User:Thejeetkunedorebel

{{UserboxCOI|1=Dwight Woods, The Jeet Kune Do Rebel}

Dwight Woods is a martial artist and instructor known for his work in Jeet Kune Do, the martial philosophy developed by Bruce Lee. He is the founder of the Unified Martial Art Academy (UMAA) based in Miami, Florida. A longtime student of Dan Inosanto, Woods has received instructor certifications in Jeet Kune Do, Filipino martial arts, Muay Thai, Savate, and Wing Chun. He is also the host of two martial arts-focused programs, The I Love Jeet Kune Do Broadcast and The Jeet Kune Do Dialogues, and has appeared in film and television productions.

Early life and training

Dwight Woods was born in Trinidad and raised in Barbados. He became interested in martial arts after watching Bruce Lee in The Green Hornet (1966) and later in The Big Boss (1971). Without formal instruction available, he trained independently using published material, including The Tao of Jeet Kune Do, Bruce Lee’s Fighting Method, and articles from martial arts magazines.

In 1983, Woods traveled to Los Angeles to pursue formal training and attended a California Martial Arts Academy seminar taught by Dan Inosanto. He later trained under Inosanto and other instructors including Cass Magda, Francis Fong, Larry Hartsell, and Tim Tackett. In 1985, he received Apprentice Instructor certification in Jun Fan Gung Fu and Jeet Kune Do, and founded the Unified Martial Art Academy (UMAA), initially based in Barbados and later in Miami, Florida.

In 1996, he was awarded Full Instructor ranking in Jeet Kune Do and Filipino Martial Arts by Dan Inosanto. He also holds instructor credentials in Muay Thai under Surachai Sirisute, Boxe Française-Savate under Salem Assli, and Wing Chun under Francis Fong.

Teaching career

After receiving his instructor certification in 1985, Woods founded the Unified Martial Art Academy (UMAA), originally based in Barbados. The academy later relocated to Miami, Florida, where Woods introduced Jeet Kune Do and Filipino martial arts to the South Florida area. UMAA initially operated in informal spaces such as parks and garages before moving to its first permanent facility in 1988. A commercial academy location was established in 1992 on Kendall Drive in Miami-Dade County.

Woods continued his professional development by joining organizations such as the National Association of Professional Martial Artists (NAPMA) and the Martial Arts Industry Association (MAIA). He studied marketing and instruction strategies, adapting them to his curriculum. In 1996, UMAA expanded to a 2,400-square-foot facility with dedicated training stations and amenities. Woods also conducted seminars internationally and maintained a branch affiliate in Barbados.

In 2008, he produced a series of instructional videos on Jeet Kune Do and Filipino Kali, published through Expert Village and other platforms. He later launched two business initiatives: Jeet Kune Do Success Strategies and Concierge Jeet Kune Do, which focused on coaching martial arts professionals and offering private training services.

Media and appearances

In April 2006, Woods was featured on the cover of Martial Arts Professional magazine.

He has also appeared in several film and television productions. His credited roles include:

• A supporting role as a Jamaican gang member in Only the Strong (1993)
• A role in the 2023 film The Island with Michael Jai White
• An appearance in the 2011 reboot of the television series Charlie’s Angels

Podcasting and interviews

Woods is the creator and host of two online martial arts programs:

• The I Love Jeet Kune Do Broadcast – a video series that explores the history and practice of Jeet Kune Do and related martial arts.
• The Jeet Kune Do Dialogues – a discussion-based program featuring interviews with instructors and practitioners of Jeet Kune Do.

He has also been a guest on several martial arts podcasts, including:

• FMA Discussion – Episodes 8, 18, 73, and 502
• Martial Meh – Episode 20
• The Kung Fu Genius – Episode 182

Titans of Jeet Kune Do

Woods is a co-host of the seminar series Titans of Jeet Kune Do, along with instructors Christopher Kent and Cass Magda. The event brings together practitioners of Jeet Kune Do to present instructional material, exchange perspectives, and explore different training methodologies. The seminars are held in various locations and focus on preserving and applying the core principles associated with Bruce Lee’s martial philosophy.

Teaching philosophy and legacy

Woods advocates for an interpretation of Jeet Kune Do that emphasizes principle-based training over rigid stylistic adherence. He has publicly stated his position as being between the “Original JKD” and “JKD Concepts” perspectives, encouraging practitioners to understand both the historical foundation of Bruce Lee’s teachings and the practical evolution of the art.

Through his academy, media programs, and seminar instruction, Woods promotes the idea that Jeet Kune Do should be taught with clear structure while retaining space for personal adaptation. He has also developed educational material and coaching services aimed at helping martial arts instructors build professional teaching platforms.

Filmography

• Only the Strong (1993)
• The Island (2023)
• Charlie’s Angels (2011)

External links

• The I Love Jeet Kune Do Broadcast – YouTube channel
• Titans of Jeet Kune Do official website
• Dwight D. Woods on IMDb

Categories

This page will be placed in the following categories if it is moved to the article namespace.

Categories:

• American martial artists
• Jeet Kune Do practitioners
• Martial arts instructors
• Martial arts podcasters
• Living people
• Year of birth missing (living people)