Lee>Lewis>Aikia: “Non-Classical Combative Methodologies”™

A composite of Japanese characters for Aikia [(ai|kia(i)] can be translated as “allegiance of courage.” The acronym AIKIA stands for America’s Independent Instructors Association. The “K” equally addresses Korean martial arts (TKD/TSD/HKD), Karate, Kickboxing, Kenpo, and Kon-do Bujutsu (Japanese word for Mixed Martial Arts/MMA).

“If you are talking about training for fighting in the real world, well then baby you better train every part of your body.” Bruce Lee 1972, Father of MMA

Aikia was designed in the ’70s to unite instructors who followed the independent methodology made famous by martial arts icons Bruce Lee and Joe Lewis. During a period of two years between 1967 and 1969, Bruce Lee personally coached Joe Lewis to 11 straight victories. We continue the legacy GM Lewis made available exclusively to Aikia members during his many years as Aikia’s National Director for Training and Instruction. See “How Bruce Lee’s Jeet Kune Do Techniques Revolutionized Joe Lewis’ Karate Training” by Dr. Jerry Beasley (www.blackbeltmag.com).

“I want to help restore this sense of pride in the martial arts through AIKIA.” Joe Lewis 1983

The late Grandmaster Joe Lewis put it best when he said, “The feeling that I find missing in so many schools nowadays is a sense of pride and belonging. I want to help restore this sense of pride in the martial arts through AIKIA. I haven’t been associated with an organization since 1973. I was so impressed with the philosophy, ideas, and sincerity of AIKIA; I chose to fully endorse their efforts by serving as National Director for Training and Instruction. If you are a martial arts instructor, I encourage you to join in our effort to better the professional practice of martial arts instruction.” Joe Lewis, 1983

The philosophy the grandmaster spoke of is that an organization should serve as an “allegiance of courage” to align with instructors who are courageous enough to venture outside their respective arts. We believe, as did Bruce Lee, that the truth in combat is beyond singular styles. Aikia endorsed Black Belts actively research and train in arts outside their base systems to advance their knowledge of combat. If you are a Black Belt instructor and you are, as Bruce Lee might say, “training every part of your body,” then join us.

JKD’s Non-Classical Karate

Bruce Lee is often called the “Father of MMA.” Lee, along with his only world champion student, Joe Lewis, helped shape the modern practice of martial arts. The exclusive lineage from Bruce Lee to Joe Lewis to Aikia to you is available only to Aikia members. In 1994 and 1995, Ted Wong, Joe Lewis, and Jerry Beasley, then operating together as the JKD Council, ™ chronicled the specific methodology being passed from Bruce to Joe to Jerry. Ted Wong often participated in the historic lessons between Joe and Bruce and provided several important reference points. At Lewis’s request, Beasley coined the name Non-Classical Combative Methodologies™ to be the best descriptor for the Original JKD skills, principles, and strategies that Bruce Lee had taught Joe Lewis and that Lewis passed on to Jerry Beasley. Joe loved the name and the concept because it captured the essence, without reference to historical Asian terminology, of being “non-classical yet methodically combative.” In 1995, GM Lewis officially added NCCM to his personal Joe Lewis American Karate Systems Black Belt certificates. Prior to 1995, all JLAKS Black Belt certificates originated with Aikia.

Aikia was the original launching pad and home organization for Joe Lewis American Karate Systems. The JLAKS was carefully detailed in the book, Joe Lewis and His American Karate Systems, by Joe Lewis and Dr. Jerry Beasley. When you join we’ll send you a download of the original book manuscript as a free gift. Copies of the original book sell on Amazon.com for as much as $300! The Bruce Lee>Joe Lewis>Aikia Non-Classical Combative Methodologies™ is exclusive to Aikia and includes essential elements of the JLAKS. Our second free gift to you is a download of the original book manuscript title, JKD: High-Risk Sparring, by Dr. Jerry Beasley and featuring Joe Lewis. These two book manuscripts will provide more detailed information about both the Joe Lewis American Karate Systems and the JKD/Non-Classical Combative Methodologies™ as originally promoted by the late Joe Lewis and Aikia.

As an Aikia member you will receive specific instructions on how to best learn and teach the cutting edge principles and strategies in the lineage passed from Bruce Lee to Joe Lewis to Aikia to you. Black Belts have the option to apply for instructor certification in Non-Classical Combative Methodologies. ™ See Black Belt magazine’s September 1998 cover story, “Using Jeet Kune Do to Improve Your Traditional Karate Skills,” by Dr. Jerry Beasley.

How do we serve you?

The main thing black belts hate about organizations is ‘politics.’ Politics means ‘money’ and in Aikia skill talks and money walks. Aikia is free of politics. We are today as we were 35-plus years ago. Service, not profit, is our motive. Aikia membership is an endorsement that allows you to join forces with the most prestigious independent rank granting institution in the world. We provide high-level continuing education through the NCCM and a yearly training camp that has been called the best in the nation.

Aikia’s Karate College: The Original MMA Camp

As an Aikia endorsed school you join forces with the winner of the Black Belt magazine Best Training Camp Industry Award. Aikia’s iconic Karate College (originally promoted by Joe Lewis, Bill Wallace, Jeff Smith, and Dr. Beasley) has served the martial arts industry for more than 25 years by bringing together a multitude of martial arts. Aikia provides the top meeting place for our members to come, enjoy fellowship, learn, and progress. Aikia instructors enjoy the privilege of awarding Black Belts to their students during the event in front of a national audience. Here’s what leaders say:

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“It’s my favorite camp. When we began the Karate College in 1988, no one could have known that it would have been so important to so many people.”
Bill Wallace
“I love Karate College. You can meet some of the best people in martial arts there. I plan things around the Karate College dates because I love it there.”
Renzo Gracie
“Dr. Beasley has put together the premiere camp in the nation. Every other camp is measured by how close they get to the Karate College model.”
Joe Lewis

Are you Ready to join the allegiance of courage?

