Bruce Lee was the originator of both Jeet Kune Do and Jun Fan Gung Fu. His motivation in developing his own modern approach was to get away from what he termed the "classical mess" of traditional martial arts, where good and bad techniques were often taught in non-functional ways.

Initially, Bruce Lee used the term Jun Fan Gung Fu, a development of the Wing Chun Gung Fu that he learned in Hong Kong. Living in the United States, Lee came up against problems when dealing with the larger Americans that forced him to re-evaluate his art. This led to him using boxing and fencing techniques and concepts, integrated with his Wing Chun. He also developed a grappling method developed from his training with the leading experts of the day.

His unique methods led to many leading martial arts experts training with him and, in essence, learning how to fight all over again. Lee tore up the rule book. His Jun Fan style had certain unique features; it put the strongest hand to the fore (Southpaw to a boxer) and he integrated trapping into his kickboxing. His theories on timing and distance, developed from fencing, made his art unique.

Bruce Lee’s development of Jeet Kune Do came slightly later. He saw that the technique approach of Jun Fan Gung Fu, whilst good, was still flawed in his eyes. JKD was a conceptual approach where Lee sought to view the art of combat through principles, not techniques. From these core principles he could develop a thousand techniques.

During all his time developing JKD, his friend and training partner was the legendary Dan Inosanto, an American born Filipino. Bob Breen was fortunate in being the first student in Europe to study under this Master. The system of JKD taught here at the Academy is based upon this conceptual approach developed by both Lee and Inosanto.

The Bob Breen Academy uses both the techniques developed in the 1960's by Bruce Lee together with his later conceptual work, integrated with the unique skills of Filipino martial arts and a Thai boxing blend. For the ground we use Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, combat submission wrestling and Filipino grappling. This, we think, gives the student the best all round training in martial arts whether it is for combat, personal development or to keep fit.

KALI

Kali is the ancient martial arts of the Philippines, dating to before the Majaphait empire which dominated South East Asia during the 5th and 6th centuries. Kali has many similarities with other Malay martial arts: notably Silat and Kuntao. Kali development in the Philippines was influenced by the conquest of the Spanish who prohibited the carrying of weapons. This in turn led to the development of the stick fighting element where the bladed arts were trained in secret, using the stick and where possible the blade.

Though known as a stick fighting art, Kali has a very highly developed empty hand system which is one of the eight subsystems taught at the Bob Breen Academy. This empty hand system (often called Pangamut) has a unique boxing/kickboxing system. This is like boxing, but still includes all the dirty tricks. It includes limb immobilisation and body manipulation and unique hand skills, making it a highly effective combat art.

Kali’s other subsystems taught at the Bob Breen Academy include grappling skills (Dumog), limb trapping and immobilisation skills, single and double stick, as well as blade training, knife and knife defence skills. The more esoteric elements, like flexible and projectile weapons, are also taught. This formerly secret martial art is unique in its emphasis on flow and improvisation, and on practicality. It is these aspects which make it so effective and intellectually stimulating to learn.

The Kali method taught at the Bob Breen Academy is based around the Lacoste-Inosanto method developed by Dan Inosanto. This has been further supplemented by Bob Breen who has been privileged to train with some of the leading Grandmasters in the Filipino martial arts.