Someone recently posted "I wish JKD died with Bruce".

I don't quite know how this makes me feel. I have mixed emotions about this. Sure on one hand, I can see what you mean. I think (take it for what it's worth)Bruce would not aprove of JKD as a whole today. Everyone is so God damned concerned with preserving exactly what Bruce accomplished that is has congealed or crystallized into "this IS jkd" and "your not doing jkd, *I'm* doing jkd!", and that is EXACTLY what JKD is not about.

On the other hand we have a path that leads us to ultimate freedom, a way to express yourself in combat which is fluid, dynamic and custom taylored to the artist. I think if I attempted to recreate the mona lisa, it WOULD look exactly like a pile of dog sh1t! Just as when I reproduce jkd exactly the way Bruce did it, I look exactly like a pile of crap! Sure I am painting a picture too, I have a canvas, paints, all the brushes...but when I lay my brush strokes they will be (however infatesimal) different than everyone elses'! No two snowflakes are the same.

I believe I read somewhere Bruce stated that "jkd is ultimately about a highly developed physique and spirituallity". This quote really hits home with me. I guess, no, I know that what I physically do is a mma. But, I incorporate the philosophy of jkd to my mma. This is what I use to temper my ego.

I give credit where credit is due. MMA's are hard workin', they have done alot (especially in the last decade or so) to transcend style (a fixed style) and build a practical and effective combat technique. But where I find it lacking is in the spiritual department. I personally, do not wish to learn only how to break people. Hurting is easy to do and takes no discipline at all. It is much harder to be patient, understanding, calm-even tempered. To me that is much more challenging. That is why I think spirituallity is important.

I'm going out on a limb here and say that jkd was dead before bruce was. He felt that the name "jkd" was limiting, I believe he wanted to call it something like "art of expressing the human body". This doesn't imply that one must intercept with the fist(only)" or that it could easily be misconstrued as such.

I kinda see it this way, chapter 1 of the Tao te Ching (the way of nature and its power is a literal translation) says the "tao" that can be named, is not the eternal tao. To me this means that when you "say" what something "is", you also "say" what something *"is not"*. Combat has limitless possibilities. It really can't be contained into this or that, for it is both and neither at the same time.

"That is all I have to say about that" - Gump

Please post your thoughts for discussion......


Chozinjuan

In some ways you are right and others not. JKD today first say ojkd. its intent is to try and offer what Bruce was doing and teaching at time . So that you or any one else could have the chance to understand and learn that time factor. Then A bruce would have wanted find what works for you. JKDC adds to jkd in the fact of looking and tasting the different arts that Bruce looked at and more added factors. Then you find what works better for you.Bruce had already became concerned to where jkd was going befor his death closed the schools and gave backyard training. Why To hope that the students would not take it all as truth but as a method of finding there personal jkd. WHAT worked for them what made them better. what brought understanding to what they were learning. BUT. agin it was what Bruce taught them and what Bruce could do to better his self also. In any art You learn its tools But must find the tools that will help you. And keep an open mind to change on that road too. A blend of other arts is not jkd Learning from just abook Or a tape gives only what you grow to see it to be. But it can be a help towards your journey.The answer to all arts or selfdefence aspects is making them simpal. Try to hard they wont readly work not hard enough and you can only do so much. Just right and boom it happened. When you find that it is now easy then its now right for you. Bruce would have progressed more perhaps in his jkd. And Not as maney today would have the benifit of having learned it. But He is gone And preserving sometimes gives the only chance to learning what is or was. What you or any one takes time to learn und become as a part of it. Then it is never taken away Or forgoten Only made better and somettimes matter of feact most times we need a giude an instructor to push us to try give us the understanding of a movement and help us find our Per say JKD as this is what was brought up. What is your JKD is what works for you what works for you may not work as well for some one else. Give what you was taught to others So thewy may find what may work for them. Many times today alot of people want to be the main say jkd prophet around. When really All JKD instructors are just a giude to help you find you own JKD. Some as in anything are better giudes then others. As some schools teachers Are better teachers. But If you feel you have learned and can do what you can do the the giude has helped. Many arts teach many ways to do the same thing A boxer hasasmall set of tools BUT can use that small set better then most. JKD has dropped the flash and went down to the needed facters. NO fancy moves no form to try and understand just training drills as blocks and counters. trapping hands. chisao sensitivety training, Footwork Spar and selfunderstanding. To benifit we must try and then test the how and when. Any art is the same We must also learn to un learn. Trap when you have to hit when you can. Parry when you must hit when you can. JKD is speed and power. its not for every person but can be learned by every one. What they recieve and get from it either makes them better or not. In some cases they must modifie its method to improve there delivery of it. A large person will not move as fast as as a small person the must find say unified body action and draw and stop hit methods. to get it working better for them . Each has a limit and a need. JKD is yours from the day you start to discover what you needs are and work to get them going for you. As bruce said your JKD is not my JKD. Each are different and each will have there JKD. BUT when taught OR teaching give what you learned and learn what you aer taught then the rest is you to find.Might not of made much sence in what was said but JKD is JKD yours is yours mine is mine .

I'd say I don't really give a **** what others think about JKD. Piss on 'em. It's not ABOUT them or Bruce Lee anyway, it's about me. So to hell with everyone AND their JKD opinions one way or the other.


-John

JKD is about me! That's it!

If you don't believe me, just ask me!

- Little Dragon

PS I just changed my mind, JKD is about JKogas. Forget about all the work I have done. Let my memory fade. LONG LIVE JKOGAS and his legacy! JKD = JKogas!

Viva la JKogas!