Martin O'Neill

Hi, I'm Martin O'Neill, Msc, a Full Instructor in Bruce Lee's Jeet Kune Do. I have over forty years of martial arts and self-defense experience, and a former tournament fighter and bouncer.

This book will give you the tools for you to become more knowledgeable heathy and confident by using in Bruce Lee's ideas and dynamic martial art, Jeet Kune Do.

I'm an Instructor with Sifu Dan Inosanto, Sifu Taky Andy Kimura, and Sifu Lamar Davis.

A testimonial from Sigung Taky Andy Kimura Bruce Lee's Assistant Instructor in Seattle USA.

Martin O'Neill has a scintillating personality. He always keeps you in stitches with deep laughter and his unique philosophy on life.

Behind this light-heartedness, there glows a serious and thoughtful man who commands a high degree of respect. He has paid his dues and carried himself up by his bootstraps to deserve great respect and admiration from his peers.

In my judgment, his respect and deep feelings about the inimitable teachings of Bruce Lee are rock solid and I know that there are martial artists, scholars, and just plain folks who would wholeheartedly agree from the core of their hearts.

Martin has a very respectful martial arts background that precedes his exploration of Bruce Lee’s art.

He is an excellent exponent of Bruce Lee's teaching. He can impart not only the physical but the philosophical message as well.

I know that Bruce would have welcomed Martin’s sincerity. The message at Bruce's grave site reads, "The key to immortality is to first, live a life worth remembering" This resonates deeply with Sifu O'Neill and is reflected in his actions. Martin is a very sincere and compassionate warrior who understands the how and what to teach and identifies with his students who come to him for physical and mental betterment, which ultimately advances each and all to cope with the complexities of our being.

Martin, please "walk on" and continue to teach from the depths of your heart the true and inimitable teachings of our great leader, Bruce Lee"

Taky Kimura, Seattle, USA, 2008, Bruce Lee’s Assistant Instructor

Background

I'm Martin O’Neill, I was raised in a Northern Ireland "ghetto" during what is called “the Troubles” by the mass media. In reality, it was a civil war – thousands of people were killed and injured over a period of 40 years. The violence has generally ended but the resentment, hurt and hate bubbles away just under the surface.

I left school aged 15 with no qualifications, feeling a complete failure and two years later found myself making trash cans. I later worked on building sites for years and as a welder across Ireland and in London England.

By chance I discovered the Open University while unemployed on the dole in my early 20s and enrolled on a Social Science Foundation Course. I couldn’t make it to many of the evening tutorials in a nearby town due to having no transport. There was no bus home and it was too dangerous to hitch a ride at the time – people were being murdered all over the place. Somehow I got through the first-year course.

I moved to London and started work as a welder while volunteering with homeless young people at Centrepoint Soho and at Broadwater Farm Youth Project Tottenham. I was accepted onto a four-year BA Hons Social Science and Social Work course as a mature student. For the next 30 years my career was in social work; spanning probation work, child care, disability, mental health, adult care and I specialised in community development and social work working with many excluded individuals and groups.

I began training in martial arts in January 1975 in the Karate style of Wado Ryu in Dublin, Ireland. This was at the height of the international Bruce Lee craze following his record-breaking movie, Enter the Dragon. I gained a 1st Dan black belt in 1980 and was involved in fighting in many semi and full contact bouts and tournaments. There was no JKD instruction in Ireland at the time.

In 1986, I enrolled as an Apprentice Instructor for five years with Steve and Mike Krause, who were instructors under Sifu Guro Dan Inosanto. In the early 1990s, I travelled to America and trained with Sifu Lamar M Davis II, who is a well known instructor in JKD. I studied with Lamar for nearly ten years becoming a Full Instructor with him in 2002.

Since 2000, I have been studying with the Jun Fan Gung Fu Institute in Seattle, USA, under Sigung Taky Kimura RIP, his son Andy Kimura and my Sifu and dear friend Alain de Preter.

In 2008, I had a heart attack during a mass attack training session and almost died. I had to have an immediate triple bypass operation and it took more than a year for me to recover my strength to be able to return to training. I had to learn that my training needed to change as a result of the problem, but it felt fantastic to be doing it again.

In 2013 I was delighted and humbled to be accepted as a student on the International Instructor Programme at the Inosanto Academy, USA – to train under the guidance of the brilliant Sifu Dan Inosanto. This has opened a new perspective on martial arts and life for me, highlighting the genius of the man and his incredible, generous teaching methodology. For the past number of years I have been a student with Sifu Tom Lamont studying Chum Sut Wing Tzun and also Irish Stick Fighting with Chieftain Bernie Leddy.

I got into trouble and fights in my younger days, when I was treated as a second class citizen in my country and an angry young man. I have been stabbed, bottled, punched, kicked, concussed, given black eyes and have had my feelings hurt along the way. Numerous brain cells have somehow disappeared into the ether. However, I have lived to tell the tale and some of my stories are in this book along with advice on self improvement, good training methods, defense skills and how not to get battered. It also offers tips on improving your health and wellbeing, and how to live a more fulfilling lifestyle.

I have taught martial arts as a volunteer and former committee member for more than 35 years at Clann Eireann Youth Club in Lurgan, County Armagh, which has been a very violent part of Northern Ireland; deeply affected by the Troubles.

Our JKD students are from many nationalities and different sections of the community. We have an open-door, policy treating students with dignity and respect. – something that gives me pride.

"Under the stars under the heavens there is but one family"

Bruce Lee

best wishes

Martin O'Neill