Your first Jeet Kune Do class is a free 60-minute session for beginners. Wear sports clothes; group classes train barefoot. Expect a warm-up, the on-guard stance, footwork, the straight lead punch and controlled partner drills. You don't need to be fit, sparring is never compulsory, and the minimum age is 14.
Your first Jeet Kune Do class at Jeet Kune Do Legacy Academy is a free, 60-minute session in Maidstone, Melbourne. You'll learn the on-guard stance, basic footwork and the straight lead punch, then practise with a partner at a controlled pace. There is no sparring and no fitness test. Here is everything you need to know, from booking to what happens afterwards.
How do I book my first Jeet Kune Do class?
You book by leaving your details online; Sigung Ricardo Vargas then phones you within 24 hours, and your first class is free. The process has three steps:
- Fill in the short form on the free trial page.
- Sigung Vargas calls you within 24 hours for a short chat about your goals, any training background or injuries, and which class suits you.
- You come to your first class, free of charge.
There are no walk-ins without that call. It means the instructor knows who is coming and what you need before you step on the mat. Group classes run Tuesday and Thursday 7–8 pm and Saturday 9:30–10:30 am, and they run as normal on public holidays.
What should I wear to a Jeet Kune Do class?
Wear comfortable sports clothes. Group classes are trained barefoot, so you won't need shoes on the mat.
- A T-shirt or training top you can move freely in.
- Shorts or track pants that let you kick and bend your knees. Avoid jeans, belts and zips.
- Trimmed fingernails and toenails, for your partner's sake and your own.
- No rings, watches or earrings; long hair tied back.
- A water bottle and a small towel.
Don't rush out and buy gloves, pads or a uniform before your first class. Ask what, if anything, you'll need once you decide to continue. If you later book private lessons, those are trained in sports clothes and sports shoes.
Do I need to be fit or experienced?
No. The beginner program is designed for people with no martial arts background, and you work at your own pace. Fitness comes from training; you don't need it before you start.
Tell the instructor about any injuries or health conditions before class so drills can be adjusted. Classes are small and every session includes personal corrections, so nobody is left guessing. If you have trained in another art, expect a few surprises. JKD puts your strong side forward, so a right-handed boxer used to leading with the left will find the stance reversed. If you are starting later in life, our guide to starting martial arts as an adult may help.
Classes are open to teens and adults; the minimum age is 14, and there are no kids' classes.
What happens in a 60-minute Jeet Kune Do class?
A typical beginner session moves from a warm-up to stance and footwork, then the straight lead, then partner drills. Here is what each part involves:
- Warm-up. Joint mobility and light conditioning to get your body moving and your heart rate up gradually.
- Stance. The JKD on-guard position: strong side forward, hands up, chin down, knees soft and weight balanced so you can move in any direction.
- Footwork. Short steps forward, back and to the side without losing your stance. Footwork controls distance, and distance is what makes interception possible.
- Straight lead. JKD's signature punch, thrown from the lead hand with a vertical fist and no wind-up. You'll usually practise it on pads.
- Partner drills. Cooperative, controlled exercises where one person feeds a target or a slow attack and the other works on timing and distance.
Because the beginner program is a 12-week rotating module, your first class might focus on kicking, striking or an introduction to trapping instead. The shape of the session stays much the same. To understand the principles behind these drills, read what Jeet Kune Do is.
Will I have to spar in my first class?
No. Sparring is never compulsory at Jeet Kune Do Legacy Academy. It is introduced only at intermediate and advanced level, always supervised by the instructor. Your first class, and your first months, are about building the stance, footwork and timing that make sparring productive and safe when you are ready for it.
Is it normal to feel nervous before a first martial arts class?
Completely normal. Most people walk into their first class worried about looking uncoordinated or being out of their depth. Everyone in the room started exactly where you are. A few things help:
- Arrive 10 minutes early so you aren't rushing, and introduce yourself.
- Tell the instructor it is your first class; you'll be guided through each drill.
- Focus on one thing, such as keeping your hands up, rather than everything at once.
- Ask questions. Nobody expects you to get it right on day one.
"A technique can teach you how to strike, but only sincere practice can teach you when to act, the humility to keep learning, and the character to use your strength wisely." — Sigung Ricardo Vargas
What is the etiquette in a Kwoon?
A kwoon is the Cantonese word for a kung fu training hall, and its etiquette mostly comes down to respect, safety and attention.
- Be on time, and let the instructor know if you will be late.
- Stop and listen when the instructor is demonstrating or speaking.
- Treat your partner as a training ally, not an opponent. Control matters more than power.
- Keep your phone away for the hour.
- Come in clean training clothes.
- If the school has customs such as a salute, you'll be shown them. You don't need to know them in advance.
What happens after the free class?
If you want to continue, you join Foundation, the beginner program. It is a 12-week rotating module, so you can start any week, and if you miss a week nothing is lost because topics come around again. Foundation covers the philosophy of interception, guard and stance, footwork, the straight lead, striking, kicking and an introduction to trapping, before you move on to Progression.
Options include session packs and unlimited memberships, with no contracts; an enrolment fee applies. Current prices and the full curriculum are on The Way. If you prefer one-on-one coaching, private lessons with Sigung Vargas are available by appointment.
How do I get to Jeet Kune Do Legacy Academy?
The academy is at Unit 6 / 72-80 Hampstead Rd, Maidstone VIC 3012, in Melbourne's inner west. There is free parking at Hampstead Rd, and bus route 406 stops at Wattle Rd/Hampstead Rd. Students travel from Footscray, Maribyrnong, Sunshine, Yarraville, Essendon, Moonee Ponds, Avondale Heights, Brunswick and Broadmeadows. More details are on our Jeet Kune Do Melbourne page.
Your first-class checklist
- Form submitted and phone chat with Sigung Vargas done
- Class day confirmed: Tuesday or Thursday 7 pm, or Saturday 9:30 am
- Sports clothes you can kick in (no jeans or zips)
- Ready to train barefoot, with nails trimmed
- Jewellery off and long hair tied back
- Water bottle and towel packed
- Any injuries or health conditions ready to mention
- Route planned: free parking on Hampstead Rd or bus 406
- Plan to arrive 10 minutes early
Try a class in Melbourne
Ready to start? Leave your details on the free trial page and Sigung Vargas will call you within 24 hours. Your first class in Maidstone is free: Tuesday or Thursday at 7 pm, or Saturday at 9:30 am.