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Bruce Lee's Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do Arts

Η μαχητική Τέχνη Jeet Kune Do (Way of the Intercepting Fist, Τζιτ Κουν Ντο) δημιουργήθηκε από τον θρυλικό Bruce Lee (Μπρους Λη). Αποτελεί μία σύγχρονη πολυμορφική μαχητική τέχνη με στόχο την ρεαλιστική εξοικείωση του μαχητή σε όλα τα πεδία μάχης (Ranges: Kicking, Punching, Trapping, Standing Grappling, Ground Fighting) και στην ανάπτυξη των μαχητικών δεξιοτήτων μέσω ουσιαστικής τεχνογνωσίας και έκθεση σε σύγχρονες προπονητικές μεθόδους.

Η μαχητική θεωρία του JKD (Jeet Kune Do) διδάσκεται με επιστημονική τεκμηρίωση, ανάλυση και κατακερματισμό των επιμέρους παραγόντων που την διέπουν. Τίποτα δεν θεωρείται απόλυτα δεδομένο και μέσο αυτής της συνεχούς "αμφισβήτησης" προωθείται η απρόσκοπτη αναζήτηση πιο αποδοτικών μεθόδων. Σε τελική ανάλυση το JKD είναι μία επιστήμη "επίλυσης προβλημάτων και μαχητικής διαπαιδαγώγησης" και μπορεί να οριστεί ως: "Χρησιμοποιώντας καμία οδό σαν οδό, κανένα περιορισμό σαν το μόνο περιορισμό".

Η μαχητική Τέχνη JKD διαθέτει επίσημη ύλη εξάσκησης (Jun Fan Arts), η ύλη απαρτίζεται από ένα σύμπλεγμα τεχνικών, γυμνασμάτων, προπονητικών μεθόδων και θεωριών όπου αποτελεί το θεμελιώδες οπλοστάσιο του μαχητή. Οι προπονήσεις διεξάγονται με την μορφή cross-training (διασταυρωμένη προπόνηση σε πολλαπλά προπονητικά και μαχητικά αντικείμενα), equipment-training (γάντια στόχοι, Thai pads, σάκοι κτλ.) και δίνεται έμφαση στο συχνό sparring με επαφή του ασκούμενου (με πλήρη προστατευτικό εξοπλισμό).

Ο Bruce Lee διερεύνησε και επηρεάστηκε από διάφορες πολεμικές τέχνες για την δημιουργία της τέχνης Jeet Kune Do, άντλησε και μετάτρεψε στοιχεία από συνολικά 26 μαχητικά συστήματα όπως: Western Boxing, Western Fencing, French Savate, Japanese Judo, Japanese Jiu-jitsu, Western Wrestling, Muay Thai, Burmese Bando, διάφορα Βόρεια και Νότια στυλ Kung Fu. Είχε στην κατοχή του μία τεράστια σχετική συλλογή βιβλίων και φιλμ καθώς και συναναστράφηκε με τα μεγαλύτερα ονόματα εκπαιδευτών πολεμικών τεχνών εκείνης της εποχής, για να φιλτράρει τις θεωρίες του. O Dan Inosanto μετέπειτα πρόσθεσε συμπληρωματικά στοιχεία από Filipino Kali, Filipino Panantukan, Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, Shoot Wrestling και Maphilindo Silat.

Η ύλη πιο συγκεκριμένα περιλαμβάνει:
1. Τεχνικές χτυπημάτων με τα χέρια και τους αγκώνες
2. Τεχνικές λακτισμάτων και χτυπημάτων με τα γόνατα
3. Τεχνικές κλειδωμάτων αρθρώσεων
4. Τεχνικές πνιγμών και ασφυξίας
5. Πάλη (όρθια και εδάφους), ρίψεις, τεχνικές takedown και sweeping
6. Kali Weaponry (μονό ραβδί, διπλά ραβδιά, μαχαίρι, Balisong, Tabak Toyok, Sibat, Palm Stick, Kerambit)
7. Ανορθόδοξες τακτικές (Kina Mutai)

