History – Cornerstone Jeet Kune Do

History & Lineage

Why Lineage & Tradition Matter

Nothing comes from nowhere. And while truth is more important than tradition, truth is passed down via teachers and their systems. To say, therefore, that tradition doesn’t matter at all, and/or be hostile to it, is a vain and destructive thing because it blows up the possibility of true knowledge. (Again…we’re back to the wonderful mysteries of “the one and the many”). If lineage doesn’t matter at all, then each teacher/student/generation is an end in and of themselves. This means there’s no transfer of wisdom from one generation to the next. So, truth is paramount and is transmitted via teachers. In our case a Sifu. Being able to trace one’s lineage, therefore, is of critical importance for both the nature of the truth and the character of the person who’s teaching. The first shows the system of truth to which they hold and teach and the second displays the integrity and honesty of the teacher.

Bruce Lee didn’t pop out of nowhere. He learned from Ip Man and others (as we’ll detail) and that information was passed down (lineage) from instructors (a Sifu) to us. This means that lineage is history and history is about people and their stories as well as their ideas. In that way, this makes all of us in JKD a family. In this section we’ll detail the Cornerstone JKD family starting, of course, with Bruce Lee since he’s the founder of the system. We hope you enjoy it. In fact, we hope it encourages you greatly because a family is a special, wonderful and beautiful thing. We think history is cool. And though we don’t worship our lineage and history (tradition) we have all learned from it. Remember: everything, including us, come from somewhere.

Lineage and history/tradition are relevant for another reason too. They are philosophically and ethically essential to the learning, maintaining, and passing down of a combat system for the purpose of self-defense. Why? Think about it: what causes conflict in the first place? Selfishness. Disrespect. A martial system is a system built around and held together by a code. Samurai. Marines. You name it. Someone who says, “I matter more than the family (unit, or others)” is not trustworthy. Moreover, in their pride they miss the critical contradiction in their rebellion: they expect (demand) that others be loyal to them even while they are loyal only to themselves.

A crucial piece of Jeet Kune Do history. Bruce Lee with his Sifu, Ip Man

Sure, there are plenty of examples of broken lineages due to tyranny from the top. But that doesn’t invalidate, as we said, the philosophical necessity of lineage. We all need to learn from somewhere and the relationships between student to their teachers, teachers to their students, and teachers to the one(s) who taught them, is, perhaps, the easiest gauge of character available to us. An (alleged) Sifu who has no code or respect, no lineage, no self-control, is abusive, and illogical, is like a personal trainer eating cookies while you work out. It’s like a Fire Chief playing with matches. Again, we point out that Bruce Lee was both highly innovative/creative and loyal to his Sifu.

The photo of Lee with Ip Man as they were having tea in Hong Kong is an official statement. It states that Lee acknowledged Ip Man as his Sifu and Ip Man, while not endorsing JKD for his own, was not renouncing his pupil either. It shows exactly what we’re talking about. Respect. Relationships. Honesty. Without these qualities there is always violence and conflict. That’s why a martial system upholds them and we should too.

Hong Kong Era

Bruce Lee's Wing Chun Sifu, Ip Man

There simply is no JKD without Ip Man.

Born in 1893 in Foshan, China.
Trained under Chan Wah Shun who taught only 16 disciples over 36 years.

Let that sink in and consider how few people in the world knew this amazing martial art until Ip Man and Bruce Lee burst on the scene.

Chan’s students included Ng Siu Lo, Ng Chung So, Chan Yu Min, and Lui Yu Jai. Ip Man was Chan’s last student. Ip Man’s training may have started when he was as young as 7 in 1901. Before he died, Chan asked his senior student, Ng Chung So to continue teaching Ip Man.

Ip Man continued his training until he was 15 at which point he moved to Hong Kong to pursue his academic studies at St. Francis College.

While there, Ip Man, still a teenager, famously defeated a foreign police officer in a fight using his Wing Chun. Hong Kong was under occupation and the officer was abusing an old lady who had difficulty crossing a street fast enough. This fight, quite naturally, became the talk of the city and shows Ip Man’s skill and, more importantly, his moral character and willingness to stand up for the weak.

Word of this fight led to Ip Man meeting, training, and even living with Leung Bik, the eldest son of Grandmaster Leung Jan of Foshan (and Chan Wah Shun’s teacher). Leung Bik was a doctor/herbalist, an educated man, as was Ip Man. Since Leung Bik had no son of his own to pass along the inheritance of the Wing Chun system he adopted Ip Man as his disciple.

