GARY DILL JKD The Old WAY

For decades, there has been controversy over "What is Jeet Kune Do?" Many versions have surfaced over the years, most of them watered down with personal interpretations that sometimes don't even resemble what Bruce Lee actually developed. Some just use the name as a commercial marketing tool.

I have no "interpretation " I still teach the original Jeet Kune Do, just as Bruce Lee and James Lee taught it at the Oakland school.

Bruce formulated JKD to be used strictly for actual combat, not for sports competition It is void of rituals and katas. It is comprised of three fighting systems: Wing Chun Gung Fu, Boxing, and Western Fencing. Bruce referred to his system as "scientific street fighting." From my years as a criminal investigator working narcotics, homicides, and organized crime, I can testify that JKD really works in street combat.

I present to you Bruce Lee's own definition of "What is Jeet Kune Do?" This is not someone else's interpretation; it is in Bruce's own words.

In 1971 I walked into the Oakland JKD school (which was in James Lee's garage) for my twice a week group class. But this time it was different. James had leaned against the wall a 4x4 foot piece of plywood which was painted white with very detailed and neatly hand painted words in black brush paint. This sign was actually made and written by Bruce himself.

James Lee the instructor, told us that next class we were to bring paper and pen and write down the text. He said that this was Bruce's own personal definition of JKD and for us to know and understand it. So now I share with you the contents of Bruce's own interpretation of Jeet Kune Do.

"Jeet Kune Do is training and discipline toward the ultimate reality in self-defense, the ultimate reality in simplicity

A true JKD man never opposes force or gives way completely. Be pliable as a spring. Be the complement not the opposition to opponent's strength.

Make his technique your technique. You should respond to any circumstances without any prearrangement, your action should be like the immediacy of a shadow adapting to a moving object against the sun. Your task is simply to complete the other half of the oneness spontaneously. There is nothing to 'try" to do in the final stage of JKD; the opponent, self, and “techniques" are all forgotten.

Everything simply "flows." The true art of JKD is not to accumulate but to eliminate. Respond like an echo. Adapt like a shadow. Strike like an arrow Totality and freedom of expression toward the ever-changing opponent should be the goal of all JKD practitioners. When you understand the root of JKD, you will know all of its manifestations.

I still have that handwritten copy that I wrote that night and feel that it is part of JKD history, as are many other documents and training notes that I acquired during my tenure at the Oakland school. I am so fortunate to have had the rare opportunity to learn JKD at the source. If you want to learn authentic JKD, contact me for seminars or private training. Learn JKD from someone who was actually there.

About the Author:

Professor Gary Dill is one of the original JKD students (1971-72) of James and Bruce Lee’s Oakland school. He has been active in JKD for 53 years and taught thousands of students. He was appointed in 1986 to the JKD Society Board of Directors along with Linda Lee, Dan Inosanto, Taky Kimura, Richard Bustillo, and other original students.

Dill is the founder and chief instructor of the Jeet Kune Do Association which is the longest standing JKD organization in the world (1991-present.) He spent ten years in the military and served in Vietnam. He also worked another ten years as a federal and state criminal investigator working mainly narcotics, homicides, and organized crime.

Professor Dill is a full-time martial arts/JKD instructor and teaches seminars across the US and Internationally as well as giving private classes He can be contacted at email: pdilljkd@aol.com.

Website: www.jkd-garydill.com