Tao of Jeet Kune Do (by Bruce Lee) Book Excerpts

 Hello Everyone !!!

Tao of Jeet Kune Do is a book expressing Bruce Lee's martial arts philosophy and viewpoints, published in 1973. Here I am sharing some excerpts from the book.

1. Intro :

a) The path to truth :--

1. Seeking after truth
2. Awareness of truth
3. Perception of truth; its substance and direction.
4. Understanding it
5. Experiencing it
6. Mastering it
7. Forgetting it
8. Forgetting carrier of truth
9. Return to the primal source where truth has its roots
10. Repose in the nothing

b) The natural weapons of humans have 2 purpose :--

1. To destroy opponent in front. Annihilation of things standing in the way of peace, justice and humanity.
2. To destroy your own impulses caused by instincts of self-preservation. To destroy anything bothering your mind. Overcome your own greed, anger and folly. Jeet Kune Do (JKD) is directed towards oneself.

c) The facts of JKD :-- 

1. The economy-tight structure in attack and defense. (Attack- the alive leads/ defense -sticking hands)
2. The versatile and "artless-artful", "total" kicking and striking weapons.
3. The broken rhythm, half-beat, and the one or 3-1/2 beat (JKD rhythm in attack and counter)
4. Weight-training, scientific supplementary training, all-round fitness.
5. The JKD direct movement in attacks and counter-throwing from where it is without repositioning. 
6. The shifty body and light footwork.
7. The "un-crispy" stuff and unassuming attacking tactics.
8. Strong in-fighting --

          Shifty  blasting, throwing, grappling, immobilization. 

      9. All-out sparring and actual contact training on moving targets.

      10. The sturdy tools through continuous sharpening.

      11. Individual expression and aliveness.

      12. Total in structure.

      13. The training of continuity of expressive self behind physical movements.

      14. Loose power and powerful thrust-drive as a whole. A springy looseness and a pliable mental awareness.

      15. The constant flow of straight and curved movement combined, up and down, curved left and right, sidesteps, bobbing and weaving, hand circles.

      16. Well balanced posture of exertion during movement, constantly. Continuity between near all-out and near all-loose.

2. Qualities :  

a) Tips :--

• Expose yourself to various conditions and learn.
• A person who forces himself to the limit can keep going as long as necessary.
• Extraordinary effort, highly emotionalized conditions, a true determination to win at all costs will release the tremendous store of reserve power latent in the human body. Closely tie winning to your ideals and dreams.
• Learn to perform at top speed all the time. Work close to your capacity at all time and in doing so, form an attitude of giving all you have.

b) Use attitude to create :-- 

Evasiveness with very light movement, devastating attacks, speed, natural dynamics, deception and slipperiness, stickiness and directness, complete ease.

c) Essentials :--

Coordination, precision, power, endurance, balance, body feel, good form, vision awareness, speed, timing and attitude.

3. Tools :

a) Some weapons :--

• Leg techniques
• Hand techniques
• Elbow techniques
• Head-butt
• Grappling - Wrestling, Judo

b) Mental cultivation :--

J. Krishnamurti teachings, Zen Buddhism philosophy, Taoism philosophy.

c) Conditioning :--

• General - running, flexibility
• Specialized - boxing, kicking, wrestling
• Strength - weights, special apparatus

d) Nutrition :--

• Break-down
• Build-up
• Muscular diet

4. Mobility :

a) The 8 principles of distance in attack :--

• Use the longest tool to get at the closest.
• Non-telegraphic movements
• Correct on-guard position to facilitate freedom of movement
• Constant shifting of footwork to secure correct measure
• Catching the opponent's moment of weakness, physically, as well as psychologically.
• Correct measure for explosive penetration.
• Quick recovery or appropriate follow-ups
• Courage and decision.

b) The 4 principles of distance in defense :--

• Combine sensitive Aura with coordinated footwork.
• Good judgement of the opponent's length of penetration.
• Correct on-guard position to facilitate freedom of movement
• Use of controlled balance in motion without moving out of position.

c) Footwork :--

• Firmness in movement is essential, which is real, easy and alive. The main theme is springiness and alertness.
• The length of the forward and backward is regulated to that of his opponent.
• Retain the balance and fundamental stance.
• Every movement involves coordination of hands, feet and brain.
• Use the feet cleverly to maneuver and combine balanced movement with aggression and protection.

d) The 5 Factors :-- 

• Sensitivity of Aura
• Aliveness and naturalness 
• Instinctive pacing, i.e., distance and timing.
• Correct placement of body
• Balanced position at end

e) The 4 possible moves :--

• Advancing
• Retreating
• Circling right
• Circling left
  

5. Attack :

a) The psycho-physical process of attack :--

• Survey- It is entirely mental. It can be definable or instinctive.
• Decision to execute attack with alertness.
• Acton with mental and physical alertness
• Conserve your energy but attack decisively, confidently and with a single mind.

b) The 2 basic moments of attack :--

• When our own will decides the time of attack.
• When the moment of attack depends upon the opponent's movement/ failure of his action.

c) Concentrate sufficiently, sense the moment of attack, act swiftly and decisively.

d) Primary attacks :--

Initiated with the intention of scoring by pace, fraud (deception, evading, feint), force.

e) Secondary attacks :--

These are intended to out-maneuver attacks initiated by opponent in any of the 3 stages --

• On the preparation.
• On the development or timing anticipation
• On the completion, after primary attacks opponent diverted.

f) To attack, take advantage of opponent's weakness and avoid the strength.

g) Observe the opponent's reactions, habits, preferences and dictate your attacks by the form of defense used by the opponent.

h) The attack proper must remain simple.

i) To distract the opponent's attention and gain distance, the tactics to be deployed may be a variation of distance, attacks on closer targets and a combination of attacks to disturb.

j) Conditioning is a process whereby a specific stimulus will cause a specific reaction. A repeated stimulus eventually creates an action pattern in nervous system. Once this pattern is established, the mere presence of stimulus will cause the specific action, which is instantaneous and almost unconscious.

k) The 3 factors of counter-attack :--

• The lead of the opponent
• The method of avoiding the lead
• The counter blow.

l) The 2 types of simple attacks :--

• Direct attack on the absence of touch, engagement, change of engagement or step forward with or without the above.
• Indirect attack with disengagement on the beat, engagement, change of engagement, or with a step forward.

m) The 5 ways of attack :--

• Simple angle attack
• Hand immobilizing attack 
• Progressive indirect attack
• Attack by combination
• Attack by drawing

n) The 6 diseases :--

• The desire for victory
• The desire to resort to technical cunning
• The desire to display all that has been learnt
• The desire to owe the enemy
• The desire to play the passive role
• The desire to get rid of whatever disease one is affected by

Thanks for Reading !!!