Ip Man returned to China and after the war he took up the post of “Captain of Local Police Patrols of Namho.”

In 1949 Mao took over China and Ip Man learned that he, being a landowner, martial artist (being called Sifu was illegal in communist China), and police officer, would be arrested. He fled to Hong Kong.

Hong Kong of that era was tumultuous and poverty stricken.

Ip Man received permission from the Restaurant Workers’ Union Hall to teach.

“Wing Chun is very logical. As long as the art remains logical, it doesn’t matter what you call it…if it’s logical, if it works, then you can use it to make the art your slave…”

— WONG SHUN LEUNG

“Wing Chun doesn’t only teach you how to fight, it teaches you how to have balance in life, to be a judge of circumstances.”

— WONG SHUN LEUNG

“When I started learning from Bruce he said that he was teaching me Wing Chun.”

— JESSE GLOVER

“Wing Chun never talks about blocking an attack, but rather to counter with another attack. Offense is the best form of defense.”

— WONG SHUN LEUNG

Wong Shun Leung

At 18 and on Chinese New Year in 1953, Wong came in to challenge Ip Man’s school.

Wong was the son of an educated man and a very disciplined thinker and person who had no tolerance for tall tales and myth.

He made short work of two students there that night (the seniors’ were not there due to the holiday) using his boxing skills.

Ip Man said, “I’ll play with you,” and then proceeded to shut down the young man, pin him to the wall, hands trapped, and gently whack him about with lightning fast strikes. This happened repeatedly before Wong was convinced he wanted to learn Wing Chun.

Wong learned quickly and with the blessing of Ip Man engaged in up to 100 challenge fights on the streets of Hong Kong (Beimo). Wong was undefeated and famous throughout the city. He became known as Gong Sau Wong (King of Talking Hands).

Wong was put in charge of Lee’s training by Ip Man and though he wasn’t Sijo Lee’s direct Sifu in Wing Chun, he was his mentor and senior in the Ip Man Wing Chun family.

Bruce Lee would say later to Jesse Glover that Wong was the best fighter he ever saw.

Before Lee died in July 1973 he spent hours and hours at his home one day (and night) with Wong where he showed his progress and ideas. Wong was very impressed Lee’s astonishing speed, conditioning and skill.

All those who say that Bruce Lee utterly repudiated Wing Chun must ignore this historical event. Was Bruce Lee better than Wong Shun Leung at this point? That’s not how “skill comparisons” work in the Chinese/Wing Chun tradition. Wan Kam Leung, who was there with his Sifu, Wong Shun Leung, reports that Bruce Lee’s kicks were devastating and fast.

He also said that Wong Shun Leung, though his Beimo fighting days were long over (almost 20 years at that point) was still able to impress Bruce Lee with his close-range skills.

We submit to the reader that this exchange shows the deep connection between Sifu/Sihing and student, and Jeet Kune Do to Wing Chun.

The Legend Begins

Bruce Lee was the son of a wealthy father but, nevertheless, was eager to make his name in violent Hong Kong. He started a gang, “The Tigers of Junction Street.”

Sijo Lee had several fights but always with his gang with him. Worried how he’d fare without backup, he went to seek the best fighting system in Hong Kong of the time.

WSL remembered Lee as cocky, with an almost “Elvis like air” about him.

Ip Man accepted Lee as a student and only after Bruce irritated classmates and they found out his mother, Grace, was of German descent, the Grandmaster put Wong in charge of Lee’s training

Wong trained Lee for both a Beimo rooftop fight and a boxing match, which Lee won.

The ideas that went on to become famous (“be like water” and so on) were planted in Hong Kong by Ip Man and Wong Shun Leung.

All of this is important because it shows that Bruce Lee hadn’t finished the Wing Chun system, nor was he the head of the Ip Man Wing Chun school. He was, though, a fighter (contrary to the naysayers today who believe life began when the UFC started). Lee had many fights in Hong Kong and worked ardently at his skill.

Summer 1959 – July 1964

Seattle Era

Possibly due to complications from fighting (and badly beating) the son of a Triad member, Bruce Lee left Hong Kong in November of 1958 and moved to Seattle.

Lee worked for a short time at Ruby Chow’s restaurant.

It was here that he met Fook Yeung who was sort of an uncle to him because Fook had worked in theatre with Lee’s father back in China.