Η Μαχητική Τέχνη Jeet Kune Do είναι επίσημα αναγνωρισμένη τέχνη και καταχωρήθηκε στην Ομοσπονδία Kuoshu της Κίνας, στις 27 Μαρτίου 1981. Το Jun Fan Gung Fu είναι ο θεμέλιος λίθος από όπου το Jeet Kune Do (JKD) εξελίσσεται, αν το JKD είναι ένας τρόπος σκέψης, έρευνας και πειραματισμού, τότε οι τέχνες Jun Fan είναι το πρωταρχικό όχημα για να οδηγηθεί κάποιος εκεί. Στο διάστημα 1964-1973 ο Bruce Lee με την βοήθεια του Dan Inosanto (έχοντας το ρόλο του βασικού καταλύτη) ερεύνησαν όλα τα μαχητικά συστήματα που μπορούσαν να ανακαλύψουν. Ανάμεσα σε εκατοντάδες τέχνες επέλεξαν στοιχεία, τεχνικές, μεθόδους προπονήσεων, γυμνάσματα, θεωρίες ή απλώς ιδέες από 26 πολεμικές τέχνες που αποτέλεσαν την βάση του JKD και ένα πλέγμα τεχνικών που δίνει τα απαραίτητα εφόδια σε ένα μαχητή:

1.Western Boxing
2.Western Fencing (Foil)
3.Northern Praying Mantis
4.Southern Praying Mantis
5.Tai-Chi Chuan (Wu Family style)
6.Paqua
7.Hsing-I
8.Bak-Hoo Pai (White Crane)
  Bak-Fu Pai (White Tiger)
9.Eagle Claw
10.Ng Ga Kuen (Five Family System)
11.Ny Ying Ga (Five Animal System)
12.Bak Mei Pai (White Eyebrow)
13.Northern Shaolin
14.Southern Shaolin
15.Bok Pai
16.Law Horn Kuen
17.Chin Na
18.Monkey Style
19.Drunken Style
20.Choy Li Fut
21.Wing Chun
22.Western Wrestling
23.Jiujitsu
24.Eskrima
25.Filipino Sikaran
26.Muay Thai (Thai Boxing)
27.Filipino Kali (προστέθηκε μετά από τον θάνατο του Bruce Lee)

Υπάρχει η παρεξηγημένη αντίληψη ότι το JKD είναι απλά μία εκλεκτική πρόσμιξη τεχνικών από διάφορες τέχνες, στην πραγματικότητα ο Bruce Lee χρησιμοποίησε αλληλένδετες τεχνικές από διάφορα συστήματα, που ευνοούν την άμεση, αρμονική μετάβαση από τέχνη σε τέχνη, από δομή σε δομή, από πεδίο σε πεδίο κατά την διάρκεια της μάχης και έχουν πλήρη συνοχή μεταξύ τους, αποδοτικότητα, ροή και οικονομία ενέργειας.

Ιστορική εξέλιξη της τέχνης
Η τέχνη του JKD είναι μία διαδικασία (process) συνεχιζόμενης εξέλιξης και όχι ένα προιόν (product), ιστορικά η τέχνη έχει 5 χρονικές περιόδους, όπου ο Bruce Lee και οι συνεχιστές του εξέλιξαν την τέχνη:

1.Jun Fan Gung Fu (1959-1962)
Αναπτύχθηκε στο Seattle με βάση τις τέχνες: Wing Chun, Wu Tai Chi Chuan (Ng-ga), Jing Mo Tam Tui, Choy Li Fut, Praying Mantis και Hsing-I, κύριοι ακόλουθοι αυτής της τεχνοτροπίας ήταν ο Jesse Glover, ο James DeMile και ο Taky Kimura.

