JKD kicks

[french fri25]

sup everyone, my name's john and i will most likely be taking my yellow belt test tomorrow. i really love martial arts and am not sure if JKD is the one 4 me. i have a few questions. i was just wondering if there are some kool kicks in JKD like butterfly kicks and stuff like that. at least some jumping kicks or spinning kicks??? also, i have not learned many blocks yet. are there really any blocks other than basic parrys? i would really appreciate it if any knowledgeable martial artist could answer my question... peace

[jeff5]

There are quite a few kicks in the Jun Fan/JKD curriculum, more than most think. Most of the time the kicks are kept mid level or lower, so if we're going to kick someone in the head their head is brought down to us. Higher kicks are practiced, used very sparingly in a real situation though. I don't know of any flying kicks or the real crazy fancy stuff in the curriculum, but that doesn't mean you can't research them and do them on your own if that's what you like.

Here are the kicks I've seen in JKD:
Round house (or hook)
Side kick
Front kick
Sweep kick
Back kick
Inside roundhouse
Spinning side kick
Oblique kick
Crescent kicks (using mostly for training)

If you're doing more of the JunFan/Wing Chunish stuff, you will probably work 5 gates and all the Wing Chun blocks. (which can also be strikes) But blocking is the least effecient method of defense. In JKD we prefer intercepting the attack, and if you can't do that parrying, slipping, covering, bobbing weaving, etc., and then counter attacking right away. If you have to actually get your hand in the way and block as in tradtional karate, its a last resort. (and quite hard to do at real speed) You don't block or defend for very long at all in JKD.

My experience, for what its worth. Hope that helped.

[Tim McFatridge]

sup everyone, my name's john and i will most likely be taking my yellow belt test tomorrow. i really love martial arts and am not sure if JKD is the one 4 me. i have a few questions. i was just wondering if there are some kool kicks in JKD like butterfly kicks and stuff like that. at least some jumping kicks or spinning kicks??? also, i have not learned many blocks yet. are there really any blocks other than basic parrys? i would really appreciate it if any knowledgeable martial artist could answer my question... peace

Hey french... in JKD you do not have any of the "fancy" kicks like you have in TKD or other arts similar. Here is a list of the kicks you have in JKD:
Front Snap Kick
Displacement Shuffle Front Kick
Front Thrust Kick
Side Stomp Kick
Flick Side Kick
Shuffle Side Kick
Burst Kick (aka) Burning Foot Side Kick
Back Kick
Shuffle Back Kick
Spinning Back Kick
Hook Kick to Leg
Shuffle Hook Kick
Burning Foot Hook Kick
Inverted Hook Kick
Oblique Kick
The above kicks are the kicks that were originally in JKD...with the research of Thai Boxing alot of JKD practitioners have added the Thai Kicks. Bruce really liked the knees and elbows of Thai Boxing.

As far as blocking in JKD you need to remember that in JKD there is no passive blocking. Instead of blocking a punch we usually use a stop hit to any part of the human body. A stop hit can be any kick or punch. Here is a list of "blocks" used in JKD.
Tan Sao - palm up block
Pak Sao - slapping hand (actually more of a hit than a slap)
Bong Sao - raised elbow deflection
Gong Sao - low outter wrist block
Fook Sao - bent arm elbow in block
Woang pak - cross hand slap cover
Ha pak - low slap cover

You also have defensive boxing which uses the
parry (both inside and outside)
cover
catch (you palm or catch the punch)
shoulder roll (usually done with a low kick at same time)
Shoulder stop
Lin Sil Di Da (simultaneous block and hit)
Bob and Weave
Remember, when your opponent throws a kick you use a stop kick, when he throws a punch you use a stop hit or a stop kick. This is where your footwork really comes into play. You will need to make sure you always keep the proper distance with your opponent. The ideal distance is when your opponent has to take a step in order to hit you. This way as soon as he steps towards you...you can attack.