James Bourdette

My martial arts journey began in 1986. 

My first official martial art was Tae Kwon Do. Years later I sought out Jeet Kune Do instruction which also include boxing, kickboxing, MMA, Reality Based Self Defense and finally Wing Chun Kung Fu.

Below is a summarization of my experience up to present day…

When I joined my first martial arts school it was for self defense and the love of martial arts. It was a traditional Tae Kwon Do school in which I gained a respect for the discipline they were reinforcing. From the beginning I always sought out what I thought to be practical in martial arts.

Throughout my time at that school I focused on sparring and entered competitions for the sole purpose of sparring.

I figured this is how I would gain experience and confidence. Only after failed attempts to defend myself (outside of the school and tournaments) with traditional training did I start to analyze the functionality of martial arts styles.

That eventually brought me to seek out a JKD instructor (Sean Madigan R.I.P.). What I learned from that instructor was more applicable than the traditional training I had formerly had and was invaluable. Aside from JKD, I was introduced to other forms of martial arts and combative sports. I started to feel more confident, yet something was still missing. 

Always feeling that I had a false sense of confidence from my training, I dug deeper and found the root of my intrigue. Being a former JKD student I sought out the root art, the route of my intrigue.

Wing Chun Kung Fu is that art that would give me a foundation.

Very different from what I was used to and traditional. I fell in love with this simplistic, direct, efficient system of kung fu. I also realized that it is taught differently from school to school.

This eventually lead me to the realization that a majority of Wing Chun Kung Fu lineages are similar yet different. Like in other martial arts, a majority of instructors refuse to evolve their art for the sake of respecting the teachers that taught them.

Trying to grasp the essence of what makes it work and how to not be bound by tradition yet still respect it, I eventually discovered Wong Shun Leung and his Ving Tsun.

When I first started with my former Wing Chun Sifu I was discovering who Wong Shun Leung was and his pragmatic approach to training this fighting art. I didn’t realize how evolved Wong Shun Leung’s approach to wing chun was. This raised a lot of questions during my years training traditionally. It was in my face but didn’t realize it. I didn’t question authority, which I should have.

Seeking to advance my training I had visited other Wing Chun schools. In my effort, I attained some valuable experiences and continue to.

It wasn’t until when I started to train under my Instructor, Sifu Kevin Gledhill that I found exactly what I was looking for. I am now training in the method of Philipp Bayer/Wong Shun Leung Ving Tsun aka Ving Tsun Kung Fu Association Americas.

Their approach to training is very different to what I was taught yet all the tools are there. I am currently retraining all my experience, my tools, my foundation in an extremely more proficient method!