ABMAG
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Authentic Bela Diri Martial Arts Group
San Francisco Bay Area - San Jose - and Silicon Valley
Founder: Guru Neal Bryant
GURU NEAL BRYANT
Guru Neal Bryant is an independent traditional martial art practitioner, philosopher, and proud member of the United States Martial Arts Association under California club directory Authentic Bela Diri, and black belt registry under Pencak Silat Kuda Dongkak. Neal is an advocate, historian, and philosopher of classical Indonesian Pencak Silat, Filipino Martial Arts, and Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do concepts. His knowledge of the martial arts is greatfully and thankfully due to the instruction received by the great Guro Guy Chase of Multiculture Martial Arts Academy, a direct descendant of Guro Dan Inosanto's Academy, personal student and full time apprentice and Guru of the late great Pendekar Herman Suwanda of Mande Muda Pencak Silat.
Guru Neal has trained and studied extensively in Filipino Kali Escrima Arnis, Panantukan Boxing and Sikaron, limb destruction, Filipino knife fighting, Jeet Kune Do Jun Fan Gung Fu, and classical Indonesian Mande Muda Pencak Silat.
In addition, Neal sought private lessons with his Guru, Mr. Chase to sharpen his skills as a technician and practice classical court postures and fighting buah in various styles of Pencak Silat, while still attending regular group classes in the Filmore district south of Japantown. Guru Neal will always look up to Guy Chase as his Guru, and give all thanks to him for his patience, teachings, and honesty based answers.
After the closure of the Multiculture Martial Art Academy in San Francisco, Neal continued on his martial art quest to train under Grandmaster Garrett Gee of San Francisco Hung Fa Yi Wing Chun Kwoon.
Not knowing what to expect, Guru Neal entered the school wearing a colorful JKD necklace on his neck and a Wilson tennis pro jacket, and had to show Garret Gee that he knew how to dance "JKD style" on the first night.
After the acceptance of training with Sifu Gee, Neal saw that the gain of knowledge was priceless as he showed to Guru Bryant the true meaning of time and space in a combat application. Subsequently Neal’s existing skill in Jeet Kune Do greatly benefited by training in Wing Chun under Grand Master Garrett Gee.
Guru Neal admits that at that time, there was something missing within his own constantly evolving JKD, and he discovered the hidden element within Garret Gee's Wing Chun society. He studied Sil Lum Tao, Don Chi Sao, Chum Qui and Muk Jong (wooden dummy).
Unfortunately due to conflicting work schedules, Guru Bryant was forced to end his training with Hung Fa Yi earlier than hoped for, but will forever cherish the teachings of Grand Master Garrett Gee, and remains a friend of San Francisco's Red Boat Righteous - Hung Fa Kwoon.
For the following several years and to this day, Guru Bryant continues to train hand-picked students in skills that he had acquired from the masters and formally operated a traditional school in the outer Mission near Ceasar Chavez along with performing student workshops at UC Berkely, and throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and Silicon Valley.
One of Guru Neal's most enjoyable moments was the honor given to perform a solo kembagan with a live karambit blade at the San Francisco Dragon Boat Festival at Treasure Island.
Guru Neal also found it to be a pleasure and honor to meet Guro Dan Inosanto and to participate in one of his Maphilindo Pencak Silat classes in early 2001. Guro Dan said something to Guru Neal that should be quoted here.
The words were, "Your Silat may move differently from my Silat systems, yet whoever your Guru is can be determined and be seen by the way that you move. Further, my Silat may not work best for you, and sometimes you must use your own way".
So, in keeping with the highest traditions of preserving the arts, showing thanks, and respect for the masters we at Authentic Bela Diri Martial Arts invite you to help keep these arts intact.