About Jeet Kune Do

JKD has long since been known as the style of no style, but this term has been overused and to a great extent exaggerated to "allow" others to teach JKD without using actual Jeet Kune Do techniques under the guise of defining the art as anything you want to make it. The art, which was formed by Lee in various stages, was finally named in the late 60's. While continuing to deny that JKD was a "style" he began to show his system to the public with great skepticism from the martial arts community and various Chinese individual who found his teachings to be discourteous to tradition. While it is nothing in the martial arts for a founder of a martial art style to be young (most founders / grandmasters of famous Chinese and Japanese systems were in their 20's) Lee's instruction of non-Chinese had the elders in an uproar. He was a pioneer in many different aspects in the martial arts. One of his famous quotes was Jeet Kune Do is only a name so don't fuss over it, but if he gave so little importance to the name why would he want it on his grave marker. This act would certainly lead one to believe that this name was important, and that it had significant meaning to him and the style known as Jeet Kune D

The art of JKD is difficult for many to grasp if it is taught in a manner shrouded in mystery, as is the case in most situations. For this reason the World Jeet Kune Do Federation was formed to clear up the mess and allow each and every individual to practice and learn the real art, and to gain legitimate martial art rankings for their hard work and dedication. There have been many attempts to bring the styles instructors and associations together as one, none of which has ever succeeded. Today there are two basic JKD systems to choose from. The original JKD, and JKD concepts. The original JKD is as its name implies the core art as founded. The concepts rely on other arts in an attempt to improve Lee?s system. Neither is better than the other, only different.

The original art itself is a modification of Lee's first martial art style of Wing Chun Kung Fu. So many modifications in fact that it is very hard to see some of the similarities of the two systems. The blocks and hand manoeuvres such as grabbing, sticking, and energy techniques have their roots in Wing Chun but the finished product is pure JKD. JKD has had such an influence in the martial art word the even the core art of Wing Chun has adopted JKD sparring techniques. The second of the three arts in the core of original JKD is French Fencing. Who can deny the speed and agility in the art of fencing? The footwork is a combining and modifying of fencing, Wing Chun, boxing movements, placements and displacements. And the final art of Western or American Boxing for the Muhammad Ali hand manoeuvres and punches.

The Definition of the Jeet Kune Do Symbol

Image Copyright WJKDF

Instead of opposing force by force, a JKD practitioner completes his opponent's movement by 'accepting' his flow of energy as he aims it, and defeats him by 'borrowing' his own force. In order to reconcile oneself to the changing movements of the opponent, a JKD practitioner should first of all understand the true meaning of Yin/Yang, the basic structure of JKD.

Yin Yang
The importance of the Yin Yang is to show that opposites occur in nature. In essence, they must occur, for without light how would we know what darkness is? These opposites are in constant interplay; meaning nothing is truly an independent entity.

The Arrows
The arrows emphasize that here is dynamic interplay between the opposites. Nature and we are constantly changing. We go from action to rest, or from pliable to firm, from being awake to being asleep.

The Writing
The Characters say ' Using no way as way, having no limitation as limitation'.

The Evolution Jeet Kune Do
The following is some of the different material and stages covered over the three phases or three different Bruce Lee JKD schools, Oakland, Seattle, Los Angeles.

Seattle

Gin-Lai or Salutation
Bi-jong or ready stance (Incorporating the Centreline Theory)
Immovable Elbow Theory
Four Corner Theory

Footwork:
Forward
Backward
Shifting right
Shifting left
Sil Lim Tao (basic form taught in Seattle)
Straight punches and elbow punches and various body punches
Bil-jee (finger jab)

Kicks:
Forward straight heel kick
Forward shovel kick
Side kick
Low side kick
Low toe kick
Groin toe kick
Hook kick (medium & high)
Spinning back hook kicks
Chi Sao (sticking hands)