2.Jun Fan Kick Boxing (1962-1967)
Αναπτύχθηκε στο Oakland με βάση το Wing Chun, το Western Boxing (Δυτική Πυγμαχία) και Kick Boxing με επιρροές από Βόρεια συστήματα Kung Fu, Γαλλικό Savate και έμφαση στην ανάπυξη φυσικής κατάστασης (conditioning), κύριος ακόλουθος αυτής της τεχνοτροπίας ήταν ο James Yimm Lee.

3.Jeet Kune Do (JKD) (1967-1973)
Αναπτύχθηκε στην China Town του Los Angeles με βάση το Western Boxing ("παλαιά" Δυτική Πυγμαχία) και το Western Fencing (Δυτική Ξιφασκία). Εδώ πρέπει να σημειωθεί ότι από το 1969 μέχρι τον θάνατο του Bruce Lee το 1973, o Bruce Lee είχε εγκαταλείψει πλήρως την τέχνη του Wing Chun και το μεγαλύτερο μέρος της μεθοδολογίας Trapping! Κύριοι ακόλουθοι αυτής της τεχνοτροπίας ήταν ο Ted Wong, ο Tim Tackett και ο Bob Bremer.

4.Jeet Kune Do Concepts (JKD Concepts) (1973-...)
Αναπτύχθηκε μετά τον θάνατο του Bruce Lee, από τους Dan Inosanto, Richard Bustillo και Larry Hartsell με ενσωμάτωση Filipino Kali, Grappling και Thai Boxing. Κύριοι ακόλουθοι αυτής της τεχνοτροπίας είναι μαθητές του Dan Inosanto.

5.Contemporary Jeet Kune Do
Σύγχρονα μαχητικά συστήματα Jeet Kune Do που έχουν ως γνώμονα τον ρεαλισμό, την προσαρμοστικότητα και την απόδοση σε καταστάσεις Street Fighting. Αναπτύχθηκαν από τους Paul Vunak, Matt Thornton, Christopher Clugston και πολλούς άλλους...

Οι θεωρίες της "παλαιάς" Δυτικής Πυγμαχίας αποτελούν τον ακρογωνιαίο λίθο στην τέχνη Jeet Kune Do και από τα πιο σημαντικά και εύχρηστα εργαλεία ενός street fighter!

Η ύλη της μαχητικής τέχνης Jeet Kune Do προέρχεται 80% από την παλαιά Δυτική Πυγμαχία (Western Boxing), 10% από την Δυτική Ξιφασκία (Western Fencing) και 10% από στοιχεία από διάφορες άλλες πολεμικές τέχνες.

Το Jeet Kune Do ΔΕΝ είναι Wing Chun...

Μετά το θάνατο του Bruce Lee το 1973 συνεχίστηκε ο εμπλουτισμός της Τέχνης από τον άξιο συνεχιστή Dan Inosanto, προσθέτοντας στοιχεία από Filipino Kali, Silat κ.α. Ακόμα και σήμερα, οι επόμενες γενεές εκπαιδευτών που στελεχώνουν την Τέχνη, συνεχίζουν αυτή την διαδικασία πειραματιζόμενοι σε τέχνες όπως Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Sambo, ROSS, Shoot Wrestling κ.α. Όπως καταλαβαίνετε το JKD δεν πρόκειται για μια στάσιμη στείρα τέχνη, αλλά για μια συνεχώς εξελισσόμενη και προσαρμοζόμενη ζωντανή Τέχνη! Η εκμάθησή της είναι μια συνεχόμενη διαδικασία αυτοανακάλυψης και πειραματισμού, μια διαδικασία δίχως τέλος.... Το JKD αποφεύγει τον μιμητισμό και δογματισμό, πρώτιστη προτεραιότητα έχει ο άνθρωπος, η προσωπική έκφραση και όχι ένα μαζικό προϊόν, η δημιουργία ενός απελευθερωμένου, αυθόρμητου και αυτόβουλου ατόμου. Ενισχύεται η προσαρμοστικότητα και η εξοικείωση του μαχητή σε όλα τα πεδία της μάχης (Λακτίσματα, Γροθιές, Παγιδεύσεις, Πάλη) καθώς και η κατάρτιση για την δημιουργία υψηλής ικανότητας μαχητών, για την αντιμετώπιση ρεαλιστικών street fighting καταστάσεων!

