The Rafael Figueroa, Jr. Interview
Conducted by Paul Bax

When and how did you first start your training in martial arts?
Ralph Figueroa: My father was very much into martial arts. Aside from being his guinea pig, he was my first instructor in the martial arts. He was a very good martial artist and loved to fight, box, and kick box etc. I was eight when he began instructing me. I was always a big kid so he was able to be rough with me. I was the brunt of many of his martial art's experiments and sparring (laughs).
How did you first hear about Bruce Lee and his art of Jeet Kune Do?
RF: I saw Bruce in the rerun's of the Green Hornet series and was in awe. My father loved Bruce Lee as well so he was pretty well known in my house. My father told me what he thought Jeet Kune do was. He himself was not a JKD practitioner. He still has his own opinions to what he thinks JFJKD is (laughs)!

What was it about JKD that led you away from traditional martial arts?
RF: I liked the eclectic approach and free thinking allowed in JKD. That's what attracted me. Classical Arts can offer many things but it seemed in JFJKD they had every angle covered in a real fight. It reminded me of Al Davis's (owner of the Oakland Raiders) saying, “Just win baby!”

JKD has gone through a lot of phases over the years due to different theories on how the art should be taught. Were you ever a student of “JKD Concepts”?
RF: Yes the art has gone through various trends of the day. I did train ‘concepts’. Before I met Patrick Strong, I would consider myself a 'concepts man' that liked NHB. I like the fact the ‘Concept’ men are pretty open-minded and will use what they think will work in order to enhance what they do and improve but sometimes at a cost of neglecting basics. There has to be a time where you evaluate what you do best and master the few things done well. On the other side of the coin, JKD was not meant to be a classical style like some have made it. But going back to 'concepts', if someone is going away from economy of motion and movement or not developing their lead weapons for example and principles like “longest to a closest target” they are getting away from the economy of what JFJKD is. What they may be doing could be considered effective but that's not exactly JFJKD the way Bruce Lee practiced it and fought. It's almost a catch 22 with that. You have to understand your strengths. At the same time there is a structure and progression to it. Knowing your self is super important. At the same time, not everything can be JFJKD simply because JFJKD should deal with the body's energies, structures and logical laws of nature and science. It is more then cross art training. There is a definite structure to it. Also it's very true what Bruce said. Not everyone can do it. You have to have someone who knows it and understands it to teach it to you, to be able to ever grasp it and yet make it work. This is most rare. You also have to be somewhat bright to get it.

Describe the training under Pat Strong.
RF: I was drifting more into the MMA scene as that was working for me at the time I met Pat. I still like and practice some MMA but Patrick rekindled my interest in Bruce Lee and JKD. He changed my whole outlook to combat as well as my martial thinking and philosophy. There is some thing about a man who can hit you three times before you can blink and launch you if he decided to hit you! I did not have much faith in JFJKD before I met Pat. He changed my view on that one. Pat once wrote an article about how Bruce felt when he immobilized and trapped you. Pat wrote you felt like a blender and your arms being hit with baseball bats while all the time you do not know what’s hitting you. That is how it feels to train with Pat. The body unity and power the man possesses is amazing. He by far is the most talented martial artist I know not to mention a martial arts genius. Every practice we have he does some thing that makes think, “How did he do that?” Or you find yourself saying, “Show me that one again.” So you forget he is in his 60's, (not that 60's is that old) since he can run circles around people in there 20's if he wanted to. Pat is the nicest and most humble person as well. I am proud to call him Sifu.

Does Mr. Strong influence you in other ways than martial arts?