Hey Sifu could You expalin the Eight Basic Defensive Positions in the Tao 4 me? i read the diagrams but i am having trouble applying them in sparring.

I also would like to know what all the chinese characters in that section of the book mean.

Thanks.
Alex

Hi Alex!

The Tao of Jeet Kune Do shows the lead hand and rear hand variations of the following movements, from both right lead and left lead.

Woang Pak Sao - Cross Slapping Hand Parry
Bil Sao - Thrusting Finger Parry
Goang Sao - Downward Circling Outer Wrist Parry
Ouy Ha Pak Sao/Loy Ha Pak Sao - Outside or Inside Low Slap Parry (depends on the hand used to parry, lead or rear, and the side you have placed forward)

So basically, the Tao of Jeet Kune Do just shows four basic defensive movements, delivered with both the lead and the rear hand. Those are your eight basic defensive positions! Hope that helps.


Keep Blasting!
Sifu Lamar M. Davis II
Senior Instructor
Hardcore Jeet Kune Do
Sifu@HardcoreJKD.com
http://www.HardcoreJKD.com
Office (205) 956-1901
Kwoon (205) 274-9011

"Hit Hard, Hit Fast, Hit First - ALWAYS!"

"What is Jeet Kune Do (JKD)? Chinese martial art, definitely! It is a kind of Chinese martial art that does away with the distinction of branches, an art that rejects formality, an art that is liberated from tradition." __Bruce Lee

What do the little arrows and lines coming off the centerline mean?

I'm Assuming they meant to sway to one side or snap back, but the curved line on the woang pak sao on the top has me thrown 4 a loop.

Also, how do u execute the bil sao and what are the major differences between a bil sao and a bil jee? I'm good at the pak saos and goang saos but i cant seem to get the bil sao right.

Hi Alex!

The arrows show the direction that the hand is moving to effectively accomplish the parry! Bil Sao is the one where the hand is open palm down and pointed away from the body. It functions in a similar way to wu sao or tan sao, covering the highline. It involves a thrusting motion as if firing a bil jee, only into the opponent's attack. The contact point is the outer wrist area. The bil sao is a very forceful parry/block, and is most effective for stopping hook punches. The hand angles outward so that the bent wrist forms sort of a "hook" to keep a punch from getting around the hand. Keep the elbow down when executing the bil sao to protect the ribs. I hope that helps! I'll show it to you the next time I see you if you like!

Keep Blasting!
Sifu Lamar M. Davis II
Senior Instructor
Hardcore Jeet Kune Do
Sifu@HardcoreJKD.com
http://www.HardcoreJKD.com
Office (205) 956-1901
Kwoon (205) 274-9011

"Hit Hard, Hit Fast, Hit First - ALWAYS!"

"What is Jeet Kune Do (JKD)? Chinese martial art, definitely! It is a kind of Chinese martial art that does away with the distinction of branches, an art that rejects formality, an art that is liberated from tradition." __Bruce Lee

I wasnt talking about the directional arrows for the hand motions, I was talking about the other arrows (the ones coming off the centerline diagonally, or in a curve or the bracket shaped ones) the BIG ARROWS, not the little ones

The HUGE arrows (coming from the two small drawings in the box on the middle left side of page 38) indicate defensive movements with the lead hand and rear hand from right lead (top two picture sets, p. 38-39) and left lead (bottom two picture sets, p. 38-39). Remember, Jeet Kune Do is a power side forward art, and the lead hand should be reserved primarily for attack, not defense! The lines and arrows in the upper left picture set (p.38) show the areas that are left exposed to attack because of using your lead hand to defend rather than your rear hand! The X shaped lines on the one figure in the bottom left picture set (p. 38) and top right picture set (p. 39) define the four corners and the most economical path moving from the center to cover them. I hope this clears everything up for you! If not, just keep asking questions!

Keep Blasting!
Sifu Lamar M. Davis II
Senior Instructor
Hardcore Jeet Kune Do
Sifu@HardcoreJKD.com
http://www.HardcoreJKD.com
Office (205) 956-1901
Kwoon (205) 274-9011

"Hit Hard, Hit Fast, Hit First - ALWAYS!"

"What is Jeet Kune Do (JKD)? Chinese martial art, definitely! It is a kind of Chinese martial art that does away with the distinction of branches, an art that rejects formality, an art that is liberated from tradition." __Bruce Lee

Thanks alot sifu davis! now i can parry hooks!