Taky Kimura

Martial arts for people with a disability took a major step forward recently when Spinal Injuries Ireland who run a Jeet Kune Do self defense program were privileged to host a seminar in Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do, with Sibak Andy Kimura as the guest instructor. Andy Kimura Senior instructor at the Jun Fan Gung Fu Institute of Seattle is the son of Sigung Taky Kimura, Bruce Lee’s close friend and highest ranked student. The Jun Jan Gung Fu Institute of Seattle was founded in 1960 by the late Bruce Lee the founder of the Martial Art OF Jeet Kune Do.

Spinal Injuries Ireland have being pursuing their goal to create a self defense program that “Really works” for wheelchair users since 2003. Spinal Injuries Ireland’s JDK instructors Declan Breen and Colm Whooley met Andy Kimura and Alain De Preter of Antwerp JDK at a seminar in Belfast held by Martin O’Neill of JKD Ireland.

It was while attending this seminar that the seed of an idea was planted. Would it be possible to get Andy and Tacky Kimura to agree to hold a seminar for Spinal Injuries Ireland? The first step in this journey was last October when six members of Spinal Injuries Ireland JDK self defense program traveled to Antwerp in Belgium to train with Alain De Preter of the Antwerp School of Martial Arts .

It is fair to say that Alain De Preter and his colleague’s were impressed with the technical ability and passion of the group. At the end of the weekend Alain agreed to ask Taky and Andy Kimura when he was next in Seattle if they would consider putting a seminar for Spinal Injuries Ireland together.

Alain De Preter outlined how committed and passionate Spinal Injuries Ireland JDK self defense group where about developing a real and practical self defense program. Taky and Andy agreed to travel from Seattle to the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dublin where Spinal Injuries Ireland run their JDK self defense program for both inpatients and individuals from around the country. Unfortunately a couple of weeks before Tacky and Andy where due to travel to Dublin, to quote Taky “I had a small heart attack” Thankfully Sigung Taky has made a good recovery but under the advice of his doctors he was unable to travel.

While Spinal Injuries Ireland’s JDK group where very disappointed that Taky could not travel, they were of course relived that Taky had made a good recovery. We were delighted that Andy agreed to still travel to Dublin and were pleased to hear that Alain said he would travel from Belgium to assist Andy. As the date of the seminar drew close the group was anxious that they would be able to demonstrate to Andy what they where capable off.

The group spent a weekend before the seminar training with a person in a “Redman suit” so that they could perfect and hone their skills. They were also anxious that Andy would see beyond their wheelchairs and disability and recognize them as fellow martial artists a and brothers in JDK.

They needn’t have worried within minutes of arriving and meeting the group it was clear that Andy like his father Tacky is a very special Sifu, who is without doubt going to continue the promotion and development of Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do.

To start the day Andy had a special surprise for the group. Taky had filmed and recorded a personal message for the group. You could hear a pin drop as the group watched and listened to Taky apologies for being unable to attend the seminar because of “a small heart attack”.

It was a very special moment, here was one of the greatest martial artists and highest ranked instructor in Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do and closest friend of Bruce Lee acknowledging the Spinal Injuries Ireland JDK program. After the message from Taky the group got down to training. Andy regaled the group with stories about Bruce Lee and his father Tacky as he moved a round the group working on individual basis with the participants while also sparring with Alain to demonstrating a particular move, before looking to see if it would work for us.

From previous experience with several instructors who insisted on showing us techniques that would never work as wheelchair users. We knew what it was to have instructors “say it will work if you work on it, when we could see clearly that it would never work” Andy was so different, he listened and worked with us he even suggested that himself and Alain got into a wheelchair while acknowledge that our balance is very different as wheelchair users. Alain drew the short straw. As wheelchair users we have seen able-bodied individuals hop into a wheelchair not allowing that they can tip right over if not careful, so we decided that Alain was expendable “only joking Alain”

To put the day in context Tom Chambers, Newport, Co. Mayo traveled a round trip of 400 miles to attend.

All too quickly the seminar was over, Andy just kept on going, anxious to impart as much of his skills that he had learned from his father Taky.

I think it is fair to say that while the training with Andy was so special for the group more important was the fact that Andy took the time to travel over from Seattle in the USA to acknowledge the Spinal Injuries Ireland JDK program.

The ultimate goal of Spinal Injuries Ireland JDK program is to continue to improve its program for people with a disability but ultimately to create a JDK program that can be learned by any individuals with a disability anywhere in the world. The support from Taky and Andy Kimura has taken us one step closer to our goal. We hope that perhaps in the future the Bruce Lee Foundation might consider supporting and approving our program.

To quote Bruce Lee: “If you always put limit on everything you do, physical or anything else. It will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them.”

As I has been said before when we write about our Self Defense Program none of this would have been possible without the continued support of our good friend Sifu Martin O’Neill of Jeet Kune Do Ireland.

For more details see: www.wheelchairjkd.com