Hello there Lamar!

Could you give me your opinion on the following please?

Do you advocate any training at close range without trapping (e.g. bobbing, weaving, angling etc) or, do you consider trapping (or some form of control) absolutely essential at this range for anyone practicing JKD?

I find that personally I'm likely to use some form of trapping at this range - never was much good at evading when I'm this close to someone!

Very much appreciated in advance.

Des.

Hi Des!

Yes, I do teach my students, bobbing, weaving, slipping and ducking, but trapping is my personal preference! To me, evasion is too passive. Sometimes it may be necessary, but I prefer to just go in and destroy the opponent. That is hard to do without touching them!

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

Many thanks for that Lamar.

It confirmed what I guess I really already knew i.e., that its not an exact science and that the emphasis can be different for different people.

Cheers,
Des.

Also, some tend to lean more toward the boxing area of Jeet Kune Do training, whereas I am more influenced by the Wing Chun part of the equasion. I would rather just go straight in and obliterate the enemy and get it over with immediately rather than dance around and "play", engaging in a boxing match with them. When it is time to fight, playtime is OVER!

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

Lamar!

I do understand what you are saying and appreciate your answers!

I find that I don't have quite so many questions about my training these days as I did before - I feel a lot of things just become clearer with time, training and self-improvement!

I personally look at JKD in terms of my understanding of the book, "The Tao of Jeet Kune Do":

a) Attack (using one's own will) or,
b) Interception (responding to something the opponent does),

with

a) being based on the 5 Ways of Attack, and,
b) being based on the 3 broad timings of interception.

In short, if I feel seriously threatened, I will "Attack" with everything I have. I think that much responsibility goes with this approach to self-defence, but I am quite comfortable with it because I simply go out of my way to avoid being in a self-defence situation in the first place.

I don't really know whether or not you would agree with my personal findings on this, but that's the level of understanding I have arrived at after much thought and training.

Best wishes,
Des.

Hope you don’t mind me answering this since it was directed at Lamar,

Before I get started a little disclaimer… this is by no means directed at anybody on this forum. And while I don’t talk about trapping below… I am not inferring that trapping is any better or worse than these types of movements.

To me most people only train half the equation in regards to Bobbing weaving slipping angling etc. By definition these are strictly defensive tools, no different than a block. But when you put a JKD spin on them they should be very aggressive. Many of the movements are similar to covering in the sense that you don’t go in punching with one hand and letting the other dangle by your side (right?). Most JKD people know not to do that (I hope).

Slipping, angling, weaving is much the same. I am not going to attack with out changing my head position or the angle that I am attacking them. (At least until I get into a position of dominance!) The end result is you look really good at evasive techniques when in reality you were just being a difficult target while hitting them!!!

Another example is the way many people bob & weave or slip. Many of them will do the movements with no footwork. Totally Passive! Where as if you learn to use footwork with the movement you can put yourself into a position of dominance.

in my oppinion, in slipping,bob&weaving and angling one should be looking to hit aswell as avoidance

Sifu Davis IS NOT GUILTY OF THIS!

But some 'trapping people'(in many Gung Fu styles) tend to trap while standing still and hanging their chin out.
IF you Bob and/or Weave you better be getting in 3 or 4 hits in the process!

I love trapping but I have been immersed more in the Boxing parts of JKD (with an emphasis on trapping) but my teacher was wise enough to understand that you DON'T stand Toe to Toe and trade punches and get into a Boxing match.
That is the important principle to remember.

jmp

I'm a boxer with over 34 yrs. The "Old School Boxing" I teach gets right to the point.....Knocking your head off your shoulder....I understand everyone is different, but this works for me. In my Jeet Kune Do I have a 3 to 10 sec. deal. Anything over that someone is getting really hurt. My goal is not to even hurt the bad guy....But to stop him from hurting me and himself, even if the means (knocking them out fast)....In my opinion, two wrongs never add up to winning.....Thats just me I guess... I*_*I


Keep "IT" Real,
John McNabney

I know this sounds kind of grimey, but I found the side kick to the knee cap/ Straight kick to the balls worked really well for me. Then when there boys jump in it is time to practice Run Fu.

I believe there was another young guy on here named Andrew, and he and I agreed to on this other thing, if throwing a hot beverage at someone, or jamming a cigar in their eye or picking up an equalizer saves your life, by all means do it and get out of there.

Then again, I have also learned if you don't hang out in bad areas you have a higher statistic of survival.

Or travel with good company. Or when you do feel like clubbing, make sure you bring your female dance partners over to the area where Kent is. Not only does Kent learn some new moves and get some Eye candy, but you get qualified protection in case some Drunk guy imagines your dance partner is his girlfriend.

Well, we need a little comedy in here.

Peace

Sifu Lamar has a better understanding of these aspects than anyone else in the JKD arena. I have had the rare opportunity to be in the Inner Circle of the Ip Family. Having co-written the book "Mastering Wing Chun - The Keys to Ip Man's Kung Fu" with my Sifu, Grandmaster Samuel Kwok, who is the only instructor to ever be certified at a Master Level by BOTH Ip Chun and Ip Ching, and having spent a lot of time with both Ip brothers who endorsed the book, I have trained extensively with them. I have a very good understanding of the Wing Chun Bruce Lee learned, and the aspects he didn't have the opportunity to learn. I can tell you that what I hear from Sifu Lamar is RIGHT ON TARGET with what Bruce Lee Learned and Believed!

Sifu Tony Massengill