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Who's Who in
Jeet Kune Do
Bruce
Lee
Ted Wong
Dan Inosanto
Paul Vunak
Ron Balicki
Rick Tucci
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Jeet Kune Do with other enthusiasts
 
Jeet Kune Do (Chinese: 截 拳
道 Cantonese: Jitky�ndou Pinyin: Ji�qu�nd�o, lit. "Way of the
Intercepting Fist"), also Jeet Kun Do or JKD, is a martial arts combat
system developed by martial artist and actor
Bruce Lee.
In 2004, the Bruce Lee Foundation decided on using an all encompassing
name of Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do. This name refers to the art itself as
taught by Bruce Lee and as intended by Bruce Lee in his lifetime. "Jun
Fan" was Lee's Chinese given name, so the literal translation is "Bruce
Lee's Way of the Intercepting Fist".
The 'System'
Jeet Kune Do (JKD) is the name Bruce Lee
gave to his combat philosophy in 1967. Originally, when Lee first began
research into fighting styles, he gave his martial art his own name of
Jun Fan Gung Fu. JKD as it survives today � if one wants to view it
"refined" as a product, not a process � is what was left at the time of
Bruce Lee's death. It is the result of the life-long martial arts
development process Lee went through. Bruce Lee stated that his concept
is not an "adding to" of more and more things on top of each other to
form a system, but rather, a winnowing out. The metaphor Lee borrowed
from Chan Buddhism was of constantly filling a cup with water, and then
emptying it, used for describing Lee's philosophy of "casting off what
is useless". He also used the sculptor's mentality of beginning with a
lump of clay and hacking away at the "unessentials"; the end result was
what he considered to be the bare combat essentials, or JKD.
Bruce Lee, and thus JKD, was heavily influenced by Western boxing and
fencing. Although the backbone concepts (such as centerline, vertical
punching, and forward pressure) come from Wing Chun, Lee stopped using
the Wing Chun stances in favor of what he claimed were more
fluid/flexible fencing and boxing stances. The claim is that they
allowed him to "flow", not to be stuck in stances. For instance, instead
of using footwork to position the body for maximum fighting position
vis-a-vis the opponent, JKD uses flowing "entries" that do not require
"bridges" from Wing Chun. Bruce Lee wanted to create a martial art that
was unbounded and free. Later during the development of Jeet Kune Do, he
would expand that notion and include the art for personal development,
not just to become a better fighter. To illustrate Lee's views, in a
1971 Black Belt Magazine article, Lee said "Let it be understood once
and for all that I have NOT invented a new style, composite or
modification. I have in no way set Jeet Kune Do within a distinct form
governed by laws that distinguish it from 'this' style or 'that' method.
On the contrary, I hope to free my comrades from bondage to styles,
patterns and doctrines."
While practicing Western wrestling, Lee was once pinned by a more
skillful opponent, who asked what Lee would do if he found himself in
the situation in a real fight. Lee replied, "Well, I'd bite you, of
course". One of the theories of JKD is that a fighter should do whatever
is necessary to defend himself, regardless of where the techniques used
come from. Lee's goal in Jeet Kune Do was to break down what he claimed
were limiting factors in the training of the traditional styles, and
seek a fighting thesis which he believed could only be found within the
event of a fight. Jeet Kune Do is currently seen as the genesis of the
modern state of hybrid martial arts.
Jeet Kune Do not only advocates the combination of aspects of different
styles, it also has to change many of those aspects that it adopts to
suit the abilities of the practitioner. Additionally, JKD advocates that
any practitioner be allowed to interpret techniques for themselves, and
change them for their own purposes. For example, Lee almost always chose
to put his power hand in the "lead," with his weaker hand back, within
this stance he used elements of Boxing, Fencing and Wing Chun. Just like
fencing, he labeled this position the "On Guard" position. Lee
incorporated this position into his JKD, as he felt it provided the best
overall mobility. Lee felt that the dominant or strongest hand should be
in the lead because it would perform a greater percentage of the work.
Lee minimized the use of other stances except when circumstances
warranted such actions. Although the On-Guard position is a good overall
stance, it is by no means the only one. Lee acknowledged that there were
times when other positions should be utilized.
Lee felt the dynamic property of JKD was what enabled its practitioners
to adapt to the constant changes and fluctuations of live combat. Lee
believed that these decisions should be done within the context of "real
combat" and/or "all out sparring". He believed that it was only in this
environment that a person could actually deem a technique worthy of
adoption.
Bruce Lee did not stress the memorization of solo training forms or "Kata",
as most traditional styles do in their beginning-level training. Lee
often compared doing forms without an opponent to attempting to learn to
swim on dry land. Lee believed that "real" combat was "alive" and
"dynamic". Circumstances in a fight change from millisecond to
millisecond, and thus pre-arranged patterns and techniques are not
adequate in dealing with such a changing situation. As an anecdote to
this thinking, Lee once wrote an epitaph which read: 'In memory of a
once fluid man, crammed and distorted by the classical mess.' The
"classical mess" in this instance was what Lee thought of classical
martial arts.
Bruce Lee's comments and methods were seen as controversial by many in
his time, and still are today. Many teachers from traditional schools
disagreed with his opinions on these issues.
