[JMJKD]

JKD is a way of fighting created by Bruce Lee, and it exist no more due to the death of Bruce Lee. The concept of JKD is a custom designed way of fighting specifically developed by/for you…personally. No true JKD fighter is the same.

Bruce left a blue print set of guidelines to help a person create their own style. The blueprint consists of philosophy, principles, concepts, techniques and training methods. The original blueprint was called the 13 elements of Jun Fan, and is strictly adhered to by a group of original students who refer to themselves as the nucleus. Another group of followers are called the JKD concepts group headed up by another original student of Bruce named Dan Inosanto, the group I am rooted in.

Many believe that Dan was the chosen one to carry on in the absence of Bruce. Dan believed that the 13 Elements was a starting point and was meant to evolve and is not the end all but the beginning of one’s exploration.

The 13 Elements were 13 fighting styles that Bruce believed all students should know. However, one did not have to know the entire style, just some basic techniques and the main principle that made the style uniquely it’s own.

For example: Western Boxing. Boxers punch and no other strikes are allowed. The strikes are, jab, cross, hook, uppercut and over hand. They can be performed single or in combination. They compete against opponents same size and weight, fight in a ring using a time limit. If you know this you have the basic idea of what boxing is, (you will be educated) but not experienced, unless you have “boxed” first hand.

The style of Wing Chun for example, is a major component of the 13 elements. A Wing Chun man will best be utilized in a close confined area. He will use shuffling footwork, short straight direct punches, they will protect and occupy center line and try to control and trap their opponents limbs. It is easy to identify a Wing Chun man because he will have his hands open, similar to giving a karate chop. The closest hand will be in front of his nose with the other hand directly in front of it, and his feet will be ding toed with the front knee turned in, protecting the groin giving it’s unique characteristic.

Here are the original 13 Elements of Jun Fan:
Wing Chun, Northern Praying Mantis, Southern Praying Mantis, Choy Li Fut, Eagle Claw, Western Boxing, Savate, Muay Thai, Wrestling, Fencing, Aikido, Judo, Jiu Jitsu. Myself and others have greatly expanded on this list.

Some of the philosophy behind JKD is “using no way as way” or “Absorb what is useful, reject what is useless, and add in specifically what is your own.”

JKD is a science based on universal law, positive and negative energy, gravity, angles, time, space etc. There are many books out there that will help in understanding JKD.

The Tao of Jeet Kune Do …Bruce Lee
Absorb what is useful….by Dan Inosanto.

JKD is a science that is helpful for the average man because it will educate him as to all the common denominators that make up movement and all fighting styles. Many Black belts come to me, not to learn how to fight, but to learn the science behind all fighting and movement.

Today many young people are interested in fighting, this is known as “Self Preservation”
The Yang, the aggressive, the hard, the male, the positive energy, the fighting aspect.
The other half is “ Self Perfection” the Yin, the soft, the female, the negative energy, this is the science the theory. Many young folks overlook “ Self Perfection” because all they want is to be a fighter. They lack the education, the theory, the universal law that governs all movement.

Jeet Kune Do is a wonderful way to learn the science behind movement and fighting without ever actually fighting. Many people have learned this science from me without ever stepping one foot inside my gym.

[Camdor]

Beautiful post, Brother.

One of the things I loved about him and his Tao was his love and admiration of Nature herself.

A great deal of what I took from him was that he strived to be LIKE Nature, ever flowing and growing.

Things he would describe, like bending like the reed and becoming like water really struck a cord with me and I personally feel that everyone, not just those of us in the Martial Arts, can benefit from his wisdom.

JMO

[JMJKD]

I agree bro, IMHO Much of the philosophy that Bruce drew from was from the I-ching, Tao Te ching, Krismuti, Buddhism etc. Bruce Lee saw combat as part of the ebb and flow of nature itself, as did the Sioux and all indigenous people. Only the white man see’s it as something external from nature. In the Shaolin temple fighting systems were mimicked from animals, tiger, snake, white crane etc. Watching the animals in the balance and harmony of nature gave great insight to the warrior. The study of herbs, such as Gin Sing, and blending components to make concoctions such as Dit Dat Jau and Tiger Balm along with natural healing techniques like meditation, Tai Chi, Chi Gung and so fourth were part of everyday study. Astronomy lead to the study of alchemy and acupuncture and only now being recognized as a legit healing method.

