Hello Everyone!

As most of you know, there has been a growing riff between myself and some of the other JKD groups for a long time! I do not agree at all with their attitudes regarding the Wing Chun Gung Fu influence on Jeet Kune Do, as well as their attitudes toward trapping, mook jong training and the practice of Sil Lim Tao! Jeet Kune Do as practiced by them is turning into, I hate to say it, but just plain kickboxing with the power side forward!

My feelings on this matter are that you must HAVE STRUCTURE before you can start to, as Bruce Lee would say, chissel away the innesential elements of combat. First of all, innessential for WHO? From what I have seen, most of the people in one group think that you can just start off where Bruce Lee was just before he died and develop a Bruce Lee like skill level! I have news for them ... it is NOT GOING TO HAPPEN! They will never have TRUE Jeet Kune Do! NEVER!

I also do not agree with the "add anything you want and call it Jeet Kune Do" approach! Some of the arts being added are NOT AT ALL advocates of the main priniples of Jeet Kune Do, which are (1) Simplicity, (2) Directness and (3) Non Classical Attitude in thinking, training and fighting. There are actually very specific principles, techniques and guidelines that clearly define what Jeet Kune Do is (as developed, practiced and taught by Bruce Lee). And guess what? Those things are EXACTLY what we are doing! I have said it before and here I will say it again! JEET KUNE DO IS JEET KUNE DO ... ANYTHING ELSE IS NOT!!!!

Bruce Lee went through a long process to get to where he was skill-wise! What makes anyone think that they can just jump in there and do what he was doing right at the end of his life and have exceptional Jeet Kune Do skills? You must know where you have been to see where you are going! The Wing Chun Gung Fu foundation that Bruce Lee got in Hong Kong, the Seattle curriculum, the Oakland curriculum and the L. A. Chinatown curriculum all hold VITAL pieces of the puzzle, and are very necessary to develop the structure that makes everything else work! Bruce Lee left us a fairly detailed road map. All we have to do is follow the routes, hopefully without missing any important turns!

These people downplay the importance of trapping, and even somewhat deny its existence. It is as if they are attempting to brainwash all of us into thinking that nothing matters but what they are doing! There are many "so-called" JKD practitioners who say that you don't need phon sao, or trapping. Well, I have some late breaking news for them! IT IS a valuable and very necessary part of Jeet Kune Do, and is one of the MOST IMPORTANT elements that makes Jeet Kune Do what it is! Some groups have tried to remove the very heart of the system, the very nucleus of what makes it unique, and therefore extremely effective for use against the unexpecting opponent! ANYONE can learn to deal with a basic kickboxer! Jeet Kune Do is far from being just kickboxing!

These same people now say that you don't need energy/sensitivity training or mook jong training! They are trying to take EVERYTHING that makes Jeet Kune Do what it is away from the art! And yes, energy/sensitivity drills such as chi sao are necessary to develop your trapping skills to the max, just like you need mook jong work to economize your structure and increase the speed and power of your traps. Then you need reference point trapping drills to perfect the mechanics of the trapping movements. I'll tell you what it REALLY is here! These people are just TOO LAZY to put forth the effort and the time that it takes to develop these skills! That same laziness will get them KILLED in the street!

Then there are those who continue to deny the importance of learning and practicing the Sil Lim Tao form. It was a valuable part of the Jun Fan Gung Fu curriculum, and the benefits to structure are just as valid for us today as they were for Bruce Lee in Hong Kong and Seattle in the late 50's/early 60's! That is why Sil Lim Tao is and will continue to be an important part of the Hardcore Jeet Kune Do curriculum! FOUNDATION STRUCTURE is and will continue to be the MOST important part of our development as martial artists and fighters!

It is much easier to just remove these things from the curriculum and say that you "don't need these things" or that Bruce Lee "wasn't spending much time" on these things at the end, than it is to actually do the work and put forth the effort necessary to learn these skills and become effective at their use! There is NO EXCUSE for this! NONE WHATSOEVER! As the Nike people are fond of saying ... JUST DO IT!!!! L-A-Z-Y is the worst of all the four letter words! Don't let it be YOUR downfall!

Also, to further prove my point here, Bruce Lee had FIVE Ways of Attack that were emphasized, not four! Hand Immobilization Attack (HIA), AKA "trapping hands", is one of those FIVE Ways of Attack. Now, if that is left out is someone still doing Jeet Kune Do? NOT IN MY BOOK!

Bruce Lee himself said that the three most important arts in the founding of Jeet Kune Do were Wing Chun Gung Fu, Fencing and Boxing, with Wing Chun Gung Fu being the most important part of that equation! Why, because that is where our FOUNDATION STRUCTURE comes from! Take the Wing Chun Gung Fu out of Jeet Kune Do and what you have is, as I stated already, kickboxing with the power side forward!

