Hi all.
Am interestend in some input on a line from Enter The Dragon, 25th Anniversary edition.
Bruce Lee was peaking to the monk and said " When my opponent expands, I contract and when he contracts I expand and when there is an opening, I do not hit, it(his fist) hits all by itself."
Thought some discussion would be interesting. I have my 2 cents but I will hold it for a while.
Kimsut

To me, this is all about becoming one with the opponent. Sensing their every movement and intention, allowing you to "feel" what they are going to do before they even do it. When the opening exists, you strike without intention, hitting the target before they even realize they are open!

Keep Blasting!
Sifu Lamar M. Davis II
Senior Instructor
Hardcore Jeet Kune Do
sifu@live.com
http://www.HardcoreJKD.com
http://www.DragonBlastMA.com
Phone (205) 296-7070 (Incoming Only)
or (205) 213-2086

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

"The REAL future of Jeet Kune Do belongs to US, the few, the proud, the HARDCORE! Now, what are we going to do with it?" _ Sifu Lamar M. Davis II

I guess hitting without even thinking about it is like shooting a rifle. In the military we are taught that when we squeeze the trigger we should actually be surprised by the rifle going off. Your body just reacts.

I actually started thinking about this when I read Jason's question on chi sao. Now this is probably going to drive the "no wing chun" people crazy but.................. I believe Bruce was simply stating a common wing chun principle in his own words. Nearly every branch of wing chun focuses on this principle especially the Yip Man branch. The principle is Lui Lao hui soog, lut sao jik chung. Stay with what comes, follow it as it retreats, strike forward when the hand is freed. It is most easily understood through chi sao but applies to all aspects of fighting.

"When My opponent expands, I contract". ( Stay with, or receive what comes). This is the yielding aspect. The opponents attack is not met with force on force but is received and redirected while sticking with it.
"When he contracts, I expand." (Follow it as it retreats) The weapon is followed back to its pointof origin. You expand and stick to it. People with a boxing mentality usually strike with one hand while withdrawing the other for protection. This withdrawing energy can be followed in.
When there is an opening, I do not hit, it hits all by itself. "Strike forward when the hand is free". People who spend alot of time in chi sao soon discover that one of the greates benifits of this practice is that you strike without intent. When an opening is left, your hand hits the target. You feel as though the strike happened all by itself. Your oppponents technique determines yours. As I said this is easily experienced in chi sao but the principle also applies when starting from long range. Something to think about. This was not just "movie philosophy". It was a principle that was engrained in him years earlier ( in my opinion).
Kimsut

This also applies to the old "water" saying. "When he contracts, I expand." I always think about a dam holding back water. If there is any break in the structure of the dam the water will go through it no matter how small the break. If the structure is not repaired eventually the water will break through making the dam useless.




Positive Energy Activates Constant Elevation
P.E.A.C.E.

Hey, Kimsut I loved what you just said. Makes me want to learn chi sau even more. I have one question, when it comes to actual combat, how long does it take to get to that level (from your experiences). I mean Bruce learned chi sau at 13 and he died at 32.5 so he had a good 19 years of training. Would it take a normal person that long?

Hello Jason!

What you have to consider is that Bruce Lee was excellent at chi sao long before he died! If you train it, I mean seriously train it and learn it correctly, you can become good at it much quicker than you might think! The most important thing is to come into it relaxed and ready to "feel" what is happening! You will find out all about that next week!

Keep Blasting!
Sifu Lamar M. Davis II
Senior Instructor
Hardcore Jeet Kune Do
sifu@live.com
http://www.HardcoreJKD.com
http://www.DragonBlastMA.com
Phone (205) 296-7070 (Incoming Only)
or (205) 213-2086

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

"The REAL future of Jeet Kune Do belongs to US, the few, the proud, the HARDCORE! Now, what are we going to do with it?" _ Sifu Lamar M. Davis II

Hi Jason,
Sifu is right. If you are dedicated to the study you can gain some very practicle skill in a relatively short period of time. Mastery however may take a lifetime. I have practiced chi sao for over 10 years and my students are amazed at my abililty to feel their movements or openings almost before they attack. On the other hand when I work with my teacher or his senior students I am a beginner and am amazed at his abilities. Chi sao offers an opportunity to improve even into your advanced years but keep in mind the purpose is to develop better attributes that can be applied in a real situation.