Jeet Kune Do - Training for the individual

 A phrase often uttered in the JKD community, but seldom properly understood is the one that says that Jeet Kune Do is a style without a style, that you have to find what works for you and cultivate it, etc etc. 

It is true, the intention of Bruce Lee for those that train Jeet Kune Do, is to develop themselves, not be stuck in fixed routines and forms because a classical martial art asks that you do so in order to progress.

Jeet Kune Do is an art that leaves the individual free in finding their own way. That doesn't mean that you can do stuff that violates basic principles on which Jeet Kune Do was founded.  If a technique is not efficient, it has no place in JKD for example. No matter how athletic, spectacular or otherwise it is. 

What Bruce Lee was after is that there is no fixed method of training, and for each individual the training methods may need to change. If your overweight, you need to include more exercises and a lifestyle that helps you reduce that weight.  If you're weak, you need to do strength training, if you are not flexible, you need to stretch. Find the weak points, work on them. If you are poor at kicking, find out why that is, and work on it, same with anything else.   When you work on these basics, first, then you can start to look deeper at individual techniques. Perhaps your straight punch is great, but you struggle with the hook, so work on the hook!  Get all the basics right first and get those to a decent level of proficiency.

Once all that is dealt with (and maintained), you'll start to find what works well. We are al built slightly different, taller/shorter etc.. Both the tall and the short person should be able to kick and punch, etc well (the basics), but when it comes to a fight, both will find different tactics that work better.  A taller person may find they can keep their opponent at bay because of their longer reach.  A shorter person may find he'll fight better in close range (when faced with a tall opponent) as it can neutralise the longer range tools of the opponent, whilst retaining more options themselves. Tactics and personal attributes will determine someones 'style' in JKD in the long run, not the searching for techiques or even arts to 'blend' into JKD. 

So two JKD persons, two different styles, both JKD. Think Tyson and Ali, two boxers, two very different fighting styles. Both box, no adding of anything else, but cultivating their strenghts and making boxing their own.   

In Jeet Kune Do, the following are the very basics every person needs to be working on and get good at, that can be trained on your own with minimum to no equipment,  outside of regular class. 

Ideally, if you have the space, invest in a heavy bag or a BOB (Century BOB), or both, as minimum training equipment on your own, which will enhance your training a lot. 

- Basic mobility (not as in footwork, but in moving all your joints through every direction of movement they are naturally capable of to loosen them up. ) For example: In which directions can you move your head?? (turn left, right, up down, tilt left and right (ear to the shoulder), and combinations of these! (try it, ear to the shoulder, and then in that position nod yes, then no)) You can do more than you think, work on that!

- Basic fitness (strength (body weight), endurance (jog, cycle etc), flexibility (stretch) )

- The on guard stance

- Footwork (learning to move in all 4 directions whilst maintaining the guard) 

- Basic techniques(your basic kicks and punches, all from guard (and returning!! Don't let your limbs hang out there, on guard, on guard, on guard!!)  Both static (at first) and with footwork.  

- Elusive lead (5 lines of attack to various target areas)

Then comes refinment of all the above + method and tactics, for this you ideally need a partner (class time training). This is acchieved through a mix of drills, and (controlled) sparring. The list is not complete, but it gives you an idea of how this differs from individual training above.

- Timing & rhythm

- Basic trapping and sensitivity drills. (If you are lucky enough to own a wooden dummy (mook jong) you could also train some of this individually, but they can be expensive). 

- bobbing/weaving, slipping , parrying. 

- Sensitive Aura  ( e.g. distance judgement, vision and hearing, 'sixt sense' etc.)

- 5 ways of Attack

So you can see, many things to work on, in your own way, your own approach, catering to your own needs and wishes, whilst not seeking for solutions outside of the art. Lastly I'd also like to emphasise to learn to relax, not just physical , but mental. Take a moment and just 'breathe', just be, no thought, no distraction. Mindfulness. 

'The medicine for my suffering I had within me from the very beginning, but I did not take it. My ailment came from within myself, but I did not observe it, until this moment. Now I see that I will never find the light unless, like the candle, I am my own fuel, consuming myself  -  Bruce Lee' 

WALK ON!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

 

Wishing all our members, followers, friends and family a very merry Christmas and happy and prosperous New Year!

Walk On!

Ted Wong- who was he and what exactly did he teach?

We sometimes get questions on what it is that sets Ted Wong's approach to Jeet Kune Do apart from other 'lineages'.  

Ted Wong never learned any other martial art and all his knowledge was purely obtained by the teachings of Bruce Lee, throught the lessons that he enjoyed in private and by observing Bruce Lee teaching others. You could say that his knowledge was therefore very pure. As he practically 'lived' with Bruce Lee for a fair amount of time and was one of Bruce's closest friends, he is without question the person who spend the majority of time with Bruce Lee, training and observing. Other students are more well known for a variety of reasons, but Ted Wong was certainly the most knowledgeable when it came to pure Jeet Kune Do, and he passed this on in later years. 

To summarise what it comprises off we can state the following:

Sifu Ted Wong stressed the importance of great mobility through proper footwork to help the practitioner control their  fighting distance, and of proper body mechanics to improve their power generation and balance. He taught to understand and apply the 5 ways of attack to help  improve the practitioner tactics in combat. Certainly, all the basic tools and techniques must, under his guidance, be refined to "perfection" in order to improve ones physical and motor skills - to reduce ones limitations, to simplify ones techniques, to make no telegraphic movements, to eliminate wastage of motion, to develop spontaneity and naturalness, etc.  He would often say, he who controls the distance, controls the fight. 

