About

Federation Mission & Programs

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.

Explore Events

Sport Standardization & Governance

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

Meet the international leadership team guiding standards, events, and member growth across the federation.

Ahmed Mohamed

President & CEO

United States · Founder of the IJKDF; leads global federation strategy and governance.

Thomas Keplar

Honorary President

Australia · Co-Founder of the IJKDF; advises long-term federation development.

Lion Vikas Gihara

Co-Secretary General

India · Secretary General of the All Martial Arts Federation of India; coordinates board administration.

Ahmed Vahba

Co-Secretary General

Turkey · Oversees governance records and cross-border board coordination.

Kevin Nishantha

Treasurer

Sri Lanka · President of the Sri Lanka Jeet Kune Do Federation; supervises financial stewardship.

Gen. Mohamed Ashour

Vice President

Egypt · President of the African Jeet Kune Do Federation; advances continental collaboration.

HRH Prince Turki Bin Mohammed Bin Nasser Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud

Board Member

Saudi Arabia · Head of International Affairs, Saudi Ministry of Commerce; supports institutional relations.

Yüksel Yilmaz

Vice President

Turkey · President of the Turkish National JKD Committee; drives technical and national alignment.

Yuri Dmitrushenko

Board Member

Kyrgyzstan · President of the Kyrgyzstan Kung Fu Federation and Head of the JKD National Committee.

Murad Umarov

Vice President

Kazakhstan · Supports executive planning and federation expansion across Central Asia.

Djamel Tazibt

Board Member

Algeria · President of the Algerian Federation of Martial Arts and Secretary General of AFJKD.

Abdullatif Lamaangar

Board Member

Morocco · President of the Moroccan Jeet Kune Do National Committee; develops national membership pathways.

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.

Sport Standardization

Unified Jeet Kune Do rules, scoring, and safety standards for sanctioned competition.

Certified Leadership

Officials, coaches, and federation leaders follow credentialed pathways and quality controls.

Global Tournament Structure

Aligned national and international event frameworks keep competitive progression clear across regions.

Next-Generation Development

Youth-focused training, mentorship, and education strengthen the future of federation sport.

International Prestige

A long-term Olympic-facing ambition supported by credible governance and global federation visibility.

Membership Details