Though Fook Yeung was clearly a martial artist, there’s no strong evidence that he completed Lee’s Wing Chun training. To say otherwise is speculative at best and rather unlikely.

Fook Yeung was a veteran of Cantonese Opera and the famous Red Boats on the Pearl River Delta. Like Bruce’s father, he was a performer and was greatly knowledgeable in the martial arts.

Lee began studying philosophy in college and took his first students.

Early Students

Jesse Glover, Ed Hart, and Taky Kimura were among Lee’s first students.

Lee taught them his modified Wing Chun and called it Jun Fan gung-fu.

All students of this Seattle era learned a very explosive, street oriented version of Wing Chun that Lee had learned (and fought with) in Hong Kong from his teachers.

Lee wasn’t authorized by Ip Man to teach Wing Chun so he was careful not to disrespect his master. Calling it Jun Fan gung-fu was a compromise of necessity considering he loved the art, the training…the TRUTH about combat, and was thousands of miles away from his Wing Chun family.

This shows a fascinating aspect of Bruce Lee and how he carefully and creatively showed respect for his lineage while forced by circumstances to forge his own way.

It’s easy for Americans unlearned in the specifics of Chinese codes to miss this critical issue altogether.

Though Lee sought the truth of combat ardently, he loved and respected the men who set him on that path (Ip Man & Wong Shun Leung).

Jesse Glover began training with Lee in late ’59 and went on to teach what he learned as “Non-Classical Gung Fu” or NCGF.

Taky Kimura was given instructor rank by Lee in mid-1963. He is the highest ranking student of Bruce Lee.

Lee was highly productive in this period. At the back of Ruby Chow’s restaurant he set up a wooden dummy. Along with Fook Yeung Lee began to develop “dummy sets” as more practical training based off the Wing Chun Mook Yan Jong form.

Fights in Seattle

Being young and eager to make a name for himself, Lee gave many demos.

He sometimes irritated other martial artists with his boldness.

In one instance he fought a Karate black belt in a handball court in mutual combat. He finished the fight in mere seconds. There were multiplied witnesses to this event.

Lee was obviously very talented, philosophical, charismatic, skilled, and fierce.

Many of his early students such as Jesse Glover and James Demile loved the combat effectiveness of Lee’s modified Wing Chun.

This early group reflected Bruce’s temperament and maturity at the time. They were tough street-wise fighters.

Bruce met his future wife, Linda, during this period as she was one of the students he picked up while doing demonstrations.

Word of Lee’s prowess, speed, and philosophical talent spread.

To gain an understanding of the type of skill taught in Seattle one is encouraged to look at footage of Jesse Glover.

Think of Mike Tyson as a Wing Chun man and you get the idea.

“Ip Man had largely tried to forget his forms to more freely express himself in combat.”

— DAVID PETERSON, QUOTING HIS SIFU WONG SHUN LEUNG

Ip Man to Bruce Lee

Remember that only 10 or so years before Lee left Hong Kong for Seattle that only a very few people in the world knew Wing Chun.

At first, when Ip Man was forced to teach (by economic circumstances due to political persecution by communism) he taught “the old way.”

He charged a very high fee that only the educated and rich could afford.

He later changed this approach and made Wing Chun accessible to the average person.

He also shared information in the “old way” – slowly – and only to the inner circle.

Bruce Lee poured out information to one and all.

This approach, like all things, has strengths and weaknesses.

One weakness is that it allows people with poor character to learn combat art and, in some cases, teach others.

A strength is that more people can learn and test what is working or not.

No approach is perfect but it’s important for us to know the context.

Lee learning Wing Chun was already not classical or traditional. He was building atop a foundation given to him.

Bruce Lee and Jeet Kune Do united the ideas of East and West in a unique way – science, innovation, creativity, freedom, and, yet, respect for elders and the past.

Do JKD Instructors & Students Need Seattle Material?

Yes!

To ignore the material and historical context is like starting a book in the middle.

Watch Jesse Glover or early Lee students and decide for yourself if they could fight well. They clearly could. Lee’s “Jun Fan Gung Fu” was extremely combat effective.

This period also shows that the early Wing Chun students were not messing around!

It also shows us how Wing Chun was intended to be applied and developed because Bruce Lee was taught this approach by Ip Man.

Thus, Wing Chun wasn’t a hindrance to Lee and Jeet Kune Do, but the foundation and seed of it.

Lee’s modifications to the material he learned in Hong Kong is valid and should be studied precisely because of Lee’s creative genius and the fact that he was creative with core principles of the art (Wing Chun) he learned from the recognized Grandmaster, Ip Man himself.

