Jeet Kune Do

[Flexwave2003]

Edited: The answer came to me after a year.

 

[JohnnyBuddha]

What I know about JKD is limited to Bruce Lee's book "The Tao of Jeet Kune Do". From that, as far as I'm concerned, JKD is not really a martial art. The book shows numerous techniques from various martial arts, but it emphasizes Lee's philosophy on fighting and training.

He basically broke down the logic/science behind striking, balance, power, speed, technique, training, etc. He also emphasized that these are all important facets of fighting and that explained why.

Philosophically, he emphasized the need to train diligently and be well-rounded enough to be able to recognize what to do in any given instant without having to "think" or be constrained by pre-set or pre-determined ideas of "this technique should be used in 'X' situation".

Hope that makes sense. So in my opinion, you can't really teach these things in a martial arts school. Some techniques can be taught, but the idea behind JKD goes far beyond that. Maybe if the dude taught some philosophy and had you meditate as well...that would be getting closer to what I see as JKD, but yeah, still not the same thing.

PS--sorry I can't comment on the 2 people you mentioned. Still, I like talking about JKD and have read through various parts many times--it's my toilet reading.

 

[sugarboyae]

Hey guys,
If any of you train in JKD, please feel free to chime in. What do you guys know about Jerry Beasley? He is supposidly certified to teach JKD from Joe Lewis, one of Bruce Lee's students and the greatest karate fighter of all time. And he attended numerous seminars with Dan Inosanto; but there seems to be some debate on exactly who is and who is not qualified to teach JKD. Any one out there familiar with this at all?

I'm from the southern cali area. the only people i trust down here for JKD are:

Dan Inosanto (LA) & Roy Harris (San Diego)

remember, JKD is more or less a martial art's philosophy and a pre-MMA ideology (much like early rag time was a pre-jazz deal)

Bruce Lee was extremely ahead of his time but left very nebulous accounts as to what JKD truly was. He didn't really even understand it himself. JKD, now, is best described as a teacher's compilation of life experiences in martial arts and thats how he teaches it. Those w/ Karate background will say how it just makes your Karate better, all the while you learn judo, jiu-jistu, boxing, wrestling etc... a Wing Chun master will say how JKD is really just an extension of Wing Chun... a lot of filipino based guro's also study JKD heavily & are absolutely amazing. Then there are a bunch of people who claim (tho probably have attended seminars with the greats and even w/ Bruce Lee, himself) ... but there is no assurance if those people are any good. this is a common marketing thing so use caution.

Best it to check lineage, then ask the higher up, this case, Guro Inosanto, and ask him if Sensei Lewis and Beasley are any good.

then try it out with them, and see if its any good under your own eye.

as has been pounded out beyond understanding -- trademark stuff (JKD, Kung Fu, TKD, Karate, blah blah blah) have 1034987198234 different systems, styles, training philosophies... many are McDojo's trapping uneducated folk into a false sense of security... for the time being, competitive aspects of MMA keep the arts that enter the ring honest.

Since these dudes don't have that accountability (unless you're like Harris or Inosanto & have credentials up the yang and teach our SWAT boys, marines, SEALS, Special Forces.... REGULARLY! (and have several degrees in BJJ, filipino weapons fighting, and 30 other systems) ... well then there you go huh?

sorry for the rambling best luck in training!

 

[vu]

Bruce Lee decomissioned ALL JKD schools shortly before his death...it was after his "revelation" about JKD not being a style...so having schools teaching "it"...so anybody claiming to teach "teh r34L JKD" is basically a scheister...

There's the whole "pre" and "post" 1973 JKD...pre 1973...JKD literally was a style...he mixed in boxing, wing chun, etc. etc. into a "mixed-martial art"...then he went all spiritual and was like, "OH MY GOD!!!! I'm telling these people to use no-way as way...yet I'm teaching them a specific style!...this has to end!" So he disbanded all JKD schools...so what you have now is what Dan Inosanto calls "the JKD concept"...which is what the modern interpretation of JKD really is...it's a philosophy, rather than a style...

