As I’m thinking about what Jeet Kune Do (JKD) actually is, I wanted to identify techniques and principles. In my mind the principles are universal and define what JDK truly is. If you don’t do the principles then you are not doing JKD. Techniques are specific martial arts methods used by Bruce Lee. These should be investigated and the student should, “Absorb what is useful, discard what is not, add what is uniquely your own” (Bruce Lee). Of course this list is not complete and only my thoughts at this moment. This could change over time.
| Techniques | Principles |
| Stance (South paw) | Way of personal development |
| Front Hand Lead: Lead straight punch, speed, fastest, accurate, throw loosely | Absorb what is useful, Discard what is useless |
| Footwork | No Style is style, no form is form |
| Pendulum step | Freedom of expression |
| Straight Punch | Footwork (quick agile, practice jump rope) |
| backfist | Relaxation |
| Finger Jab | Intercepting Fist (offensive/defense) |
| Jab | Offensive: 5 ways of attack (SAA, HIA, PIA, ABC, ABD) |
| Hook | SDA / SAA – Simple Direct Attack or Simple Angulated Attack |
| Cross | ABC – Attack By Combination |
| Shovel hook | PIA – Progressive Indirect Attack |
| corkscrew | HIA – Hand Immobilizing Attack |
| Stop Kick | ABD – Attack By Drawing |
| Groin kick | Defensive: Stop hits & Stop kicks, simultaneous parrying and punching |
| Side Kick | Non-telegraphed punch: loose body |
| Hook Kick | Timing (reaction time) |
| Broken Rythm | |
| Distance | |
| Economy of Motion: Simplest is best, Efficiency, Directness, Simplicity | |
| Simultaneous parrying and punching | |
| Long range, Medium range, close range | |
| Parrying | |
| Blocking | |
| Evading | |
| Redirecting |
Leave a Reply