Guro/Sifu T. Kent Nelson
Guro T. Kent Nelson's began studying the martial arts in 1984 at the age of 7 years old, and has been on a continuous journey ever since. Throughout his life he has maintained a passion for not only training in various martial arts, but also in passing on the knowledge and the many lifestyle benefits it provides to his students. For Guro Kent, martial arts is not simply something you do, it’s something you become. It is something you are. It is a way of life.
Nelson has achieved many accomplishments over the years, with promises of more to come. He is the founder of KSK Martial Arts, teaching students from all walks of life, through private lessons, classes, camps, and seminars. Between his full-time school, and his Affiliate Programs, Nelson’s teaching has taken him to several places around the United States, as well as Europe, and has allowed him to train civilians, law enforcement, military personnel, executive protection experts, and Hollywood actors.
Additionally, Guro Kent is the only civilian to have a program endorsed by the Michigan Sheriff's Association, to teach within the police academies.
T. Kent Nelson’s Instructional DVDs have sold in over 20 countries, and his KSK Online Learning Center provides online training to subscribers all over the globe in Kali & JKD concepts. His views on training methods were even featured in the book “The Way to Black Belt” (written by Lawrence A. Kane & Kris Wilder)
Guro T. Kent Nelson established his school KSK Martial Arts in 2000. It is located in his hometown of Lansing, MI. where he lives with his lovely wife Laurie, teaching classes, privates lessons, and holding training camps. He also travels to teach seminars and establish KSK Affiliate Groups.
Guro Kent has dedicated his life to training with some of the best martial arts teachers in the world, such as:
- The legendary Guro Dan Inosanto (top student of the late Bruce Lee),
- Professor Chet Schemahorn (only person allowed to award Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Black Belts outside of the Gracie family),
- Sensei Tadashi Yamashita (10th degree black belt & martial arts movie star) .
and many more (see list below)
Guro T. Kent Nelson is committed to passing on the knowledge & the benefits he has gained over nearly four decades of travel and training to his students, adults and kids alike.
RANKING: Jeet Kune Do / Filipino Martial Arts / Silat
Under Guro/Sifu Dan Inosanto
INSTRCUTOR LEVEL - Jun Fan Gung Fu & Jeet Kune Do Concepts
INSTRCUTOR LEVEL - Filipino Martial Arts / Inosanto Kali
INSTRCUTOR LEVEL - Majapahit Martial Arts & Maphilindo Silat
Under Guro/Sifu Daniel Lonero
INSTRUCUTOR LEVEL - Jun Fan Gung Fu & Jeet Kune Do Concepts
INSTRUCUTOR LEVEL - Filipino Martial Arts / Kali
Under Guro/Sifu Paul Vunak
INSTRUCUTOR LEVEL - Jeet Kune Do Concepts
INSTRUCUTOR LEVEL - Filipino Martial Arts / Kali
INSTRUCUTOR LEVEL - Edged Weapons
Under Guro/Sifu David Hatch
LEVEL 5 - Balintawak Eskrima (Theodoro Buot lineage)
RANKING: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu & Combat Submission Wrestling
Under Prof. Chet Schemahorn
BROWN BELT (Gracie Jiu-Jitsu lineage)
Under Sensei Erik Paulson
STUDENT LEVEL-3 (CSW)
RANKING: Okinawan Martial Arts
Under Kyoshi Charles Peterson
3rd DEGREE BLACK BELT - Ryu Te Karate-Do (Ren Ryu Kan)
2nd DEGREE BLACK BELT - Ryu Te Kobudo (Ren Ryu Kan)
2nd DEGREE BLACK BELT - Shorin-Ryu Karate-Do (Shorinkan)
Under Sensei Tadashi Yamashita
SENIOR STUDENT (15years) - Suikendo (Yamashita Karate)
Talking with Guro/Sifu T. Kent Nelson
2-FMA Nerds Podcast with Guro T. Kent Nelson - July 2024
Guro T. Kent Nelson talks about Filipino Martial Arts, how his focus has evolved over the years, and the personal philosophies he follows.
Social Gelo Podcast with Guro T. Kent Nelson - February 2024
Guro T. Kent Nelson talks about his beginnings, his current journey, the teachers he's learned from, and more.
FMA Discussion Podcast Ep.258 with Guro T. Kent Nelson - February 2022
Guro T. Kent Nelson & Guro Dean Franco talk about life, philosophy, histories, and training in the Filipino Martial Arts.
Punch, Kick, Choke, and Chat Podcast #14 - Guro T. Kent Nelson
On August 20, 2020, T. Kent Nelson was interview on the Punch, Kick, Choke, and Chat podcast to give his histories, thoughts, and opinions on Jeet Kune Do and martial arts as a whole.
Jeet Kune Do Dialogues, Episode #137
Guro T. Kent Nelson was interviewed on July 31, 2020 by JKD veteran, Sifu Dwight D. Woods, who hosts the "Jeet Kune Do Dialogues" & the "I Love Jeet Kune Do" podcasts. This long form interview is a great way to get to know Guro T. Kent Nelson as he shares his experiences in the martial arts, his training, his teachers, and his philosophies.
Guro T. Kent Nelson
Guro Kent was interviewed by the Michigan Martial Arts Project in 2013. Here Guro T. Kent Nelson discusses what makes a good martial arts teacher and why he went into teaching.
An open letter to the reader from Guro Kent.
The KSK curriculums are the personal processes of my own training & learning, and placed in the order that I feel they are best taught. This process is based on my own belief, the experiences I have with my own students, and researching with others. As I change and evolve, so will my curriculums. This is natural, this is necessary, this is part of the Jeet Kune Do (JKD) philosophy.
The material in the curriculums come from things I have been taught by my own teachers, as well as things we have found on our own though regular play and experimentation. We do not claim to “Create or Invent” anything (since there is truly nothing new under the sun), but we do “Discover & Find” those techniques that have been hiding there from time to time, as you are prone to do with any kind of persistent dedicated study.
I've had many instructors over the years, but the biggest influence of them all has been my teacher & mentor Guro Dan Inosanto, who I feel has truly set the example for continual growth as martial artist and a human being. I have been blessed enough to train with him through seminars, Instructor Camps, and in his regular classes at his academy in Marina Del Ray, CA. He sets the bar for me every time I see him. I am grateful for his teaching, his guidance, and I am very proud to be a Student & Instructor under him.
When someone asks, “What’s KSK Martial Arts all about?”, I tell them its about learning, self improvement, and cultivating positive relationships between people.”
-Guro T. Kent Nelson