opinions on jeet kun do?

Question

compared with others martial arts

Answer 1

Jeet Kun Do is not really a martial art. It is more of a philosophy.

Modern instructors have incorporated different techniques from different styles (from what I've seen taken boxing and muai thai).

Don't study this because you watched some "bruce lee movies" and think that jeet kune do will make you an *** kicking machine.

Focus your search for a good teacher and shcool.

Answer 2

First, I agree with Bludo, so I won't repeat what he said. Second, I think that Jeet Kun Do challenges what some people have begun to call "McDojos." Many very good Martial Artists have studied Jeet Kun Do despite the fact it's less than a hundred years old, doesn't have a traditional training format, and doesn't follow traditional training regimins. A lot of Jeet Kun Do schools that are actually very good would be categorized as "McDojos" by people who who categorize simply based on this and that and the other principle.

That said, there are a lot of people who aren't Martial Artists who take advantage of this and say they practice Jeet Kun Do, when really they've just read a few books and did some boxing for a while. Figuring out the mess can be difficult.

Answer 3

From what I understand, there are multiple different ways as to HOW Jeet Kune Do is taught in this day and age. There are the teachers who continue to follow the teachings of Bruce Lee directly, and there are those who choose to elaborate on Lee's teaching's with techniques that they believe Lee may have added eventually.
Either perspective is not really important to something much greater, which would be the idea of self-defense. The best thing to do with Bruce Lee's advice is to read it and then completely forget about it, this is partly what he recommends. I personally believe in self-defense at all costs, and sometimes, hand to hand combat may not even be effective. You may need a weapon, or even a pistol for that matter.
"Jeet Kune Do" would be about simplicity. And if you are stressing out over which technique to use from whichever system in the given situation, you will find yoursel in a tight spot because that way of thinking in itself is a contradiction to instantaneous action. The idea is to intercept the enemy before he is able to land something, by any means necessary.

Answer 4

Good Answer Bluto. It seems everyday someone is trying to compare Martial Arts or say that one Martial art is better than the other. What a person should really do is find one and a Instructor that is right for them. Plus remember it is not the art that is better it is always the artist and the dedication they put into training that makes them better

Answer 5

My opinion is that it is more for people who already have a base in another martial art. It seems too advanced to teach beginners.
How can they take shortcuts on techniques when they haven't even figured out the basics of the technique.
I also question the style itself. What is the learning structure?
Is the true art being passed down or are random people buying Bruce's book and then posing as high level instructors?

I have my reservations about it.

Answer 6

Many of the teachers and students of Jeet Kun Do (JKD) I know are quite good and they recommend learning from as close to the source as possible. JKD is an effective martial art and I would recommend that you study it with someone from this lineage: http://www.bruceleefoundation.com/

Answer 7

Bruce Lee himself said many times in interviews that you had to have the formal grounding in basics within a traditional system of martial arts, before you can begin to remove the structure and formality and leave behind the essence and fluidity that he ascribed to. His concepts are largely and universally accepted in many different fields of learning. Strucure, discipline, and formality must be in place to build a solid understanding and comprehension in the novice. Slowly the structure may be relaxed and eventually removed as the student progresses in knowledge, skill, and ability - but most importantly, the essential elements taught by the formal structure must remain i.e. a strike, a deflection, an evasion must still be completely effective. I'm honestly not sure what is being taught in Jeet Kune Do discipline schools today as I have not had an opportunity to observe a JKD clas or talk with a current JKD instructor. I would presume if they accept novices, that they begin with formality and structure, and then relax this as the student progresses, much as I do with my own students in our TaeKwon-Do and HapMoosaKi-Do classes. Ken C 9th Dan HapMoosaKi-Do 8th Dan TaeKwon-Do 7th Dan YongChul-Do

Answer 8

Having both studied the style AND faced it in battle I have to say that the philosophies and principles that the style is based on aer quite sound. When taught by someone that actually undersantds these things (I have seen instructors that didn't, that took Lee's idea of not beinglimited to a single style to be license for poor form, bad techniques and disregard of proper application.) it is most effective. It is one of those tyles that uses techniques from such a variety of different and divergent styles that it makes it very difficult to beat someone that has proper training.

Answer 9

Isnt it more reactionary instead of an art? He took several arts and blended what he felt were the good and left the bad. He then worked on reaction time?

I think its amazing in movies.

Answer 10

It's a great blend of all martial arts including boxing. Bruce Lee (a master in his own right) developed this after he mastered Kung Fu.