Jeet Kune Do

Bruce Lee selected elements, concepts, training methods or just a mentality of 26 different arts to give his students an integrated framework that prepared them to fight any opponent at any range. As he said "There is no superior art", the secret behind Jun Fan arts is that you can pass from one art to another, from one technique to another with flow utilizing what is useful to the fighter at the crucial time, enabling him to fight in all ranges: Kicking, Punching, Trapping, Grappling. We must not misconcept that Jeet Kune Do is just an eclectic art taking the best techniques from some arts, in reality the Jeet Kune Do practitioner will build his own arsenal of techniques and Jun Fan is just a base and not a religion dogma we should follow. After Lee's death around 1973 Dan Inosanto, the catalyst behind the development of JKD, added one more element Kali making Jun Fan much more efficient with training drills such as Hu-bud, Destructions techniques, use of weapons Kali sticks, blades, knifes etc. In the present Jeet Kune Do men are experimenting with arts like Silat, Sambo, Systema RMA, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Kina Mutai, making the art more efficient evolving the Art as was Bruce's intention.

Jeet Kune Do Branches – Original / Jun Fan Vs. Concepts
Some have used the JKD and Bruce Lee names for marketing and commercial purposes.

The two main divisions, or branches, are Original/Jun Fan JKD and JKD Concepts. Proponents of both branches include Lee's direct students.

Original/Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do Branch
The Original/Jun Fan JKD branch teaches only what Bruce Lee taught. It is up to the individual student to develop his martial art. Lee's JKD was what he found to be most effective for him. His techniques, codified as JKD, may not be the best for others owing to differences in abilities; each individual is responsible for absorbing what is useful from other arts to "express" their own unique "style" of JKD.

The Bruce Lee Foundation, operated by the Bruce Lee Estate, seeks to preserve the art as taught by Lee. Hence the original, authentic teachings have formally been named Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do, to distinguish it from the divergent teachings today.

Today, the main proponents of Original/Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do are Taky Kimura, Ted Wong, and Jerry Poteet.

Jeet Kune Do Concepts Branch
The JKD Concepts branch continues to develop JKD, under the philosophy that it should not be static, that is should continue to evolve. During his lifetime, Bruce Lee continually refined JKD by researching, experimenting, and adding what was useful, and taking out what was not. Even Lee encouraged his students to find what was effective for them, rather than follow blindly what any particular system taught.

The JKD Concepts branch incorporates elements from many other martial arts, such as the Filipino Martial Arts, Kali Eskrima, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu grappling. Greater variability of JKD exists, as each instructor and/or school will have developed their unique form of JKD by absorbing what they believe is useful from other fighting systems.

The main proponents of Jeet Kune Do Concepts are Dan Inosanto, Richard Bustillo, and Larry Hartsell.

Conclusion

Is one Jeet Kune Do branch better than the other? It depends on your objective. Original/Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do allows you to learn the purest form, which you can then adapt by finding and developing from other fighting systems and martial arts.

Jeet Kune Do Concepts gives you a one-stop shop, but there is greater variability and amount in teachings. You still will need to experiment and determine what techniques work best for you.

Whatever branch you choose, remember that Bruce Lee encouraged his students to continue to develop their art. Whether you choose Original/Jun Fan JKD or JKD Concepts, you arrive at the same place - your unique expression of Jeet Kune Do.

