Jeet Kune Do(/ˌdʒiːt kuːn ˈdoʊ/; Chinese: 截拳道; Jyutping: zit6 kyun4 dou6; lit. ‘stop fist way’ or ‘way of the intercepting fist’; abbreviated JKD) is a hybrid martial art conceived and practiced by martial artist Bruce Lee. It was formed from Lee’s experiences in unarmed fighting and self-defence—as well as eclectic, Zen Buddhist, Confucianist and Taoist philosophies—as a new school of martial arts thought.[12][13]
At the heart of Jeet Kune Do lies the principle of intercepting the opponent’s attacks, crafting responses or counterattacks that effectively target the adversary’s offensive moves. JKD also incorporates a set of principles to help practitioners make instant decisions and improve the physical and mental self,[14][15] being intended to have practical applications in life without the traditional routines and metaphysics of conventional martial arts.[15][16] As an eclectic martial art, it relies on a fighting style heavily influenced by Wing Chun, Tai Chi, taekwondo, boxing, fencing and jujutsu.[12][17]
Bruce Lee did not formally codify Jeet Kune Do before his death. This forced later JKD practitioners to rely upon their own interpretation of the philosophy created by Bruce Lee.[
Overview and philosophy
[edit]Growing up in Hong Kong, Lee was a student of Wing Chun Grandmaster Ip Man. However, around 1964, following his duel with Wong Jack-man, Lee disavowed the rigidity of systematized martial arts.[20][21] Following this, Lee began a journey of research in order to refine his way of practicing martial arts. In 1965, he outlined the basic concepts of Jeet Kune Do in a press interview,[22] but Lee resisted giving his school of thought a name. It was not until 1967 that he came up with the name Jeet Kune Do, but Lee’s philosophy is still known by other names, such as Jun Fan Gung Fu[d].[3][23][24][25] As Lee explained:
I have not invented a “new style,” composite, modified or otherwise that is set within distinct form as apart from “this” method or “that” method. On the contrary, I hope to free my followers from clinging to styles, patterns, or molds. Remember that Jeet Kune Do is merely a name used, a mirror in which to see “ourselves”. . . Jeet Kune Do is not an organized institution that one can be a member of. Either you understand or you don’t, and that is that. There is no mystery about my style. My movements are simple, direct, and non-classical. The extraordinary part of it lies in its simplicity. Every movement in Jeet Kune Do is being so of itself. There is nothing artificial about it. I always believe that the easy way is the right way. Jeet Kune Do is simply the direct expression of one’s feelings with the minimum of movements and energy. The closer to the true way of Kung Fu, the less wastage of expression there is. Finally, a Jeet Kune Do man who says Jeet Kune Do is exclusively Jeet Kune Do is simply not with it. He is still hung up on his self-closing resistance, in this case, anchored down to a reactionary pattern, and naturally is still bound by another modified pattern and can move within its limits. He has not digested the simple fact that truth exists outside all molds; pattern and awareness is never exclusive. Again let me remind you Jeet Kune Do is just a name used, a boat to get one across, and once across it is to be discarded and not to be carried on one’s back.
— Bruce Lee[26]
The metaphor Bruce Lee borrowed from Chan Buddhism was of constantly filling a cup with water, and then emptying it, used for describing Lee’s philosophy of “casting off what is useless”.[27] Lee considered traditional form-based martial arts, which practiced pre-arranged patterns, forms and techniques, to be restrictive and ineffective in dealing with chaotic self-defence situations. Bruce Lee believed that real combat was alive and dynamic and conceived Jeet Kune Do to enable its practitioners to adapt to the changes of live combat, believing that it was only through its use in real combat that a martial arts practitioner could judge a technique worthy of adoption.
Join us, we will accompany you to the highest level
Bruce Lee incorporated into Jeet Kune Do four universal combat truths that he felt were self-evident and would lead to combat success if followed. The “4 Combat Ranges” in particular are what he felt were instrumental in becoming a “total” martial artist. This is also the principle most related to mixed martial arts.[28] These concepts help create a framework for adaptive, real-time decision-making in self-defence scenarios.