Jun Fan Gung-Fu isn’t the rambling mess of an egotist but the creative and logical work of a verified student of Master Ip Man himself.

In this way we see the paradox of how tradition, hard work, and logical creativity all work together.

July 1964 – March 1966

Oakland Era

The second “phase”

Bruce & Linda moved to Oakland.

Major students like James Lee, Dan Inosanto, and Leo Fong came along in this period.

James Lee (no relation) had begun training with Bruce in 1962. James had written several books on Iron Palm training and was, along with Al Novak, highly innovative in developing training equipment.

Bruce made James an instructor in March of 1964.

Bruce moved into James’ house during the summer of 1964.

Dan Inosanto, an Ed Parker Kenpo black belt, met Bruce in August of 1964 and became his student.

Bruce made trips back to Hong Kong in ’64 and ’65 where he tested his Wing Chun against his seniors and trained with Ip Man.

The famous fight with Wong Jak Man happened during this period in 1964.

Bruce won the fight but was seriously displeased with his performance.

It was at this point that Lee began to more seriously investigate boxing and fencing.

While the case can be made – and should be – that Bruce Lee’s performance against Wong Jak Man was not an indictment against Wing Chun, it did nevertheless expose application weaknesses in his (Lee’s) approach.

Because of Lee’s accomplishments and training in the Ip Man system, his experience and later adjustments are of great educational interest to not only JKD students but Wing Chun men/women too.

At this point Lee was much more concerned about his physical conditioning as he was greatly winded during the long fight.

He also sought longer range skill and hitting power, two aspects he thought missing from his arsenal that would have helped against Wong’s long-range tactics.

Wing Chun critics will point out that Lee’s poor performance was not indicative of shortcomings in Wing Chun for two reasons.

First, Lee was not the Hong Kong clan’s champion. Nevertheless, he was a very advanced fighter at this time.

Second, and more pertinent, the fight was a match of mutual combat and Wong was reticent to engage. Wing Chun teachers are right to point out that this is not the optimal situation in which Wing Chun is meant to be deployed.

Nevertheless, it provided a spark that led to Lee’s ingenious fusing of fencing/boxing material with his Wing Chun (Jun Fan) foundation.

“The technique of a superior system of Gung-fu is based on simplicity.”

— BRUCE LEE

“As the training progressed at the Oakland school, I could see that many of the techniques were evolving into a more simplified method and much of the excessive movement was eliminated. This, I would have to say, was the real beginning of the Jeet Kune Do concepts.”

— GEORGE LEE

“Over the past several years, the Wing Chun system has become erroneously known for its trapping techniques. But the truth is, although trapping hands do have their roots in the Wing Chun system, trapping techniques are more of an American innovation popularized by Bruce Lee. Classical Wing Chun on the other hand, actually emphasizes sticking hands and simultaneous attack and defense at close range.”

— WING CHUN PRACTITIONER, INSIDE KUNG-FU 1980

“True observations begin when one is devoid of set patterns, and freedom of expression occurs when one is beyond system.”

— BRUCE LEE

Further Research & Jun Fan Gung-Fu

This period saw an intensification in Lee’s studies.

Strength training and running became a larger part of his life.

Training emphasis was on, but not limited to: energy/sensitivity drills like chi-sao, interception (Jeet), bridging the gap drills, some grappling Lee thought applicable to street defense, kicking sets, the Jun Fan Mook Jong and dummy sets, and other unique modified drills like the Ng Moon Form (five gates, which Lee apparently developed in 64-65).

In light of all this it’s obviously erroneous to think that Lee didn’t take martial art training seriously. There are some online bloviators who deride Lee and call him “just an actor.” Such an insult is indicative of the critics’ lack of education, character and respect. The evidence is overwhelming that Lee was a serious martial artist.

He was seeking greater and greater performance truth all this time and his research into boxing and fencing was increasing.

French Savate as well as fencing and boxing were seen by Lee as logical extensions of the tactical/technical integration freedom he sought.

The idea of “feinting” (a French term) – generally referred to in history as “falsing” first appeared on Lee’s radar.

“One can say that JKD is built on feints and the actions connected with them.”
— TAO OF JEET KUNE DO

Side Kicks & Savate

Bruce Lee was already using the long side kick to the knee in Seattle.

Fencing and Savate gave him ideas as to application and training.