Cross training is a term that has been long used in the athletic community Coaches, whether amateur or professional, have long acknowledged the benefits of exposing their athletes to training methods, concepts and strategies of sports other than those they are training their teams or athletes in. From my early school days through my college sports, cross training was not only accepted, but encouraged. However, this was not the case in the very traditional and close-minded martial arts community of the 1950s and '60s. There were few martial artists who dared to look into arts other than the one they represented. Among those who did see the value of cross training was Mr. Ed Parker, my Kenpo karate instructor. My Sifu, Bruce Lee, was another. 

Decades ahead of his time in his fervent pursuit of martial arts knowledge, Sifu Bruce Lee literally left "no art unexamined and researched." Sifu Bruce had the most extensive martial arts library of anyone I have ever met. Not only did his collection consist of martial arts books, but also of body building, nutritional and philosophical publications. 

During my training with Sifu Bruce Lee, he was always introducing me to various books that would help my growth in the martial arts and in my personal life. One of these books was The Art of War by Sun Tzu, which contains many principles and concepts that are still valid today. 

In this book, Sun Tzu states, "Some people are intelligent in knowing themselves, but stupid in knowing their opponents and with others it's the other way around; neither kind can solve the problem of learning and applying the laws of war". 

If you only know yourself and the system you practice, you are only 50% prepared. Sifu Lee knew that, to understand and deal with combat, you must know what other styles and individuals practice and specialize. 

During my course in training with Sifu Bruce, he was always researching and experimenting with different tactics and modes of attacks. Sometimes Sifu Bruce would have me attack him in a method from a system or style he was unfamiliar with, to see what response he would instinctively react with.

When I first started training with Sifu Bruce, he was in the midst of creating a "system" of combat that centered around a modified form of Wing Chun -- a blending of his modifications and ideas on the strategies of Western boxing, and then using the principles and tactics for Western fencing. He took kicking from different systems, including Chinese and non-Chinese systems, then customized it for himself. 

He was into investigating every known system that he was exposed to during that time period. During this time, he even taught me different sets and forms from a few Chinese systems. He then moved away from this type of training. 

I have read in some martial arts publications that he didn't practice the Filipino martial arts such as Eskrima and Kali, and he therefore didn't integrate these arts into his personal system of Jeet Kune Do. While this is true, he was exposed to Filipino martial arts many times by me and, although he may not have put it into his personal system of combat, he did on many occasions practice with me the single stick, double sticks and Tabak Toyok (nunchaku).

Many people say I taught him the Tabak Toyok (nunchaku), single stick and double sticks. I like to say I shared with him and demonstrated and practiced with him. We also experimented with light sparring with single stick, double sticks and Tabak Toyok. So, in my opinion, he practiced the Eskrima and Kali on a small scale to research it, and to put elements of the nunchakas, double stick and single stick in his movies. 

You will also read in martial arts publications that Sifu Lee only used Chinese martial arts. Again, this is incorrect. Techniques he modified, equipment he used and principles and concepts he utilized were from many different disciplines and systems. 

The best eight examples where Sifu Bruce drew techniques, strategies, principles, concepts, tactics, training progressions and training exercises are:
1. Western boxing
2. Western fencing
3. French Savate
4. Japanese judo
5. Japanese jiu-jitsu
6. Western wrestling
7. Muay Thai elbow and knee
8. Head butt of Burmese Bando

An uneducated person may not recognize these elements in Sifu Bruce's personal system because he blended it so well for his personal expression of his Jeet Kune Do. To me, he is like one of those Smoothie juice drinks in a health food store. All you can see is the Smoothie and not all the vitamins, amino acids, or protein powder that might have been mixed into it. A martial artist may not recognize the Judo and Jiu-Jitsu element in it because he enters differently using the Western Boxing and Wing Chun to flow into the throws of Jiu-Jitsu, Judo and Chin Na, and then flowing into the submission jocks and chokes. 

Sifu Bruce was constantly evolving. When I trained with him in 1964, he didn't possess the alive footwork that he later used. This came about through experimentation and constant practice. I remember when he coined the terms for his foot work, such as step and slide advance, step and slide retreat, etc.