Many will never venture to this section of survival topics because some see it only as fighting and many are not into fighting. Fighting is only the tip of the iceberg, but the mass of knowledge is buried way beneath the surface and people have more in common with information in the section then one might realize.

[Camdor]

Agreed!

Combat, to my way of thinking, is 99.9% mental and .1% physical.

For me, it is about having and HARNESSING the Warrior Spirit. And yes there is a reason why I capitalized those words.

I will give myself as an example, not because I think I am anyone special or want a pat on the back, but as a way of illustrating what I feel the Warrior Spirit is and why it is vital.

I was born with a major neurological birth defect called Spina Bifida. It is a developmental defect where the neuro tube and certain vertebrae do not close or fuse, creating a hole, allowing the cord itself to grow outside of the body.

Obviously this causes great issues with nervous function such as incontinence, paralysis, immunodeficiency and in some cases, still birth, depending on where the legion is formed on the spine.

In my case, I had a relatively mild form, because my legion was formed at L5, right above the tailbone, which I don't have.

I have had, at last count, 104 operations on my spine, spinal cord, brain, eyes, bladder, kidneys, scrotum and on ad infinitum. I have survived cancer 3 times. I had to attend Special Education classes because of the numerous infections and hospitalizations which caused repeated absence from school.

I suffer from clinical depression and have had 24 ECT treatments in 4 years.

I began Martial Arts as physical therapy recommended by my Neurosurgeon as a way to strengthen my lower extremities. When I received my ShiDan, or 4th degree Black Belt in Okinawan Goju Ryu Karate, my Sensei told me how proud of me He was and that I truly had the Spirit of the Warrior within me. Not only because of earning my rank but more because of surviving what I had and have, as well as not allowing it to control me.

Now, as I said, I am not sharing this because I want anyone feeling sorry for me. I tell you this as an illustration of what I feel the true Warrior, one who embraces the Warrior within all of us, can do.

Sifu Lee, to me, embodied that Warrior Spirit and, for me at least, showed how it can be harnessed and that having that resolve and peace and strength can and MUST be applied to as many facets of our lives as possible.

So in a not so small way, Sifu Lee saved my life with his teachings as did the Senseis and my Shidoshis, at least as much as my faith in my Deity and the doctors and nurses who physically worked on me.

I apologize for the rambling but this is something that, as you can tell and imagine, is very near to me.

[Baldninja]

Wasn't Jackie Chan somewhat of a co-founder of Jeet Kune Do, as Bruce Lee's sparring partner of the time?

It's been a long time since I read a book on Jeet Kune Do, so my memory on the subject is foggy at best.

[Camdor]

From what I remember, Jackie sparred with Bruce when he was active in Wing Chun Do.

[JMJKD]

Cam sounds like ya had a tough ride, the warrior sprit...used in everyday life, right on bro.
Jackie Chan? maybe on a set? But I have never heard really anything significant from the inner circle.

[Guardian]

Camdor - No need to apologize for rambling my friend for those of us who hold the Martial Arts/Self-Defense world close to our hearts. You ramble right on brother.

[Baldninja]

Chan definately sparred with Bruce, but apparently it was Wing Chu Do and not Jeet Kune Do. And, no, as far as I know it was never in relation to any films, so was not on a set of any kind. This was back before anything Chan had done made it to the U.S., and possibly before he was even big in China. I'm wanting to say it was early to mid 70's. I believe, from what I had read some 15 to 20 years ago, that they(Chan and Lee) were good friends.

I swear, my memory sucks, and that really sucks!

[Camdor]

Jackie was Bruce's stunt double for a few films.

As far as I can tell, though, from anything that I can find, that was the extent of their relationship.

I could be wrong