Thread: Ask Me About Jeet Kune Do

ok....

who or what is Jeet Kune Do?

Only the most awesome Martial Art!

Most well known for its mastered use by Bruce Lee.

Is it against protocol to expand on the answers of the OP's?

It's the style that Bruce Lee actually developed. It's basis is to get away from the set styles and restrictions of static techniques (kung-fu, akido, boxing, etc) and to develop (most effectively, with knowledge of other styles) a system that is unique to yourself. It is about knowing your body and how your body moves, knowing what movements are most fluid for you and how to adapt to dynamic fighting situations. Ideally, no two Jeet Kun Do artists should fight the same.
As far as adaptation, he brings light to the concept that no particular style is superior and any attack thrown, in any style, can be defended against or countered. However if you are stuck in the mindframe of a single style (say, boxing) then you may be met with a bunch of attacks that you aren't familiar with, and can find no way to avoid. JKD teaches you to avoid this staticity(word?), as well as being able to move "like water" (to use Lee's metaphor) which can flow around any object, smoothly, yet still crash with enough power to shape the earth.
To my knowledge (which is based off of reading and documentaries, as I have no first-hand experience with it) it's basically a style - the "style of no style" as he often called it - that's all about adaptation, improvisation, uniqueness, efficiency and power.

And yes, it's (in theory) the most awesome style.

Oneironaut pretty much got it there. A very key method of Jeet Kune Do is using your opponent's power against him, taking control of their power, energy and strength and using it as your own. As Oneironaut said, its also largely about "flowing like water."

Not to mention the art itself is incredibly effective, as well as graceful and all around awesome.

It's really arguable whether Jeet Kune Do is a true "style" as we know it, but more a concept that you should research many different martial arts styles and come up with a mix that suits you and makes you a better fighter. Bruce Lee actaully combined Wing Chun and Wushu with Fencing, Boxing and other arts to form his own unique "method", but this is one concept of Jeet Kun Do style is that every Jeet Kune Do practicioner should strive to put their own personality into Jeet Kune Do.

Originally Posted by Ne

It's really arguable whether Jeet Kun Do is a true "style" as we know it, but more a concept that you should research many different martial arts styles and come up with a mix that suits you and makes you a better fighter. Bruce Lee actaully combined Wing Chun and Wushu with Fencing, Boxing and other arts to form his own unique "method", but this is one concept of Jeet Kun Do style is that every Jeet Kun Do practicioner should strive to put their own personality into Jeet Kune Do.
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Im glad you starte this thread
Ive been thinking of starting
Ive found a school near me and such
before I do I want to read a book on the subject, not so much to learn, although it would be a good starter, but to udnerstadn the philosiphy and udnerstand it before I take it up.
Any reccomendations?
Imran

Why did Bruce call it Jeet Kune Do? - What does Jeet Kune Do mean?

Jeet Kune Do means "Way of the Intercepting Fist" which was Bruce Lee's combat philosophy. Bruce Lee had originally called it Jun Fan Gung Fu. Jeet Kune Do as we call it today is what it became named after Bruce Lee had died.

Have you read Tao of Jeet Kune Do?

Great book, I think the final quote in it says it all!

'If people say Jeet Kune Do is different from "this" or from "that," then let the name of Jeet Kune Do be wiped out, for that is what it is, just a name. Please don't fuss over it.'

Is Jeet Kune Do able to be self-taught or must you find a school that teaches it?

Originally Posted by Kamikaze

Is Jeet Kune Do able to be self-taught or must you find a school that teaches it?[/b]

I self-taught myself Jeet Kune Do.

In fact, Jeet Kune Do is better self-taught. There are few Jeet Kune Do gyms, however, Jeet Kune Do is a more adaptable art and philosophy, and is a lot of a reflection of the person.

How did you self teach yourslef it?
Via books and the internet?
And didnt you need a partner to practice against/with.

Imran

Originally Posted by imran_p

How did you self teach yourslef it?
Via books and the internet?
And didnt you need a partner to practice against/with.

Imran[/b]

I had a partner whom I did and still do spar with daily. She on the other hand however does Karate.

