Bruce Lee and The Development of Jeet Kune Do

In 1975, Bruce Lee, born Lee Jun Fan, gained favorable testimony with the release of his book, "The Tao of Jeet Kune Do." Unfortunately his untimely death occurred a couple years back in 1973. The idea for his book began three years earlier during at which time Bruce was bed-written for six months with a back injury during one of his training sessions. This was a very distressful time for Bruce during his recovery. Always active, Bruce never submitted to any weakness and was always on the go. He had to constantly push himself to the limit.

Before studying martial arts, Lee started acting and appeared in a variety of chinese films. Such films included where "Boys on The Street", "The Kid" and "The Orphan" just to name a few. Lee played mostly a juvenile delinquent in these roles and won alot of critical praise for his acting. It was during that time when Bruce learned some Tai Chi from his father Lee Hoi Chun, who was a film and stage actor as well, but never really committed to it due to his busy schedule acting.

Find out more about Bruce Lee and his fighting method by clicking here.

Bruce's real teachings began at age 14 when he learned the Kung Fu style of Wing Chun under the great master Yip Man. It was then that Lee became increasingly involved in Wing Chun and soon caught on very soon. Wing Chun is a southern kung fu art that involves chi sao (sticky hands), mook yan jong (wooden dummy) and various other forms that use mainly 60 percent upper body techniques (punches, blocks, grabbing, strikes, etc.) and 40 percent lower body (kicks and stances). Wing Chun was the foundation and seed development in the basis of Lee's Tao of Jeet Kune Do.

With this training and experience as fighter, Bruce understood that traditional hand-to-hand combat was too "fixed" and patterned. In order to make any fighting sytem to be effective, it should best be kept simple. He never saw any system of martial art better or superior than the other despite controversy of which style was best. What is important that the movements be direct, simple, fluid and "non-classical." This was the basis of his new philosophy in martial arts. This was the beginning works of the Tao of Jeet Kune Do.


Very Rare Footage of Bruce demonstrating his Jeet Kune Do

Lee believed that in order to become a greater fighter, one had to train physically harder than the traditional form of martial arts. This included rigorous weight training for strength development, biking and running for cardiovascular endurance and constant stretching for optimal flexibility. Day in and day out this became a constant cycle. Although physical training was important, proper diet and added supplementation was essential to his workouts. Lee understood the benefits of a healthier and strong body. This helped to achieve the perfect "human weapon" in him for both the mind and body.

Bruce was driven to become an overall human speciman. He always strived for perfection and pushed himself to the very limit. In his book "The Tao of Jeet Kune Do," he is quoted saying "Having no limitation as limitation." This meant to find true freedom within and without any confinement or limits. This quote can also be seen embedded on the Jeet Kune Do logo as well. He quotes it better when he said: "If you always put limit on everything you do, physical or anything else. It will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them."

Bruce was no fool if anyone thought otherwise. His mind was as equally and as powerful as his body was. In 1960, he earned a diploma at Edison Technical School in Seattle and majored in philosophy at The University of Washington for three years. His personal collection of literature contained well over 2000 books which comprised a variety of subjects including martial arts, poetry and philosophy. It is of no wonder that he excelled greatly in his practice and training.

What he discovered in his research was that most traditional martial arts being taught had contained major flaws. Most of these flaws consisted of pointless techniques and too many repetitious forms. Lee noted these mistakes even with modern day styles and knew they where useless and not effective in a real life combat situation. He felt he needed to intervene and was compelled to fix these defects.


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Jeet Kune Do, which means "The Way of the Intercepting Fist," is a concept of learning shared new ideas to make fighting less complicated. It is not meant to "systemize" but to simplify one's existing martial art. Lee was very clear that everyone understood this. He selectively chose different styles of martial arts and gathered them together to see what worked and what didn't. These styles included Wing chun, Karate, Judo, Wrestling, Kempo, Muay Thai, Savate and yes even Boxing!

Bruce trained others who already had some martial arts backgrounds and shared some new ideas in the development of his beloved Jeet Kune Do. The idea was not to see which style was better but to find the most effective way to win in a fight situation. This was the true sprit of Jeet Kune Do. Finding self-discovery in ourselves. Not to be confined or limited to one style but to explore other pugilist arts that will greatly increase our progress to become more efficient fighters. Jeet Kune Do is like a tool that fixes things. With no means to replace a style but to enhance it.

When Bruce Lee died, much was talked and debated at that time on how this great legend had passed away. Rumors spread throughout the world which helped fuel his legacy to even greater heights. The truth is that it doesn't matter how he left us but really how great his achievements where in his lifetime. His philosophy was direct and straight to point. There was no secret or mystery to the man. He was who he was and never held back anything. Bruce never intended to divide the martial arts but to bring it together. All who where close to him could testify to that. His book The Tao of Jeet Kune Do was never completed but thanks to his widow Linda Lee Caldwell, Dan Inosanto and others who knew him best where fortunate enough to do so.

We miss you.

In many retrospects, Bruce Lee has truly been a cultural phenomenon in the world of action cinema and the martial arts community. From his "cool" looks and "ripped" body to a good impersonation, almost every martial artist or enthusiast wants to be like him. Instructors and practioners alike to this day will quote or reference his teachings and philosophy. There's no doubt that Lee has become a strong influence not only in martial arts but throughout the entire world. Bruce Lee's legacy will truly live on.

Learn Bruce Lee's the Tao of Jeet Kune Do fighting method by clicking here