The ABC of JKD

A Brief History

Jeet Kune Do (JKD) is the name Bruce Lee gave to his combat philosophy in 1967. Originally, when Lee began researching various fighting styles, he gave his martial art his own name of Jun Fan Gung Fu. However not wanting to create another style that would share the limitations that all styles have, he instead gave us the process that created it.

Bruce Lee, and thus JKD was heavily influenced by European boxing and fencing. Although the backbone concepts (such as centreline, vertical punching, and forward pressure) come from Wing Chun, Lee stopped using the Wing Chun stances in favour of what he considered to be more fluid/flexible fencing and boxing stances

Lee believed that martial systems should be as flexible as possible. He often used water as an analogy for describing why flexibility is a desired trait in martial arts. Water is infinitely flexible. It can be seen through, and yet at other times it can obscure things from sight. It can split and go around things, rejoining on the other side, or it can crash through things. It can erode the hardest rocks by gently lapping away at them or it can flow past the tiniest pebble. Lee believed that a martial system should have these attributes

Jeet Kune Do not only advocate the combination of aspects of different styles, it also can change many of those aspects that it adopts to suit the abilities of the practitioner. Additionally, JKD advocates that any practitioner be allowed to interpret techniques for themselves, and change them for their own purposes. For example, Lee almost always chose to put his power hand in the "lead," with his weaker hand back, within this stance he used elements of Boxing, Fencing and Wing Chun. Just like fencing, he labelled this position the "On Guard" position.

The notion of cross-training in Jeet Kune Do is similar to the practice of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) in modern times. A JKD student is expected to learn various combat systems within each combat range, and thus to be effective in all of them, just as in MMA.

Lee incorporated into Jeet Kune Do what he felt were universal combat truths that were self evident and would lead a person to becoming a "total" martial artist and great combat success if followed. Some of the concepts were borrowed from European Fencing, and Wing Chun. These concepts were modified for unarmed combat and implemented into the JKD framework by Lee. The most widely known are as follows:-

Intercepting.
Lee believed that in order for an opponent to attack someone they had to move towards them. This provided an opportunity to "intercept" that attack or movement. The principle of interception covers more than just intercepting physical attacks. Lee believed that many non-verbals and telegraphs (subtle movements that an opponent is unaware of) could be perceived or "intercepted" and thus be used to one's advantage.

Economy of motion
JKD students are told to waste no time or movement. When it comes to combat JKD practitioners believe the simplest things work best also that techniques should contain the following properties:

Efficiency - An attack that reaches its mark
Directness - Doing what comes naturally in a learned way.
Simplicity - Thinking in an uncomplicated manner.

Stop hits & stop kicks
This means intercepting an opponent's attack with an attack of your own instead of a simple block. JKD practitioners believe that this is the most difficult defensive skill to develop. This strategy is a feature of some traditional Chinese martial arts, as well as an essential component of European epée fencing (known in fencing terminology as the "counter-attack").

Simultaneous parrying & punching
When confronting an incoming attack, the attack is parried or deflected and a counter attack is delivered at the same time. Not as advanced as a stop hit but more effective than blocking and counter attacking in sequence. This is also practiced by some Chinese martial arts.

No high kicks
JKD practitioners believe they should target their kicks to their opponent's shins, knees, thighs, and mid section. These targets are the closest to the foot, provide more stability and are more difficult to defend against. However, as with all other JKD principles nothing is "written in stone". If a target of opportunity presents itself, even a target above the waist, one could take advantage of the situation without feeling hampered by this principle.

The 4 ranges of combat
Kicking
Punching
Trapping
Grappling

Jeet Kune Do students train in each of these ranges equally. According to Lee, this range of training serves to differentiate JKD from other martial arts. Lee stated that most but not all traditional martial systems specialize in training at one or two ranges.

The Five Ways Of Attack

The "5 Ways of Attack" are attacking categories that help Jeet Kune Do practitioners organize their fighting repertoire and comprise the offensive portion of JKD. They are:-

Single Direct Attack (SDA) or Single Angulated Attack (SAA) is a single offensive action (say a punch or kick) that travels directly from where it is to the desired target which is usually executed when a particular target area has been unintentionally left open by the opponent.

