What is Jeet Kune Do?

Bruce Lee developed an artwork called Jeet Kune Do. Also know as JKD. A combination of Wing Chung, Fencing, Western Boxing, Savate, Judo, and Dance. Take a journey with Sifu Ed Monaghan as he explains Jeet Kune Do after spending time training under Bruce's original students.

[@randalwung8715]

Wow, that's as nice an explanation as I've heard, thank you. It's interesting, saying JKD isn't a martial art but a philosophy with an essential physical/martial component to it. I've heard Paul Vunak say that everything Bruce achieved was a side benefit of the primary focus he never lost sight of, which was, basically, to be able to kick ass in the quickest and most efficient way possible. And that achieving what seemed like a very straightforward, pragmatic, definable goal led him down a deep and branching path of self-exploration because you have to really understand yourself in order be a true warrior, not just in the street but in life.

[@citpeks2000]

Fantastic presentation!

[@eatenbythedistance4178]

One instructor I know, says that jeet kune do is the actual fight style developed by Bruce Lee . It is a style with very distinct, footwork and application. And that is their hill, that they will stand fight and die on . Although They abandon the philosophical ideology along with all of the endless possibilities. Which I think makes it similar to traditional karate and its inability to adapt. however, the good thing is that instructors like this more closely resemble the Particular Way,, Bruce Lee actually utilized his fighting methods before his passing, and that was confirmed by the Lee family themselves. I believe the Ted Wong lineage is the only lineage that is allowed to use the Jeet kune do logo and trademark. Now there is the inosanto lineage. They have concepts that relate to JKD but are not actual JKD. It is more Kali/silat based. And there was litigation between inosanto and the Lee family. This age is a little bit more progressive, but is also the lineage with the most controversial instructors. Ensure there are a lot more lineages, but these are the ones who are constantly arguing amongst each other on all social media platforms. Most lineages barely agree on anything less than 50% of the time, even if it comes to something as simple as a training regiment.

[@ronnyvega529]

From what I see in many many videos from many many JKD instructors is they seem to be stuck in the past. They say this is what was taught around this time and that’s it. And that’s where JKD gets lost. Bruce Lee died at a very young age and if he was to live another few years who knows what changes would have been made. But I guarantee it would have evolved and that’s what the new jkd generation must do. Evolve, do less instead of more, keep it simple and efficient. Watch the best fighters now and like Bruce Lee did, study them and practice certain things they do that can work for you. And when you do that apply JKD principles. We got to be present and honest what we do and teach.

[@djoneforever]

JKD is very simple. It's not a style, but a concept. Basically, it's what ever will work to win a fight no matter what for the individual. If it doesn't work, toss it out. Use what is useful for yourself and convert it to your own specifications. Thats it. Here's an example; If you have to use a knife, hammer, gun, etc to win a fight then that's JKD Whatever it takes 😁

[@eatenbythedistance4178]

I think what you’re talking about, would be more accurate to say, as an abstract idea versus the jeet kune do concepts (martial arts similar to jkd but are not jkd) taught by inosanto. But yeah, there’s all kinds of tidbits of information that need to be clearly defined to even understand why lineages have disputes and arguments, and how newcomers easily misinterpret nearly anything with the jeet kune do association as a whole. I mean, honestly there’s so much material to go over that there needs to be an in-depth analysis of every controversy that there has ever been.

[@axelstone3131]

Completely wrong. That’s basically saying an untrained person can use anything and get “lucky” and win a fight and they miraculously knew JKD 🤣 doesn’t work like that. It has structure and principles. JKD has been so poorly misrepresented the last 50 years people like you and many others keep saying this nonsense of “it’s whatever you want it to be” if that’s the case that Bruce Lee created nothing.

[@alexsantiago9868]

Wrong. It’s not whatever works, their are very specific principles in JKD that must be followed in order to call it JKD. I mentioned a few. You can’t armbar someone and say it’s Tae Kwon do. You can’t put Porsche rims on a VW and call it a Porsche. JKD is a complete combat system. Stands on its own. Designed to weather, survive, a violent situation. No sport, weight classes, referee. The more you train and refine, the more appreciation for the efficiency, speed and power the art delivers. But you have to do the research, yes many excellent books written by lee providing as Sifu Ted once said,

[@alexsantiago9868]

A road map to guide you in your training

[@axelstone3131]

@@alexsantiago9868well Said

[@eatenbythedistance4178]

I think everybody could see the appeal of JKD from a philosophical aspect from a abstract ideal. That is about fluidity, emptiness, partiality and having no limit as a limit. No limit only plateaus to be worked through. There are going to be the classic JKD instructors who are going to say JKD is a distinct style, and if you do anything that is in anyway shape or form that deviates from the original style then it is not JKD at all . These kinds of instructors usually abandon the lost fees of the original Jeet kune do and they very much have a problem with Bruce Lee fanboy, and as a result catered to a lot of boomer ideologies that are not attractive or conducive to developing the next generation of practitioners. On the other hand, you have the JKD practitioners who makes every single style and call it JKD. And that definitely raise the question of how we defined JKD . Let’s suppose that we were going to throw a bunch of styles together could we call that JKD? Probably not. This is where the traditionalist JKD people make a very valid and reasonable argument that it is a distinct style with distinct footwork and distinct techniques . And I think maybe a more appropriate code of conduct would be to keep the core JKD as base but modify and tweak it for specific purposes, whether you are doing competition or actual combat. I do, however, believe every martial art has evolved overtime, and that even core JKD should also evolve and learn from other combatants, put our own personal spin on our favorite techniques and utilize it in a way that is distinct for the JKD community. We adopt and adapt and implement it as a template a base….a starter kit if you will and set no limit as the limit.