Sifu Bruce Lee practiced what he preached, living by his own creed: 
1. "Jeet Kune Do utilizes all ways and is bound by none." 
2. "Jeet Kune Do is finding the cause of your own ignorance. 
3. "Using No Way as Way" and 'Having no limitation as limitation." 
4. "Absorb what is useful, reject what is useless and add what is specifically your own." 

It is important that a student in Jeet Kune Do have a good foundation in the Jun Fan method of Gung Fu before he expands, explores and "absorbs what is useful" for his own personal system of Jeet Kune Do. 

After a student has a good understanding of the Jun Fan method, I feel it is important for the student not to adhere strictly to the techniques, principles, concepts and strategies of Sifu Bruce Lee. 

Each student must depart on his own journey to find what is workable for him in philosophy, technique, tactics, strategies and principles in the Jun Fan method and then explore other methods that interest him. 

You have often heard people quote Sifu Bruce Lee saying, "Jeet Kune Do is not the accumulation of knowledge, but hacking away at the unessential." But do they truly understand what they preach? For the accumulation of knowledge and hacking away at the unessential is not a product, but a process. It is a continual process that lasts our entire lives. We are constantly accumulating and eliminating, then again accumulating and eliminating. I practice arts other than Jun Fan and Jeet Kune Do -- such as Silat, Kali, Muay Thai, Savate, Shoot Wrestling, Bando and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu -- so I am criticized by people because they say this is accumulating, and that Jeet Kune Do is an eliminating process. You practice the entire system because it is part of the curriculum and it interests you, but you never embrace the entire system; you embrace what works for you in that system that you are practicing. 

In the words of my Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructor, Rigan Machado, "You don't fit into the Jiu-Jitsu; you make the Jiu-Jitsu fit you." In other words, the entire Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu might not fit you so you must take the parts of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to fit you. 

Remember that Bruce Lee was "a finger pointing to the moon," As he said, "Don't gaze on the finger or you will miss all the heavenly glory." I like to think that Sifu Bruce was a really good finger pointing to the moon. 

I'd like to close with my poem: 

We are all climbing different paths through the mountain of life and we have all experienced much hardship and strife. There are many paths through the mountain of life and some climbs can be felt like a point of a knife. Some paths are short and others are long. Who can say what path is wrong. The beauty of truth is that each path has its own song and if you listen closely you will find where you belong. So climb your own path true and strong, but respect all other truths for your way for them could be wrong.
 

Dan Inosanto
 

Bruce Lee's Personal Fighting System

The Jun Fan Martial Arts

The centuries-old history of martial arts shook in recent years when Lee Jun Fan (aka Bruce Lee) exploded onto the scene. With him came revelation, innovation and extraordinary dedication --- the fruition of which has since become known as the Jun Fan martial arts.

When asked for a quick definition of what the Jun Fan martial arts are, Bruce Lee protege, Dan Inosanto, states matter-of-factly that they are merely "Bruce Lee's personal fighting movements." The Jun Fan martial arts are a cohesive and integrated methodology of fighting skills and training procedures developed by Lee, based in part on his excruciatingly detailed research of the world's combat arts, but predominately on his own genius for adapting, modifying and creating. Coupled with Lee's Jeet Kune Do concepts, the Jun Fan martial arts stand firmly as one of today's most formidable and well-rounded fighting methods.

There are only a handful of truly authorized instructors of the Jun Fan martial arts (this was in 1987), and consequently, very few individuals who know exactly what training in the Jun Fan arts entails. Fewer still actually comprehend the "spirit" of the Jun Fan martial arts --- the Jeet Kune Do concepts. Developing these concepts takes years of hard training (not just physically, but with a "total" self) under someone who went through a similar program of instruction.

