#3 Jeet Kune Do
Jeet Kune Do was founded in Seattle Washington, USA in 1964. Jeet Kune Do, or JKD as it is known as today, was originally called Jun Fan Gung Fu. The term ‘Jun Fan Gung Fu’ was derived from Bruce Lee’s Chinese name Lee Jun-Fan.
JKD is a modern Kung Fu style that was developed by Bruce Lee and Dan Inosanto. It is essential to note that Lee had always stated that JKD is not a traditional martial art style. He deemed JKD to be the usage of whatever martial art techniques one has learnt over one’s life.
Unlike traditional Kung Fu styles, where martial arts outside of the Kung Fu styles were considered inferior, JKD involves the usage of any and every method of the art of fighting. Lee emphasised on realism in fighting and severely condoned the rigidity of traditional martial arts.
According to Lee, the traditional martial arts styles that lay excessive focus on one’s stance were like ‘dry water swimming’. He stated that a martial artist should be able to dodge and counter his opponent’s attacks, from any angle and any stance.
There are a few essential points that make JKD stand apart from most traditional martial art forms. Some of them are as follows-
The Straight Lead punch was anointed by Lee as the most essential and dynamic strike in JKD. The lead hand in JKD is supposed to be held in an extended jabbing position, and its usage must be focused on speed more than power.
The thing about the straight lead in JKD, as opposed to boxing or Muay Thai, is that the Lee encouraged the punch to be thrown from any angle, regardless of the stance. Secondly, Lee’s main focus was always on keeping the strike simple and non-telegraphed.
JKD focuses on explosiveness and emphasises sudden, non-telegraphed movements. Any kind of twitching, curling or loading up is discouraged in JKD. The emphasis is on throwing a strike from whatever position you are in, in relation to your opponent.
Lee’s philosophy ‘Be like water’ is further emphasised in JKD. JKD encourages its practitioners to be fluid, dynamic and free-minded. Lee always stated that fighting is dynamic and changes from moment to moment.
JKD discourages rigidity and technical restrictions, whilst encouraging open-mindedness, along with the usage of fighting techniques from whatever martial art one loves. The emphasis is on tagging the opponent with a strike that reaches him in the least amount of time, with the maximum amount of force.
JKD encourages one to use techniques that are simple and teaches its students to use simple moves in a fight. JKD teaches its students to use straightforward manoeuvres more than flashy techniques. Another important teaching of JKD is ‘Interception’.
In order to hit you, an opponent has to reach you. In the process of reaching you to attack you, the opponent gives you an opportunity to intercept him and counter. JKD states that merely blocking an attack isn’t enough. Instead, a JKD practitioner is encouraged to evade and counter his opponent.
Furthermore, JKD emphasises parrying rather than blocking. If avoiding a strike isn’t a viable option, JKD teaches its students to parry the opponent’s strikes and counter the opponent with a lead punch or lead kick.
This brings us to yet another important point in JKD; kicks. JKD focuses on low kicks and leg kicks, targeted at the opponent’s shins, knees, thighs and calves. The reason behind this is the JKD principle of throwing strikes that travel to your opponent in the least amount of time.
However, like all of the JKD principles, nothing is set in stone; JKD allows its students to use whatever strike works best, provided that the opportunity presents itself. JKD also involves the usage of trapping one’s opponents and grappling. Grappling techniques in JKD involve the usage of several Jiu Jitsu submission techniques.
JKD sounds like a great option for an aspiring MMA fighter. So the question that arises is, why aren’t MMA fighters training extensively in JKD like they do in boxing, BJJ, etc?
The answer behind this lies in the theory of JKD propagated by Lee. Lee had stated that JKD is not a traditional Kung Fu style, therefore, readily borrows effective techniques from various other martial arts such as boxing, Jiu Jitsu, etc.
One can safely assume that several basic techniques in JKD are borrowed from other martial arts such as Wing Chun, karate and traditional Kung Fu, among others.
Secondly, although the basic premise of JKD is excellent (the theory that one must only use the strikes that reach the target in the minimum amount of time), JKD shares this belief with virtually every other martial art.
Add to this the fact that JKD borrows footwork and movement from traditional Kung Fu styles, and most JKD students realise that JKD is basically just a cocktail of all ancient Kung Fu styles. Therefore, one can learn traditional Kung Fu and learn footwork and fighting stance rather than simply rely on one’s reflexes.
JKD has the pre-requisition of having excellent, cat-like reflexes. This is something that is not necessarily possessed by every JKD practitioner. This, in turn, serves to further reduce the effectiveness of JKD inside an MMA cage.
If an MMA fighter stands with a JKD practitioner, they have a chance at catching the JKD fighter off-balance due to the absence of a proper stance in JKD. And on the mat, MMA fighters being proficient in BJJ, can overcome the basic holds and pins of a JKD fighter.
Nevertheless, the principles of JKD are built on a strong foundation. Even though JKD itself doesn’t have much practical usage in an MMA cage, the aforementioned principles of JKD can definitely be imbibed by MMA fighters in order to provide a strong killer instinct inside the cage. JKD is an all-inclusive martial art.
