Jeet Kune Do is Bruce Lee's mental, physical, and technical expression of combat in its
totality. Bruce Lee used the yin-yang symbol to represent his view of a living art
that is always changing and evolving. The art must correlate with the human or the
art becomes stagnant and artificial. The yin-yang symbol is a compass or a barometer
to balance both the human and the martial art. Jeet Kune Do is not a fragmented
martial art; it is an art that expresses totality in its purest form. Jeet Kune Do
is a style that doesn't put you in shackles and chains, but gives you the keys to
self-liberation. Bruce Lee knew there was nothing to fear but fear itself or the abstract
illusion of fear that the mind manifests. Fear is merely a form of bondage that one
must conquer. Jeet Kune Do leads to self-discovery, which leads to the ability to
recognize, which then leads to understanding.
These are some of Bruce Lee's philosophies. I would
like to discuss his view on the physical art of Jeet Kune Do. If you are new to this
art, there are two important issues that are the bulk of Jeet Kune Do. First is what
I have briefly talked about, the philosophy or mental nature of Jeet Kune Do; next are the
physical components as well as the biomechanics of this intriguing art. Bruce
stressed that he did not create or invent a new martial art, but found the cause of the
ignorance. He knew that all humans have two arms and two legs, but he needed to find the
most efficient way to use these weapons.
Bruce researched different ways to
enlighten his mind and to cultivate his physical skill. Bruce came to the
realization that simple physics could work in Jeet Kune Do. He increased his power
and strength through weight training and cardiovascular activity. Bruce realized
that mass times velocity gives you pure power at impact if you have a solid structure and
good body alignment.
While the bulk of the techniques in Jeet
Kune Do are Wing Chun, boxing, and fencing, Jeet Kune Do is also concerned with using the
minimum to achieve the maximum, not the other way around. It was Bruce's own
evaluation of himself that makes Jeet Kune Do so unique. To me, Jeet Kune Do is
Bruce Lee's personal evolutionary process. Martial arts masters before Bruce and
many after him chose to stay in the traditional and conditional past! This is an
example of what Bruce regarded as the classical mess. He bucked at the systems of
bondage and catapulted himself into freedom and changed the martial art way of thinking
forever. While there are no forms to learn in Jeet Kune Do, all the techniques are
straightforward and are geared purely for self-defense and self-perseverance. All
techniques of the techniques are simple and natural for the body and mind to learn.
All wasted movements have been intelligently discarded. You will not find flowery or
mechanical movements in Jeet Kune Do. Bruce developed his body as a weapon, not just
for cosmetic purposes. My sifu, Ted Wong always said, "David, if you want Bruce
Lee results, you need to train like Bruce Lee and put in Bruce Lee hours."
Jeet Kune Do is the most complete martial
art available in the world. Jeet Kune Do is a martial art that you can consider a full
circle art. We practice all logical attack and defense possibilities. Again,
we are a balanced Gung Fu system, we kick, punch, hand trap, throw, and grapple. Our
body becomes whole to the total expression of the human being. Bruce Lee knew that
the human entity is always more important than the established style but all to often the
style becomes law. It's the Korean Way or the Chinese Way or maybe it's the Japanese
Way. My friends, be concerned with the root of the tree for it is the root that
gives life to the intricate branches and leaves of the tree, and it is the water that is
the blood of the tree. We need to be more like water, always flowing to the least
resistant area, but still having the persistence and faith to realize that we need to
train hard, realistic, and intelligently. Set accomplishable goals and train
diligently. It is imperative to seek an authentic instructor, trained under Bruce
Lee, or one that has direct lineage to Bruce Lee. In conclusion, I will leave you
with a note from Bruce Lee, "Walk on."
These are some of Bruce Lee's philosophies. I would
like to discuss his view on the physical art of Jeet Kune Do. If you are new to this
art, there are two important issues that are the bulk of Jeet Kune Do. First is what
I have briefly talked about, the philosophy or mental nature of Jeet Kune Do; next are the
physical components as well as the biomechanics of this intriguing art. Bruce
stressed that he did not create or invent a new martial art, but found the cause of the
ignorance. He knew that all humans have two arms and two legs, but he needed to find the
most efficient way to use these weapons.