I'm curious to know what people here think of Jeet Kune Do. I've never noticed any threads on it, but I didn't really search either.

I think it is interesting, Bruce Lee did a lot to bring it to the forefront. I also find it can help a lot with anyone's fighting skills. Since it is primarily a philosophy, and less of technically based "style" I see it being more adaptable to whatever martial art.

have you read his books? he has some. they're good to read.

Oh yeah, in fact Tao of Jeet Kune Do is the first book on martial arts that I ever bought and read. Plus I've read Art of Expressing the Human Body, which is about his strength and power training methods. Plus the newer Jeet Kune Do: Commentaries on the Martial Way.

These are fantastic but I'd like to know what people think about it. It would be nice to hear what Tim has to say and maybe Meynard if he's not too busy. Plus anyone else, I think it has had such an effect on martial arts. Although the guys who fought in the early UFC who said they were JKD didn't do so well. However, the MA world was very confused back then, even though it still kinda is, but at least it's getting it together.

Dont judge a fighter that lost and says he learned JKD... there are many fighters of all styles that will loose... it is not the style it is the man practicing the style.

I have found that many people think they are training in a superior art, like JKd... and dont put in all the effort that another is putting into a so called inferior art... get my drift.

Well stated Rich!

If you evened out experience, strength, weight, power, mind set, and naturall ability, then perhaps the style would make a difference, but with all those other factors the style is just a small part of the over all ability of an individual.

We must also take in account the fact that the UFC and such events not only have rules, but the mind set is different, you are not fighting for your life. If your family was in danger, an arm bar submission, would not be a submission at all, you would rip your own arm off and beat him with it, if that is what it took to protect your loved ones from immenent danger.

JKD is a great art and has many benefits. I only wish BL was still alive, I would be interested in seeing what JKD would be like today.

What saddens me is that direct students of B.L. are now between 60s & 70s and that when they try to post (on another forums, of course!)to share their experiences , they are disrespectfuly attacked by anonymous posters who try to teach them what B.L. did or not. Very sad.

Yours,

Jagdish

I agree. I always find it funny when people tear down Dan Inosanto. The man is on another level of fighting that many of us may never reach.

I definitely understand what you mean Rich, I've met many people who were mediocre fighters in supposedly superior system because they thought they were better than the guy who dedicates everything to his training, even though his "style" is so-called "inferior."

If BL was still alive, I think his "system" would probably include more grappling and be even more simple. Although BL's JKD was his own personal MA expression.

I believe that if Bruce were alive today, he'd be either a rich Chinese businessman or a really bad actor.

Interesting reading:

http://www.genelebell.com/stories.asp#10brucelee

I believe that if Bruce were alive today, he'd be much older than he was when he died.

"I believe that if Bruce were alive today, he'd be much older than he was when he died."

Now that was hilarious!

you dorks don't seriously believe that "Bruce Lee's dead" hoax do you?

everyone knows he faked his death and went in to hiding because the Triad was after him.

I thought he was dancing with Elvis!

JKD is where my martial roots rest. I studied JKD for a long time. Actually, I am still studying the "concept and philosophy" of JKD, even though I'm not in a formal program.

You can't really speak of JKD without defining which JKD system you refer.

"Orginal" JKD teaches JKD as Bruce Lee taught it, or Jun Fan.

JKD "Concepts" teaches orginal JKD, plus the Inosanto additions of the SE Asian arts and BJJ.

"Functional" JKD is Matt Thorton's brainchild (which I most connect myself). It focuses mainly on boxing, Muay Thai, Greco wrestling and BJJ. It still uses some of the JKD concepts for "street situations".

JKD was the first system to bring BJJ into the arena of fighting. The first to uses western boxing as a primary striking system.

The problem with some JKD schools is their lack of "aliveness" and real time sparring.

You can't discuss JKD without these distinctions.

In my opinion, that's exactly what BL was trying to prevent. That is an organization, a stylization of JKD, which actually goes against the "ideas" of freedom in combat. JKD is the name given to your own personal expression of fighting. You take those concepts and then make them yours, study and understand your own physical, emotional, and spiritual understanding of fighting and combat. Thereby making JKD your own.

You could look at JKD or any MA like the way you discribed, doesn't mean it's right.

And yes I can discuss JKD without those distinctions.

True!

But, If someone ask about "Kung Fu" you would say which style or method. It's a generalization.

Someone ask about wrestling, you'd say what type(greco, folkstyle, freestyle, catch...)

So you have to know what JKD you are referring to. It's not what BL intended, but it's the way it is now.

Backarcher,

You said you use JKD concepts but won't it be right to say they are universal concepts?

and my question for different branches/practicioners of JKD: Do you hit with the power and speed B.L. used? If not then what are you doing?(no offense intended)

Yours,

Jagdish

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No, because I'm not BL. That and I wouldn't say I do JKD either. Nice philosophy though.

Troy:

Don't you think we all have the potential to hit with B.L.'s speed and power? Was B.L. genetically gifted and not we?

Backarcher:

Could you share your lineage in JKD?

Yours,

Jagdish

Oh sure we could, it's very possible. But I was saying that I, myself, don't hit like him. Although I don't exactly know how hard he hit, so I can't really say. But I don't think I do. I wasn't talking about anyone else.

Lineage? My least favorite word in martial arts, next to the phrase, "too deadly to spar".

But, Hartsell, Inosanto, Vunak, Richardson, and my former instructor Julian Loredo. I was initally infuenced by those guys in one way or another.

My way was more "Larry Hartsell-like". I still am partial to his grappling, but I'm more along the lines of Matt Thorton.

Yet, I'm just myself. An original me.

And, greater than the sum of your learning, I'm confident.

Backarcher,

Hope my question didn't bother you. I just wanted to know where you wer coming from. If you taste OJKD teachers your tea will taste better.

Yours,

Jagdish

No problem!

Bruce Lee's "The Tao of JKD" is harder to understand than James Joyce. Either Lee was an idiot or I am an idiiot. I didn't understand a thing.

It's a book of notes. Have you ever tried to read someone else's notes?