Some modern Savateurs claim that Lee’s “leaping” and “burning step side kick” are of Savate origin. Jesse Glover says as much too.

As Lee began to rebuild his combat approach, Jesse Glover said that he (Lee) began to investigate the idea of safe range. The range of safety that also provided time to strike/counter was, Glover said, the length of the leg plus one step.

Bruce began to train the burst at this point – the ability to close the gap with a kick or eye jab from long range. He borrowed from fencing and Savate greatly for the footwork and tactical clarity.

This contradicts, by the way, all claims made by men like Jhoon Rhee that they taught Bruce Lee how to kick. According to Lee’s notes and witnesses, he was already using fencing and Savate style footwork and kicks as early as the mid-60’s.

This proves that Lee’s genius was being able to think systematically, not in bits and pieces.

Glover said, “He patterned this kick after one that he saw in the French art of Savate. Over the years he went on to develop a number of other kicks, but this remained his primary leg weapon.”

“The leading shin kick is a potent weapon both in offense and defense…it is a giant killer…is the equivalent to a jab in Western boxing except it is longer and much harder to defend against…is the spearhead of your attack…with a pair of shoes on, the effect can be quite devastating.”
— COMMENTARIES ON THE MARTIAL WAY

The Jeet & Lin Sil Daai Da

In the search for efficiency and truth, it makes perfect sense that interception and simultaneous attack and defense are featured.

The Lin Siu Daai Da, in the words of James Lee, “The very soul and essence of the Oriental system is contained within the old saying ‘Lin Sil, Dae Dar’. This translation means ‘as you eliminate his attack, simultaneously you begin your counterattack.'”

A stop hit requires perfect timing and nerve.

Lee worked on various “stops” including bicep and shoulder stops against punches.

Boxing manuals he studied had various “stops” like Haislet’s book, Boxing, that taught to stop a jab by jabbing with an open hand to cover (block/stop) the foe’s jab.

Though usually thrown on a one/two rhythm, all strokes must be timed appropriately to the enemy’s movements.

The “perfect” fake is the one that secures your lead (you don’t get countered) and opens the target.

Boxing

It is simply not true that Lee only researched boxing after the Oakland phase. Lee had already been exposed to boxing back in Hong Kong and, as you recall, won a sanctioned boxing match against Gary Elms.

Jesse Glover, Ed Hart, and James Demile of the Seattle phase were all familiar with boxing. Ed Hart was a boxer.

Jesse Glover and James Demile both recount how young Bruce Lee fluctuated back and forth during the Seattle era on boxing’s effectiveness.

Glover reports that as early as 1960 Lee was a huge fan of Jack Dempsey and Gene Tunney. In particular, Glover notes, that Bruce devoted lots of time and study to Dempsey’s drop-step and power line.

Lee also studied Tunney and his out-boxing, counter-punching skills.

In a 1965 letter to Taky Kimura Lee suggested three boxing books for study: the U.S. Naval manual on Boxing, Boxing by Edwin Haislet, and Marciano’s Boxing & Bodybuilding.

Many quotes in the Tao of Jeet Kune Do taken from such sources.

Lee derived many drills from the Naval Boxing manual according to Dan Inosanto.

Important Notes on Boxing in JKD

Driscoll & Dempsey both taught a vertical fist delivery for the straight lead.

The British school of straight hitting, with the vertical fist, and upright posture, clearly resembled Lee’s Wing Chun. It’s impossible to miss this connection once your attention is called to it.

Boxing manuals of that era – including the Naval manual, showed the jab and straight lead with a vertical fist.

This age of horizontal fist punching and using the glove for defense is a very recent development and not rooted in the history of fist fighting and boxing as self-defense.

JKD might very easily be understood once one notices the connection between Wing Chun, fencing, Savate, and Driscoll-era boxing.

Boxing was then always understood first as a self-defense method and second as a sport.

Light Sparring

Boxing also brought the option of sparring with safety equipment.

This appealed to Bruce for many reasons as sparring presented a great opportunity to test range, accuracy, tactics and techniques.

It limited the need for Beimo or challenge matches which were highly dangerous and certainly illegal in the States.

With Linda pregnant, it definitely made sense to Lee to not get arrested for fighting.

An easy point to overlook is that boxing gloves and mouthpieces were not readily available throughout history.

Sparring also gave him (and all students) a chance to develop emotional control. Bruce rightly understood after the Wong Jak Man fight that he’d lost his cool and needed to improve.