Hand Immobilization Attack (HIA) which also includes foot trapping which make use of trapping to limit the opponent's function with that appendage.

Progressive Indirect Attack (PIA) here you attack one part of the opponent's body and draw some form of defensive reaction from your opponent. You then use an initial feint or false attack to draw the same defensive reaction from your opponent and attack the open line. e.g your false attack was on the high line so you hit on the low line.

Attack By Combinations (ABC). This is using multiple rapid attacks, with volume of attack as a means of overcoming the opponent.

Attack By Drawing (ABD). This is to intentionally leave a particular target area open as a means of counter attacking.

Centreline
The centreline refers to an imaginary line running down the centre of one's body. The theory is to exploit, control and dominate your opponent's centreline. All attacks, defences and footwork are designed to preserve your own centreline and open your opponent's. Lee incorporated this theory into JKD from Wing Chun. This notion is closely related to maintaining control of the centre squares in the strategic game chess.

The three guidelines for centreline are:

The one who controls the centreline will control the fight.
Protect and maintain your own centreline while you control and exploit your opponent's.
Control the centreline by occupying it.

Process and not a Product

The uniqueness of JKD to Lee is that it is a "process" not a "product" and thus not a "style" but a system, concept, or approach. Traditional martial arts styles are essentially a product that is given to a student with little provision for change. These traditional styles are usually fixed and not tailored for individuals. Bruce Lee claimed there were inherent problems with this approach and established a "Process" based system rather than a fixed style which a student could then utilize to make a "tailored" or "Personal" product of their own.

Bruce Lee's comments and methods were seen as controversial by many in his time, and still are today. Many teachers from traditional schools disagreed with his opinions on these issues. However we have seen in UFC that knowledge of other systems and cross training is essential e.g grappling.

As Always when training , train intelligently, train sensibly , respect the Art respect yourself and have fun.

Quotes used by Sifu Bruce
“ The usefulness of a cup is its emptiness.[8] - Be prepared to accept new knowledge and not be hindered or biased by old knowledge. This quote originates from the Tao Te Ching, by Lao Tzu, the founder of Taoism. [9] ”

“ Using no way as way. - Don't have preconceived notions about anything. This statement is embedded in the Jeet Kune Do logo. It was also used by Bruce Lee often to describe JKD. ”

“ Having no limitation as limitation. - Don't be confined by anything, achieve true freedom. This statement is embedded in the Jeet Kune Do logo. ”

“ Empty your mind. Be formless shapeless like water. Now you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle. You put it into a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now, water can either flow, or it can crash! Be like water, my friend. - Lee explaining the principle of being like water in a Hong Kong television interview.

Guro Dan Inosanto Seminar 2008

Saturday 5^th July marked Guro Dan’s annual seminar hosted by Bob Breen in London. This year, for the first time, members of the Junior Black Belt programme were invited to take part in the first day of the seminar and to witness first hand why Guro Dan has been such as great inspiration and influence on martial artists worldwide.

At over 70 years of age, Guro Dan showed his usual remarkable cat-like movements and encyclopaedic knowledge, presenting material from numerous martial arts along the way (all at breakneck speeds to challenge the best memories in the building). Material included, Jun Fan Gung Fu, Kali/Silat, Suntokan/Panantukan, Muay Thai, Shoot Fighting, Vale Tudo, Kali Stick and Knife-fighting (read descriptions of some of these arts at the Inosanto Academy website).

Members of the Junior Black Belt programme got to see first hand why it is that adult members of our Academy and martial artists from across Europe, get excited each year in anticipation of this seminar. They will also now understand why I told them they would be lucky to remember 25% of what was presented. Don’t worry each gets easier each year as you become more familiar with Guro’s style of presentation and the curriculum. Proof indeed that sometimes a notebook and pen are more useful than your gloves and gumshield!

