The Tony Santiago Interview
Conducted by Paul Bax

When and how did you first start your training in martial arts?
Tony Santiago: In 1973 I started training in Tae Kwon Do. My Sensei was S. Henry Cho (# 1 student to Edward G. Rhodes). I got as far as yellow belt then on July 27, 1976 I enlisted in the US Army. I arrived in Korea and began training and teaching Tae Kwon Do under Sensei Kim Parks in Korea’s Tae Kwon Do U.S. Army team. I fought twice for the team and I came in first place for the first fight, on my second fight I had sprained my ankle and was in a cast for thirty days. The cast came off I fought my second fight and managed to come into 3rd place due to the fact that my ankle was still a little tender. While in Korea my 1st Sergeant would allow me to teach the Bravo Company Manchu’s T.K.D for physical training. My 1st Sergeant was very fond of me and my skills. I received my black belt in Korea after I fought my piers who were 3rd degree, 5 degree and 7th degree black belts in other systems such as Chinese Goju, Akido, and Hapkido and Okinawan karate. I faired well in all of them. I also fought an amateur boxer Jamaica, who gave me a great fight until I backed fist, cross and hooked him and round kicked him on his knee. He automatically gave up. I was totally inspired by the movie 5 fingers of death and Bruce Lee’s Fist of Fury at the time.

How did you first hear about Bruce Lee and his art of Jeet Kune Do?
TS: I first heard about Bruce Lee and JKD when The Green Hornet series came out. I was eight years old at the time. I always fantasized about being Kato after the Green Hornet series was canceled. I got into Elvis Presley movies and music for a while until Bruce Lee emerged again in Marlowe and Long Street. The Our Man Flint movies came out and my curiosity for Bruce Lee’s Martial Arts became more inticining. That’s when finally in 1973 I decided to start searching for JKD.

What was it about JKD that led you away from traditional martial arts?
TS: I was never led away because I feel that all traditional Martial Arts have something to offer, but Bruce Lee’s way simplicity and economy of motion is what attracted me the most. I eventually started exploring all arts, and my favorite traditional Martial Arts turned out to be Wing Chun. After learning Wing Chun was when I finally began to understand what Bruce Lee’s Jeet Kune Do was all about.

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”?
TS: Great question Paul. Yes, JKD has gone through a big bump and grind but, what I feel that’s missing is what Bruce Lee always preached about, “Honestly expressing yourself.” Yes, I too experienced JKD concepts. My Sifu was Neal Caulieffe, I always forget how to spell home name. I had joined the New York Martial Arts Academy in search of the ultimate art. I learned the basics: Bi Jong stance JKD boxing, JKD grappling and Kali, Escrima and also a touch of Penjak Silat. They did the Sil Nim Tao of Wing Chun with no explanation. My Sifu was upset with me when I put out a video and a book out in BLT supplies on JKD concepts. He told me and I quote “You took the elevator up.” I guess he was upset cause he did not come up with the idea first. I finally left the school very disappointed with my Sifu. I then started getting deeper into Wing Chun with one of Leung Ting’s students fighter Sifu Alaan Fong. He also had a fall out with his Sifu due to money issues. While I was training in Wing Chun a new JKD Sifu emerged, Sifu Gary Dill, original JKD I was present at the time when the original JKD was formed; I was a Senior Associate student of Gary Dill’s.

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.
TS: I will list all the teachers buy name and what I learned:

C. Jesse Glover: From Sifu Jesse I learned how to utilize my sticky hands aggressively and how to punch using my waist for power and I got to talk with him about his Seattle days. He has such a great insight. I wish he would get the credit he deserves.
D. Gary Dill: I considered Gary like a father figure. From Sifu Gary I learned all the original techniques that were being shown in the Oakland days. I became a senior associate instructor at the time. I eventually decided to go and adventure training with other JKD Sifu and Sifu Gary didn’t like that I left the organization, So I am no longer apart of the association. I did meet with him ten years later at one of his seminars we had a great reunion and a lot of laughs.
E. Jerry Poteet: I trained with Sifu Jerry at Jack Ponti’s house in Toms River, NJ, before he left to Hong Kong to teach Jason Scott Lee. For me Sifu Jerry has the best training in interception that I’ve ever experienced his way of punching instead of trapping or what he told us. If you could trap you can hit. He bought my trapping skills to another level.
F. Ted Wong: If you watch Sifu Ted move, it’s like looking at a duplicate of Bruce Lee…every movement, every kick, and every jab. I was amazed at his skills and how he maintained his physical self in shape. He also took my sticking hands to another level.
G. Howard Williams: Sifu Howard is very knowledgeable, straight forward outspoken individual. He has a lot of skills and drills of the Oakland days. I learned plenty of drills.
H. Richard Bustillo: Sifu Richard is another very knowledgeable, straight forward outspoken individual. I didn’t like his method of teaching while watching UFC tapes.

Gary Dill was known for waving a heavy hand with his organization. Is this true and can you share some of your experiences under Mr. Dill?