Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do
Bruce Lee's Way of the Intercepting Fist, was discovered by the late martial artist, Bruce Lee in the late 1960s. Lee's research for developing Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do (JFJKD) lead him to principles of Western boxing and European fencing. Although his previous martial art, Wing Chun, was limited, Lee believed in few of its theories... the centerline and the immovable elbow. Lee then turned to Newtonian Physics (Laws of Motion) and Kinesiology (Human Movement) to understand unarmed combat in a scientific approach. He also emphasized the importance of "Interception". Instead the traditonal way of defend and attack, Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do focuses on attack or "Intercepting" an opponents attack with an attack of ones own. JFJKD consist of three basic principles: simplicity, directness, and non-classical.
Simplicity:
Non-complicated movement.
Not adding on to a technique but to take away, REFINEMENT.
Directness:
The shortest route to the target...from Point A to Point B. Not Point A to Point A1 to Point A2 to Point B
Non-Classical:
Not following traditional limitations, rules, and constrictions of fighting.
Use what is effiecient and practical.
Lee came to the conclusion that all fights are "alive" and unpredictable. In order for one to train in unarmed combat, one must realize that ANYTHING goes. Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do is geared toward streetfighting, not tournament fighting where restrictions are placed on the fighters. Lee believed that tournament fighting was a glorified game of "tag" and it would hinder the possibility for survival against an assailant in the streets.
Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do Core Symbol
Lee describes the core like this ".... the Jun Fan Gung Fu Institute is the symbol of Yin and Yang in which the Yin & Yang (yellow [passive] & red [active]) are two interlocking halves of one WHOLE, each containing within its confines the qualities of its complementaries (not opposites!). Instead of being mutually exclusive, they are mutually dependent and area a function each of the other." - pg. 39 from the book "Letters of the Dragon"
The chinese writing around the core symbol translates to "Using No Way As Way, Using No Limitation As Limitation" - Many people have misinterpreted this phrase to mean, “Use any way you wish and be limitless in these ways”. This is not correct. “Using no way as way” means do not presuppose a way. Be in the moment. Be present. Be open to the best way to meet the moment in which you find yourself, rather than planning before hand what way will be best. “Having no limitation as limitation” means keep an open mind. Do not limit yourself or your thinking. Do not let your beliefs or your style limit your experience.
- from http://www.bruceleefoundation.com
Teachers
Bruce Lee:
Lee was born in San Francisco, California, and raised in Hong Kong until his late teens. His Hong Kong and Hollywood-produced films elevated the traditional Hong Kong martial arts film to a new level of popularity and acclaim, and sparked the second major surge of interest in Chinese martial arts in the West. The direction and tone of his films changed and influenced martial arts and martial arts films in Hong Kong and the rest of the world as well. He is noted for his roles in five feature length films, Lo Wei's The Big Boss (1971) and Fist of Fury (1972); Way of the Dragon (1972), directed and written by Bruce Lee; Warner Brothers' Enter the Dragon (1973), directed by Robert Clouse, and The Game of Death (1978).
Ted Wong:
Wong's first encounter with Bruce Lee was in 1967, in Los Angeles, California, where Lee was giving a Kung Fu seminar. Wong had no martial arts training, and was interested in western boxing and some martial arts. He was so impressed by Lee, however, that he decided to study at Lee's kwoon, the Jun Fan Gung Fu Institute in Los Angeles. Shortly after beginning his studies, Lee accepted Wong as a private student. Wong became Lee's sparring partner and close friend. Wong was present as Lee developed Jun Fan Gung Fu into Jeet Kune Do. He was present to see Lee train other martial artists, including Karate Champion Joe Lewis and basketball star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Wong was one of only a few people to receive rank in the art of Jeet Kune Do by Bruce Lee. Wong never learned another martial art besides what Lee had taught him, thus he never taught anything other than what he learned. Wong gave seminars and continued to teach privately until his death. He coauthored several books about Jeet Kune Do. Some of his students included Lee’s daughter Shannon Lee. Wong was a lifetime board member of the Bruce Lee Foundation and the Jeet Kune Do Society.
Sifu Richard Torres:
Richard Torres, Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do Instructor, studied martial arts at a young age in 1971. His studies brought him to train in various martial arts such as Japanese Karate, Jiu Jitsu (under his father, Pat Torres), and Chinese Kung Fu. It wasn't until the passing of Bruce Lee in 1973 where Richard Torres started to look into the philosophy and science of Jeet Kune Do. He also began to train in Boxing and Kickboxing. After years of studying traditional martial arts, Richard began to research and experiment with the artless art of Jeet Kune Do leading him to help others understand the finer points of punching, kicking, trapping, and grappling. To further his education in Jeet Kune Do, Richard Torres regularly attended seminars hosted by JKD martial artist such as Paul Vunak (student of Dan Inosanto), Richard Bustillo (first generation Bruce Lee Student), and Dan Inosanto (first generation Bruce Lee Student and Bruce Lee's assistant instructor). In June of 1993, Richard Torres started training under Bruce Lee's last private student and friend, Ted Wong. It wasn't long before Richard received a 2nd Rank Level from Ted Wong and later, an Instructor Certification by Ted Wong to teach Jeet Kune Do. He has been a supporter and member of The Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do Nucleus, The Bruce Lee Educational Foundation and the Bruce Lee Foundation, allowing for a close relation with Linda Lee (Bruce Lee’s wife) and Shannon Lee (Bruce Lee’s daughter). Richard Torres now trains dedicated students, Bruce Lee's Jeet Kune Do in his “Jeet Kune Do Martial Arts Institute” in Fishkill, New York. He also regularly teaches Jeet Kune Do Seminars in the States as well as Europe, having students in the Netherlands and Germany.
Instructors
The following list contains names of instructors who teach original jeet kune do around the world.
The following list contains the INSTRUCTORS CERTIFIED by Bruce Lee's Last Private Student, Ted Wong
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