JKD MA - JKD Instruction in Massachusetts

Bruce R -

My Rapid Assault Tactics training experience with Chris Fernandes was extremely informative as well as practical. His seriousness and professionalism created a learning environment that enforced important aspects that became embedded in my memory. The unrushed sessions were well structured and planned. Also they allowed ample time to impress upon me the important points of each movement through demonstration and real life scenarios. Chris' expansive knowledge of martial arts and diverse fighting techniques were a supporting platform throughout the training. Moreover his friendly personality, patience and flexible teaching technique allowed me to feel relaxed and confident that I would be competent with the RAT training. Meeting and training with Chris has been nothing short of a wonderful experience. Not only did I receive some very important training but I also gained a new friend.

Doug B - New Bedford, MA

I take lessons in private JKD classes and ground fighting with Chris. I enjoy both classes. The private lessons are exceptional. The lessons are so unbelievably practical. I have taken martial arts in the past and a lot of it was show-oriented. Chris' stuff is real life situations and all practical applications.

Chris goes at your pace and structures your lessons around your abilities. In the grappling classes it is amazing how Chris can still give individualized attention while he is instructing multiple students. If you have a question, he is right there to show you hands-on what you are doing right or wrong. He is very compassionate and never gets upset or yells.

The scheduling is great; he works around your schedule when making appointments. His prices are very fair and he is by far one of the best martial arts instructors I have ever met. I look forward to his classes every week. Thanks Chris!

Sean B. Cahill - Hanson, MA

I was interested in something that would be more effective than the traditional martial arts. I did a lot research and came across Chris's web site. I read his bio which was truly impressive and contacted him to start training. I started with the R.A.T. After a few short lessons I had more confidence on how to defend myself and others in a variety of situations. I highly recommend taking it.

After that I started training in JKD and the Filipino martial arts and have been training for 2 years. Chris is an incredible instructor I'm glad I met him. It is amazing on how much he knows about all martial art styles and he keeps learning and stays active in his art. He really takes the time to make sure you understand everything he is teaching you and why before he moves on.

Chris makes the lessons fun and I can't stress enough that if you are considering getting into the martial arts you should definitely contact Chris. My only regret is that I didn't start training sooner. Thanks Chris!

Steve Raposo - New Bedford, MA

I have always had a fascination and respect for the martial arts, and I have been looking for an instructor that could teach me Jeet Kune Do. I have been incredibly fortunate to find who I consider to be not only an amazing instructor in this art, but also an incredible person – Chris Fernandes.

His passion for teaching Jeet Kune Do, is truly inspiring. My confidence in executing this art, thanks to him is amazing, and if you ever have the chance to work with Mr. Fernandes, you will find that his ability to teach complex skills, and detangle their difficulty is truly magical. I would and have recommended Mr. Fernandes to everyone that I know who is interested in learning a martial art that is functional and practical.

Instructor Chris is true to the intention of JKD, which is to not become constrained in a techniques but rather to transcend its notions, to progress. He embodies some of the most cutting edge combinations of other arts and I believe Bruce Lee himself would be proud of his pursuit in providing comprehensive skills in a progressive manner and more importantly incorporating these skills towards the individual needs of his students. This kind of teaching allows the students abilities to be optimized in a way that allows the student to defend himself and quickly end a fight.

Finding an instructor in this area who teaches JKD and has possesses the ability to teach the art is very rare, and I believe that the skill that Instructor Chris can teach you with this art can give you more confidence and certainty skill in self defense than you ever thought possible. I know it has for me. I know that I have the skill set to defend myself and my family, and that feels very empowering, and again I thank Chris for this.

Again, I am truly blessed and grateful for having Chris Fernandes as my JKD instructor.