Sensei Alex and I were both pleased to be able to have the opportunity to supervise our future Black Belts at this event. Who knows, in 50-60 years time it could be one of you inspiring the next generation of martial artists at your own seminar.

As Guro Dan has been quoted as saying, “We are all students; it is just that some people are further down the road than others.”

Warrior Training

If anyone on the Junior Black Belt programme thinks that I give them a hard time with all the exercises we do each week, you should check out the Warrior Training that has been going on for the past month in the Saturday adult class.

The classic medicine ball sit-up pass.












Twisting medicine ball passes.









Team medicine ball wall throws.








Bodyweight (someone else's) squats.









Carrying a heavy bag.








Collapse!














So, what's a couple of push-ups and sit-ups in comparison? Might be time to start making Saturday class a little harder... keep training just in case.

Sparring

Boxing isn’t just about brute strength; it’s about skill and outwitting your opponent.
Lennox Lewis

Over the next 6 weeks we will be looking at the concept of sparring. The first 3 weeks we will be concentrating on hands only and then we will cover hands and legs.

The first few weeks we will cover different lines of attack whether they be straight or curved and how to move through the different ranges, with a high probability of not being hit(kicking range, punching range to close range and back again).

We will also cover the exploitation of your natural gifts, whether you, are tall, short, fast, a heavy puncher or have quick reactions. This always amazes me that so many combatants do not use their natural gifts. Therefore they never get to present a problem to their opponent which they have to answer. Remember we are attempting to teach you intelligent combat. In sparring, you should always attempt to ask questions of your opponent and force them to answer. The conversation should be like this:-

Fighter A: “Can you defend my Jab”
Fighter B: “Yes I can”
Fighter A: “Can you defend my double Jab”
Fighter B: “Ouch missed that No”
Fighter A: “I’ll ask again, can you defend my double Jab”
Fighter B: “Yes I can”
Fighter A: “Can you defend my double Jab, Straight Right”
Fighter B “Ouch missed that No”
Fighter A: “Can you defend my double Jab, Cross”
Fighter B “Ouch missed that No”
Fighter A: “Can you defend my low round kick”
Fighter B “Yes I can and I can crush it too”
Fighter A: “Ouch…Can you defend my fake low round house ,head kick”
Fighter B: “Here is my crush to your low round house and ..Ouch missed the head kick”

Now don’t get fixated by the above, use the strikes and combinations in sparring that fit your body type, skill, which feel natural to you. JKD is about honestly expressing yourself, if a particular combination doesn’t work for you in sparring don’t use it. My suggestion is to write it down in your notes as in your martial arts journey you may come across the technique again and because of your personal growth it now feels natural to you and becomes part of your major arsenal.

Furthermore we’ll be covering how to move around your opponent with a high probability of not being hit. We’ll be using the following drill as a basis and then in true JKD fashion we’ll break from it as Sifu Bruce says “Learn the principle, abide by the principle, and dissolve the principle”

Jab, Cross, Body Hook, Head Hook (In left lead stance)

Jab, Cross

Attacker
Options (technical advancement)
1. Jab, Cross – on centre line punching (Straight left , Straight right)
2. Jab, Cross – off centre line punching (Wide Jab, Cross)
3. Mix and Match – all the above including the Speed Jab , the Stiff Jab and the flicker Jab
Defender
Options (technical advancement)
1. Jab catch using rear hand (right hand)
2. Combinations of Jab catch rear hand and inside parries when necessary
3. Using any combination- Outside parry, inside Parry , Jab Catch , Waslik ,Heun Sau etc

Body Hook

Attacker
Using the Step & Slide footwork the attacker must be outside the Defenders right hand/arm and not in front. The Defender should also use their right arm as cover from the defenders possible punches.
Options (technical advancement)
1. Body hook to Liver
2. Body hook to Kidneys
3. Shovel hook to Liver or Solar Plexus
Defender
Firstly if Attacker is directly in front of your right hand (not outside it) give them a gentle cross punch to remind them of the consequences of poor footwook.
Options (technical advancement)
1. In response to Liver shot: With fist still on Chin defensively drop elbow onto punch
2. In response to Kidney shot: Tilt elbow backwards onto punch
3. In response to Shovel hook: With fist still on Chin defensively drop elbow onto punch
4. Suck in stomach (evasion)