The MAIN GOAL of the Hardcore Jeet Kune Do Chinese Gung Fu Association is to PRESERVE, PROTECT, PROMOTE and PERPETUATE the ORIGINAL TEACHING, TRAINING and FIGHTING METHODS of the late Bruce Lee. NOT to let it degenerate into just "kickboxing" with the power side forward! Next thing you know they will be doing away with that! Let this be a WAKE UP CALL to all of us to be the best we can be, and work hard to uphold and maintain the high standards that keep what we do HARDCORE! If there is NO OTHER GROUP left out there promoting Bruce Lee's ACTUAL, ORIGINAL teachings, let's see to it that WE are doing just that! WE CAN DO THIS! I KNOW WE CAN!!!!!


Keep Blasting!
Sifu Lamar M. Davis II
Senior Instructor
Hardcore Jeet Kune Do
Sifu@HardcoreJKD.com
http://www.HardcoreJKD.com
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

DEAR SIFU DAVIS II,

YES,here is a lot of problems and politics in the JKD scene -in the past and
today too.

I share the same views like you on the JKD matter and the original teachings
of sijo Bruce Lee and Sigung James Y.Lee.

I feel you are right.

Best regards;
JACKY

Best wishes to you also from my wife Dorcas,we are looking for to meet
you again as soon as possible.thank you.
Best wishes to you and all family members .

What about Sifu Jerry Poteet?
he is very big on energy and say`s `JKD WITH OUT ENERGY IS JUST KICKBOXING`
it is amazeing how people who have never trained with Bruce Lee(like eny one below 65)seem to be master`s of jkd.
People who DID train with bruce lee should be heard out and not be put down by people who were not there.
We all know the joke of consept`s
If some one trained with bruce lee for a good amount of time then they must have got some thing from it,there are TO meny people saying what i do is the right way to go.
Most of the 1st gen people teach different stuff

Hello Jacky and Paul!

I hope that all is well with you both! My training with Sifu Jerry Poteet is one of the reasons that I have the opinions that I have regarding the way some of these people are doing things! Sifu Jerry KNOWS how important the energy/sensitivity training, mook jong training and trapping is to the REAL Jeet Kune Do practitioner! And yes, regardless of how long someone spent with Bruce Lee, whether it was six months or six years, they were there and we were not! They got to personally witness the speed and power of the man, and feel his energy! There is much to be learned from all First Generation students of Bruce Lee! Like I said, my problem is with those who try to either add everything but the kitchen sink to the art, or leave half of it out, and still call it Jeet Kune Do!

Keep Blasting!
Sifu Lamar M. Davis II
Senior Instructor
Hardcore Jeet Kune Do
Sifu@HardcoreJKD.com
http://www.HardcoreJKD.com
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

To call what we do, JKD by the way, just kickboxing is a slap into the face of all who actually do JKD. Remember, Bruce evolved not just in skills, but in the mindset he wanted to portray. Being good as Bruce doesn't take doing wing chun, being good as bruce is training things that made him good: Speed, Power, mobility.

I think Sifu Lamar was just trying to point out that there were more than one period in Bruce Lee’s life; and to solely focus on the L.A. Chinatown period at the exclusion of the Seattle and Oakland period is not what we consider ‘preserving Bruce Lee’s teachings’.

If the myth that L.A. Chinatown knowledge is all there is to JKD continues then a valuable part of Bruce Lee’s knowledge is lost and everybody will be wondering about the fifth way to attack!

Don’t take it personally JKD Kickboxing is a valuable part of any JKD syllabus, but without the full picture how can you practise H.I.A.? (The secret fifth way of attacking)

Yours faithfully,
Stephen

PS You should consider Hardcore JKD. We do what you do and more!

Look guys, Sifu Jerry Poteet has showed me, that HIA is the Mother of All of the ways of Attack, period!.....I would have to agree, most that say Phon Sao is bull****, is because they haven't worked hard enough to make it "Happen Captain"......LOL


p.s. trapping just isn't making contact, but only a few will understand what I mean here......


Peace, love and Soul
Sifu John McNabney

Is American karate the same as traditional karate or Oyama karate or any other "name brand" karate? If so why all the different names? This is true for most martial arts. Different styles for different regions of the globe or way of getting money; fancy name = fancy price. Yet all claim to be the same. The exception is JKD. If Bruce Lee wanted to incorporate silat, kempo, karate, or whatever else he would have and then he would have TAUGHT it as well. For someone to NOT train or instruct in the same manner as Bruce Lee did or tries to incorporate other "arts" and still call it JKD is like calling kool-aid and ginger-ale champagne. If all we need is to be strong, quick and agile then why train in JKD. Go lift weights, do sprints and stretch till you are a fast muscle bound pretzle and you to can be just like Bruce Lee right. One doesn't train to be a wrestler by playing soccer. One doesn't train in JKD by learning only that which they like or can do well, then trying to add what they like or might be good at from something else. Someone who kicks well needs to learn trapping so that they don't get trapped if for only thast reason. I have only been training for about four months but realize that to truly train in JKD you must train in EVERY aspect without trying to water it down. If you want kool-aid train in it. I am a very big guy (6'4" 380lbs, no typo) and have trained in other "arts" that fit me well with my strength and size but fail me in all other aspects, speed and mobility. JKD nor my Sifu (SIFU Lamar Davis) fail me in this aspect. Both push me to excel where I normally would not excel. True JKD students and instructors know that JKD is already the most simple/efficient science there is in the martial arts world. Why water it down with something else?. JKD is JKD. Everything else is just a good babysitter. This is just my opinion; it does not reflect against my Sifu nor his kwoon nor the other students. If you disagree with me thank a soldier or Marine; it is your right to do so.

