What works

[gungfuhero]

"____ works" or "_____" is functional" is more appropriately expressed as "I can get ______ to work frequently." Why are so many so into giving absoluets and making blanket statements? It's your JKD, so who's to say what you can and can't do?

[aseepish]

Or how you can or can't write about it

[MikeJKD]

Isn't it a truism to say that "If I can get it to work in most situations, and so can 80%-90% of the people I train with, even (and especially) when working under sparring or fighting conditions, then it is an effective technique?"

Example:

Juji Getame arm-bars are effective when executed on an opponent who is mounted, in pain, and extending his arm to defend against head punches.

Cartwheeling into a back handspring and landing on your opponent's shoulders with a flying arm bar doesn't work.

Both true statements? I think so. Now, sure, people will light up the boards with "If you train it right's" and "Anything's Possible." Face it. I don't care what's possible. I am utterly concerned with what's probable. And when you find something that works 90% of the time, under the correct circumstances, and those circumstances are fairly common in realistic situations, then there's absolutely nothing wrong with saying "This works."

[gungfuhero]

I agree Mike, but I think that although there are certain things that are more probable, the blanket statements that technique "a" doesn't work bugs me (too many internet forum discussions for me ). Lately I keep hearing one person tell another that what they do doesn't work without ever seeing the first person. I don't know, I guess I'm just irritable lately.

[MikeJKD]

I get the same way. I think it's a lack of fighting...
Anyway, Broad statements, especially those aimed at people who are total strangers, are pretty presumptuous. I've seen some people do things very well that I would consider damn near useless for me. Herman Suwanda once choked out a person using nothing but his big toe. Not what I'd have called effective, but hey, it worked for him...
Mike

[gungfuhero]

That's exactly what I'm talking about. Some people just have the attributes to do some really unconventional things. They aren't god-like either.

You're right, it's a lack of fighting .