Summary of Oakland Era

Tons and tons of growth powered by a unique ability to seek the truth and learn from mistakes.

Very few people are able to do both of these things, showing that Bruce Lee was a gifted individual.

His frustration over the WJM fight also shows unique character in that even in victory he was able to honestly critique himself.

A pattern in JKD we should seek to apply to our own lives is the amazing discipline of self-analysis that Lee modeled for us.

1966 – 1971

Los Angeles Era – Birth of Jeet Kune Do

Lee moved his family in order to focus on his primary vocational goal, which was to become a Hollywood actor.

It should be noted that no Chinese actor had ever been a major Hollywood star, nor had there ever been a pure production of a martial artist or martial arts film up to that point.

His achievement of stardom is, therefore, epic and should not be taken lightly.

Some online critics deride him as only an actor, which ignores, as we’ve pointed out, his martial art pedigree (Ip Man lineage) and brilliant work atop it, and the enormity of his film achievements. It’s like saying that Steve Jobs was just a businessman.

Major Breakthroughs

Along with students like Dan Inosanto, who taught many of Lee’s classes at the L.A. school in Chinatown, and Ted Wong, Lee further honed his approach.

He embraced an approach more commensurate with old-school boxing (fencing based) than Wing Chun.

Lee also trained kickboxing champion, Joe Lewis.

Lewis openly expressed and taught the principles and techniques he learned from Lee and used them in his successful competitive career.

The sparring footage of Lee in Long Beach shows the clear development of a long-range interception systematic.

The use of the leading leg stop-kick, and heavy “jolt” stop punch are very obvious in the sparring. He does apply a trap and a throw off of the stop-hits but it’s clear that his focus in JKD is now long-range interception.

Back yard training footage of Lee training with his students show many of these mechanics in training.

Footage of Lee hitting the heavy bag is evidence of his affinity for power punching (Dempsey and Driscoll).

He was also very fond of Ali and his rapier fast jab, footwork, and aliveness.

Watching Bruce train and spar, as well as evidence from his Fighting Method book series, all shows that his Wing Chun roots had led him to a unique mix of Boxing/fencing-style application.

Footage of his fight scene with Dan Inosanto in Game of Death wherein he wears a tracksuit to show non-conformity to set patterns, prove that Lee believed, trained, and taught that “aliveness” was the goal.

It’s a mistake to think that one can gain such aliveness without mechanical skill.

It’s also a mistake to think mechanical skill or “classical routines” are it.

Such is, as we mentioned previously, the paradox of ultimate truth in this world.

“Jeet Kune Do can be said to be the art of feinting and the movements connected to them.”

— TAO OF JEET KUNE DO

Broken Rhythm & Aliveness as Advanced

Sun Tzu said that all warfare is based on deception.

Lee’s “discovery” that deception, broken rhythm, and aliveness in footwork simply came back to this martial truth.

Mechanics are necessary or else the student has no tool that’s combat ready. Just as well, these tools need tactical guidance and goals in which to be deployed.

JKD became, therefore, an advanced game of highly developed tools and conditioning designed to cut off and dominate the enemy via stop-hits, counters, and feints.

Predictable, immobile, set patterns were rejected since they contradicted the above goal (and truth).

The Jeet Conundrum

The simplest goal – to intercept the attack – is also the hardest.

To attack the attack requires expert timing, accuracy and tool development.

Therefore, the interception (Jeet) must be supported by a non-contradictory network of “support staff.”

Footwork that moves the ready-position, parries, slips, checks, traps, beats, etc., are all to be seen within the “Jeet orbit” so as not to make the mistake of over-simplification.

All logical drills and training have this in mind.

Therefore, it isn’t the technical detail alone that matters (to the chagrin of online critics) but the integration of the technical and tactical into the Jeet goal.

Again, this is a perfect example of how ultimate reality is paradoxical but not contradictory. It’s about integration, not relativistic chaos.

“The goal of JKD is simply to simplify.”

— BRUCE LEE

Jeet Kune Do & Simplicity

Bruce Lee, being an educated man, understood that to simplify required a network of supporting tools and tactics that served the main goal.

In a nutshell, this is the “problem of the one and the many.”

All components, training, and tactics are coordinated to serve the main thing (to cut off, to intercept) and those components, training and tactics are not the main thing but a support of it.

This approach avoids the relativism trap that focuses on the diversity of truth at the expense of unity and the hyper-traditional mistake of clinging to a unity devoid of context.