That said...you have all these jerkoffs running around claiming to teach the "real" JKD from Bruce because he's one of his original students or whatever...to me, that's a load of crap...that's taking one person's idea of what JKD is and copying it, rather than "finding your own way" as Bruce intends...that's why I have a lot more respect for schools like Straight Blast and whatnot because they indeed "take what's useful and discard the rest" and are much more progressive than these idiots jumping on the Bruce Lee Bandwagon b/c they trained with him LONG before he disbanded JKD and learned JKD as a "style"....

What you have with these bandwagon jumpers waiving around their Bruce Lee foundation flag is very outdated method of fighting, especially by today's standards...

Ok, I'm done with my rant...

**oh yeah, to answer your question...Jerry Beasley seems to be all right...from everything that I've read of him, he's a Karateka who's got an insane fascination with JKD/Bruce Lee...he's very well-educated of JKD on an academic level, but whether or not his skills are that of a fighter or someone who's qualified to teach is another story...just because he's certified by Joe Louis (who is indeed a very accomplished and decorated champion), doesn't cut it for me that he's "qualifed to teach JKD"...Joe Louis is a karate/American-kickboxer...he's not a mixed-martial artist (which is essentially what JKD is). Obviously, there's the rub of "not all great fighters are great teachers/coaches and not all great coaches/teachers are great fighters"...so that may apply to Jerry Beasley...

I think you'd do well to learn more from his writing (because his articles re: JKD and Bruce Lee really are good) than his actual teaching...but then again, what do I know? I'm just a stupid 25 year old...

 

[vu]

Here's an interesting post from Jerry Beasley himself from another forum...I guess this answers your question directly. It's taken from:

http://www.martialtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=22309

Hey guys,
Saw the thread. I stop in every now and then.
I am not a JKD instructor but you may have heard my name associated with JKD. I am a martial arts teacher true but my connection to JKD has been as a writer and promoter. I published the first article on Larry Hartsell's Charlotte NC JKD club for Official Karate back in 1983 and the first book on Danny Inosanto's JKD concepts method back in 1988. I introduced the JKD: The Next Generation column for Karate International magazine that same year to promote the JKD concepts method. In the column I introduced Dan, Larry, Timmy Tacket, Lamar Davis, Gary Dill, Chris Kent and quite a few of the household JKD names. I found that many of my readers were interested in the Bruce Lee material rather than the FMA info so in 1989 I coined the term "Original JKD" to distinguish the Bruce Lee method from the concepts. Seemed harmless enough at the time. But as I found out later it closed all doors to me from the concepts group. Some are still mad! In fact all sorts of stories were made up about me taping material. Never happened. I am a college professor and researcher by trade. I was able to use those tools to write my own definition about the various catchy JKD phrases like "using no way as way" and "to float in totality". In fact a lot of JKDers use my "Matrix" idea to explain JKD. You can find some of the articles at www.mawn.net and www.aikia.net.
As you may recall 1993 was a pivotal year in JKD. The Dragon/Bruce Lee Story was out and JKD was the most popular martial art of the day. Taky Kimura, Ted Wong and Howard Williams agreed to work for me at the first "Original JKD" summer camp in '93. Because of the widespread attention to the original JKD art the battel grouns were drawn. From that year on it's been Original versus the JKD 'Concept". They say the pen is mightier than the sword and in this case it proved very true. I tried to write articles to convince readers that JKD concepts and original JKD are the same. Didn't work. Some West Coast groups countered with still another new "Jun Fan jeet kune do" saying that jun fan was the "Original" version of JKD. Good stuff.
Here's my opinion. Bruce Lee, like all instructors taught different things to different students based on their ability to absorb the instruction. To the fighters he taught fighting, to the teachers he taught teaching and to the beginners he taught a basic art. No wonder many of Bruce's students ended up claiming that their version of what Bruce taught them was the correct method. And each one of them is right. JKD is for some an art, for others a philosophy. It can be both.
Unfortunately we have many versions of JKD and that is the precise reason that everyone gets to pick their own favorites. Enjoy each one. They all have something to offer. If someone tells you that they have the only "real" version and everyone else is wrong then you may want to stay away from that group/individual. Other than that have fun. When you discover what JKD means to you then you are on the path to self discovery...and that is what Bruce wanted you to do.
I know the question always comes up "how do I learn JKD?" Best bet is to go to an instructor or to JKD seminars. Videos are fine for checking your progress. If you are doing something that looks like what they are doing on the tape go for it. If you are alone get a buddy, you can't do this alone, and invest in some quality boxing gloves, head gear and mouth peice and learn to spar. JKD is in the mobility, the foot work and the strategy. David Cheng has a great book out on JKD Basics (Tuttle) let that be your guide. Get in shape and spar ( I prefer the term spar rather than the macho "fight").
Good luck. Be safe.
JB

