Integrated Martial Arts Movement

C l a s s D e s c r i p t i o n

based on Bruce Lee’s Jeet Kune Do Concepts- “Absorb what is useful, reject what is useless, add what is specifically your own”. Borrowing from various martial arts disciplines, students will learn to seamlessly adapt and integrate movements into their own. The class will explore efficient martial arts technique alone and with a partner to develop accuracy and proper dynamics, in a safe and non-threatening manner. Different empty hand and weapons based systems- from boxing, savate, muay thai kickboxing, wing chun, and kali / silat are explored, incorporated, and modified- into an ever evolving personal style.

Gary Lai has instructed martial arts at New York Martial Arts Academy, Revolution Studio, Physical Arts Center, and various academic schools and independent studios. He has studied Bruce Lee’s Jeet Kune Do Concepts with Dan Inosanto, the primary instructor for Bruce Lee’s martial arts school, Burton Richardson, Chad Stahelski and with others in the same lineage. He has also performed as a martial arts stuntman in commercial and screen work.

Gary Lai has instructed adult gymnastics classes for Chelsea Piers, Physical Arts Center, LAVA, and also independently in various locations. In addition, he has taught company gymnastics class for the physical dance companies of Streb and LAVA, and has taught at Hunter College and elsewhere, conducting clinics for gymnastics instructors.

With a background of teaching physical education, gymnastics, martial arts, and climbing, Gary Lai was the owner-operator of Physical Arts Center- a multidisciplinary movement center in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. He is involved in dance as a student, spectator, and performer- having worked with Luis Lara Malvacias, Wendy Osserman Dance Company, and in aerial dance with Elise Knudsen, and Noemi Lafrance’s Sensproduction, among others.

Gary Lai 646.283.3204 / pacspace@gmail.com