Head Hook

Attacker
Options (technical advancement)
1. Lengthen or Curve hook to avoid defenders covering arm
2. Shorten hook to avoid defenders covering arm and hit chin
Defender
Options (technical advancement)
1. Cover
2. Cover using Jamming technique on the Attackers Cross
3. Bob & Weave
4. Bob & Weave with groin slap or Jab to the Solar plexus
5. Snap Back (evasion)

As always when training, train intelligently, train sensibly, respect the Art, respect yourself and have fun.

Trapping

Sifu Bruce Lee refered to “Trapping” as Hand Immobilisation Attack (HIA), however the Immobilisation of your opponent is not restricted to the hand, it can also apply to the foot or any other part of the body.

HIA originally comes from a system called Wing Chun which is the original style of gung fu that Sifu Bruce studied. Now while the trapping used in Jeet June Do (JKD) may have come from Wing Chun it was adapted by Sifu Bruce through extensive research of body mechanics and motion.

HIA is an attack which momentarily immobilises (traps) one or both of the opponents arms, allowing you to hit in an open line, or draw a reaction that can be countered with another trap. This now gives you the opportunity to utilise ballistic striking or grappling.

HIA is best employed when you gain an attachment against one or both of your opponent’s arms. This then allows you to manipulate your opponent’s arms to where you want them and to create a situation whereby the opponent is forced to give you a reaction, which will be to their disadvantage. The opponent may not want to give you the reaction, but they may not have any other choice. If they don’t give you the reaction they will get hit.

What makes HIA work is correct distancing, sensitivity and a certain degree of forward pressure, not too much and not too little. This takes dedication and practice to master and even when you’ve attained a certain degree of skill you must train it regularly to maintain what is termed “muscle memory” and sensitivity.

In trapping forward pressure can rarely be seen only felt. Therefore it’s best described like a bird flying in the sky, too much energy and it flies too high; too little and it flies too low. Once the trap has been initiated the opponent’s attached limbs will feel like tension against their arms at all times which will affect their movement and restrict their actions. Guro Dan Inosanto said when Sifu Bruce trapped him it was “…like being in a washing machine on full agitation cycle…constantly being pushed, pulled, or jerked all over the place while at the same time being hit with a constant barrage of punches…”

Now it is important to reflect that your primary purpose is not to trap it is to hit. If you have an open line to hit safely, then hit. If your opponent blocks the open line then you may wish to utilise your trapping skills. Remember if the punch is not blocked then you’ve scored a hit. If the hit is blocked then your opponent will dictate the technique you will use e.g Pak sao , Lop Sao, push or pull.

The current JBB curriculum is as follows:-

Pak Sao (Slap Hand) Note: 1&2 must be done simultaneously and not independently.

1. Attacker using rear hand, push the defenders lead arm towards their centreline (body) not downwards & hold using monkey grip (no thumbs)
2. Attacker using (Chung Chuie) a vertical fist, punches on the centre line towards defenders face targets.
Defender blocks on the centre line.

Double Pak Sao (Slap Hand) Note: 1&2 must be done simultaneously and not independently.

1. Attacker using rear hand, push the defenders lead arm towards their centreline (body) not downwards & hold using monkey grip (no thumbs)
2. Attacker using (Chung Chuie) a vertical fist punches on the centre line towards defenders face targets.
Defender blocks on the centre line.
3. Using rear hand which is currently holding the defenders lead arm. Thrust your lower forearm onto the defenders lead arm to pin it against their chest.
4. Rear hand grabs and pushes the defenders rear hand away from the centre line.
5. Attacker using (Chung Chuie) a vertical fist punches on the centre line towards defenders face targets.

Pak Sao, Lap Sao (Slap Hand, Grab Hand) Note: 1&2 must be done simultaneously and not independently.