The notion of cross-training in Jeet Kune Do is similar to the practice
of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) in modern times -- Bruce Lee has been
considered by UFC president Dana White as the "father of mixed martial
arts". Many consider Jeet Kune Do to be the precursor of MMA. This is
particularly the case with respect to the JKD "Combat Ranges". A JKD
student is expected to learn various combat systems within each combat
range, and thus to be effective in all of them, just as in MMA.
Jeet Kune Do
Principles
The following are
principles that Lee incorporated into Jeet Kune Do. He felt these were
universal combat truths that were self evident and would lead to combat
success if followed. The "4 Combat Ranges" in particular are what he
felt were instrumental in becoming a "total" martial artist. This is
also the principle most related to mixed martial arts. JKD practitioners
also subscribe to the notion that the best defense is a strong offense,
hence the principal of "Intercepting". Lee believed that in order for an
opponent to attack someone they had to move towards them. This provided
an opportunity to "intercept" that attack or movement. The principal of
interception covers more than just intercepting physical attacks. Lee
believed that many non-verbals and telegraphs (subtle movements that an
opponent is unaware of) could be perceived or "intercepted" and thus be
used to one's advantage. The "5 Ways of Attack" are attacking categories
that help Jeet Kune Do practitioners organize their fighting repertoire
and comprise the offensive portion of JKD. The concepts of Stop hits &
stop kicks and simultaneous parrying & punching were borrowed from
western Fencing and comprise the defensive portion of JKD. These
concepts were modified for unarmed combat and implemented into the JKD
framework by Lee. These concepts also compliment the other principal of
interception.
I. Be like water
Lee believed that martial systems should be as flexible as possible. He
often used water as an analogy for describing why flexibility is a
desired trait in martial arts. Water is infinitely flexible. It can be
seen through, and yet at other times it can obscure things from sight.
It can split and go around things, rejoining on the other side, or it
can crash through things. It can erode the hardest rocks by gently
lapping away at them or it can flow past the tiniest pebble. Lee
believed that a martial system should have these attributes. JKD
students reject traditional systems of training, fighting styles and the
Confucian pedagogy used in traditional kung fu schools because of this
lack of flexibility. JKD is claimed to be a dynamic concept that is
forever changing, thus being extremely flexible. "Absorb what is useful;
Disregard that which is useless" is an often quoted Bruce Lee maxim. JKD
students are encouraged to study every form of combat possible. This is
believed to expand one's knowledge of other fighting systems; to both
add to one's arsenal as well as to know how to defend against such
tactics.
II. Economy of motion
JKD students are told to waste no time or movement. When it comes to
combat JKD practitioners believe the simplest things work best.
A. Stop hits & stop kicks
This means intercepting an opponent's attack with an attack of your own
instead of a simple block. JKD practitioners believe that this is the
most difficult defensive skill to develop. This strategy can be a
feature of some traditional Chinese martial arts.
B. Simultaneous parrying & punching
When confronting an incoming attack; the attack is parried or deflected
and a counter attack is delivered at the same time. Not as advanced as a
stop hit but more effective than blocking and counter attacking in
sequence. This is also practiced by some Chinese martial arts.
C. No high kicks
JKD practitioners believe they should target their kicks to their
opponent's shins, knees, thighs, and mid section. These targets are the
closest to the foot, provide more stability and are more difficult to
defend against. However, as with all other JKD principles nothing is
"written in stone". If a target of opportunity presents itself; even a
target above the waist one could take advantage of the situation without
feeling hampered by this principle.
III. Learn the 4 ranges of combat
- Kicking
- Punching
- Trapping
- Grappling
Jeet Kune Do students
train in each of these ranges equally. According to Lee, this range of
training serves to differentiate JKD from other martial arts. Lee stated
that most but not all traditional martial systems specialize in training
at one or two ranges. Bruce Lee's theories have been especially
influential and substantiated in the field of Mixed Martial Arts, as the
MMA Phases of Combat are essentially the same concept as the JKD combat
ranges.
IV. Five Ways Of Attack
A. Single Angular Attack (SAA) and its converse Single Direct Attack (SDA).
B. Hand Immobilization Attack (HIA) and its counterpart Foot
Immobilization attack, which make use of �trapping� to limit the
opponent to function with that appendage.
C. Progressive Indirect Attack (PIA). Attacking one part of the
opponent's body followed by attacking another part as a means of
creating an opening.
D. Attack By Combinations (ABC). This is using multiple rapid attacks as
a means of using volume of attack to overcoming the opponent.
E. Attack By Drawing (ABD). This is creating an opening with positioning
as a means of counter attacking.
V. Three Parts of JKD
Jeet Kune Do practitioners believe that techniques should contain the
following properties:
- Efficiency - An
attack that reaches its mark
- Directness - Doing
what comes naturally in a learned way.
- Simplicity -
Thinking in an uncomplicated manner; without ornamentation.
Jeet Kune Do Videos
Link to Official
World Jeet Kune Do Federation
website
Founder:
Bruce Lee
Jeet
Kune Do Books
Jeet Kune Do VHS
Jeet Kune
Do DVD
Jeet Kune Do Links
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