Paul Vunak
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Paul Vunak is a California-based martial artist and known as the founder of Progressive Fighting Systems (PFS).
By fourteen, he had achieved his first black belt. Paul began to explore other styles such as Kenpo and Hung Gar (Tiger Crane) Gung Fu. Within three years, he had earned another black belt (in Kenpo). In August of 1976, the school where Paul studied Kenpo closed and he enrolled in Dan Inosanto's Filipino Kali Academy, achieving the rank of Full Instructor in Jeet Kune Do/Kali in July of 1988.
Vunak teaches his version of Jeet Kune Do (JKD) under the name of Progressive Fighting Systems. It is widely regarded as a street-effective system known for its emphasis on headbutts, knees, and elbows thrown from the so-called trapping range (most notably, the clinch). These techniques form the basis of the system's Rapid Assault Tactics (RAT) program. Typically the stick and knife are also taught, with techniques drawn from the Filipino martial art of Kali.
Vunak emphasizes that Jeet Kune Do is not about superior technique but about the development of efficient fighting and superior attributes. He states that there is no superior technique in martial arts, only superior training methods. The techniques of JKD, as Vunak states, are drawn from many martial arts. The goal is to use a technique for only a short period until the range or situation changes and calls for a better technique (possibly from a different art); even the signature Wing Chun straight blast and headbutt techniques are only to be used for as long as the situation warrants.
Vunak purports that the outcome of combat is determined by range and further claims that no one art has a monopoly on all the ranges. JKD borrows from the various martial arts' techniques, training methods, or sometimes concepts. Since one must be able to adapt to the interruption of one technique and flow into the next, he says using different arts is necessary. While many martial artists claim to have been asked to teach members of the military, Paul Vunak truly has been retained to teach special operations groups and law enforcement officials.
He has produced, and starred in, a large number of self-defence videos and DVDs,[1] oriented toward rapid attainment of self-defense skills. Many of these advertise the same training provided to the SEALs and other military and law enforcement groups. Some feel that the advertising claims made for these DVDs are exaggerated--that they promise too much self-defense ability, too quickly. However, the RAT system upon which they are based is intended for quick assimilation. He also has made DVDs on Jeet Kune Do and has written books and articles.
In 2006 he began to promote his DEFCON ("Defensive Conditions")/Executive PFS system, which promised to add more Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and awareness-based self-defense strategies to PFS. As of August 25, 2006, however, Paul Vunak is no longer affiliated with PFS Video or DEFCON, and has parted ways with his senior instructor Bruce Corrigan. In fact, a notice on his website calls for a boycott of all PFS videos. He continues to promote the Executive PFS system.
His senior instructors are Armando Basulto, Trevor Clarkson, Thomas Cruse, Bob and Janet Giambrone, Mike Faraone, Michael Gruener, Makoto Kabayama, Jack McVicker, and Joe Soliz.
