JKD Straight Lead: 1996 & 2009 Compared

[joesteph]

I found an article in the December 1996 BB issue, "The Dragon Spirit: Jeet Kune Do's Bread-and-Butter Technique" (the editors have Bruce Lee identified as the author). It's on the JKD lead punch. I thought about it and realized that it's a fast move, but you've really got to practice it to do it right.

The June 2009 issue (I started subscribing) has an article by Teri Tom, under "Black Belt Times Technique: Jeet Kune Do Source," called "The Straight Lead: Step by Step." The explanation and accompanying photos, which include the author, might make for a good comparison as to how faithfully Lee's interpreted thirteen years later.

She writes on p. 36:

"Of course, what makes hand before body so difficult is that it runs counter to how you're accustomed to moving. . . . The straight lead, because it's a linear motion like the fencing thrust, is different."

It's still something you've really got to practice, sort of a twist on "A punch is just a punch."

[bushido_man96]

The article you have linked to states that it is excerpted from Tao of Jeet Kune Do. I recall the article from the recent issue as well.

I also did some reading up on the whole "a punch is just like a punch" thing. The idea is, you learn, then train a lot, and then it is as if you have un-learned, and then " 'it' hits all by itself!"

Teri Tom has authored a book titled The Straight Lead, but I have not read it. I am interested in it, though.

[wanderingbudoka]

I have Teri Tom's book, The Straight Lead. I liked it quite a bit. There are parts of the book that sound like regurgitated Tao or Jeet Kun Do vol.3, but I guess that couldn't be helped. All in all in was a good book full of valuble information.

[bushido_man96]

I passed up a chance to pick it up at a bookstore not long ago. Perhaps someday, though, I'll take a look at it. I do like to read up on the Jeet Kune Do subject, but there are several different ideas of what Jeet Kune Do is floating around out there. To me, its all the more reason to check it out, though.

[joesteph]

The October issue of Black Belt magazine, with Bruce Lee on the cover, has an article titled "The One." Sixteen prominent figures who studied under/have been strongly influenced by Lee were asked to select the single most important thing he taught. Nine of them answered for this issue; the remaining seven will be in the next one.

Joe Lewis said, "I've stood toe-to-toe with the fastest fighters in the world, and I can say that Lee, with his sharp mental attributes, executed the quickest lead-hand punch of all."

Teri Tom said, "The straight lead, of course! It's a no-brainer. Lee himself declared it 'The core of Jeet Kune Do.'"

Leo Fong referred to "the straight front-hand lead. It's what we in boxing call the left jab--assuming you use a left-hand-forward or orthodox stance. . . . It's no coincidence that during my college competition years, the jab was my best weapon for setting up the left hook."

I was surprised at Fong's reply, because my JKD instructor makes certain we understand it's not the jab that came to be (after Jack Dempsey and his "falling step") a set-up for another punch. I understand that Lee saw this lead hand punch, utilizing the stronger of the two sides forward (so for most it would be southpaw), as the main striking weapon in the arsenal.