Many martial artists make the mistake to want to learn more and more, and not to take the time to truly master the knowledge they already have, the truth doesn't lie 'out there', yet it lies 'within'! 

Sifu Ted Wong encouraged JKD practitioners to focus on themselves, to acquire a very good comprehension of the principles of force and to apply them to all of their moves in order to fully optimize their potential.

Sifu Ted Wong did not want the knowledge and experience he acquired from the many private lessons he got from Bruce Lee to become lost. So, he opened up to the world to share with them the learnt art and philosophy. Sifu Ted Wong was one of the original students of the Bruce Lee's backyard training in Los Angeles. He was also the last private student of Bruce Lee and one of the only three people certified in Jeet Kune Do by Bruce Lee.
Sifu Ted Wong had a goal, and that was to preserve Bruce Lee's art, which he worked very hard during a great part of his lifetime to achieve it, and to try and stop some of the misrepresentations of Jeet Kune Do that were starting to come to the fore during his lifetime..
To be disciplined and respectful to others, and to mind our own business were also part of his great teachings, not surprising either. Ted Wong himself was a quiet humble man. 

It sometimes is useful to stop and reflect on that for a moment, and you'll understand why very few of Ted Wong's students are outspoken and on social media, but instead keep themselves to themselves and just 'train'.  

Walk On! 

Another Seminar done

 As mentioned in my previous post, another JKD seminar was held in the Netherlands on October 18th.

Teaching was sifu Richard Torres, from the JKD Martial Arts institute, Fishkill , New York.  He is one of the few certified instructors under Ted Wong, and spent a lot of time working and travelling with Ted Wong doing various seminars/workshops etc in the past. His extensive research and huge library of books and articles would probably rival and surpass that of Bruce Lee himself, who was known to have 2500 books etc in his own private library. I can say with some confidence that Richard Torres is one of the most knowledgeable teachers in the art of Jeet Kune Do.  

Myself and one of my senior students attended the seminar, and also had a private theory session the evening before at the house of my own instructor, James ter Beek. The seminar was great and it was traditionally followed by a large meal.   We travelled home the following day, looking back on a succesful weekend and with knowledge to workon and teach.

Walk On! 

Jeet Kune Do Seminars & Workshops

 

The world of Jeet Kune Do, is known sometimes for heated arguments about what JKD is, the division between 'original' and 'concepts' JKD is only a part of the discussion. Many times it also involves groups and individuals who believe that JKD is not an art at all, but just a philosphy, and you can do whatever you fancy.

Thankfully, there are still many opportunities to be taught by knowledgable instructors that are capable to set the record straight, and to come together and set up a unified experience for all to learn and enjoy.

One such event was held last weekend in New York, USA.  Three instructors, One Art.  Instructors were sifu Richard Torres, sifu Joaquin Marcelo, and sifu Octavio Quintero, and set up a workshop with over 100 participants. 

Sadly I was unable to attend but my instructors and many of my JKD friends were there, but it demonstrates that the world of JKD is more unified than some people might think. The more these events are held, the more I hope it will silence the critics, and more understanding of the art will be perpetuated. 

Your next opportunity is this month, in Leiden the Netherlands, where sifu Richard Torres will hold a workshop on Saturday October 18th.   Be there!

Walk On!

 

Stages of learning

 

The illustration shows in Bruce Lee's own handwriting, the 'three stages of a technique'.  He breaks this down into : Synchronisation of Self, Synchronisation with an opponent, and finally 'application under fighting condition'.    

The first stage is primarily aimed at learning the correct form, developing precision, and to synchronise all this as a 'whole' , building up speed progressively, but never to lose form (get sloppy). 

The second stage is about timing and distance.  Here you may find yourself working with a partner who provides targets to strike at various angles, intervals and distances (focus mitts drills).  Also here the difficulty is gradually increased. 

Lastly you will test these with a (sparring) partner, who will also be willing to hit back, doesn't want to get hit himself etc.   and is the closest you will get to real fighting conditions.  

As you can see, this progression is very similar to anything we learn. You start with the basics, and gradually increase the difficulty and application of those very same basics.  

Many martial artists confuse this with making things more complicated.  

If anything, a fight should be simple, direct and straight to the point, which will give you the best chance of 'scoring', walking away from the encounter relatively unharmed.  The 3 stages of learning are a great way of getting you there.  

Walk On! 

7 deadly sins in martial arts!

As published by Mike Gittleson by JKD Colorado.



The seven deadly sins as they relate to the martial arts...
Pride - making your training about showing off, finding every chance you can to try to dazzle everyone with your "omnipotent" skill
Greed - Focusing on making money and building an imperium of students and followers.
Lust - Lusting after fame, glory and thy neighbor's wife (aka other people's students)
Envy - Spending time watching others in envy of their fame, abilities and accolades. Turning this to ridicule, nitpicking and trying to justify your envy by pointing out everything they do wrong.
Gluttony - Trying to collect an inordinate amount techniques in order to feel all knowing. Training for accumulation rather than simplicity and understanding.
Wrath - Lashing out angerly at others, coveting hatred for those who have differing opinions or practice different styles.
Sloth - Pure laziness in your training. Maintaining the facade that you have earned your skill, all the while, not continuing to practice and hone it.
Don't succomb to the sins. Keep your training honest and focused.


Walk On!