The question "What is Jeet Kune Do?" is elusive at best.
Rather than offer an extensive explanation, I feel it is better to
offer you the description of Jeet Kune Do given to me from my Sifu, Jerry
Poteet, which was given to
him by Bruce Lee on May 5, 1972.
- Ed Monaghan, Director
Sifu Bruce Lee
"Jeet
Kune Do is training and discipline toward the ultimate reality in
combat. The ultimate reality is the returning to one’s primary
freedom, which is simple, direct and non-classical.
A good Jeet Kune Do man does not oppose force or give way completely.
He is pliable as a spring; he is the complement and not the opposition
to his opponent’s strength. He has no technique; he makes his opponents’
techniques his technique. He has no design; he makes opportunity
his design.
One should respond to circumstance without artificial and "wooden"
prearrangement. Your action should be like the immediacy of a shadow
adapting to a moving object. Your task is simply to complete the other
half of the "oneness" spontaneously.
In Jeet Kune Do, one does not accumulate but eliminates. It is not
daily increase, but daily decrease. The height of cultivation always
runs to simplicity. It is the half way cultivation that runs to ornamentation.
So it is not how much fixed knowledge one has accumulated; rather
it is what one can apply alively that counts. "Being" is
definitely more valued than "doing."
The understanding of Jeet Kune Do is through personal feeling from
moment to moment in the mirror of relationship and not through a process
of isolation. To be is to be related. To isolate is death.
Any technique, however worthy and desirable, becomes a disease, when
the mind is obsessed with it.
Learn the principle, abide by the principles and dissolve the principle.
In short, to enter a mould without being caged in it, and obey
the principles without being bound by them.
My followers in Jeet Kune Do, do listen to this----all fixed set patterns
are incapable of adaptability or pliability. The truth is outside
of all fixed patterns. Try and obtain a manageable shape of nicely
tied paper package of water.
When he has reached maturity in this art, one will have the formless
form. It is like the dissolving of a thawing ice into water that can
shape itself to any structure. When one has no form, one can be
all forms, when one has no style, he can fit in with any style.
In primary freedom one utilizes all ways and is bound by none,
and likewise uses any technique or means which serves its end. Efficiency
is anything that scores.
When you perceive the truth in Jeet Kune Do, you are at an undifferentiated
center of a circle that has no circumference."
Bruce Lee
President of Jeet Kune Do To me, as has been expressed by my teachers; Jeet Kune Do is
about simplicity, economy, range and circumstance. In Jeet Kune Do
the physical mirrors the philosophical. The principles of fitting
in with constant nature of change and the living inter-relationship
between parts of our world are examples of the strong influence of
Buddhism and Taoism in Jeet Kune Do.
What you will learn at our school is the original Jeet Kune Do as
was taught to my teachers from Si Gung Lee, as was taught to me.
Jeet Kune Do is comprised of three arts: modified Wing Chun, western
boxing and western fencing. Si Gung Lee felt it was important to experience
other arts, not to accumulate techniques but to understand their essence
and effectiveness at different ranges of combat. In this sense it
is not the style or technique that is important but the simplicity
and effectiveness during combat which counts.
At Combative Arts Academy you will learn Duo Ji Gung Fu. (Multiple
System Gung Fu) Duo Ji Gung Fu begins with the base of Jeet Kune Do
and adds selected techniques from Muay Thai, Boxe Francaise Savate,
western boxing, Brazilian and Japanese Jiu-Jitsu, and Eskrima (Kali).
Our chief aim is to expose the individual to a wide variety of information
through both the central curriculum and ancillary classes so that
as Si Gung Lee states, "When one reaches maturity in this art,
one will have the formless form."
This program is based on the concept that a self-defense system should
be adaptable to circumstances and environment. More and more martial
artists must know all must know all the ranges of fighting - not just
how to punch and kick. Jeet Kune Do is designed to teach all fighting
ranges. We begin by teaching stand-up, extended range fighting techniques
and gradually close the gap into elbow, knee strike and grappling
range. Extended range is taught first to ensure body awareness and
control through the use of pad drills, partner drills and sparring
before breaching into close range which requires more precision and
control.
In the beginning there is no knowledge, no structure. As you learn,
build a structure and work within it. As you understand, dissolve
the structure and therein lies the truth.
Thank you for joining us in the study of Martial Art. May it be as
richly rewarding for you as it has been for me.
