dicipline

[ganymedejazz]

though JKD or JF/JKD is the style without style to produce an efficient street combat science, it is still based on philosophy and practice, Thus I believe thatbeginning with a traditional martial art is necessary for dicipline and conditioning before one heads down the (sub)path of jkd. Does anyone else agree with me?

just my 2 cents

[Akuma Kage]

I don't know...I guess I can see where you're going with that, but the whole thing that Bruce Lee tried to get across in the first place with JKD is that you should use what works best for YOU. I know that doesn't really give an agreement or a disagreement, but I'd just have to say that it probably depends on one's ability to learn and let loose. Most teachers that I've known say that you have to unlearn everything to move on to something new. I guess that's somewhat true, but basic principles are quite helpful.
That was another thing that Bruce Lee said too, about learning too much; it's like pouring more into a cup that's already filled to the top.
Personally, in my experience, if you are talking about mere discipline, then I suppose that yes, a basic structure or foundation to root yourself from would be more than practical. But again, it all really depends on the individual. Again, that's just what I think.

[Lost Ronin]

I see where you are coming from. But, JKD is really about learning what is good for you from the first moment that you begin to study. It is a freedom that is appreciated more if you study a traditional art, but by no means is this necessary to understand JKD. What I mean to say is, you can teach a person the basics of Boxing, Kickboxing, Wrestling and BJJ. From the first moment that they begin to practice, they are developing their own personal expression. There is no need to make them conform to a pattern if you intend to take them out of it in the future!

Why not develop the very same skills that you aspire to develop eventually from day one? When a person is seeking to enhance their performance, they need to know themselves, not a style or pattern, but how their body responds and what makes "them". So what do you do? You teach them solid basics and you let them loose, let them spar, develop their own personal rhythm. That is the essence of JKD, the conditioning and discipline are the bi-products of training. They will occur wether or not the student trains in a traditional art. This is where personal dedication is the deciding factor on how far a student will go.

[shasan]

not necessarily, Bruce Lee did have a list of techniques that he had absorbed that can make a good starting point for a person.

And once they have that basis, they discard or accept whatever techniques they want and go learn other stuff.

Incidentally, I think that's one of the reasons Mauy Thai is popular with JKD'ers because it doesn't take very long to get to the 'meat' of the art... they start teaching you useful stuff right away.