Directories | Web | Images | Groups | News | Shopping | Local

Enter your search keyword(s):

 



(formerly Encyclopedic directory)
Jeet Kune Do
Home / Top / Sports / Martial Arts / Jeet Kune Do See also:
Related articles

Edit | Discuss Article

Jeet Kune Do

Jeet Kune Do (截拳道 in pinyin: jie2 quan2 dao4; in Jyutping: zit6 kyun4 dou3; literal meaning: "Way of the Intercepting Fist"), also Jeet Kun Do or JKD, is the system based primarily on Chinese martial arts developed by Bruce Lee.

This eclectic system claims to combine tactics taken from from other martial arts; the blocks and short-range punches of Wing Chun, the kicks of northern Kung Fu styles as well as Savate, Muay Thai, and the techniques of western boxing, among others.

JKD not only combines some aspects of different styles, it also simplifies those aspects that it adopts. For example, Bruce Lee almost always chose to put his power hand in the "lead," with his weaker hand back, therefore he almost always used the right hand stance of Wing Chun and Boxing in JKD and discarded the left hand and center stance.

Lee emphasized what he believed to be the combat effectiveness of JKD, and didn't stress the memorization of kata or quan (拳, the same word as the kune in Jeet Kune Do) solo training forms the way that most traditional styles do in their beginning level training. While practicing western wrestling moves, Lee was once pinned by a skillful opponent, who asked what Lee would do if he actually found himself in this situation. Lee replied, "Well, I'd bite you, of course." The JKD theory being that a true fighter should do whatever is necessary to defend themself. Lee's goal in JKD was to break down what he saw as limiting factors in the training of the traditional styles, and seek a fighting art which he believed could only be found in the event of a fight. JKD is nowadays seen as the first of the modern spate of mixed martial arts.

JKD followers claim that it is not a fighting style so much as a fighting philosophy. An apt statement is that "JKD is the link between Fight Club and Martial Arts." What JKD practitioners describe as the weakness of traditional martial arts is its rote memorization. They argue that these memorized movements will not be of help in an actual street fight. JKD does not make one a good fighter, they claim, it makes one a better fighter.

Bruce Lee's comments and methods were seen as quite controversial. Many teachers from traditional schools disagree with his opinions on these issues, especially seeing what Lee described as their lack of strategic flexibility due to "rote" teaching methods to be a misunderstanding on Lee's part. Most, if not all, traditional martial arts teachers say "fluid" strategy is a feature of martial training that is indeed addressed in the curricula of most traditional styles at advanced levels, when the students are ready. The schools Lee criticized tend to see their initial conservatism as a safety feature; a legacy of practical experience passed down from generation to generation, said to insure that their students are thoroughly prepared for advanced martial training, skipping nothing and developing intangibles such as good character, patience and discipline. The hierarchy of the traditional schools is said by this reasoning to provide a level playing field for all students by instilling respect and care for one's seniors, peers and juniors, so that everyone, not just the physically gifted, has an opportunity to benefit from the training provided in a martial art school.

Since Bruce Lee's death, JKD has split into two major branches:

  • The Original/Jun Fan JKD branch, whose main proponents are Taky Kimura, Ted Wong, Tim Tackett and Lamar Davis II, teaches only what Bruce Lee taught, and leaves individual development of the art beyond this framework to the individual student;

  • The JKD Concepts branch, whose main proponents are Dan Inosanto, Larry Hartsell, Paul Vunak and Burton Richardson, have continued to develop JKD, under the philosophy that it was never meant to be a static art but an ongoing evolution. This branch has incorporated elements of Kali, silat, Gracie jiu-jitsu, and elements from many other martial arts into the main fold of its teachings.


Source | Copyright


Webmasters: Add your website here:

Readers: Edit | Discuss Listings

Way of the Intercepting Fist
Transcript of an interview with Howard Williams about training with Bruce Lee and James Lee. Order form for technique video by Howard Williams. [Oakland, California]
http://www.oaklandjkd.ws

Jun Fan Fighting Arts Association
Animations of techniques, section on JKD and women's self defense, technique of the month with photos, and class schedule for instructor Lamar Davis. [Birmingham, Alabama]
http://www.jffaa.8m.com/

Wu Li -- Universal Close Quarter Combatives
Discussion on developing a personal style of martial combat using JKD concepts and tactical firearms training.
http://www.angelfire.com/art2/cqc/

Progressive Fighting Systems by Paul Vunak
An organization dedicated to the exploration and teaching of realistic street self-defense. PFS was formed fourteen years ago by Jeet Kune Do instructor Paul Vunak.
http://www.fighting.net/

Jeet Kune Do Wednesday Night Group: Redlands
This a non-profit group was founded to help define and teach the core curriculum of Bruce Lee’s art of Jeet Kune Do, for the purpose of preserving it. The site features articles by instructors, including member Tim Tackett, as well as discussion forums and video clips. [Redlands, California, United States]
http://www.jkdwednite.com

Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do Grappling Association
Programs, biography, law enforcement seminars and philosophy of Larry Hartsell, instructor under Dan Inosanto. [Los Angeles, California]
http://www.jkdassoc.com/

Jeet Kune Do: Bruce Lee
Comments on Bruce Lee's training and philosophy as well as books, training manuals, movies and DVDs.
http://haxxx.net/jkdkwoon.com/

Jeet Kune Do Today
Sections on the straight lead, hooks, and developing power and speed, plus other technical and philosophical issues. Excerpts from Bruce Lee's writings.
http://home.earthlink.net/~jeettek/

Bruce Lee's Fighting Method
Excerpts from 'Basic Training' by Bruce Lee and M. Uyehara.
http://www.bruce-lee.netfirms.com/

Jeet Kune Do JKD World
List of influential JKD instructors and short essay by Bruce Lee.
http://www.jkdworld.com

Jeet Kune Do : Bruce Lee
Offers a detailed biography of Bruce Lee and an extended description of JKD philosophy. Also features an active messageboard, book and movie reviews and equipment.
http://members.rogers.com/littledragon77/index.html

Bruce Lee Quotes
Quotations from Bruce Lee on simplicity, art, zen, technique and training, competition and JKD.
http://www.eyeballsout.com/quotes/brucelee.shtml

Jeet Kune Do Family - Canada
Canadian instructors representing the Inosanto Academy of Martial Arts, the Jun Fan/Jeet Kune Do Grappling Association and Progressive Fighting Systems Inc. Includes video clips.
http://www.jkdfamily.com

Jeet Kune Do Forum
JKD message board moderated by instructor Tim Tackett.
http://www.jkdforum.com

Jeet Kune Do Street-Fighting
Introduction to the basics of the Jeet Kune Do approach.
http://members.tripod.com/straightblast/

Bruce Lee, Wing Chun, Jun Fan and Jeet Kune Do
JKD background material, plus extensive links to other articles. Presented by from practitioners of Wing Chun. [San Jose, California]
http://www.wingchun.com/JKD.html

Boxer Rebellion International JKD
Information for instructor network under Sifu Mark Stewart, links to letters and essays about kali, san sao and JKD. [United States, Japan and Thailand]
http://www.bri-jkd.com

Jerry Meyer's Web Site
Chronicles Jerry Meyer's training in American Kenpo Karate, Jeet Kun Do, and the Filipino Martial Arts.
http://www.jerrymeyers.com/

Jeet Kune Do - Stop Hit
Jeet Kune Do and Filipino Martial Arts (stick fighting and knife fighting) with Sitta Wangtarawut. [Bangkok, Thailand]
http://www.learn-thai.com/jeet-kune-do/

Personal Fighting Method/Functional Jeet Kune Do Concepts
Articles, links news bulletin, movie gallery and reviews, site services and jun fan/JKD instruction. [Batangas, Philippines]
http://epgpfm.fateback.com/

Professor Gary Dill's Jeet Kune Do Association
Professor Gary Dill trained under Bruce Lee while he was alive. His site offers seminars, videos and writings on Jeet Kune Do. [Talequah, Oklahoma]
http://www.jkd-garydill.com/index.php

Jeet Kune Do Canada
Resource site for those interested in training in JKD in Canada.
http://www.jkdcanada.com

Ted Wong's Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do
Original Bruce Lee student Ted Wong's site features his Jeet Kune Do interviews and up-to-date seminar listings.
http://pages.infinit.net/xtlee/ted/

Steve Grody's Jeet Kune Do and Filipino Martial Arts
Advice on the sequencing and relationship of technique and training method of JKD and adjunct arts such as Muay Thai and Silat, plus photos, videos and seminar information.
http://www.grody-jkd-kali.bigstep.com/homepage.html

Chihand Martial Arts
Features articles on training and philosophy from a Jeet Kune Do perspective. Also includes discussion forum, profiles, training pictures, gallery and links.
http://chihand.com

International Jeet Kune Do
Instruction in Bruce Lee's Jeet Kune Do, martial arts, combative sports and fitness. Instructor Mark Stewart with locations in Thailand, Japan and USA.
http://www.i-jkd.com

Jeet Kune Do Instructor
Training information and resources, including write-ups on a broad variety of topics on drills, concepts, weapons, and skill development. [Athens, Greece]
http://www.geocities.com/jkdinstructor

How to Master Bruce Lee's Fighting System by Joe Lewis
This site previews the new Joe Lewis book on his training with Bruce Lee and has nine contributed chapters from his peers at the time on their observations of Bruce and Joe working together.
http://www.bruceleebook.com

Jeet kune Do Freedefense
Resource site for those interested in in JKD in France.
http://www.jkdfreedefense.com



Help build the largest human-edited directory on the web.
 Submit a Site - Open Directory Project (modified) - Become an Editor

Modified contents copyright 2008. All rights reserved.