James Eke: Owner & Chief Instructor

Guro James Eke is a student of legendary martial artist, Dan Inosanto, training with him for over 20 years. Guro James is one of only a handful of people Guro Inosanto has granted instructorship in Maphilindo Silat & Majapahit Arts to. He has been training in the martial arts for over 35 years in a number of arts and is also the author of the book Warrior’s Way: A Guide to Lifelong Learning in the Martial Arts (Kindle & Kobo).

Martial Arts Certification:

• Filipino Martial Arts – Guro First Degree (under Guro Inosanto)
• Jun Fan/Jeet Kune Do – Associate Instructor (under Sifu Inosanto)
• Maphilindo Silat & Majapahit Martial Arts – First Degree Guro (under Guro Inosanto)
• Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do Grappling Association – Full Instructor (under Simo Debra Hartsell/Sifu Tim Becherer)
• Black Belt: Goju-Ryu Karate-Do (under O’Sensei Richard Kim, Butoku-Kai)
• Black Belt: Iaido (Canadian Iaido Association)
• Instructor: Balintawak Eskrima (under Dr Dom Lopez)
• Level 2: Muay Thai (Thai Boxing Association)
• Machado Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Purple Belt (under Prof Jean Jacques Machado)

 

Sifu/Guro/Sensei James Eke, a former regular force combat arms Army officer, is the owner and chief instructor of Eke Academy of Martial Arts. He has been a practitioner of many martial arts for over 30 years and a lay-ordained Zen Buddhist.

Starting as a child in Judo, in 1982, Eke competed extensively in Ontario and New York State, and remembers summers spent at Judo summer camp.  In his late teens and early twenties, he decided to plunge himself into the study of many martial arts and fighting systems and has studied Goju Karate (both Japanese and Okinawan), Kobudo, Iaido, Shorinji Kempo, Jiu-jitsu, Arnis, Tai Chi, Silat, Muay Thai, Kali, Jeet Kune Do/Jun Fan Gung Fu, Shoot-Wrestling, wrestling, kickboxing, and boxing.

His JKD, Kali, Silat, Muay Thai and Shoot-wrestling are of legendary martial artist and protege of Bruce Lee,Guro Dan Inosanto lineage, having been introduced to JKD/Kali/Silat by Guro Inosanto in 1993. Sifu/Guro Eke continues training with Guro Inosanto on a regular basis, having trained with him around Canada, the U.S. and at the Inosanto Academy in Marina Del Rey, California.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has been Eke’s latest venture into the martial arts, starting in BJJ with Prof Jean Jacques Machado at 42 years of age. Now, years later and a purple belt and continues his studies and love for the art.

Eke taught martial arts for many years around British Columbia before opening the Eke Academy of Martial Arts, with a number of his students from those years promoted to black belt under him, and has taught Army, Navy and Airforce personnel JKD and Kali on base at CFB Esquimalt in Victoria, BC, through the Victoria JKD/Kali Group he founded there.

Eke is also a published author and novelist, a former journalist who has written for newspapers and magazines across Canada, a certified personal trainer and an avid fitness and yoga enthusiast.

His focus in his martial arts are on research and development into making the most efficient and effective real-life combat system that also changes lives and makes the world a better place. He is always on the hunt, looking for more realistic and innovative ways to train.

Eke also studies and teaches Balintawak Escrima under GM Dr Dom Lopez. Dr. Lopez learned the art from Master (Attorney) Jose Villasin in Cebu in the early 1960s. The Eke Academy provides the most up-to-date instruction in Dr Lopez’ Balintawak system with Eke having trained privately with his teacher at the Academy.