Jeet Kune Do

[Iron Arahat]

I'm curious about JKD, and maybe people can shed some light on this for me. As far as I understand there are two main schools of thought "nucleus" and "concept".

 

"Nucleus" which sticks with the way Bruce Lee taught the art.

 

"Concept" which basically believe that JKD evolves.

 

Now I'm curious with how there is any structure, unless someone teaches June Fan first as a base (is this done?), and then develop from there.

 

Also if one were to take JKD in one school then to another, if instructors pick and choose what they want to teach...grappling, sticks, trapping, and so on...whose to say they will be even remotely close?

[thaiboxerken]

JKD concepts evolves the art. The Nucleus guys want to teach the "original" art that Bruce Lee did. Here is the problem.. Bruce Lee's "JKD" was constantly evolving and changing. He kept changing the curriculum of his schools and the way he trained. So, if these people say "original JKD", they are fooling themselves.

 

Yes, I think a person should learn Jun Fan Gung Fu if they want to claim that they teach "JKD", that is the very basic structure of "JKD". Now after that, it gets to be individualized to the instructor and the students. JKD is about finding out what works for you, hence the "self-expression". I cannot, as an instructor, tell a student how to express himself, I can only be a guide and show them different paths to take. Dan Inosanto's "JKD" is much different than Bruce Lee's "JKD" and my "JKD" is different than both of them.

 

 

[Valn]

Jeet kune do is an incomplete art when Bruce Lee unfortunately died too soon and he wasn't able to give it the finishing touch.

 

Lets remember that Bruce Lee first started in the Wing Chun kung fu style, but Yip Man the great master didn't finish his training, so Bruce came up with his own martial arts.

 

In addition, Jeet kune do fighter will never reach the skills of Bruce Lee because they lack "core" which is Wing Chun with all its important concept.

 

good luck man

[Karateka_latino]

I think JKD is more a philosophy to understand the arts than just fighting techniques.

 

That's why JKD the philosophy "absorb what is usefull for you" is the same for everyone, but the techniques is what change because the individuals search and investigations and practices.

 

I don't know , that's what i think , if im wrong then please correct me.

[Valn]

"absorb what is useful" sounds right, but how many people really know what is useful. In order for a technique to be useful it has to be tested in the street and see how good it works.

[thaiboxerken]

"In addition, Jeet kune do fighter will never reach the skills of Bruce Lee because they lack "core" which is Wing Chun with all its important concept."

 

This is a typical response of a Wing Chun practitioner. I feel that it isn't true. If Bruce Lee trained in a different martial art, he might have still become very great at fighting and do the same things he did. Bruce Lee's strength was not his "core" art, but his determination and "obsession" with becoming the best fighter. He trained a full workday almost everyday of the week. I think it's only this reason that he could make the Wing Chun actually work. I personally think that the Wing Chun isn't as efficient as the other martial arts I train in, it takes a very long time to develope the sensitivity to do the trapping and "nucleus" fighting. Where as boxing and thai-boxing are very easy to learn and apply, which means to me that it is more efficient. But hey, to each their own, you have your "style" and I have mine.

 

 

[Iron Arahat]

Still need clarification...so if Bruce's "JKD" is diffenerent from Dan's, and Ken's is different from them both...if we took a school from one side of the country and compared it to another, chances are you would learn entirely different things?

 

 

[Valn]

To Taiboxerken,

 

The advantage of wing chun is that it only takes about 5 years to master. In addition, the whole idea about wing chun is to save your life in a street fight.

 

The art of wing chun also seems far more efficient than karate since in wing chun you block and strike simultaneously, and it trains you in improving your reflexes.

 

Anyway, since you seem to have practiced wing chun, I would really appreciate to hear more from you.

 

I'm considering quiting karate in december and concentrate on wing chun.

 

Thanks.

[thaiboxerken]

Yes..Iron.. there will be different things a person will learn in JKD "concepts" but that is why Dan doesn't really certify people in "JKD". He will certify people in Jun Fan Gung Fu and other martial arts.. As for JKD, it is a philosophy rather than a system. I personally believe a person should not claim to teach "JKD" unless they have a good understanding of Jun Fan Gung Fu.

 

As far as Wing Chun vs Karate.. you can train both and be better off than just training the one system. You'll see that Wing Chun isn't all that much different than other systems. Karate has the block and hit at the same time type of movements too, as does Muay Thai, Silat and Kali. It's just the emphasis are different. I personally don't like most Karate systems. Wing Chun is ok, but I like the other systems I train better. Trapping takes a long time to become proficient at and too many people forget that the purpose is to strike your opponent. Too many Wing Chun people get too caught up on "trapping" and not striking. If you just remember, it's all about striking, then you'll be good.

 

A Wing Chun saying: "If they don't block my punch, I hit them.. If they do block my punch, I still hit them"

 

 

[Valn]

Thaiboxerken,

 

Then, you're saying that it might be wiser to continue my training in karate and wing chun.

 

I know one thing is for sure now. I won't ever be able to do karate the same way as before. The little trainning that I have complete as already changed the way I spar in karate.

 

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I really appreciated.