A student of mine recently told me that he wanted to be certified to teach Jeet June Do. I asked him, jokingly of course, “Which JKD do ya wanna teach? Philisophical JKD, Original JKD, Theatrical JKD or JKD Concepts?” He came to the conclusion that he had better be knowledgeable in all of the incarnations of this framework called Jeet Kune Do.

At The C.S.P.T. I strive to incorporate all the applicable/functional aspects of every incarnation of JKD in teaching and training. In doing so we enhance the “totality of the circumstances” while still using no way as a way. However... Much of what has come before has been done away with to make room for advancements in tactics and training which focus primarily on Self Preservation. I reject Self Perfection, I reject tradition and I reject philosophy.

Philosophical JKD

Jiddux Krisnamurti played a pivotal role in the development of JKD in as much as he influenced Bruce Lee, the philosopher. He is even mentioned in Bruce’s notes (see the Tao of JKD page 11). Bruce Lee’s conceptual framework for JKD parallels Krisnamurti’s writing on the nature of all things. Bruce immediately recognized the significance of what Khrisnamurti was saying, applied it to fighting, and painstaking made the critical connections from word to physical movement. The true physical expression of JKD really came from deep inside Bruce Lee, the man himself. The energy level and intensity was pure Lee, as was the drive to continually develop or express. Let’s examine some of the basic examples of Bruce’s writing, inspired by Krishnamurti, which help us to understand why Bruce abandoned tradition.

“For security, the unlimited living is turned into something dead, a chosen pattern that limits. To understand JKD, one ought to throw away all ideals, patterns, styles; in fact, he should throw away even the concepts of what is or isn't ideal in JKD. Can you look at a situation without naming it? Naming it, making it a word, causes fear.”

“Give up thinking as though not giving it up. Observe techniques as though not observing.”

“Action is our relationship to everything. Action is not a matter of right and wrong. It is only when action is partial that there is a right and a wrong.”

The point here is that JKD, in it’s essence, has undeniably philosophical roots. This is where, I believe, any source of confusion has come from. Not because of the philosophy in and of itself, but because of the individuals indifference to it. One does not have to research those who influenced Bruce philosophically in as much as they need to study and strive to understand Bruce’s philosophy, that which is the true basis for JKD.

A modern approach to Bruces use of philosophy is simply looking at what it all boiled down to for him. He simplified matters as he progressed. At The C.S.P.T. we functionally apply the various end products of JKD’s phisophical roots. For example:

*Not taking winding detours - Intercept, not counter attack.
*My techniques is a result of your technique - Scrutinizing your opponent for habits and weaknesses.
*Absorb what is usefull, reject what is useless and add that which is specifically your own - The whole conceptual basis for JKD’s exisistance. (re-read and follow directions).
*It’s like a finger pointing the way to the moon. Don’t concentrate on the finger or you’ll miss all that heavenly glory - I try to keep clients focused on the training and not on certification, pecking order or the instructor. I function as that finger, don’t look at me just look where I’m pointing.
*Not to hurt anyone, but to overcome your own greed anger and folly...

Time spent training is time well spent. It should be enjoyed. Spending enough time in training so that you notice your own development is very rewarding. It gives you a great sense of accomplishment. You may strive to work even harder. Compare this with being idol and bored or making excuses of why you can’t train. Then consider the activities you may use as replacements for training. Some may be fine and others very detremental. How do you spend your time and how do you feel afterward? I know people personally who, instead of practicing or spending time on personal development, go out to the bar and get into fights and lose and then wish they had just been at home training. I know others who go out and spend money, money they don’t have, and later wish they had’nt. If you see JKD the way Bruce saw it, you would try to manage your time to squeeze in every moment of training possible without neglecting the important day to day duties in life. It’s not about adding JKD into everything else your doing it’s about hacking away at the unessentials in life to make room for JKD.

Original JKD

Original JKD is a framework of techniques and training methods practiced and taught by Bruce Lee up until his death. There is more to modern JKD training than what was done at that time. Benjamin Franklin discovered electricity. How reasonable would it be if someone showed one of his associates a light bulb and they said “That’s not original electricity, that’s not what Benjamin Franklin discovered, it’s no good!” We can make this comparison with modern medicine, sports training etc. It all improves as people investigate, experiment, fail and succeed. Now, if those who are too young to know or remember Bruce Lee want to know where and how this all began or if they want to know about the trail and error process that Bruce started, his training with Yip Man, his time with Joe Lewis and Dan Inosanto etc. Great! An unfortunate modern phenomena is that many people attend JKD conventions in the same mind set that many people attend “Trekkie” conventions and accept what they are exposed to as functional modern, best options in worst case scenarios JKD. Many today do not acknowledge the JKD “Concepts” training as valid, invoking the above argument that “Bruce didn't do that”. It should be understood that everything that makes up Original JKD is contained “within” JKD Concepts just as a jab is contained in boxing. The reverse, however, is not true. If you look at JKD Concepts training you’ll see that the Wing Chun trapping is there as is the Western Boxing, the Ways of Attack, the focus on attribute development, the training methods and on and on. JKD Concepts training has gone on to build on this foundation as well as incorporate other needed, dynamic elements such as firearms, killer instinct training and advanced tactical application.