1. Attacker using rear hand, push the defenders lead arm towards their centreline (body) not downwards & hold using monkey grip (no thumbs)
2. Attacker using (Chung Chuie) a vertical fist, punches on the centre line towards defenders face targets.
Defender blocks over centre line.
3. Attacker’s rear hand grabs defenders rear hand in a tight arc towards defenders hip which should trap the lead hand underneath.
4. Attacker’s lead hand folds due to the defenders push (Boang Sao) and then strikes as a backfist (the classical or Art option is option (A) however do not limit yourself try them all).
Backfist options:-
A. Backfist vertical using two front knuckles (Gwa Choi)
B. Backfist horizontal ridge of the hand. (hammer fist)
C. Backfist vertical ridge of the hand. (hammer fist)

As always when training, train intelligently, train sensibly, respect the Art, respect yourself and have fun.

Styles and terminology

At the Bob Breen Academy we practise a Filipino martial arts system that we call Kali. Our preference for the term 'Kali' comes from our lineage to Guro Dan Inosanto. There are many systems of Filipino martial arts, each with their own names and terminologies. Partly this is because there are so many languages spoken in the Philippines, but also because there have been influences from other cultures, such as Spanish. At the end of the day each teacher and student choses the terms that make most sense to them, so don't get hung up on getting the names right. Just keep training and asking questions.

As an example, you might hear instructors using different terms that essentially mean the same thing. For instance, Kali can also sometimes be called Eskrima or Arnis. Yesterday in class when I was talking about how to grip the stick properly I talked about having about 10 cms (1 fist width) of stick below your grip, called a 'punio', we would probably call this a butt or possibly even a pommel in English. Similarly, I talked about hitting with the 'tip' of the stick (obviously an English word), but I could have called it the point or even the 'punto' (the last one being the Spanish word).

Another two phrases I've used in our lesson so far is 'Abierta' and 'Serrada' to refer to either an open or closed guard.

If you've enjoyed the Kali lessons that we've had it is only natural that you might look for further information on the internet. Be careful, always question the validity of any claims that you might see - there is no ultimate martial art style and very rarely just one correct answer. When it comes to martial arts the main question you need to ask is "can I make it work for me"?

Defanging the snake

Last week, I introduced the term 'defanging the snake'. If you remember, we talked about a venomous snake, attacking someone and delivering its poison with its fangs. The two most dangerous things about this type of snake are the venom and the fangs. However, if you remove the fangs from the snake it becomes harmless as it cannot bite you or deliver the poison. (We weren’t talking about constricting or spitting snakes!)

In a similar way, a fundamental principle from many systems of Kali is that of either removing our opponent’s weapon or injuring the hand (in which they hold the weapon) so that the attack cannot be continued – thereby defanging them. This has the advantage that we can carry this out at a long range and therefore not have to come too close and risk having to deal with our opponent’s other weapons – fists, elbows, headbutt, knees, kicks etc…

The most common methods that we will use in our stick training are to deliver hits to the hand or arm of our opponent that are holding a weapon. This is also sometimes known as a limb 'destruction' technique. Hitting their hand or arm will in most cases not permanently damage their bones, tendons, muscles, blood vessels, or nerves, but there is a chance that it might. In either case the injury means that the opponent cannot continue holding the weapon.

Other common methods of 'defanging' will include attacking vulnerable points of the hand and arm. In stickfighting these will typically be the thumb, the inside of the elbow, the armpit and the shoulder (sometimes know as ‘pressure point’ attacks). These require far more skill as they have to be delivered with speed, accuracy, and force, in exactly the right spot. They will typically cause the opponent's weapon to be lost, but usually have less potential for permanent damage to be done. You might for instance hear one of us talking about using a 'gunting' attack to the inside of someone’s arm (more about that another time).

Although not generally considered 'defanging' techniques, I also consider disarms and locks to fall within the same general category, as they allow you to remove the immediate threat of a weapon, without necessarily causing permanent injury.

