JKD for self defense?, I hear NO!!!

[holte2]

what makes JKD so street effective? I am thinking about taking JKD and a MT class and thats all i can find on JKD, other than the bruce lee stuff, then i read that JKD is just a waste of time and more of a philosophy than anything....

if you answer this question saying yes it is a good self defense form, please state why, as i know nothing about this style

[NuffSpeed]

I can't speak for every place that teaches JKD, but many of them can be very street effective. A good JKD place can teach you techniques from boxing, wingchun, jiu jitsu, muay thai, savate, silat,kali & philipino martial arts,sambo, judo, etc etc.......... it stresses economy of motion,and (in most cases) only effective techniques. You'll learn joint locks from standing to ground, effective striking, weapons training,trapping and grappling, with all movements flowing together and complimenting each other. The footwork in JKD is one of my favourite parts of the art. Alot of the boxing is based off of Muhammed Ali's style. As far as JKD being a philosophy, yeah there is that aspect, but I've only seen the combat philosophies instructed in a gym setting. Just my two cents, I'm no master of JKD, but I do have love for it ------Just my opinion.

[Ryu (JKD?)]

JKD is what you make it. It's true that you can find a lot of the elements of Muay Thai, BJJ, shooto, Escrima, etc. in JKD now a days, but these things by themselves are not the only things to learn about in relation to self-defense.

Self Defense deals with pre-fight environment, awareness, selected semantics, de-escalation principles, re-direction theory, criminal psychology, pre-emptive strike strategies, hidden weapon awareness, multiple attacker awareness and response, post fight syndrome, adrenaline dump management, etc.

These are what are crucial in the ability to see, avoid, de-escalate, and defend (fight) violent encounters. Without this, your techniques can quite literally go out the window.
The physical "arts" that transfer well to street defense are skills in boxing, Muay Thai, BJJ, escrima, etc.
JKDC or Functional JKD will give you these tools to work with and become proficient in.
It's up to you to research your own development.
Avoid anyone who tries to "look like Bruce Lee" when talking about real violent assault defense...

Ryu

[Tim Mousel]

Depends on the school and how they train. I do recommend training at a good JKD school.

In all honesty, you could talk about it for years but until you get into a gym and try things out, you'll never know.

Tim

[crazyjoe380]

the only way i'll take jkd is if they dont take it as a sport..
and they are really serious about teaching me hapkido.. it has to be street!

and no f.uckin kids in my class. they have to come another time cause.. ummm.. i aint havin it..

[holte2]

hell yeah, that goes for all your little punks out there stay the fu** away

[Ryu (JKD?)]

LOL,
and how old are you? 14, 15?

Kids these days...

Ryu

[jesse7]

Blah

I quite Enjoy the kids and the teens that are in my class's .. usually we are split off into seperate groups during training. But when we are not I enjoy showing the youngin's how to do something a little better .. or sparing off against a teen similar or larger than me. As long as they have the right attitude I dont give a shit how old they are. Everyone at my club is well disapplined.

Jess

[Brokenmace]

JKD is a chameleon art. How so? Anyone who has been around here long knows that JKD takes techniques from many systems. Why is this? Because the whole point of JKD is to flow around and behind your enemy's defense because you've got a taste of his style. That, and the other principles envolved, make JKD a street effective art, if it is taught properly. Of course, that is the key, isn't it?

Even TKD could be street effective if its techniques were stripped down to the essentials and sparred full contact.

JKD, while not the "one and only", did popularize MMA along with the Gracies. This is important to your questions, because we are trying to find you an art that will be effective in reality.

If you go into most JKD schools, you will find A) folks who have experience in other martial arts and/or B) multiple martial arts being taught in the same school. This is esspecially true in Concepts schools (a brand of JKD, for lack of a better word). JKD attempts to broaden your exposure to combative arts, in order that you can "fit the key to the lock" when fighting for your life, thus overcoming your enemy as effeciently as possible.

This is why I like JKD.

[robertlee]

What have you tried in the past JKD can be refreshing with a little more gound work it offers a good program and encourages the exploration of other arts to understand it is to express it by simply doing that takes a little time as you find your needs the idea of it helps as you explore other aspects also jkd is not formal in structure it has a path than you must discover the rest . A good instructor is just a guide to help you on your way M/T is a good art very powerful round kick good elbows knees The experiance you gain in JKD or m/t is aliveness of the art certain structures art fundimental of both . To learn the tools then to learn how to deploy them be it the ring or open sparring this tests the tools JKD does not gear its self for the ring but for the streets This perhaps should change also so people can test a percentage of there skills in the ring would help to take it a little further into what is going on in the M/A of today yes it is being utilized now to an extent on ring fighting .But not much Its encouraged to develop ground fighting skills as you develop JKD and any other personal tools Try it and m/T both are good then test some jujitsu and that will help round off your needs Keep an open mind and you will go far as you let yourself go