Sincerely,

Dr. Steven Raposo

Chiropractic Physician

Kris DiMarco - Bellingham, MA

I have learned so much in such a short time from Chris. There are not to many instructors that in a matter of weeks you learn to defend yourself with blocking, sticks, knives, punches kicks and I still have a lot to learn, and its a lot of fun. I wish I was exposed to JKD earlier. I am glad I have such a good instructor and a form of martial arts that takes the best from all disciplines and blends it into a very straightforward fighting and defense system.

Nelson Rocha - New Bedford, MA

What effect has training with Instructor Chris in JKD had on me? I was formerly a martial art student in a system that was very stiff in movement and formal in techniques. The movements were restricting in nature. I am beginning to see that forms and techniques may be fine for preserving the art in it’s true form, but if you are training with the intent of having the ability to defend yourself, or loved ones – these training practices are not being honest, they can even be dangerous! They may set you up to believe you are ready for REAL combat, but in fact you will not be. Instead of being spontaneous and free, your body / mind will be conditioned to conform to which does not allow you to respond in a dangerous situation.

Here’s a simple analogy: To learn to ride a bicycle well, you get on the bicycle. Same theory applies to Martial Arts training; you must routinely place yourself in a realistic situation in order to train both mind and body to respond in a realistic situation. Some people will say that a martial artist will falter in real world combat due to fear… this may be true, if your training has no realistic qualities. This is where Instructor Chris Fernandes distinguishes himself. He is an avid believer in JKD concept system. He also is motivated by Paul Vunak (World Renowned Navy Seal Trainer) and makes use of his ideas. Chris will routinely mix realistic hand to hand training concepts with spirituality to help his students understand the concept of real combat and real compassion. Instructor Chris will use real life situation, conceptual attack angles with broken rhythms in order to teach quick and real response- not preplanned response’s to attacks.

Instructor Fernandes is also a Buddhist who applies spirituality to his training. Chris will constantly remind his students that hurting another person is the absolute last resort, that we are all one and the same. He stresses peace and compassion, which is what separated Instructor Chris Fernandes from many other instructors that I have had training with. I believe that Instructor Fernandes will generate many talented JKD students – He is helping to preserve the great concepts founded by Bruce Lee by evolving the art. Chris believes that there are no set ways of fighting, no rules, and most importantly your mind can overcome any limitation. Instructor Fernandes is helping the evolution of JKD Concepts live onward.

Mike Bernardo - Fall River, MA

Instructor Chris is a great teacher. The stuff I learned is incredibly valuable, I couldn't believe how effective and how simple it was. The best part about it is that it's easy to maintain, I don't have to sit there throwing a thousand kicks and learning a hundred forms in order to defend myself. Instructor Chris doesn't focus on static techniques like other schools do, he focuses on progression, aliveness, and sensitivity. I have yet to see anyone in this area teach a package of martial art skills that is easy to learn, maintains effectiveness, and is fun to do like instructor Chris offers.. I'm fortunate to have taken private lessons from Chris... I had never even heard of JKD or the Filipino Martial Arts until I met him. What other art tells you that instead of blocking incoming attacks, you should see each attacking limb as an opportunity to be destroyed (nerve destructions). Straight forward, effective, and fun...great stuff!

Sergio Espinola - Acushnet, MA

When I first went to high school I was scared because I was coming from a middle school that was very small and New Bedford High School has 3,000 kids. Coming from a little school and hearing about all the fights that happen is pretty scary. I started training with Chris and to get some confidence but I learned a whole lot more than than that. He taught us how to avoid fights and try to see the good in everyone. If we had no choice and had to fight, he taught us how to end them very fast. I learned so much! Thanks Chris.

Terrance Bonito Jr. - Plymouth, MA

I never thought I could grasp JKD this easily. I've learned so much in only a couple lessons, and I can't wait until my next. Chris makes learning JKD both easy and fun. He not only taught me how to defend myself, he taught me ways to better deal with my anxiety, and compulsive behavior. he motivated me, and gave me confidence. Thanks to Chris I am able to follow my passion and live happier and healthier. Above all he's a great guy and great friend!