Wasn't so much by books. While they had some influence, it was mostly visual learning. Books can only teach you so much, and they can't teach you proper technique, or tell you if your doing it right. A lot of it came from seeing other artists at work, such as Bruce Lee himself from his movies. Reading about the philosophy was a big help, however, reading a book that says "Do this move x10 and then this one x20" is not a good or helpful learning experience.

Sorry to burst your bubble but Jeet Kune Do is not the "most awesome martial art". Basically Lee Jun Fan was trained in Kung Fu from a young age, where the basics are learned but it is only later in any "real" martial artist’s career where the secrets are learned. For Bruce this never happened as he started teaching westerners, us and he was expelled.

In a nut shell Jeet Kune Do is a watered down version of Kung Fu, not as academic and not as effective!

if i felt like arguing, i'd be pissed

Originally Posted by Shuriken

Sorry to burst your bubble but Jeet Kune Do is not the "most awesome martial art". Basically Lee Jun Fan was trained in Kung Fu from a young age, where the basics are learned but it is only later in any "real" martial artist’s career where the secrets are learned. For Bruce this never happened as he started teaching westerners, us and he was expelled.

In a nut shell Jeet Kune Do is a watered down version of Kung Fu, not as academic and not as effective![/b]

Hate to burst your bubble, but "most awesome" is an opinion. I too don't feel like arguing this at the moment, but its hardly a watered down version of Kung Fu. In actuality, all arts come down to preference and personality. Some people are more effective with other arts. Nonetheless, JKD is very different from Kung Fu.

Because he filled in the gaps by deleting stances and making other stuff up.

Jeet Kune Do>Kung Fu

Why do you not know this, Shuriken-Pete?

Have you ever seen a picture of Bruce Lee? Is it any wonder that he could beat anyone and knock someone back with an inch punch? He was a machine. If you have ever researched into what he did for strength and speed training you will know this. Many martial artists will never be able to do what he did, and it was what he did that made Jeet Kune Do omnipotent (when used by him).

I'm not here to debate the differences, though when Kung fu is taught to a pupil by a grandmaster, it is unstoppable. The thing is that in the west we are getting really watered down versions of the true martial arts (where a new black belt teaches another black belt etc until most of the sustenance is lost). This is the main killer of their effectiveness.

Thats why you don't learn Jeet Kune Do from a gym in the west.... hell a Gym any where. Jeet Kune Do isn't meant to be taught in a Gym. Its true purpose is to be entirely one-on-one teaching, or self taught, allowing you to mold it to suit not only you, but your personality.

Sorry to interrupt, continue with your question time

Jeet Kune Do, is truly an effective art, given it's mix of not only Shaolin kung fu but also Muay Thi boxing ,Tai Chi Chuan and other aforementioned styles. The mixing of the key components of these most deadly of all hte martial arts along with Bruce Lees rigorous exorcise afforded him hte ability to become one of hte most powerful martial artists in known history. However there are many unknown people in hte orient who are far more capable he. The westernized arts that became a sport and not a way of life, or even a mode of self defense, lost the true meaning of martial arts. Which in Kung Fu philosophy is to take down and incapasitate an enimy/apponent in as few moves as possible, it's about fighting to win as it is in warfare.

Now ExoByte correct me if I'm wrong here, Bruce Lee introduced (or tried to introduce) into the western world a style and philosophy that would enable the individual to become the best killing machine possible for him/herself to be, and also to share his unique mix of hte arts to such an effectiveness that one can only appreciate when one sees him in action. Right?

Now, I have allot of appreciation for Jeet kun Do given it's grace of style and the fluidity of movement from one style directly to another and then another etc. It is truly one of the most formidable fighting styles there are.

Do you think it's hte best style there is?

No

That and it cannot be self-thaought. Its idiotic to think that. I mean, yes, to you, you will always do that and that very good. But you need a mentor to spot flaws in your movements. Its all in the power and speed. So yeah, you cant really learn it by yourself. Sure you can, to a limited level. And by that I mean "you-think-your-good-at-it-but-your-really-not" level.