These techniques exist is many martial arts, so we aren’t claiming this to be something unique, but the imagery of 'defanging a snake' helps us to remember that we do not always have to do more than remove the immediate threat from a self-defence situation before we can make our escape, unharmed.

By complete contract 'snake charming' is not a recommended martial arts or self-defence technique.

IMPORTANT NOTE: All of these techniques rely on causing pain or injury to a person to some degree. You therefore have to be very careful when practising with your training partner. Remember, we always train with our partner, not against them, and we always look after them!

5 count C

Continuing our basic striking patterns from Kali stickfighting, we now move on to the third in the series of 5 count striking patterns.

The previous two 5 count patterns, A and B, concentrate on diagonal and horizontal strikes to the head, shoulders, chest and stomach level. Pattern C takes us to a lower level by adding strikes to our opponent's knee level.

Striking opponents at various heights is a fundamental principle of JKD and Kali. Basically you need to keep them guessing as to where the next hit is going to come. This is true whether we are punching, kicking, or hitting with a stick (or other weapon). In JKD we mix it up with High-Low-High, High-High-Low, Low-High-Low... you get the idea! Make them think you are going high then hit them low, draw their defences with a fake, then bam (or "bosh", as Bob would say), hit them where they aren't expecting it.

5 count C

(Continuing from the open guard, Abierta, position)

#1 - High forehand diagonal to shoulder (cuts diagonally right to left, ending at hip)
#2 - Drop your entire body low, guard your head, then low backhand diagonal to knee
#3 - Still down low, forehand diagonal strike to knee
#4 - Raise up to standing, backhand diagonal strike to shoulder (cuts left to right, ending at hip)
#5 - Forehand thrust to opponent's solar plexus

Remember, strikes 1 to 4 in this pattern are Lobtik strikes, they cut through the entire body, rather than bouncing back to where they started like a Witik. For revision, also remember the 'fan' strike that we practiced - the Abaniko.

Between lesson practice the striking patterns with whatever you can at home (without breaking the lights or you Mum's favourite vase). Use your extended fingers, a pen or pencil, a folding umbrella, a spatula... it's not really important what you use, but it is important that you practice a lot and build the muscle memory.

If you aren't sure of anything remember to ask one of your instructors! Good students ask questions, it's the best way of learning!

Yellow belts all...

Congratulations to all our class of yellow belts who graded at the Academy on Saturday 2nd February 2008!



The entire group passed their pre-grading fitness and theory tests with flying colours the previous week, earning the right to move up from orange to yellow belt, or to gain their first green tag at yellow level.

I am especially proud to see everyone coming along so well as this is the first full group to grade, after my first full year assisting Alex with the Junior Black Belt programme. The class also only had one month to fully get to grips with the new yellow belt grading syllabus, which has now been expanded and fully revised.

As always, keep up the training. We're looking for continued improvement. OOS!

5 count B

5 count B uses the same strikes introduced in 5 count A but in a different order. This might be useful when you find you hand in a different position, as it might not be possible to recover position to use the previous count. Alternatively you might use it so as to be more unpredicatable in you strike patterns.

5 count B

(Assumes right stance, for left stance swap the directions)

#1 - Forehand diagonal strike (right shoulder to left hip)

#2 - Backhand horizontal strike (left hip to right hip)

#3 - Forehand horizontal strike (right hip to left hip)

#4 - Backhand diagonal strike (left shoulder to right hip)

#5 - Forehand straight thrust to midsection

5 count A

- Using triangular footwork on the X pattern (introduced in basic empty hands lessons in 2007). Stepping forward right, forward left, backward right, backward left to introduce both left and right leads from various postions and encourage bilaterality.

- 5 count A (Basic Inosanto count)


#1 - Right diagonal lobtik

#2 - Backhand diagonal lobtik

#3 - Right horizontal lobtik

#4 - Backhand horizontal lobtik

#5 - Right straight / thrust


- Relate to empty hands - R overhand, L overhand, R hook, L hook, straight R.

- Introduce terms for different strike types: 'Lobtik', 'Witik' and 'Abaniko'.