The Jeet Kune Do concepts quite simply cannot be passed on en masse; ideally, they are learned via a close one-on-one student-teacher relationship. Bruce Lee's life was an ongoing act of self-discovery. To accomplish so much with so little outside guidance is a monument to Lee's true understanding of himself and his potential. Lee's disciples absorbed from him the concepts of discerning and applying martial arts on a personalized, yet universal, level. Inosanto, one of the most prominent and active of these disciples, has in turn spent years imparting this ideology to his students. Yet some students never pick up the concept of Jeet Kune Do. As Lee often said, "Either you understand or you don't, and that is that!"

Jeet Kune Do cannot be defined as a particular style of martial art, Lee's or anybody else's. The Jun Fan martial arts, by definition, can be, however --- but only to a certain extent. Lee had a very distinct way of fighting and training. He had clear ideas on how to utilize his body as a weapon, based on his personal attributes and abilities. The Jun Fan style, as a 'system', has specific progressions and training methods, unique completely unto itself, which are geared towards developing and honing a person's fighting capacity.

It must be clarified most emphatically that the goal of the Jun Fan martial arts is not to produce Bruce Lee clones. Far from it. It would be foolish to even try. No one to date has come close to replicating all of the skills and moves Lee had, let alone his overall insights regarding the martial arts. One must find his own way. "Your truth is not my truth, and my truth is not yours," Lee often said.
The training methods Jun Fan stylists use provides them with a systematic approach with which to develop the myriad of attributes and qualities necessary to be an effective, well-rounded martial artist. Such things as distance, timing, rhythm, speed, coordination, footwork, power, and endurance are learned abilities, and the Jun Fan style presents direct paths to perfect them to the highest degree possible. Again, it all comes back to the Jeet Kune Do concepts and how important and integral they are in relationship to the Jun Fan martial arts. Without the Jeet Kune Do elements, the Jun Fan system is not complete.

The Jun Fan Arts have at least four (4) distinctive, yet interrelated segments (with gray areas in between for other categories, let there be no doubt). Just as you can't wrap water in paper and then try to shape it, you can't truly define fighting. Lee studied and had a high regard for wing chun gung-fu. Seeing limitations by remaining strictly a wing chun stylist, he ventured out of its realm. With his personal Jeet Kune Do, Lee's wing chun became transfigured. There are certain constants essential to wing chun, of course, but the manner in which Lee applied specific elements, and the way he later trained with them, are his innovations. As he grew to understand different ranges, timings, and fighting technologies, his novel approach in applying wing chun --- his modified wing chun --- greatly improved its combative effectiveness for him. Thus, there is a Lee Jun Fan Method of wing chun. Nonetheless, Lee always gave credit to wing chun and to his instructors, regardless of his personal modifications.

It seems there are about as many styles of gung-fu as there are people in China, and Lee either saw or trained a little in about 99% of them, or so it would seem. As a youth, Lee often compared or swapped techniques with other kids who were studying the countless gung-fu styles available in Hong Kong. Even as an adult he continued to analyze bits and pieces of certain systems. One should always have an open mind and remain willing to learn no matter what rank one has attained in martial art.

In conjunction with Lee's own form of wing chun, the Jun Fan martial arts contain Chinese boxing methods as compiled by Lee. The long-range kicking skills of the northern Chinese styles, as well as the short-range hand techniques of the southern Chinese styles, are all integrated and blended to form an efficient and effective way of fighting. It has often been said Lee lacked the ability or the interest in above-the-waist kicking prior to meeting various kick-oriented tournament competitors during the mid and late 1960s. This is completely untrue. Those who claim credit for Lee's great kicking prowess fail to account for still photographs taken during the late 1950s that show him kicking at high levels, or those from his kicking set at the 1964 Long Beach Internationals (it's on videotape), which he later duplicated in part for the film "Enter The Dragon".