Having No Way as Way

Latter stage JKD was faced with the seeming contradiction of the one and the many.

A seemingly simple interception is not always so easy as many variables, as we’ve said, come into play.

Let us be clear and say that “having no way as way” is logically consistent (true) insofar as we mean that one should be tactically free to utilize their technical skill as necessary toward the goal of self-defense.

It isn’t logically valid or true to claim that one can literally have no way as this is an expression of metaphysical freedom, which is impossible to human beings.

A writer, for example, is creatively free to use language and grammar to create fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and so on. Likewise, a JKD fighter is creatively free to use the principles, tactics, and techniques of JKD as needed for self-defense.

Great confusion comes from not being careful with our definition of “no way as way.” It can’t mean that mankind has no physical laws and truths binding him.

The direct simplicity of the Jeet requires a system: ready position, straight non-telegraphic hits, footwork, and parries, slips, etc.

The goal of interception exists in the orbit of rational self-defense but isn’t the goal itself.

All counters and feints and any other tactic are in service of the primary goal, which is self-defense.

Things like trapping, for example, are valid insofar as they serve the primary goal.

Just because an interception is best doesn’t mean a Pak-Sao and hit are wrong. Context is king.

Decisions on tactical application of techniques are made in the logic of do they logically integrate into the primary goal or contradict it?

To intercept an attack at the earliest moment is the best form of self-defense, yes, but Lee understood that it was stupid to fall on one’s Jeet sword if for whatever reason the interception didn’t work.

This answers the “what is Jeet Kune Do” puzzle.

It is Bruce Lee’s intercepting fist method based on his Wing Chun foundation and applicable studies.

The primacy of Driscoll, Dempsey, fencing, and associated stop-hit methodology is front and center.

The mechanical structures that facilitate the Jeet goal and its backup tactics are literally Jeet Kune Do.

The “problem” of diversity is answered by simply understanding that tactical freedom is not a repudiation of the aforementioned.

The JKD system is designed to be adaptable, unpredictable, and brutally effective toward the goal of moral self-defense.

This system can be taught because all things that exist are something specific (law of identity). To claim otherwise is to reduce all things to absurdity.

Teaching JKD, Lineages & More

First Generation Students

The fact that Bruce Lee died tragically and suddenly thrust many of his former students into the spotlight.

So many people wanted to learn Jeet Kune Do that they logically sought out people who had trained with him.

It is perfectly logical for those who trained directly under Bruce Lee, that is first generation students, to teach others what they learned from him.

This is the logic of lineage and why it’s important.

Naturally, it’s incumbent upon those teachers, to be honest about what they learned, how much training they had with Bruce Lee, and what standards they want for their students.

For example, Jesse Glover trained with Bruce Lee during the Seattle era. This was easily corroborated, and Glover went on to teach material he learned from Bruce according to his personal standards. He called it non-classical gung-fu.

Joe Cowles taught similarly, as did others.

Ted Wong taught much different material than, say, Glover. This made perfect sense, considering the era that each man trained. It also made sense, considering the personal focus and background of those teachers.

It is also important to know if a person spent a little or a lot of time with Bruce Lee as a student.

In one particular case, that of James Demile, there was a bad break up, so to say. The relationship of a student to their Sifu is a very important consideration.

We note that Bruce Lee, though he wasn’t certified to teach Wing Chun by his master, Ip Man, he nevertheless kept a very good relationship with his Sifu.

An easy thing to miss is the latter Hong Kong era in which Bruce Lee was at the height of his stardom, had tea with his Sifu and walked with him down Nathan Road. In America we don’t understand the importance of this. Though Ip Man didn’t openly endorse Lee’s JKD, neither did he repudiate his former pupil either.

This matters because character and consistency matter.

A teacher with poor character, one who betrays or disgraces his Sifu and lineage, should rightly be rejected as an appropriate mentor.

Those first generation students of Bruce Lee, that honestly teach what they learned from him, and were in good standing with him at the time of his death can rightly be said to be legitimate teachers, who can set their own standards for passing along the information so long as it doesn’t contradict the body of work passed to them.

Second Generation Students

Because of the diversity of material in the separate areas of Seattle, Oakland, and Los Angeles, it only stands the reason that many second generation students learned diverse material from the first generation.

Every student personalizes the material and principles they learn from their teacher. This is normal. For example, Paul Vunak, a student of Dan Inosanto, specializes in close quarter combat.

