“Martial arts can change the lives of your students if you create the right environment.”

INSIDE KUNG-FU:What is fang shen do?

JACQUES PATANAUDE: Fang shen do (way of survival) is one method of experiencing martial arts. FSD is a modern martial arts system that combines reality based self-defense, health and fitness, along with personal empowerment philosophies. It was inspired by the founder of jeet kune do’s ideas and concepts of using anything that works and having no boundaries/limitations in your style or techniques. FSD deals with bringing out the student’s natural instincts and gives him tools to face life’s challenges with confidence, while staying on the path of self-mastery.

IKF: What is your martial arts background?

JP: I grew up in a fighting family, where it was encouraged and important to be able to fight and uphold the family name. I first started learning boxing at age 9, being taught by my uncles who had been taught by a prize fighter (a great uncle) years before, and managed to cross-train in karate and jiu-jitsu in my teenage years. I received a black sash (sifu level) in 1979 after extensive training with an original student of JKD’s founder. Like I taught my four kids (whom are all in the martial arts),  “In martial arts you never graduate. Every person you meet is superior to you in one way or the other (so) be open and ready to learn.”

In martial arts and in life you’re either growing or stagnating. FSD is a living art, always growing and expanding, shedding our skin yearly so to speak. That way we’re always on the cutting edge of martial arts and personal development.

IKF: Why was FSD created?

JP: Bruce Lee was a big part of me wanting to find my own way. Having to overcome many obstacles and having to build my success from the ground up, I found myself using martial arts for a lot more than acquiring more physical skills.

FSD was created to help and give students a vehicle for self-improvement, not just fighting techniques. It was my own struggle, out of the need to succeed in life that led to its creation. I quickly realized life was my greatest adversary; without the right tools and the right preparation I could never succeed in the areas that mattered most to me. I didn’t want my kids or my students to struggle like I did. I felt a system with a clear road map in the area of personal development was something way more valuable than just learning to throw a punch.

IKF: You must have been disillusioned when your initial martial arts failed to live up to its standard?

JP: I knew before starting martial arts that you don’t need hundreds of techniques to be effective in a fight. I also met too many “soft-bellied masters who never demonstrated anything.” Most did not represent what martial arts wisdom was for me. My biggest letdown was that many of the philosophical/spiritual aspects were hard to use in our modern society. I had to find out from my own research and personal experiences how to use the wisdom found in martial arts training and apply it in a practical way.

IKF: You say that your students waste their time with competitions. Why?

JP: Some of my instructors and students have entered in competitions, be it MMA or various forms of kickboxing, and have done well for themselves. But, the majority of our students, the average person who spends twice a week for one hour in the dojo who wants to learn self-defense, get fit and instill core values, isn’t usually drawn to it. Training for competitions is a fulltime job, requires a high level of athletic skill and requires good knowledge of the rules of the sport, not to mention an iron will, dedication and sacrifice to reach the professional levels. The average person will change his minds when he actually sees what a fighter has to go through to “make it” in the sport.

Training for a sport and training for the street are two different things. Stepping inside a ring with street techniques will get you disqualified, while bringing sport techniques to the street might get you killed.

This is why our non-competitive students do full-contact drills and sparring scenarios, while building the attributes and techniques that 90 percent of people can use to defend themselves and leave the competitions to the 10 percent who wish to do so.

IKF: Why do you think other styles ignore conditioning?

JP: Some schools do have some form of conditioning program, but not to the extent that the student does not feel the need to go to a gym, or other types of training to get fit. Most schools we visit, the practice of techniques is the workout. I feel that you should walk out of class not wanting or needing to drop by the gym to finish your training. Your martial arts should take care of your workout needs by incorporating intense routines within the classes and assuring you’re always in fighting trim, as well as maintaining a balance among strength, speed, endurance and flexibility.

IKF: Why do you say FSD is the art of survival? Aren’t all martial arts the art of survival?

JP: Today, many styles are about rules and sport fighting. They do not stress a win-at-all-costs, succeed-or-die mentality. At its very core, fang shen do prepares you physically and mentally to face all the challenges thrown your way. I do not believe all arts teach that type of empowerment or philosophy in their daily teachings.

IKF: What is your curriculum like?

