts under Sifu John Lopez and has blended it with his to form a truly reality based tactical defense system.

Bruce Lee's personal quote:
"Absorb what is useful, discard what is not, add what is uniquely your own.

This style is different from others as it is based on simplicity. Richard believes simplicity is the key to all things. It's basically, 3 moves, 3 seconds, done! There is no fancy footwork or years of learning complex patterns. You move in, pivot and turn, reposition yourself and attack the attacker. . You use your opponent’s energy coupled with your own energy to stop the attack. Simple straight forward moves are used based on techniques from martial arts such as Karate, Jujitsu and Jeet Kune Do. A little Tae Kwan Do, Judo, Boxing, etc, have been mixed together as well as a lot of just plain common sense!! It is better to know a little of everything then a lot of one thing. If a person is focused too much on one path then they lose sight of the journey. This blending of different styles allows for greater flexibility to stop an attacker.

This system is designed for urban/street tactical defense in an environment where there are no rules, such as in a street attack. Unlike traditional martial arts we do not train people for competitions and trophies. We train them to be able to defend themselves from any kind of attack using whatever means necessary. We use street based scenarios so the students are use to this way of thinking. We have a uniform but street clothes are mostly used as this is how the student would be dressed if something actually happened . The students can use as little or as much force to protect themselves. Whether a simple pivot turn and push to stop an intoxicated person, who can barely stand, from trying to grab them, to a pivot turn and hammer strike to incapacitate someone or use of deadly force to stop a person who has a knife or gun trying to kill them. We were taught the philosophy "I would rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6". The students of the urban/street fighting seminars learn the brown and black levels which are fast and accurate. Again, 3 moves, 3 seconds DONE !!! These are hostile times we live in so we must be able to walk down the street and feel confident that we can protect ourselves.

Mr Johns has had to use the techniques that are taught in actual hostile situations where a person has tried to assault him, used a weapon and even threatened to kill him . He has executed these moves quickly and effectively, so he knows this system does work. He has had people from Canada, the United States, Rio de Janeiro and as far away as England, Zimbabwe, Africa and Baghdad, Iraq interested in his training methods.

Sifu John Lopez Founder of Survival Solutions

Sifu Lopez receiving his instructor certification from Paul Vunak

Paul Vunak training U.S. Navy Seals

Paul Vunak training with Dan Inosanto

Dan Inosanto training with Bruce Lee

The International Jeet Kune Do Association (IJKDA) is an organization dedicated to the preservation, promotion and perpetuation of Bruce Lee's Jeet Kune Do Concepts, training and fighting methods. Our goal is to unite students and instructors who want to develop into highly trained, highly skilled Instructors of Jeet Kune Do. Therefore, this is primarily an Instructor/Instructor Trainee organization. It is also open for general support membership for those who aren't interested in becoming Instructors.

The Association's goals are:

• To maintain the heritage and integrity of both Bruce Lee and Jeet Kune Do.
• To help the art of Jeet Kune Do grow and flourish.
• To establish and rigorously uphold high standards of quality and practice in Jeet Kune Do and Filipino Kali/Escrima with regards to teaching and practice of the arts, and the dissemination of information about the arts through articles, videos, or other media sources.
• To promote and encourage the general public's knowledge and awareness of Bruce Lee and Jeet Kune Do.
• To help individuals achieve personal excellence in Jeet Kune Do and Filipino Kali/Escrima.

What is so unique about the IJKDA system? The Base program we use and teach is a variation of Paul Vunak's Rapid Assault Tactics (RAT). We also use curriculum from John Lopez's "Survival Solutions". Thus we in turn call our system "Xtreme Solutions" or "Xtreme JKD" (both names are interchangeable) as it is only the leanest meanest aspects of JKD, used to terminate a fight instantly! We also believe in the full development of an individuals attributes and the personalization of their Jeet Kune Do. We are a very physical association and consider ourselves "combative" by nature!

The Association's president and Founder is Ronald L Casto. Mr. Casto is certified as a Full Instructor in Jeet Kune Do and the Filipino Martial Arts under Sifu John Lopez (under Guru Dan Inosanto). He is a Master Level Instructor in Jeet Kune Do with the World Black Belt Alliance International. He had the pleasure of training with other greats such as Sifu Steve Golden and Larry Hartsell (two of Bruce Lee's original students), and trained extensively with Chris Kent (one of Dan Inosanto's top students). Mr. Casto has also had the privilege of spending quality time with Linda Lee Cadwell (Bruce Lee's Widow) reviewing Bruce's work and research. Much of this material has never been seen by the rest of the world