Founded in 2019 in New York City, IJKDF exists to standardize Jeet Kune Do as a modern competitive sport.
The federation advances JKD from a street-level self-defense tradition into a tournament-level combat sport through universal rules, certified coaches/referees/instructors, and structured international competition.
Timeline: 2019 founding, 2020 New York not-for-profit incorporation, 2021 seminar pathway and Adana world clubs championship, 2022 presentation at the TAFISA World Congress.
IJKDF sets a unified competition framework with shared rules, rankings, and officiating criteria so JKD schools and athletes compete under one credible international standard.
International Seminars & Certification
Seminar programming supports instructor, coach, and referee certification pathways, including the documented 2021 multi-country seminar cycle tied to federation technical standards.
Global Tournament Development
From the 2021 Adana championship to international federation visibility in 2022, IJKDF uses events to build a consistent global competition pathway for athletes and officials.
Federation leadership
Board Directory
Authoritative leadership roster for the International Jeet Kune Do Federation, with a distinct founding lineage honor and current operational board leadership.
Founding Ambassador🇦🇺
Australia
Thomas Edward Keplar Jr.
Recognized as a founding lineage figure whose early stewardship helped shape the federations global identity, ceremonial continuity, and long-horizon prestige across the international Jeet Kune Do community.
Current Board & Advisory Leadership
Confirmed current roster only, presented by role and country context.
Ahmed Abdelatif
President & CEO
United States b7 Leads federation governance, global strategy, and institutional direction.
Lion Vikas Gihara
Co-Secretary General
India b7 Coordinates administration, standards communication, and inter-board execution.
Ahmed Vahba
Co-Secretary General
Turkey b7 Oversees records, board governance workflow, and cross-border coordination.
Kevin Nishantha
Treasurer
Sri Lanka b7 Manages financial stewardship, accountability, and budget oversight.
Yfcksel Yilmaz
Vice President
Turkey b7 Supports executive planning and technical alignment across member bodies.
Murad Umarov
Vice President
Kazakhstan b7 Advances strategic growth and regional federation development.
HRH Prince Turki Bin Mohammed Bin Nasser Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
Board Member
Saudi Arabia b7 Strengthens high-level institutional relations and strategic outreach.
Abdullatif Lamaangar
Board Member
Morocco b7 Supports national committee development and membership pathways.
Seok Jae Kang
Senior Advisor
South Korea b7 Provides senior guidance on federation growth and international positioning.
Hamza Wariyo
Senior Advisor
Ethiopia b7 Advises on continental development and member federation coordination.
Mohamed Ahmed Abbas Amin
Advisor
Egypt b7 Contributes advisory support to operational policy and program alignment.
Abdulkadir Yigit
Public Relations Director
Turkey b7 Leads public communications and federation reputation messaging.
Abdellatif Aly Abdellatif Saad
Technical Committee
Egypt b7 Supports technical standards, competition consistency, and program quality.
Alberto Garza Escalante
Consultant on Latin America
Mexico b7 Advises Latin America strategy, expansion pathways, and regional coordination.
Federation Standards
Standards and long-term aims guiding federation growth worldwide
These pillars define how IJKDF builds a unified Jeet Kune Do sport model, develops qualified leadership, and advances global recognition over time.
01
Sport Standardization
Unified Jeet Kune Do rules, scoring, and safety standards for sanctioned competition.
02
Certified Leadership
Officials, coaches, and federation leaders follow credentialed pathways and quality controls.
03
Global Tournament Structure
Aligned national and international event frameworks keep competitive progression clear across regions.
04
Next-Generation Development
Youth-focused training, mentorship, and education strengthen the future of federation sport.
05
International Prestige
A long-term Olympic-facing ambition supported by credible governance and global federation visibility.