JP: Our classes are separated in many segments.

* Reality-based, self-defense techniques from striking, kicking, trapping, grappling, weapons and the psychological ranges.
* Fitness conditioning/skill-building drills and workouts to increase power, speed and intensity
* Sparring, grappling and weapons with realism and scenarios
* Principles/tactics for self-defense and health
* Personal development exercises focusing on goals and self-improvement

IKF: What is your teaching philosophy?

JP: Because of my background, I left home when I was 17 with a gym bag with no money, no support, but armed with a dream: “To one day own a martial art school.” Naturally, I teach with the philosophy of using your martial art training as the vehicle to personal success. To use it as a way of life. To live and breathe it. To stay on the path of mastery. Everyone has a personal champion within himself waiting to be discovered and martial arts just seems to be the quickest and most efficient way to do so.

Back in 2006, a Canadian producer caught wind of our unique story. After three years of planning and financing, pre-production starts this fall. You judge a tree by the quality of its fruit; when we tell our students to dare and dream while letting nothing stand in their way, we make sure to practice what we preach.

IKF: What made you incorporate Station Training?

JP: We wanted to incorporate the mini-day workout (something covered in the January 2002 edition of Inside Kung-Fu). This article gave the exact method we use to get you in excellent physical condition in 30 days or less. The biggest issue was time, which is one of the most common excuses for not starting or maintaining a fitness program for most people. A basic station workout can last 10-to-15 minutes and make you feel like you worked out for two hours. No muscle is left untouched and progression over time is built into the program so you know you’re always progressing.

At its core, the exercises are simple enough that one can maintain proper form during the time period allotted. If the exercises are performed the way they were intended while dishing out maximum intensity, you have the recipe for acquiring unlimited strength. The only question is, “Which exercises do you do?” That’s where 30 years of testing comes into play. Our Station Training has evolved quite a bit since 1979. S.T has four different fitness levels with over 350 unique, progressive exercises that build upon each other so that as you get stronger the exercises also change. This guarantees that you evolve and stay challenged throughout every workout. Station Intervals range from 1, 2, 3, and 5 minutes, culminating into a final six weeks’ test before advancing to the next level.

IKF: How does a student totally emerge himself in the martial art lifestyle?

JP: To reach mastery one must do two things: seek total immersion and modeling.” In 1995 we created our unique Training Camp Experience to do just that.  Three days of uninterrupted training in one of the most-advanced training facilities in the world. Students have a chance to live the monk lifestyle and accelerate their learning process. What would take one year to acquire (things like intensity, work ethic, mental toughness, endurance, success habits) can now be absorbed and integrated in three days.

IKF: How does fire walking and glass walking fit into the equation?

JP: They’re all about state change. We are creatures of habit and bad habits are often hard to break. Fire walking and glass walking are just two of the methods we use in FSD to break a pattern that a student might want to break. Things that quickly come to mind might be living smoke free, following through, controlling appetite, staying consistent, adopting a winner’s mindset, taking responsibility, and removing fears. Like we said, students often need help with far greater things than learning their next kata. Martial arts can change the lives of your students if you create the right environment, which has always been our goal.

Sidebar 1

Up Close

What: Fang Shen Do

Where: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Instructors: Jacques and Linda Pataneude

Contact: www.fangshendo.com or

lead shot

central axis manipulation

tech 1-6
The aggressor chokes Patenaude (1-2). A quick jolt to the groin folds the opponent in half and exposing his eye (3). Patenaude jabs his thumb directly into the eye socket (4), giving him an opportunity to land heavy artillery attacks like a swift hooking elbow to the temple(5). Patenaude's sidekick comes up to push and/or finish his opponent (6).

tech 2-1-2-6

Sometimes the best defense is a powerful offense. Sijo Patenaude quickly instigates with a direct biu jee attack to his opponent’s eye (1). He follows with a rear cross attack to the face (2). Before Patrick can retaliate, Patenaude traps both arms and uses this connection (3) to propel his head forward and into his opponent’s nose (4). Once stunned, his leg is cut from underneath him by Patenaude (5) with a quick outside sweep followed by a finishing throat attack (6).

general cap

Jacques Patenaude and his son, Martin, work phon sau (1-2).