Another example is Lamar Davis. Sifu Lamar learned from several first generation students such as Joe Cowles and Leo Fong, spanning the entirety of the Jun Fan-JKD eras. His knowledge and skill base, therefore, covers the enormity of Jun Fan-JKD history.

Richard Torres is a student of Ted Wong and a scholar/historian of Lee.

Abe Santos is a teacher who learned from Taky Kimura and teaches under that lineage in Seattle.

This is the pattern.

Each of these second generation students has valid lineage and particular focus on their passions.

They teach in accordance to their lineage and standards.

Third and fourth generation students simply need to seek out valid and honest first or second generation students in order to learn.

As with all things, there are differences in the professionalism, skill, and goals of any school or organization.

A valid JKD school believes in and teaches the Jeet Kune Do system as described here according to their lineage and applicable standards.

Like with Boxing, there is a diversity as to the approach and emphasis in training. Mike Tyson’s style was clearly different from Ali’s but we all know they were both boxers.

Jesse Glover and Ted Wong were, as we’ve said, very different, but both students of Lee.

Paul Vunak teaches very differently than his Sifu, Dan Inosanto, but his creative use of the material and principles he learned from the undeniably true lineage of Inosanto is what it is. You may like it or not. We all have our opinions.

Cornerstone JKD Lineage & Philosophy

Again, Lee’s lineage is legit as it runs back through Ip Man and JKD is a valid martial interpretation and creation of Lee based on that foundation.

The core ideas of “have no way as way” and “simplicity” were taught to Lee by Ip Man. To deny this is historically untrue.

Therefore, to deny Wing Chun’s influence is also untrue.

That Lee made modifications to his Wing Chun does not render that previous training illogical. It was, in fact, what he was supposed to do. We can in some ways logically say that JKD is Bruce Lee Wing Chun. That is, if we properly understand the philosophical “marching orders” given to Lee by his Sifu.

Of course, this can easily be misunderstood. It isn’t to say that JKD is Wing Chun. It certainly isn’t. It is its own thing and should be studied as such. But philosophically, structurally and in terms of lineage, Jeet Kune Do is a Wing Chun-based system.

We’re not all going to agree on that but we think the evidence is clear.

Different interpretations of the historical record don’t change the record itself. We don’t disparage any other group for their conclusions or principles and intend to always conduct ourselves, especially when in disagreement, logically and respectfully.

A disrespectful martial art instructor is like a personal trainer eating cookies while they train you.

In Cornerstone JKD, for example, we don’t agree with the JKD Concepts approach. That is our right. What isn’t our right is to claim that Inosanto (the founding father of the movement for the most part) isn’t a valid source. He clearly is as his training under Lee is well attested.

As an Original JKD organization, we naturally disagree with many of the Concepts’ group contentions and conclusions. It’s incumbent upon us, though, to always be respectful in disagreement so as not to renounce the code of martial arts, which is respect.

The Cornerstone JKD approach is one of “principled-pragmatism.” We seek to understand not merely what Lee did, but also why he did it and where he derived his sources.

Whereas Sifu Jason and Sifu Jonathan (Cornerstone founders) have their unique perspective of JKD just like other instructors, they present this website material humbly for your consideration and edification.

Sifu Lamar Davis’ HARDCORE JEET KUNE DO organization is the “mothership” of Cornerstone JKD approach insofar as the historical structures are concerned. Sifu Lamar is, perhaps, the greatest instructor and source available for those seeking to learn exactly what Lee did at each phase of his training. We heartily recommend his work.

Cornerstone’s work is not a repudiation or competition of that, but our personal and philosophical theories and conclusions based off of it.

Cornerstone JKD delves deeply into the sources and their implications as well as Lee’s physical body of work. We strongly believe that JKD is a unique fighting method, a brilliant one, based upon Lee’s training in Ip Man Wing Chun – its structure and concepts – old school, fencing based boxing and associated methods and ideas connected to, but never contradicting them.

Our training and conclusions have led us to a very “Driscoll-esque” modified Wing Chun approach to application and training (as an easy way of putting it).

Having also trained personally with Ted Wong, a first generation student of Lee, whom Lee trained personally from the ground up, we were encouraged to study Lee’s sources more attentively.

Our approach was to take both the “historicist” specificity of Sifu Lamar Davis, the simplicity of Sifu Ted Wong, and the latter’s encouragement to study Lee’s sources more carefully.

We hope this “tour” has been helpful and encouraging. It is certainly not a complete one as that requires much, much more space.