One of the greatest impacts Lee had on modern martial arts was full-contact training. In ancient times, when a warrior's life depended on his martial skills, the workouts he participated in were probably grueling, dangerous, and definitely full contact. As time and warfare progressed, an individual's empty-hand fighting skills became less practical. "Gun-fu" has made many traditional fighting forms obsolete. In modern times, it seemed as if a majority of martial arts became engrossed with preserving movements as opposed to actions. Lee, being at heart a fighter, wanted to perfect his fighting abilities. Subsequently, Jun Fan kickboxing was born.

Clearly, it is impossible to study in detail every martial art, but if one can acquire the essence of a style, he can capture that style. Armed with the essence of Muay Thai, Bando, Savate, and other kickboxing styles which included at least some form of full contact, Lee created for himself his own brand of kickboxing. He incorporated modern technology (training apparatuses, dietary supplements, etc.) with a fluid understanding of ranges, and the result differed radically from traditional kickboxing forms of his time. Lee realized that the actual physical execution of techniques varied drastically from when he worked with a compliant partner in a gym to when he faced a hostile opponent in the street --- hence another factor influencing him to use full-contact training. Using equipment created feedback with which he could hone and also gauge the effectiveness of his kicks, punches, and other strikes. However, focus gloves don't hit back (just the feeder). A free, full-contact "fight" or "spar" allowed him to apply all of those skills and qualities he had worked on in a dynamic and flowing environment.

Added to the segments of the Jun Fan martial arts already discussed is one other: Western boxing methods (as compiled by Lee). It follows that if there are Chinese boxing methods, there are Western boxing methods. Plus, what better complement to Lee's kickboxing than his personal application of the hands of Greco-Roman boxing?

Obviously, Jun Fan kickboxing is by no means a complete way of fighting. The simple act of putting on gloves and other protective gear dictates semantic differences from a real, bare-fisted, no-holds-barred fight. It isn't advisable to try bobbing and weaving too often with a seasoned street fighter; you might catch a knee in the face. And 'rope-a-dope' tactics may prove disastrous. However, a Jun Fan full-contact sparring session develops in students a better sense of distance, timing, and rhythm --- key elements of any type of combat. These students gain a better feel for application --- how and when to use their offensive, defensive, or counter-offensive skills. But most of all, it imparts to the participants the experience of a full-contact encounter. It can build a person's inner character and confidence if properly conducted.

Critics are quick to say that the Jun Fan style is ineffective in the street for everybody but Lee. This is ludicrous. A fighting method is only as good as the individual applying it. A reverse punch in the face is just as undesirable as is a right cross. A muay Thai round kick, a savate chasse, or a Jun Fan jeet tek, when all are properly executed, produce the same result: a broken leg. Judge the man, not the style. You can give the Los Angeles Raiders' playbook to the worst high school football team in the country, and if that team's record remains 0-12, does that mean the Raiders' plays are no good?

Then there is the belief held by some that Jun Fan/Jeet Kune Do instructors and students are not capable of the type of hard-core training used by professional boxers, Thai boxers or savate fighters. One must first look at the goals of those who are training. A middle-aged businessman who makes his living in an office would be unwise to attempt such a workout schedule if he intends to remain healthy and employed. A young, motivated man who wants to be a champion above all else will gladly undertake the harsh training. Commercially, it isn't a sound business practice to work one's students to death without their compliance and desire. Yet there are definitely small groups of dedicated Jun Fan/Jeet Kune Do practitioners who conduct hard-core training privately in garages and backyards, just as Lee himself did...

 
The Jun Fan martial arts boil down to Bruce Lee expressing himself as a martial artist. To view the Jun Fan arts as just a hodgepodge conglomeration of a thousand styles of fighting is to completely miss the point. The Jun Fan system cannot in any way be looked at separately from the Jeet Kune Do concepts. Just as a man without a soul is no longer a man, so it is with the Jun Fan arts and Jeet Kune Do. Which goes right back to the problem of figuring out exactly what Jeet Kune Do is.

Unfortunately, either you understand or you don't, and that is that!

Blaise Loong