[@CBHDK59]

once is taught the way bruce taught it and taught for 55 years and carry on by his students, is now a style. bruce is to blame because the damage is done.

[@axelstone3131]

It’s not a style. It’s a toolset.

[@megamouthspike1930]

I am a Jeet Kune Do Concepts adherent. I don’t care what the JKD Nucleus people have to say about it.

[@eatenbythedistance4178]

A lot of instructors are going to be stuck and set in their ways and their students will be indoctrinated. Can you see how messy this is starting to get and this is only one small segment of some of the things that have separated, ostracized and disenfranchised the JKD community as a whole. And there’s a lot of instructors who have their own versions of the truth and who do not like to touch on the other controversies active in the JKD community so they don’t provide very much context, background or unbiased data in regards to the controversies in the community. Also, it should be noted that there are a lot of documents, quotations and secondhand accounts of the things that people think Bruce actually said, or did . A number of those things become conjecture, misinterpretation, misinformation, or inconclusive. So, even though Bruce Lee is a legendary figure, not everything was meticulously, recorded, filmed, or given a distinct context. Sometimes the Lee family themselves aren’t able to confirm certain things . Then a lot of these lineages, and their students like to present biased data to try to conclusively prove their lineage is more valid than other lineages. And around and around it goes .

[@eatenbythedistance4178]

But I know in all honesty all of this is a very wishful thinking, because many instructors have different agendas. Some of them have made it their entire personality, and they’re very life’s work to reaffirm their beliefs at any cost. I know that there are some instructors who use the brand and name as a point of sale. I know there’s some instructors that their agenda from the beginning was to be the next Bruce Lee, but managed to come very short. I know there’s some instructors who wanted to dominate the competitive world, but end up coming to a start realization that the times changed individual martial arts evolved, and the world of mixed martial arts took on a life of its own. I know there’s some instructors who definitely want to believe that their specific version is applicable in every situation in every environment . And they will not teach the fundamentals of actual streetfighting, the repercussions of unlawful street fighting and the situational awareness to prevent a fight from occurring in the first place. And I’m not seeing any one particular instructor out. It’s basically all of the instructors ever they usually suffer from one or more of these inefficient teaching styles. Also, under the thing to know about the JKD community is that there is tons of egotism many of them like to remind you that martial arts is an egoless sport but the instructor themselves have the largest egos of them all. And maybe it’s being prideful, and David invested so much work so much dedication and so much sacrifice that may be in a way it is well-deserved, and perhaps even earned. Maybe. Or sometimes they are very salty because they over the course of decades have literally gone through hundreds probably thousands of students who have fallen off or have given up… and sometimes the attitude literally sticks to them and changes the experience and vibe for newcomers. So there’s definitely that . Don’t always expect to be welcomed to the community . 😅

[@CBHDK59]

LOL

[@alexsantiago9868]

JKD was designed to address violence, assaults or ambush. Has nothing to do with mma,or any other martial art or sport. You can’t single leg someone on the corner of Tompkins avenue in Brooklyn Ny ? You would get the shit stomped out of you. As soon as I see someone in a orthodox stance with their strong hand in the rear, tells me your in violation of perhaps one of the most important principles in JKD. Strong side forward. If they are training in a orthodox stance, walkout, that’s not JKD. Half beat punching, closing the distance, feints, footwork, non telegraph punching and yes non telegraphing kicking, with a piston lead hand strong side forward. You had to hold the pads for sifu Ted Wong to see it all put together. Purest form of JKD. The art died with him. Wish Bruce lee was alive so he could walk into these schools claiming to be teaching his art ripping people off. Read Bruce’s books. Start with the Tao of JEET KUNE DO. Please.

[@axelstone3131]

Agree and disagree. You are right about the first part. The art has been so poorly misrepresented for the last 50 years by idiots saying it’s “whatever you want it to be” and “different interpretations”. The art is alive, the best teacher and practitioner of it is Tommy Carruthers who learnt from Jesse Glover, Ted Wong and couple others. He is also self taught like Bruce taught himself. Has very similar attributes to Bruce also. Thomas Marx JKD is an instructor under Jim and so is John Paul Daily. I think trying to learn it from anyone else is a waste of time. Most people still teach stuff Bruce threw away, are stuck in the 60’s teaching things like trapping and chi sao when Bruce stopped doing those things himself and took them out the curriculum on 1971. Also, I don’t think starting with the tao of JKD is a good idea. The book wasn’t put together by him but by other people signing his notes. There is fight choreography in that book that was used for movies. The best book to start is Bruce Lee’s fighting method book.