 

[Flexwave2003]

Edited: The answer I sought, came to me on my own. Sometimes, you just have to travel the path yourself to find the answer you seek.

 

[Flexwave2003]

Edit: If you found this thread, hoping to find info on JKD I am sorry that it doesnt live up to your expectations. Let the words of others guide your quest, as I retract any statements and anything to do with this subject and its partys. Sorry.

 

[Flexwave2003]

Edit: I could care less about the politics of JKD

 

[sherdogvandal]

buy the book Tao of Jeet Kune Do

 

[Flexwave2003]

Edited: Reasons already stated.

 

[Flexwave2003]

Edited: Reasons already stated.

 

[Flexwave2003]

Edited: Reasons already stated.

 

[Halls]

Hey guys,
If any of you train in JKD, please feel free to chime in. What do you guys know about Jerry Beasley? He is supposidly certified to teach JKD from Joe Lewis, one of Bruce Lee's students and the greatest karate fighter of all time. And he attended numerous seminars with Dan Inosanto; but there seems to be some debate on exactly who is and who is not qualified to teach JKD. Any one out there familiar with this at all?

Jerry Beasley and Joe Lewis are certified to teach under the "Original" JKD moniker. Although Joe Lewis was one of Bruce's students, he never received accrediation from Bruce. There were only 3 men who received certification in Bruce's martial arts, Taky Kimura (Seattle Jun Fan Gung-Fu) , James Lee (Oakland Tao of Gung Fu) , and Dan Inosanto (LA Jeet Kune Do).

There is a ongoing battle vs. the "Original" and "Concepts" groups, which has resulted in numerous fights and death threats.
The "Original" JKD'ers practice everything Bruce had taught up to 1967. Their training involves only the framework. They practice all of the framework and accept only it as the true way.
The "Concepts" group begin with the framework of JKD as the basic learning structure. Then you will learn other art forms which have been integrated into the JKD library. In "Concepts" you are encouraged to pick and choose diffrent fighting techniques and figure out what is best for you. In this design each person's JKD will be unique to them.

Please feel free to ask me any further questions on the politics of JKD.

 

[Halls]

Bruce Lee decomissioned ALL JKD schools shortly before his death...it was after his "revelation" about JKD not being a style...so having schools teaching "it"...so anybody claiming to teach "teh r34L JKD" is basically a scheister...

After disbanding the schools Bruce told Dan Inosanto to have his more experienced students train privatly with him in his backyard. The schools were not disbanded because of it not being a style but because newer students were not creating their own JKD. They were using the framework and treating it like it was gold. Dan Inosanto teaches JKD and he is certified by Bruce Lee to teach JKD. Is he a scheister?

There's the whole "pre" and "post" 1973 JKD...pre 1973...JKD literally was a style...he mixed in boxing, wing chun, etc. etc. into a "mixed-martial art"...then he went all spiritual and was like, "OH MY GOD!!!! I'm telling these people to use no-way as way...yet I'm teaching them a specific style!...this has to end!" So he disbanded all JKD schools...so what you have now is what Dan Inosanto calls "the JKD concept"...which is what the modern interpretation of JKD really is...it's a philosophy, rather than a style...