At my facility you may catch me throwing a "stop kick" and then jab, cross, hooking my opponent and then we may clinch (Greco/CQC), then there may be a flurry of headbuts, elbows and knees into a takedown. We may then move into Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and while on the ground one guy may pull out a knife. After some Counter Knife training we may go into assault scenarios. All throughout this progression we find elements of what Bruce was doing while he was alive and things that came after. The best of both worlds.

Theatrical JKD

It was necessary to modify JKD somewhat to make it work “on camera”. Movie audiences were not, are not, looking for high level tactical approaches... they are looking for flash! Bruce knew he had to do jumping, spinning kicks to the face. He knew he had to draw out and overly dramatize fight scenes. He was an actor and he was acting. Many still think that JKD is what you saw on screen. Well it’s not. Or is it? There are a few aspects of the “scripted JKD” that carry over into what Bruce was really trying to tell people. Notice that Bruce would go from a calm relaxed state to a blinding fury of great intensity and then recover again. This has become standard in all “reality based” training programs of modern time. He would not generally adapt static postures, he was always up on the balls of his feet moving, faking, threatening or hitting his opponent. This too is now considered the better option as opposed to squaring off. Bruce demonstrated a great sense of athleticisim. With the advent of modern NHB fighting it has become all to obvious how important it is to train like an athlete. The focus on attributes as opposed to technique, in and of itself, is what should be more than apparent. Also, the use of various weapons. In his movies, Bruce used knives, sticks, staffs, darts and nunchaku. Imagine any of the riots you’ve seen broadcast on television. If you were caught in the middle of something like that you would most likley want/need a weapon of some sort to fight your way out. Although these elements were utilized for their cinematic value they are functional elements and should be standard for serious training. As far as weapons go, my clients are brought through a structural weapons progression that takes them all the way up to Tactical Application. This is a high level, adversarial, semi violent training structure that prepares advanced students for real world weapons combat. We utilize role players and special training implemnets (ASP training batons, paint knives and head gear etc.) which allow us to operate on a very high level and not get injured. Isolating weapons training in this manner brings the overall feel for technique and attributes to an even higher level. Bruce Lee demonstrated the “hardcore” functional use of weapons on the silver screen and now it’s trained by average, everyday men and women who want to be ready for real world weapons combat.

Functional JKD (JKD Concepts)

Every so often something comes along , in any field, which revolutionizes it. In the 1990’s the things that revolutionized martial arts most were the advent of NHB and even more so, the introduction of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Now, if we abide by the criteria utilized by many in the JKD community neither NHB or BJJ should have any real affect on how we train. After all, Bruce didn't train NHB and he was not a ground attack specialist. As a matter of fact, grappling was rarely trained. Although his focus did shift from element to element as he progressed, the ground game was the most neglected. So, if Bruce didn't need to spend two hours a week on the ground, neither do we!?! All we have to do is watch any NHB competition and that question will be answered. Certainly grappling is of the utmost value against non grapplers. You had also better know how to at least keep yourself safe against a grappler if you are taken down into his world. JKD Concepts goes even farther. Now in the year 2003, the next revolutionary elements are Self Preservation training with advanced training structures and the inclusion of Firearms, OC Spray and Counter Knife. Self Preservation training is the idea of training to be prepared to utilize your best options under worst case scenarios. It’s Navy SEAL training. It’s not self defense. Self Defense is a limited response to a limited threat. Self Preservation training is for countering an assault anywhere, anytime, against anyone, with anything, under any circumstances. Does that not epitomize the phrase “Be like water”!?! The true criteria for Self Preservation training is:

• Utilize Best Options Tactics: It must work for most people, most of the time, taking most people out of commission. There must be tactics to cover all ranges of fighting (striking, clinch/CQC, Ground, Weapons, OC Spray, Firearms) and, in general, they must be gross motor functions. Later, when the person has developed a feel for the “best options”, more intricate, scondary or back up techniques, can come into play.
• Utilize Specialized Training Methods: There must be structural methodologies for developing any and all tactics. You should/feel for yourself that these techniques work. You should be given ways to train on your own and with partners. There should be a purpose to every training method. Instructors should continually analize the methodologies to see if “updating” or “tweeking” is needed.
• Utilize Dynamic Assault Scenario Training: You must be put under various conditions/circumstances and be able to perform. Low light, noise, silence, limited space, within a crowd of people, against larger/smaller opponents, empty hands against weapons, multiple opponents etc. for all elements that you train. You must get used to useing training gear and fighting against people who are fighting back.
• Utilize Psycological Ammunition: You must be able to manipulate yourself into a state of no fear (absense of cowardice) to enable yourself to do what is needed and appropriate at any given moment to end any violence that is offered to you.

If you went to a stock broker and you were going to invest a million dollars he would give you a list of the top companies.These would be the ones with less risk involved, the ones offering higher returns and the ones proven to stand the test of time. These would be your best options. This is how we approach Self Preservation Training. This is how I will be investing my time and effort into my training.

As Bruce wrote: When, in a split second, your life is threatened, do you say “Let me make sure my hand is on my hip, and my style is ‘the’ style?” When your life is in danger, do you argue about the method you will adhere to while saving yourself? Why the duality?