The Howard Williams Interview
Conducted by Paul Bax
Over the years the art of Jeet Kune Do as taught by James Lee, and Bruce Lee has almost been forgotten. Howard Williams, a James Lee student for five years, talks about his training under both Bruce and James,and set the record straight as to what was actually taught there.
WHEN DID YOU FIRST START TRAINING WITH JAMES LEE?
HW:I first started training with James in 1965, and continued until 1970. Back then he only had about ten students.
YOU DIDN'T HAVE ANY PREVIOUS TRAINING BEFORE JKD, CORRECT?
HW: That's right. I've had no previous training in any art except JKD. I have not only practiced the art, I have become the art because it has become me. There's no preservatives, or additives, just pure Jeet Kune Do. People look at me and try to find Bruce Lee. They won't find him, but I can take anybody's fighting skill and improve it. I love to teach. I can project the art. I can show you how and why it works, and why it won't work if you do it the wrong way. Where most teachers go wrong is when they show you a bunch of techniques and let you figure out how they work. Students spend all kinds of money and still don't learn a thing, because they don't teach the mechanics and physics of how it works.
WHICH IS BASICALLY WHAT BRUCE AND JAMES DID?
HW:Exactly. That's the true reason why it works, and why it is not dead. The Oakland school is unique as far as I'm concerned. It may not have been as big as L.A., but it was unique.
YOU WERE PRESENT DURING THE METAMORPHOSIS WITH BRUCE HAPPENED?
HW:Yes, when he changed the stance from the Wing Chun stance to the bent knee basic stance.
HOW DID JAMES REACT TO IT?
HW: He was excited about it. He drilled us on it, explained why Bruce did it, and explained the advantages over the classical versus the non-classical.
HOW OFTEN DID BRUCE VISIT THE OAKLAND SCHOOL, AND DID HE ACTUALLY DO SOME OF THE TEACHING?
HW: He came down every other week. He would always be there in between shoots of the "GREEN HORNET. "He and Jimmy were best friends, like father and son. Bruce often came down and taught.
DO YOU THINK JAMES SYSTEMIZED JKD A LITTLE MORE THAN BRUCE MAY HAVE WANTED?
HW:I think James was a better teacher than Bruce. Bruce was a technician and a perfectionist, but he didn't have patience with beginners.Jimmy conveyed things better than Bruce.
IS IT TRUE BOTH BRUCE AND JIMMY WERE INTO THE INTERNAL ARTS?