The Ron Kosakowski Interview
Conducted by Paul Bax

When and how did you first start your training in martial arts?
Ron Kosakowski: I started my martial art training back in 1967 in a Korean style called Tang Soo Do. I remember being a kid I hated doing those forms. I only liked it when we sparred, though I also liked when we did these striking/blocking sparring drills which were done in a one for one format. That was kind of cool!
After that I got into a Filipino martial art that is very unique to any style I have ever seen called Kuntao. That was back in the mid 70’s.

How did you first hear about Bruce Lee and his art of Jeet Kune Do?
RK: I was always a Bruce Lee fan going back to when he was on the TV show, the Green Hornet and Kato. Between watching him then to later on in the movies, it was obvious there was something different in the way he did his martial art movements and I wanted to know what that was so I can do it.

What was it about JKD that led you away from traditional martial arts?
RK: Jeet Kune Do, if you follow what it is supposed to be in the tool development area…in other words, training hard in what works for you rather than learning a bunch of techniques, you can be a great fighter. It is a real science in the in all ranges from entering to finishing in whatever range you end up in. It’s actually an influence one way or another on the way I do all the styles I practice and teach now.

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”?
RK: Yes, I trained in the mix of Filipino styles with other various fighting methods mixed in with JKD. Personally, I like to separate the “styles” for lack of a better description. I dove very deep into Filipino styles and I like to teach them separate now. Though I occasionally show students how they fit together so they can see how JKD can fit into any other style and visa versa if need be. I find the blend is either too much or too little for students to learn. And if you give them bits and pieces for that “simplicity,” that’s all they get is bits and pieces…an empty style! If a student wants to study more than one style (s) at my school, then they could so they can come to their own conclusion and not just my conclusion. Though, part of my JKD teaching does consist of Muay Thai training due to the intense workout it offers and of course, the grappling I do which is far beyond what Bruce Lee had put together when he was alive.

You have trained with several original Bruce Lee students. Please list your instructors in JKD and what you have learned from each of them and some of the differences in their teaching styles and their application and interpretations of Jeet Kune Do.