Kent Smith

Hi Sifu!

I'm with you. If it was what worked for Bruce Lee,
then that's what I want. Keep up the good work.
We appreciate it!

Dick

Hello Again Everyone!

Thanks for the many positive responses to this post! And to "LS" ... whoever that may be, yes, it IS a slap in the face to call what WE do just kickboxing! WE being my students and the members of my organization! Because WE do ALL of the things necessary to be training in the FULL SPECTRUM of Bruce Lee's fighting method, not just a few selected things that we want to practice! I CERTAINLY do not call what WE do "just kickboxing", as that would go against EVERYTHING that I believe in and stand for!

And whether some like it or not, Wing Chun Gung Fu IS a VERY IMPORTANT part of the development and progression of Bruce Lee's Jeet Kune Do! If not, I don't think Bruce Lee himself would have made the statement that Jeet Kune Do consists of Wing Chun Gung Fu, boxing and fencing! Therefore, the equation is something like this:

Wing Chun + Boxing + Fencing = BRUCE LEE'S JEET KUNE DO

Now, is that ALL that Jeet Kune Do consists of? NO, it is not! The most important element is the genious of Bruce Lee! The ability to put the necessary elements together and modify everything so that it all fits together like a puzzle with no missing pieces and works together like a charm! Bruce Lee also researched grappling and various kicking methods to add to the equation, as well as researching other martial arts to better understand their strengths and weaknesses! Was this to add these martial arts methods to Jeet Kune Do? NO, it was not! It was so that he could better understand the essence of each art and develop ways for Jeet Kune Do to counter these arts! This means that Jeet Kune Do is not ONLY Wing Chun, boxing and fencing, but that it consists PRIMARILY of Wing Chun, boxing and fencing!

Now, if any of these primary elements is left out, is it Jeet Kune Do? Can it be Jeet Kune Do? I say NO! Now, this doesn't mean that you have to go out and learn everything about each of these arts, but it does mean that you have to know and understand the parts of these arts that make Jeet Kune Do the unique fighting method that it is! Of course Bruce Lee is no longer with us, but he left all of the necessary details behind for us to follow his path! So, I will state this AGAIN ... if you leave Wing Chun out of the equation, you are just doing KICKBOXING! And Jeet Kune Do is FAR from JUST KICKBOXING! What WE do IS Jeet Kune Do!

Understand NOW?

Keep Blasting!
Sifu Lamar M. Davis II
Senior Instructor
Hardcore Jeet Kune Do
Sifu@HardcoreJKD.com
http://www.HardcoreJKD.com
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

Lamar, do you honestly believe Wing Chun to be the only manifestation of trapping or immobilization? You have to keep in mind that letter to James Lee regarding such a description was dated 1965, eight years before Bruce's death. That's enough time for such a strong evolution to take place.

Also, you're not clear on your intent regarding preserving Wing Chun and everything prior to JKD itself. First you say, "without it, you won't have THAT skill level," i'm referring to your insistence on keeping wing chun. But, you state that your goal is to retain all of Bruce's teaching, which I admire, but for you to say that since we dont' choose to emphasize stuff such as trapping, or Wing Chun, that we're lazy? which one is it? Be honest with your intentions.

LS,

My intentions are NOTHING BUT honest! I feel that those who downplay the importance of the Wing Chun aspect of Jeet Kune Do are, as stated before, either too lazy to do their homework and learn the Wing Chun aspects of Jeet Kune Do, not willing to take the time to learn it, or just have no clue as to the importance of Wing Chun to the Jeet Kune Do structure! I wouldn't have a problem with it if not for the blatant insistence on the part of some that Wing Chun has nothing to do with Jeet Kune Do! I have been in this art for twenty-eight years of my life, and I have researched every aspect of it, and continue to research daily! I KNOW what it is, and realize it more with every passing day! You go ahead with whatever it is that you are doing, and I'll continue to do what I do! We are all on different paths in the martial arts! There is nothing wrong with that ... just don't try to tell me that I don't know what I am doing, or that what you are doing is better! The question that still remains is ... better for WHO?

Keep Blasting!
Sifu Lamar M. Davis II
Senior Instructor
Hardcore Jeet Kune Do
Sifu@HardcoreJKD.com
http://www.HardcoreJKD.com
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