Jeet Kune Do classes in Melbourne, in Bruce Lee's direct lineage.
Train the art Bruce Lee founded the way it was handed down: from his students Jerry Poteet and Richard Bustillo, to Sigung Ricardo Vargas, to you.
Jeet Kune Do Legacy Academy teaches authentic Jeet Kune Do in Maidstone, Melbourne. Head instructor Sigung Ricardo Vargas was trained and certified by Sifu Jerry Poteet and Sigung Richard Bustillo, both direct students of Bruce Lee. Group classes run Tuesday and Thursday at 7 pm and Saturday at 9:30 am, and the first class is free.
What our students say.
Why lineage matters in Jeet Kune Do
Jeet Kune Do is not a set of forms you can copy from a video. Bruce Lee taught principles — interception, economy of motion, directness — and those are passed on person to person.
Sigung Ricardo Vargas is a second-generation instructor. He was personally trained and certified by Sifu Jerry Poteet, a student at Bruce Lee's school who later trained actor Jason Scott Lee for Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story, and by Sigung Richard Bustillo, "The Iron Dragon", who studied under Bruce Lee and founded the IMB Academy in California.
He received his full instructor certification in 2015, was named Outstanding Martial Artist of the Year by the U.S. Martial Arts Hall of Fame in 2013, and has more than 30 years of practice. Read the full lineage →
From your first class to mastery
Three stages, one path. Full details and prices are on The Way.
12-week beginner program
The philosophy of interception, guard and stance, footwork, the straight lead, striking, kicking and an introduction to trapping. It rotates, so you can start any week.
The combat scientist
Jun Fan kickboxing, the wooden dummy (mook jong), grappling and clinch work, the five ways of attack, energy drills (chi sao) and supervised sparring methods.
The philosophical warrior
One-on-one mentorship with Sigung Vargas for advanced students: a personal curriculum, self-expression through combat and preparation to teach.
What a Jeet Kune Do class looks like
Every class lasts 60 minutes and is taught by Sigung Vargas or one of his certified instructors. Groups are kept small, so you get corrections in every session.
- Warm-up and mobility — getting the body ready for footwork and striking.
- Fundamentals — stance, footwork and the straight lead, revisited at every level.
- Technique of the week — part of the 12-week rotating module, practised with a partner.
- Application — drills that add timing, distance and pressure as you improve.
- Principle — a short reflection on the idea behind the technique, the way Bruce Lee intended.
"My responsibility is not to create copies of Bruce Lee, but to help each student discover the freedom, skill, and courage to become the best expression of themselves through his art."
— Sigung Ricardo Vargas
New to Jeet Kune Do? Start with what Jeet Kune Do is and what to expect in your first class. Other certified instructors in the lineage teach in St Albans, Templestowe and Adelaide.
Jeet Kune Do in Melbourne's inner west
Our school is in Maidstone, in Melbourne's inner west — about 10 km from the CBD, close to Footscray, Maribyrnong and Sunshine.
- Address
- Unit 6 / 72-80 Hampstead Rd, Maidstone VIC 3012
- Parking
- Free parking at Hampstead Rd
- Bus
- Route 406 — stop Wattle Rd/Hampstead Rd
- Phone
- 0459 785 073
Students travel to us from all over the north and west:
- Essendon
- Moonee Ponds
- Avondale Heights
- Brunswick
- Broadmeadows
- Footscray
- Maribyrnong
- Sunshine
- Yarraville
Three steps to your first class
Leave your details
Fill in the short form — it takes about 30 seconds.
Get a call within 24 hours
Sigung Vargas calls you for a short chat about your goals and books a class time that suits you.
Train — your first class is free
Wear sports clothes; group classes train barefoot. No experience or fitness level needed.
Guides worth reading
What Is Jeet Kune Do? A Clear Guide to Bruce Lee's Martial Art
What is Jeet Kune Do? Bruce Lee's 1967 martial art explained: meaning, principles, ranges, training today and where to learn authentic JKD in Melbourne.
Read →
Jeet Kune Do vs Wing Chun: what's the difference?
Jeet Kune Do vs Wing Chun: what Bruce Lee kept from Ip Man's Wing Chun, what he changed, and a side-by-side comparison. JKD classes in Melbourne.
Read →
Your First Jeet Kune Do Class: What to Expect
Your first Jeet Kune Do class in Melbourne: how booking works, what to wear, the 60-minute class, fitness, sparring and etiquette. First class free.
Read →Questions people ask
What is Jeet Kune Do?
Jeet Kune Do (JKD), "the way of the intercepting fist", is the martial art and philosophy Bruce Lee named in 1967. It favours simple, direct, efficient movement and principles over fixed forms. Read the full guide.
Is Jeet Kune Do good for self-defence?
Yes, when it is trained with pressure and realism. JKD combines kicking, punching, trapping and grappling ranges and focuses on intercepting an attack. See our self-defence classes.
I train Wing Chun or Kung Fu. Can I join?
Yes. Bruce Lee trained Wing Chun before creating JKD, so many concepts will feel familiar. Your first class shows you what JKD adds — footwork, range and interception.
How long does it take to learn Jeet Kune Do?
The Foundation program runs over 12 weeks and gives you a working base. JKD itself is a lifelong study: the Progression and Mastery stages keep developing timing, sparring and personal expression.
How much are Jeet Kune Do classes in Melbourne?
The first class is free. Then: 5 classes A$175, 12 classes A$350, Monthly Unlimited A$240 or 3-Month Unlimited A$650, plus an enrolment fee. No contracts.
Is there a minimum age?
Yes — 14 years old. Classes are for teens and adults.
Become a third-generation student of Bruce Lee.
Your first class is free. Leave your details and Sigung Vargas will call you within 24 hours.
Book your free class →