Blocks:
Tan sao
Bong sao
Gong sao
Vertical fist punch
Fook sao or elbow contained bent wrist block
Palm strikes - vertical - side - and palm up

Techniques:
Pak sao
Lop sao
Chop chuie - Gwa chuie
Pak sao lop sao gwa chuie
Lop sao chung chuie lop sao chung chuie
Chop chuie gwa chuie lop sao chung chuie

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Oakland

Salutation

Kicking Drills:
Five corner kicking: alternating kicks between left and right foot.
Five corner kicking: Bi Jong and Natural stance.
Clockwork kicking: real-time kicking with the closest weapon.
Combination clockwork kicking & hitting: advanced.
Key: real-time, no hesitation, no chambering, closest weapon to closest target.
Ranges of combat

Stance: Bi Jong
Lead stance: shuffle, front, rear, side.
Form is the essence, balanced, smooth, feet stay on the ground, (skating)
Strictly lower body movements: each movement is independent.
Comfortable and alive, natural bounce, not rigid or stiff with hops or jumps.
Shuffle to various strikes and kicks.

Key: be alive and comfortable.

Evasive Maneuvers
Evade various strikes (some exaggerated to make easier)
Evade various kicks.
Evade various combinations of strikes and kicks.
Minimal movement to make opponent miss.
Know what position and distance is safe for you.
Individualize and adapt to the size and reach of the opponent.
Evade and counter: after learning the above.
Keys: Better to miss by an inch then to block by a mile.
To block is to get hit.
Don't engage the opponent, disengage him.
(e.g. don't tangle yourself in blocking and trapping movements)
The whole idea is to intercept his physical and emotional intent to hurt you.
Classical versus the New (modern)
Sil lim tao: performed the semi classical semi wing chun way. Even this was modified.
Regarding trapping: cut the movement in half for realism.
Concentrate on speed and economy of motion.
Hook punch: closer to the body than a boxer.
Elbow next to the ribs, much tighter and compact.
Key: centreline theory (from the centre, not outside or wide).
Rear heel kick: tighter, more centred.

Separate punching drills:
Centreline punching (rapid): straight-line blast with closing footwork.
Separate kicking drills
- Two Aspects for improved kicking:
Power: Water in the hose analogy for transfer of force through target.
Speed: Whip analogy for speed of recovery:(e.g. shoe laces pop, kicking a gnat out of the air)

Combine, blend power with speed drills, and make adjustments.
Keys: Delivery system - instant, fast relaxed.
Hand before foot
Non-telegraphic (no pre-steps or stutter steps)(for punching: no flinching)
Complete emphasis on speed and economy of motion.
The less you move the better.
Clean and sharp as a two edged sword, pure Chinese Kung-Fu.
Power comes with time, sometimes years; on the spot power.
Speed comes with accuracy.
Proper form and body alignment with balance.
Footwork is supposed to be light and easy, not jumping around stiff, but relaxed and smooth without deliberation, angular and instant.

Basic Trapping:
Pak sao
Lop sao
Gong sao
Jut sao
Tan sao
Bong sao

Economy of motion: cut these movements in half.
One hand trap
Two hand trap

Key: Trapping is only a by-product.

Hit, hit and more hit: not trap, trap and then hit.
While engaging an opponent, if there's emptiness?Hit.
Skim and glide with friction but let the Chi flow.
Line drills (Quiet awareness)

Sensitivity: Touch vs. Non-Touch.
Line drills: realism
Distance: Measure your distance
Safe
No man's land
Gates, body positions, and zones

Key: Put yourself where you're safe and the opponent is not.
Circle to the outside of the strong side, away from rear hand.
Immobilize the lead leg or hand, after you hit, not before.
Practice Drills
Attack and defence.
Key: Stun him first, before obstruction, to break his rhythm or forward momentum.
Apparatus training
Finger jab
Straight blast
Side kick: shin, knee target
Side kick: power through target
Strikes to traps
Kicks to traps
Bridging the gap
Basic wing chun traps
Strike to hand immobilization to takedown
Kick to leg immobilization to takedown
Backfist (high to low, low to high)
Keys: All trapping concludes in hitting
Don't punch and kick at an opponent, kick and punch through him
Broken rhythm (Don't be predictable)
Using the stop-kick as a jab as you incorporate it in footwork (e.g. be loose, fluid, Ali-like)
Burning foot: hand to foot impetus.
The pendulum: avoidance then following back swiftly and instantaneously.

