Jeet Kune Do (JKD)
“When you fight, fight not only with the body, and not only with your mind, but with your entire spirit.”
— BRUCE LEE
Become Part of the Legend!
Introduction to Jeet Kune Do
Jeet Kune Do, often abbreviated as JKD, is a revolutionary martial art created by the legendary Bruce Lee. Supporting all of the physical movements in Jeet Kune Do is a philosophy that encourages self-expression, adaptability, and efficiency in combat. JKD prioritizes simplicity, and directness. This combination of movement and philosophy empowers individuals to discover their unique strengths and use them effectively.
Principles and Philosophy
Central to Jeet Kune Do are its main principles: Always Think Hit, Simplicity, Efficiency, and Using the Longest Weapon to the Nearest Target. These principles guide all aspects of training. The concept of intercepting with a "hit" shifts all aspects of movement into an offensive nature. The training is a refinement meant to overcome opponents who are skilled, stronger, bigger, and/or faster.
Benefits and Beyond
To train in Jeet Kune Do is to look truthfully at oneself. The ego must be put to the side so that movements can be seen more clearly. Then refinement can truly begin. This approach will extend beyond combat, helping the individual continue to grow and become more of themselves in all aspects. Jeet Kune Do shifts from martial training to application in all aspects of Life.
Jeet Kune Do Stages of Cultivation
Partiality is the compartmentalized person. You have lots of extreme and you are trying lots of different things. Bruce’s symbol for this stage was the two halves of the yin yang, separate, not touching, and without the circle in each half. He called it the running to extremes.
Fluidity is when you can take what happens as it comes. Bruce Lee called this two halves of one whole and his symbol was the complete yin yang with two arrows going around the yin yang. This symbolized that these two halves are always relating, we’re always in a place of totality.
Emptiness, which Bruce Lee called the formless form. This is when you exist in a stage of natural response and you let go of all technique. The third stage is about freedom. You don’t have to live in the third stage all the time, it is achieved in moments of action in real life situations. Stage 3 is the automatic response of the skillful warrior.
Jeet Kune Do
Joel Ledlow
Owner/Head Instructor Joel Ledlow has over 35 years of experience in movement. He is a 5th-degree Duo Ji Kung Fu black belt under Ed Monaghan. He is also a full instructor in Jeet Kune Do under Jerry Poteet, who trained with Bruce Lee in Los Angeles. These ranks award him the title of “Sifu,” meaning teacher.
Read Sifu Joel's extensive background here.