For the reason why he disbanded the schools see above. JKD is a philosophy and the name of a martial art. If it was only a philosophy then why is it still called JKD by both branches of the art. Also, why does Dan Inosanto's instructor diploma say certified to teach Jeet Kune Do? This diploma was signed by Bruce Lee.

That said...you have all these jerkoffs running around claiming to teach the "real" JKD from Bruce because he's one of his original students or whatever...to me, that's a load of crap...that's taking one person's idea of what JKD is and copying it, rather than "finding your own way" as Bruce intends...that's why I have a lot more respect for schools like Straight Blast and whatnot because they indeed "take what's useful and discard the rest" and are much more progressive than these idiots jumping on the Bruce Lee Bandwagon b/c they trained with him LONG before he disbanded JKD and learned JKD as a "style"....

I'm not quite sure what you're saying here. Bruce developed the cirriculum that both branches of JKD still use today. If he didn't want people to learn his art then why would he even develop the art? Schools like Straight Blast use Bruce's initial framework as their basics for beginning the art.

What you have with these bandwagon jumpers waiving around their Bruce Lee foundation flag is very outdated method of fighting, especially by today's standards...

I don't know if you are promoting JKD "Concepts" or just defiling the entire system in this comment.

 

[Halls]

http://www.worldclassinstituteofmartialarts.com/about/TSD.htm


According to this link, Dr. Beasley is a certified JKD instructor.


And here is a link to the actual copy of the Beasleys JKD certification.
http://www.aikia.net/media/CertificateKaliJKD.html




So why is there a problem with Inosanto I suppose is my ultimate question. And notice the conflicting statements.........

I'm curious to know who certified Beasley. Probably Ted Wong. And that JKD certification link isn't his certification for teaching but a certification that he attended one of Inosanto's seminars.

 

[Flexwave2003]

Edited: Reasons already stated.

 

[vu]

I'm not quite sure what you're saying here. Bruce developed the cirriculum that both branches of JKD still use today. If he didn't want people to learn his art then why would he even develop the art? Schools like Straight Blast use Bruce's initial framework as their basics for beginning the art.

I don't know if you are promoting JKD "Concepts" or just defiling the entire system in this comment.

I'm all for JKD concepts...

 

[Halls]

Halls thank you, you seem to be pretty educated about this. You answered alot of my questions bro. Anything else you want to add? I mean everything here I found, I found with google.

I would just like to say that the majority of Sherdoggers dislike JKD and claim to have a higher knowledge of the art. Most will post in JKD threads and say that Bruce disbanded his schools so therefore it shouldn't be taught. Most will say that all JKD schools are McDojos. Most will say that this art form is obsolete and "my art or MMA is better".
I'm sure this is a futile effort but the uneducated majority shouldn't even post on subjects that they have no knowledge of. Other than reading a paragraph on the disbandment or brief personal experience with a bad school, the majority have no idea of what JKD is. I have a limited knowledge of BJJ but I don't go onto the grappling forum and answer every question and chime in with useless banter. If you don't know about a subject in these forums please just read the replies don't feel the need to offer your 2 cents worth because you read a copy of Tao of Jeet Kune Do.

As for the politics of JKD, this feud has been going on for many years and many years to come. It is primarily instigated by the "Original" branch towards the "Concepts". They want JKD to be constructed of only Bruce's teachings. But Bruce wanted the art to continue to flourish and people to research their own knowledge. He wanted people to pick and choose his techniques and pick and choose the techniques of other styles which weren't included in Bruce's JKD. He wanted everyone to develop their own JKD. This is what the "Concepts" branch teaches.
Dan Inosanto has been teaching since Bruce disbanded the schools. He introduced Kali, Muay Thai, Silat, Sambo, Shooto, BJJ etc. to the JKD arsanal. He kept the art alive after Bruce's death. Although, no one knows what path Bruce would have went in the art of JKD I beleive that Bruce would approve of Dan's progression.
The Orignal group came into power in the late eighties and IMO fueled by greed. Linda Lee and Ted Wong are destroying Bruce's legacy by trying to franchise the Bruce Lee name and JKD. Movies, books, pictures, seminars, and an influx of McDojo's bearing the JKD name are what the Orignal group is seeking cash in on. Where were the originals teaching after Bruce's death? Why didn't they come into power until the late eighties instead of after Bruce's death? None of the Original group other than Taky Kimura have any right to teach or promote others to teach.
The politics go on much further than time will allow me to continue. Please PM me if you need anymore help.

