Hi Sifu!

I decided to go ahead and put this on the forum and maybe get a discussion started on it! For those of you who don't know me well, my brother is a concepts practioner, a full instructor under Paul Vunak, and he also trains with Rick Tucci. So I've had more than my fair share of arguments about JKD and the correct path! But we don't kill each other over it! LOL! We have very constructive debates!

Now my question might seem a simple one but could have a more complicated meaning, and hinges from a recent converstion with my brother and some of his students! We've all seen the JKD sign that reads "Truth in combat is different for each individual," just before "Research your own experience...",etc. I've seen this in a number of books. But did Bruce Lee's sign in his L.A. Chinatown kwoon actually read "Truth in Combat is Different for Each Individual IN THIS STYLE." It seems to me that the concepts folks leave out the last three words. Am I right?

If that's the case, and perhaps Sifu Golden can elaborate here, then Bruce Lee is actually saying - "Research your own experience IN THIS STYLE", Absorb what is useful IN THIS STYLE", "Reject what is useless IN THIS STYLE", and "Add what is specifically your own WITHIN THIS STYLE," which did not mean you can just do whatever you want to do and call it JKD! So am I on the right track with my thinking here my friends?

Hello Ryan!

Dan Inosanto, NOT Bruce Lee, is the originator of the "Absorb what is useful" statement! Many people do not know that, and it has been mis-attributed to Bruce Lee for a long, long time! As for the other, it seems like I remember seeing what you said, but I'll do some research and get back to you on it!

Keep Blasting!
Sifu Lamar M. Davis II
Senior Instructor
Hardcore Jeet Kune Do
Sifu@HardcoreJKD.com
JKD@windstream.net
http://www.HardcoreJKD.com
Phone (205) 296-7070 (Incoming Only)

"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

Hi Ryan!

I like your post. I think you have helped
clear up things. I believe I read that Bruce
made the comment "My truth is not your truth".

Well, as a Christian, God's truth is THE TRUTH...
period. But, as I think you said (and I believe
Bruce meant), the "truth" in combat will vary
on the circumstance and the individual's
preference. Each encounter will be somewhat
different and call for different techniques
and each person will favor certain responses
more than others.

I hope this helps. Sounds like we are on the
same page. Thanks for the good post.

Dick

"Truth in Combat is Different for Each Individual IN THIS STYLE"

I never saw anything like that in the Chinatown school. I don't think that Bruce called anything his "style" either.

As for "Absorb What is Useful", it doesn't matter who said it. It's a very good idea and an absolutely terrible statement. It has done more damage to JKD than any other statement. If the statement was complete, it might have made all the difference but the most important part was left out. Why? I don't know.

Hi Steve,

What is the complete statement?

Will,

I do know that the plaque that hung in Dan Inosanto´s Academy read:

The Truth in Combat is different for each Individual in this Style
1. Research your own Experience
2. Absorb what is useful
3. Reject what is useless
4. Add what is specifically your own

Best,
Michael

Hey Michael, thanks for the post - I've read that before.

When I said "what was left out" - I meant specifically what Steve is talking about. He's got a new article on Sean's site that explains it, and it's great.

Hi Will, Hi Michael,

I wrote a few "ramblings" back in 1988 about Absord What is Useful. It's posted here:
http://www.seanmadigan.com/absorb.html

--Steve

Hi Steve,

with or without the "TO YOU" part, it is hard for me to believe that anyone who ever read the statement wouldn´t have understood it in the context it was originally meant.
More likely, I always wondered why over the years the preceding parts ("The Truth in Combat is different for EACH INDIVIDUAL! in this Style". "Research your OWN! Experience") were constantly left out.
Do you think those were also "intentionally omitted" to make us think, to make us ask, to make us figure it out for ourself?

And the answer is...? :)

Best,
Michael

Hi Michael,

People may have understood the meaning but it's not the way they used it. They asked, or were told, what is useful to them. Even more important, they had no guidelines to determine what was useful. JKD does have those guidelines but, instead of teaching those principles, instructors were teaching techniques.