Basic and primary goal: Each student must find his ownIdentifying the tools
Using the tools
Sharpening the tools
Dissolving the tools

In adapting to the opponent:

The Three Phrases:Ice: solid, unchanging, rigid.
Water: liquid, flowing.
Steam: gaseous, focused pressure.
Sparring and Combat Freestyles

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Los Angeles

Fitness Program
Alternate splits
Waist twisting (three times to each side)
Run in place
Shoulder circling
High kicks
Side kick raise
Sit-ups
Waist twisting
Leg raises
Forward bends

Punching:
(Hanging paper*, glove, glove pad, wall pad, heavy bag)

*Paper Hanging exercise

Bruce taught this exercise for two reasons, control and speed. Tape two wires to a concrete wall. The wires allow you to put an 8 by 11 sheet of paper at different depths towards the wall. The idea was to strike the paper as hard as you could, without moving it. You kept pushing the paper closer and closer until it laid against the wall. You had to hit as hard as you could, without busting your hand up. You became very skilled at depth control. The second exercise was for speed. You hung the paper from two corners, about shoulder high. The idea was to rip the paper with a punch. This required two elements, speed and recoil. It was the recoiling action that tore the paper. This was an important quality for doing concussion punching.

Warm-up - the letting out of water [the idea of dropping the hammer loosely]
The straight punch (left/right) then with pursuing
The entering straight right
high
low
The back fist

Kicking:
Warm-up - (left/right)
letting out of water
the whip
Side kick - (left/right)
[note: choice of group training method]
Facing two lines
In group
One student comes out
Straight kick - (left/right)
Rear kick
The shin/knee/groin kicks
Hook kicks [low first] and toe kick
Combination kicking - eventually with hand

Basic Defense:
The stop hit
The shin/knee kick
The finger jab (close range)
Any type of kick to fit in
The four-corner counter
Power training:
Isometric training:
The upward outward force
The basic power training
The punch
The kick
Classical techniques
Pak sao
Lop sao
Gwa chuie
Chop chuie/gwa chuie
Pak sao/gwa chuie
Double lop sao (a & b)
Chop chuie/gwa chuie, lop sao/gwa chuie
Jut sao
Pak sao/jut sao
Chop chuie/gwa chuie/jut tek
Inside gate tan da
Tan da low/gwa chuie
Chop chuie/gwa chuie/lop sao

Combination:
Right hand feint with groin kick
Right kick feint with bil-jee
Right feint to stomach with right straight to head
Right feint to head shift to right to stomach.

"We hope this has helped you understand some of the many intricacies of JKD, and how it can add to the quality of your life. For a more detailed description of the JKD techniques please refer to the Original Jeet Kune Do Training Manual available on the Learning Center page of this site."

Membership in the Federation allows the student, instructor, and school access to legitimate internationally recognized ranking and certifications, as well as the finest in JKD training materials.

• Student and Instructor membership fee's are $25 per year.
• School membership is $75 per year ($50 online).
• Student rank testing fee's with certificates Level 2-6 $40, Level 7-8 $60, 9-10 $75, 11-12 $90, Black Sash $300. All rank certificates are in JKD rank level and corresponding Kung Fu sash color rank.
• Instructor License Fee's, Apprentice $100, Instructor $200, Master $300 (one time fee)
  Testing and evaluation is done in person, via video, or through an authorized WJKDF instructor.
• Certification may be granted based upon previous training and experience to be determined by World Jeet Kune Do Federation.

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