 

[TheSum]

I have been a Bruce Lee fan for over a decade, have read the "Tao of Jeet Kune Do", several books about him by John Little, and own a few documentaries on him. I have also sought out many "certified" JKD instructors and sat in on some classes with them. Most recently, I studied under Daniel Sullivan at Orange County Kickboxing (he is certified under Dan Inosanto).

There seems to be a definite split in the teachings of JKD. Most of the individual instructors I went to were very traditional in that they taught a lot of Wing Chun inspired trapping, knife hands, groin strikes, and eye gouging. The other places I have gone to like OCKB and the Inosanto Academy have really evolved and embraced the MMA stuff. Western Boxing is the preferred hands, Muay Thai (and a little Savate) for kicks, and groundwork is a combo of BJJ and wrestling. The great thing about this is that you can actually spar, which Bruce Lee was a big advocate of (you can't really do that with eye gouging.) The only place they really stray from this is in the Philippino stuff -- lots of trapping, dirty stuff, and weapons. And of course, this stuff has its place in defending yourself on the street, so it is a very well-rounded curriculum.

The whole point behind JKD was to find what works, and to leave the rest behind. The schools that have evolved to teach things like BJJ and Shooto, but have not become competition obsessed, are the real deal in my opinion. When you go see some of these instructors that are primarily teaching Gung Fu with no sparring, you're dealing with a traditionalist, which is kind of a contradictory to the JKD philosophy. At the same time, if someone wants to learn how to defend themselves on the street and you're showing them how to perform an arm triangle, you better let them know that being on your back is the last place you want to be when you're fighting on the pavement.

"I have not invented a "new style," composite, modified or otherwise that is set within distinct form as apart from "this" method or "that" method. On the contrary, I hope to free my followers from clinging to styles, patterns, or molds. Remember that Jeet Kune Do is merely a name used, a mirror in which to see "ourselves". . . Jeet Kune Do is not an organized institution that one can be a member of. Either you understand or you don't, and that is that. There is no mystery about my style. My movements are simple, direct and non-classical. The extraordinary part of it lies in its simplicity. Every movement in Jeet Kune-Do is being so of itself. There is nothing artificial about it. I always believe that the easy way is the right way. Jeet Kune-Do is simply the direct expression of one's feelings with the minimum of movements and energy. The closer to the true way of Kung Fu, the less wastage of expression there is. Finally, a Jeet Kune Do man who says Jeet Kune Do is exclusively Jeet Kune Do is simply not with it. He is still hung up on his self-closing resistance, in this case anchored down to reactionary pattern, and naturally is still bound by another modified pattern and can move within its limits. He has not digested the simple fact that truth exists outside all molds; pattern and awareness is never exclusive. Again let me remind you Jeet Kune Do is just a name used, a boat to get one across, and once across it is to be discarded and not to be carried on one's back."

 

[Deleted member 130905]

I thought that JKD was more of a 'lifestyle' than a fighting style. I am in no way even close to an expert on JKD, but in last month's Blackbelt magazine, they had a guy who trained with Bruce Lee and the way I took it was every one's JKD is different, that you should take things from many different arts to perfect your training and your lifestlye.




I think the guy's name was Bustillo or something like that, but if you pick up BB magazine, he's on the cover and there's a pretty large article. I'd copy what they wrote about it but I gave it to my kickboxing instructor because his DVD was in there.