Inosanto Academy Training Tour September 2003

By Mark Bain

If you were given the opportunity to train at one of the leading Martial Arts schools in the world, would you go? Would the time at the Martial Arts centre be well spent?

The answer to both questions for the students that jumped at the opportunity in September 2003 to train at the Inosanto Academy of Martials in Los Angeles California, was definite yes to both questions.

The Australian Jeet Kune Do Association, in September last year, conducted a two week training tour at the Inosanto Academy in Los Angeles

The trip to Los Angeles in September consisted of two weeks staying next to the Inosanto Academy of Martial Arts with attendance available to any of the classes that ran during the two week period.

The group experienced a range of martial arts ranging from the well known, such as Muay Thai and Jun Fan Gung Fu through to the blending of several arts, for example Majapahit which encompasses several systems of silat, jujitsu and grappling.

In addition to the classes open to all students of the Academy, two private lessons with Sifu Dan Inosanto were organised. The second private lesson being of particular value as the session was based on questions we asked. This session was felt by all to be one of the highlights due to the specific relevance to each individual.

A further private lesson was organised with Sifu Larry Hartsell covering knife work.

Apart from the martial arts knowledge gained from the classes, insight was also gained into the training methods utilised to teach these arts.

The Inosanto Academy of Martial Arts is not only a well equipped training facility but also provides a rich source of martial arts history with many photos and memorabilia of Sifu Bruce Lee and other instructors that have shared their knowledge with the Academy. The photos and memorabilia being original items which for many of us had only been seen previously in books or read about in articles.

A further training option that some of the group took was to train at Gene Le Bell’s Academy in Hollywood. The Academy curriculum covers a varied range of grappling systems. This was a general class providing an additional opportunity to gain greater insight into effective grappling and to grapple with some of the Academy’s students. Several of the group experienced the skill of Gene Le Bell’s senior instructor Sensei Gokor by grappling with him.

The tour was not all training, as the majority of classes started after 5pm, which allowed the opportunity to sightsee Los Angeles and surrounding states during the day.

Several places that were visited during the day included Las Vegas, Universal Studios, Tijuana and Disney Adventure World.

Shopping was also great value as clothing was less cost than in Australia taking into account the exchange rate.

Overall the trip was excellent value providing a great opportunity to experience tuition from several leading martial artists and to see Los Angeles and the surrounding area.

The trip was very well organised catering to everyone’s needs whether beginner or senior student and for this everyone was personally thankful to Walt and Nina for their time spent ensuring the trip was an all round success.

I am sure many of the group would take the trip again.

A 2004 trip is being planned for September this year, those interested should contact:

Walt Missingham at walt@phoenixfilms.com.au