JKD practitioners also subscribe to the notion that the best defence is a strong offense, hence the principle of “Intercepting”. Lee believed that in order for an opponent to attack someone they had to move towards them. This provided an opportunity to “intercept” that attack or movement. The principle of interception covers more than just intercepting physical attacks. Lee believed that many non-verbal’s and telegraphs (subtle movements that an opponent is unaware of) could be perceived or “intercepted” and thus be used to one’s advantage. The “5 Ways of Attack” are attacking categories that help Jeet Kune Do practitioners organize their fighting repertoire and comprise the offensive portion of JKD. The concepts of Stop hits & stop kicks and simultaneous parrying & punching were borrowed from European fencing and Wing Chun’s theory of simultaneous defending and attacking and comprise the defensive portion of JKD. These concepts were modified for unarmed combat and implemented into the JKD framework by Lee. These concepts also complement the other principle of interception
Be like water
[edit]Bruce Lee believed that martial systems should be as flexible as possible. He often used water as an analogy for describing why flexibility is a desired trait in martial arts. Water is infinitely flexible. It can be seen through, and yet at other times it can obscure things from sight. It can split and go around things, re-joining on the other side, or it can crash through things. It can erode the hardest rocks by gently lapping away at them or it can flow past the tiniest pebble. Lee believed that a martial system should have these attributes. JKD students reject traditional systems of training, fighting styles and the Confucian pedagogy used in traditional Kung Fu schools because of this lack of flexibility. JKD is claimed to be a dynamic concept that is forever changing, thus being extremely flexible. “Absorb what is useful; disregard that which is useless” is an often quoted Bruce Lee maxim. A JKD student is encouraged to study every form of combat possible, both to add to his arsenal and to know how to defend against such tactics.[29]
Economy of motion
[edit]JKD students are told to waste no time or movement. This technique can be called the technique of “Least action” thus strike the opponent with the least distance, time and energy possible but also giving a powerful and precise strike. When it comes to combat JKD practitioners believe the simplest things work best.[30] “Efficiency, directness, and simplicity are the hallmark of Jeet Kune Do.” [31]
Stop hits and stop kicks
[edit]Adherents of JKD are taught to intercept an opponent’s attack with an attack of their own, rather than simply blocking the attack. JKD practitioners consider this to be the most difficult defensive skill to develop. This strategy is a feature of some traditional Chinese martial arts, as well as an essential component of European épée fencing (known in fencing terminology as the “counter-attack”[32]).
Simultaneous parrying and punching
[edit]When confronting an incoming attack, the attack is parried or deflected and a counterattack is delivered at the same time. This is not as advanced as a stop hit but is more effective than blocking and then counterattacking in sequence. This is also practiced by some Chinese martial arts.[33]
No high kicks
[edit]JKD practitioners believe they should target their kicks to their opponent’s shins, knees, thighs, midsection, and no higher, as these targets are the closest to the (kicking) foot, provide more stability, and are more difficult to defend against. However, as with all other JKD principles, nothing is written in stone, and if a target of opportunity above the midsection presents itself, one may take advantage of it without feeling hampered by this principle.[34]
The four ranges of combat
[edit]Jeet Kune Do students train in each of these ranges equally: Kicking, Punching, Trapping, and Grappling. According to Lee, this range of training differentiates JKD from other martial arts, as most traditional martial systems specialize in training at one or two ranges. Lee’s theories have been especially influential in the field of Mixed Martial Arts, as the MMA Phases of Combat are essentially the same concept as the JKD combat ranges. As a historical note, the ranges in JKD have evolved over time. Initially the ranges were categorized as short or close, medium, and long range.[35] These terms proved ambiguous and eventually evolved into their more descriptive forms although there may still be others who prefer the three categories.[36]
Five ways of attack
[edit]- Single Angular Attack (SAA) and its converse Single Direct Attack (SDA).
- Hand Immobilization Attack (HIA) and its counterpart Foot Immobilization attack, which make use of trapping to limit the opponent’s function with that appendage.
- Progressive Indirect Attack (PIA). Attacking one part of the opponent’s body followed by attacking another part as a means of creating an opening.
- Attack By Combinations (ABC). This is using multiple rapid attacks, with volume of attack as a means of overcoming the opponent.
- Attack By Drawing (ABD). This is creating an opening with positioning as a means of counterattacking.[37]
Three parts of JKD
[edit]JKD practitioners believe that techniques should contain the following properties:
- Efficiency – An attack that reaches its mark
- Directness – Doing what comes naturally in a learned way.
- Simplicity – Thinking in an uncomplicated manner; without ornamentation.[38]
Centreline
[edit]The centreline refers to an imaginary line running down the centre of one’s body. The theory is to exploit, control and dominate your opponent’s centreline. All attacks, defences and footwork are designed to preserve your own centreline and open your opponent’s. Lee incorporated this theory into JKD from Wing Chun. This notion is closely related to maintaining control of the centre squares in the strategic game chess. [39]
The three guidelines for centreline are:
- The one who controls the centreline will control the fight.
- Protect and maintain your own centreline while you control and exploit your opponent’s.
- Control the centreline by occupying it.
