Is JKD really worth it?

[legshot420]

What makes it different from learning striking, wrestling and grappling? I dabbled a little back in high school but moved on to the different facets of MMA. To the guys who have a deeper understanding, how is it different?

[g-bells]

Because it's based on using as the most direct,economical techinique to accomplish your goal. Yes it sounds simple but it takes years train your body and mind to just react properly in a given situation without hesitation.You must be willing to put in the time and effort.JKD is'nt a fancy thing and to some it may look plain but in the end it does'nt matter how it looks beacuse the fact is it does

[Clubber Lang]

I think its important to keep in context the time period in which JKD evolved. If you look at what I would call refined JKD, 1964 to 1972, this was way, way ahead of its time. The way they blended arts and ranges, crosstrained in aspects of many arts, trained like athletes, used equipment, and sparred full contact. It was something special.

Its 2008, and martial arts has come a long way in the last 10 to 15 years. People now take for granted the kind of approach that was popularised by Bruce Lee and, in my opinion, it has been far surpassed. The one issue I always had with JKD is that it was never really tested, other than hearsay and rumour. Mixed Martial Arts is tested all the time, by professional athletes, and the results are there for all to see.

However the last thing I would say is that its a fairly moot point. All of the smart, progressive JKD instructors embraced MMA a long time ago, some of them were there at it's inception. Walk in most JKD schools now and you will find a mix of Thai, BJJ, Boxing, CSW etc. To give JKD it's full credit it has always evolved, so is JKD worth it? Yes, because if its good JKD then it has moved with the times.

[corwin137]

Using principles to filter ideas and create new ones. Actually, I think the original question may not be worded as it could be. Learning striking, wrestling, and grappling are all necessities in fighting. They exclude some ideas in their traditional training though that are really important, include some that are not always a great idea in context and such. I'd argue that "JKD" (whatever that is) is more about philosophy about fighting first, "ideas" second.

[fenwick99]

re

BL's art differs from MMA in that it contains principles, techniques, and
skills modified from western fencing and chinese boxing, as well as
standard "ring" skills. Are these extra skills worth pursuing?-
depends. I am sure that some taekwondo guys work on their spin kicks for hours in the dojang, but dabble in jun fan at home. It's
up to you!

[legshot420]

I was wondering what JKD (Jeet Kune Do) has to offer that isn't offered in MMA? Is it really just the Kali and Wing Chun influence along with the sidewards stance taken from fencing that makes it different? Does it incorporate weapons training since it's geared for self-defense?

[corwin137]

I was wondering what JKD (Jeet Kune Do) has to offer that isn't offered in MMA? Is it really just the Kali and Wing Chun influence along with the sidewards stance taken from fencing that makes it different? Does it incorporate weapons training since it's geared for self-defense?

All of these answers are dependent on who you talk to...

There's lots that's not offered in MMA. Use of tools, response to tools. Considerations of environment. Use of improvised tools. Considerations of multiple attackers. Efforts to escape. Legal considerations. Destructions. Fouling/"cheating"... lots and lots of "cheating". Modifications to the boxing, MT, grappling. All these ideas get changed with the presence of tools. There's more.

As for the Kali/WC/fencing etc influence... all relevant principles and ideas from other MAs are influential depending on whose lineage you're talking about. The soul of the thing I think is the principles, which are not always talked about. Here I think is the confusing part: there's stuff from other MAs that work in context. As such, there's a lot of stuff that's in both "core/original" etc ad nauseum and "concepts" JKD that's unavoidable. Keeping ones hands up is gonna show up in most relevant MAs, unless you don't mind getting hit in the melon. To worry about whether that is/ain't "JKD" misses the boat. As I mentioned in another forum recently, my teacher was showing a cross stomp in a video of his and said, "It's known as a dum tek. Not because the idea is dumb... well, none of that really matters as far as his foot is concerned." Point is, I don't care if that idea is/ain't "JKD". I only care if it'll get me out of/keep me out of a conflict with another human or not, in context.

As for the "self defense" question... I know "original" JKD guys that've dropped the focus on tools, almost completely. It seems this was what I'd call mostly polytrickal. I'd argue though, that excluding tools from one's efforts in the arts- MMA, non-traditional or otherwise, is an almost (well, not even almost...) inexcusably dumb idea. Even in sport MAs the "sport" in most contexts is the ability to preserve one's being-ness. Though not part of the "sport" proper, knowing how to deal with someone aggressing with an insanguination tool, a blunt tool of some sort, is a relevant concern.

[jtheath]

Bruce Lee is widely considered the father of MMA. The idea of absorbing what is useful, rejecting what is useless and adding what is specifically one's own has been adopted by many of the "evolved" martial artists that we see calling themselves mixed martial artists today. The idea of analyzing and researching different systems to develop one's own style is basically the same in those involved in JKD or MMA. What you see with the JKD concepts people(Inosanto blend) is them going beyond the original Jun Fan kung fu curriculum and incorporating techniques from different systems to cover the different ranges of combat(kicking,punching,trapping,grappling). This is how, I believe, Bruce Lee would have wanted it.

[legshot420]

Thanks for the replies, guys! I really appreciate the insights!

[Tant01]

By who???

Bruce Lee is widely considered the father of MMA. The idea of absorbing what is useful, rejecting what is useless and adding what is specifically one's own has been adopted by many of the "evolved" martial artists that we see calling themselves mixed martial artists today. The idea of analyzing and researching different systems to develop one's own style is basically the same in those involved in JKD or MMA. What you see with the JKD concepts people(Inosanto blend) is them going beyond the original Jun Fan kung fu curriculum and incorporating techniques from different systems to cover the different ranges of combat(kicking,punching,trapping,grappling). This is how, I believe, Bruce Lee would have wanted it.

There are many blended styles that got started long before BL came on the scene. (Judo is one of them)
The modern evolution of sport fighting is not (in my opinion) what BL wanted for JKD. Credit for the new "sport" falls closer to the famous Gracie family.

[liquidice]

The one issue I always had with JKD is that it was never really tested, other than hearsay and rumour. Mixed Martial Arts is tested all the time, by professional athletes, and the results are there for all to see.

It has been tested, Bruce clamed that he is the best and called for people to challenge him.

And they did,

And they lost.

[g-bells]

It has worked for me, so as for being tested i would say it has

[Ben Grimm]

I don't know if JKD went the way that Bruce would have wanted it to go.

[Tom Yum]

I don't know if JKD went the way that Bruce would have wanted it to go.

....Pikachuuuu??

[Ben Grimm]

Chuuuuuuuuu!!!!! Shocks people with lightning