Walker started training martial arts over 20 years ago. He achieved the rank of 3rd degree black belt in Kempo, primarily focusing on striking. Before long Walker wanted to return to being a white belt to fill in the gaps in his ability and continue to grow. He was introduced to JKD (Jeet Kun Do) and has been training in mixed martial arts since 2018. Once he moved to Vermont, Walker began training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu outside of MMA, continuing the pursuit of skill regardless of what happens in a fight.
As an instructor and practitioner Walker lives by two rules:
1. Train today so you can train tomorrow.
2. Train today so you can train in 20 years.
This sums up his approach of ensuring everyone who trains with him does so in a safe, empowering environment while working with their wants and needs to reach their goals. After all, the best training plan is one that will keep you excited and consistent.
When Walker isn’t teaching, he is a stay at home parent to his two sons, avid audio book listener, and husband. Walker and his family enjoy anything outdoors, with friends, or with good food, and hopefully all three!
JKD is short for Jeet Kun Do. Translated it means Way of the Intercepting Fist. Based not on a martial art specifically, but a philosophy that is often considered the progenitor for the modern day MMA style and aims to be “formless”. For me this is best explained with two famous Bruce Lee quotes:
“Research your own experience; absorb what is useful, reject what is useless and add what is essentially your own.” Study different styles, learn from different teachers, look at your own experiences and distill what works for you. What works for you can be different based on size, experience, athleticism, injuries, etc. Everything you learn has something you can use, but make sure that you don’t get bogged down by the “what if’s” and techniques that won’t serve you.
“I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.” Once you know what works for you, the best thing you can do is get practice in. Everyone who trains will have their own “bread and butter” moves that they can always fall back on. It is important however, not just to train quantity, but to train in different circumstances, against different opponents, and adjust to your approach all while under pressure.