Facts About Jeet Kune Do
- The economy-tight structure in attack and defense (attack: the alive leads/defense: sticking hands).
- The versatile and the "artless-artful," "total" kicking and striking weapons.
- The broken rhythm, the half-beat and the one or three-and-a-half beat (JKD's rhythm in attack and counter).
- Weight training and scientific supplementary training plus all-around fitness.
- The "JKD direct movement" in attacks and counters-throwing from where it is without repositioning.
- The shifty body and light footwork.
- The "un-crispy" stuff and unassuming attacking tactics.
- Strong in-fighting: shifty blasting, throwing, grappling, immobilizations
- All-out sparring and the actual contact training on moving targets.
- The sturdy tools through continuous sharpening.
- Individual expression rather than mass product; aliveness rather than classicalism (true relationship).
- Total rather than partial in structure.
- The training of "continuity of expressive self" behind physical movements.
- Loose power and powerful thrust-drive as a whole. A springy looseness but not a physically lax body. Also, a pliable mental awareness.
- The constant flow (straight movement and curved movement combined-up and down, curved left and right, sidesteps, bobbing and weaving, hand circles).
- Well-balanced posture of exertion during movement, constantly. Continuity between near all-out and near all-loose.
I hope all martial artists are more interested in the root of martial art and not the different decorative branches, flowers, or leaves. It is futile to argue as to which single leaf, which design of branches or which attractive flower you like; when you understand the root, you understand the blossoming.
Please do not be concerned with soft versus firm, kicking versus striking, grappling versus hitting and kicking, long-range fighting versus in-fighting. There is no such thing as "this" is better than "that". Should there be one thing we must guard against, let it be partiality that robs us of our pristine wholeness and makes us lose unity in the midst of duality.