Black Belts want to know how they can get promoted and their students can receive national accreditation. They also want to develop cutting edge information to teach to their students. Just fill out the application and mail it in with a copy of your 1st dan certificate. We will take it from there. Aikia Black Belt instructors advance by perfecting their base “K” art and their personal attributes and by going outside the art using a method Beasley and Lewis called Selective Technique Variation.

As Aikia’s original National Director for Training and Instruction, Joe Lewis taught us that “he was simply pointing the way.” Like his teacher and coach Bruce Lee had instructed him to do, Joe insisted that when you limit yourself to an individual, a technique, an art or a style, you will surely miss “the way.” Aikia wishes to perpetuate the Bruce Lee>Joe Lewis>Aikia lineage by opening our membership to all arts and styles that use the standard white thru black belt grading system.

In Aikia rank is an honor, not an expense.

Let’s face it; most organizations make their basic profit by selling black belt promotions and by pressuring you to promote a seminar in your school to pay their instructor. It’s the age old nature of the business. Not anymore! In Aikia earning the Black belt is an honor, never an expense. We supply complete details for testing via video or in person. Aikia was the first to offer profit sharing returns to the instructor members. In Aikia it is intended that you the instructor make at least a 50%+ profit when using Aikia certification. You pay only $5 for a student membership certificate and card. The retail value is $20. You pay only $3.50 for the Aikia student rank certificates. The retail value of each rank certificate is $20. When the Aikia student member has earned 8 or more student rank certificate the cost of the 1st dan Black Belt certificate is absolutely free. As our agent you may test for Black Belt advancement at no charge. In Aikia rank is an honor, not an expense. Join America’s Number One Martial Arts Organization, Today!

Welcome to Aikia, the Allegiance of Courage.

Here’s what you receive:

As our agent you are empowered to sell Aikia student memberships and order the Official Student rank certificates. Agents can resale the certificates/memberships at a tremendous profit. Plus…

•You receive the Aikia Black Belt Member Certificate ($40 value).

•School Charter/Agent certificate ($90 value).

•Black Belt Instructor Certificate ($60 value).

•Free Black Belt Rank Exam (when you are ready, no pressure at any time). Many Aikia instructors choose to test within the first year of membership.

•The $99 Aikia Program Directors Guide complete download with testing forms, application forms, school membership forms: everything you need to run and market a successful school. You receive complete details on how to profit through membership sales; how to advertise, establish prices, sales promotions, and sell student contracts. This manual has been used by more than 1,500 schools and is now available in book form from Black Belt Books. Your exclusive added inserts include the complete Aikia guide to testing for Dan rank.

•As an instructor member you have authority to order student memberships, rank certificates and Black Belt certificates.

  • You receive 10 free student memberships for an immediate resale value of up to $200! You earn back the entire cost of membership and stand ready to profit for all future memberships and testing fee!!!
  • Students may train free for a week at any Aikia location advertising Aikia affiliation, nationwide with our exchange agreement.
  • Parents will want Students to join Aikia to receive national accreditation for their rank. The National Rank Accreditation fee is only $20 per belt rank. (As our agent you pay only $3.50 per kyu/gup certificate. Use the profit for continuing education, to attend the national conference or buy new equipment for your school).
  • Plus you receive a free download of The Joe Lewis American Karate Systems (sold on Amazon for $60-$200 per copy, if you can get one) and the JKD: High-Risk sparring featuring Joe Lewis ($21.95 value).

•Group discounts to attend Karate College, voted by readers of Black Belt magazine as the #1 training camp in the nation. Instructors attending the Aikia national conference at Karate College receive personalized skill training, business training, and evaluation.

As you become an Aikia Karate College endorsed school you and your student’s come under the tutelage of the world renowned masters of the Karate College. We have open divisions for Taekwondo, Hapkido, Tangsoodo, and other striking arts affiliates, including MMA. Aikia National Directors have included: Joe Lewis, Bill Wallace, Jeff Smith, and Steve Anderson and Dr. Jerry Beasley. Among the many successful Aikia members who have gone on to establish their own organizations are John Graden (NAPMA/MATA), Frank Sanchez (World HOF Sokeship Council), John Pellegrini (Combat Hapkido), Mike Lee Kanarek (Haganah), and many more.

•The exclusive right to advertise “fully accredited” programs to your students. Parents and students will appreciate that they receive “national accreditation” only at your Aikia certified school.

  • When you add the $99 instructor’s manual and the $200 in student memberships plus the free Joe Lewis/Jerry Beasley book downloads you not only get your membership for free, you earn money! And, you continue to make profit from student membership and testing fees. Along with over 1500 school owners worldwide we expect you too, to say “I got a lot more than what I paid for when I joined Aikia.”

How to join

Complete the application and include a copy of your Dan certificate and your application fee of $199. This is a onetime certification fee. As long as you remain an active partner ordering student memberships and rank certificates there is never a renewal fee. Does all this sound too good to be true? We are counting on you to be a top grade black belt and bring honor to the profession of teaching martial arts. Trust is something you earn. Join Team Aikia today!

Our goal is to serve our members: “Whosoever desires to be great among you, let him be your servant.” (Matthew 20:26).