If Bruce Lee liked the straight blast so much, then...

[JKD2k3]

.....where the hell does he mention it in the Tao of JKD? He doesnt mention headbutts, knees, or elbows for more than a small illustration or so.

He spends most of the striking on western boxing.

People say that was he best move, the straight blast, but I cant find him mentoin it one time?

Whats up with that?

[Ryu (JKD?)]

Well first, The Tao of JKD is a conglomeration of notes, sketches, thoughts, etc. that Bruce had that has been put together and published as a book. Bruce did not publish Tao as a book.

Second, he mentions the straight lead quite a bit in those notes, and spends a small amount of time talking about the blast.

However, I think it's good that it's not mentioned as some "holy terror" technique.
There was a long time that I had actually "rejected" the straight blast in my training, because I didn't feel that it was that effective against a really good boxer, or a wrestler. Even untrained people at times.

Well my"rejection" changed. I now use the blast much more than I did in the past. But I both modified how I threw it, and trained the actual tool really hard.
I "straightblast" in more of a boxing type of mechanic. My strikes are still in centerline, but my fists are horizontal and not verticle. My elbows are out a bit to both protect the sides of my head from hooks, and to add a bit more power. (I just don't feel the standard elbow down, verticle fist, etc. is as powerful. )
For the blast to do anything, you've got to really train its application, the arm's strength, power, etc.,

You've got to put your shoulders into it, and strike with bodyweight when you blast. You need power to push someone backwards.
The last thing you want to do is get in someone's face, roll your fists like you're peddling a bicycle, and and expect it to do much.

Blasting requires a good entry (an intercepion or destruction, or initial hit) and it requires power, penetration, speed, and you want to avoid "bike peddling" with your arms.

Train it against resistence and find out its limitations. The blast is a good tool if it's powerful and fast, but it's by no means an "unblockable" technique, or a "fool proof" plan in any situation.

I'm hurrying my post because my computer isn't working.
I'll have to leave it at that.

Ryu

[JKD2k3]

So is your blast similair to just pummelling someone in the face like a speed bag?

The key to pulling it off is entering with a destruction, strike, whatever, and then running at them with the chain punch.

As far as body mechanics, the blast is really only hand/shoulder punch, the legs just help out by running.

One training method I do is to pull a chair right up to the heavy bag and sit there and start chain punching keeping the bag up and off me as long as possible, which is not very long.


Back to my point. Why does Bruce Lee not address the value of headbutts, knees, and elbows or even mention the straight blast in the tao of JKD.

Thanks for the great feedback!

[robertlee]

the tao was never completed by bruce. just notes put together . personal notes. but without it some would still be in the dark to what they can do.

[JKD2k3]

But if the straight blast was his number one move anytime he was in a serius fight like Dan Inosanto claims, wouldnt he even mention it once? Mabye he was going to make it the grand finale?

[Ryu (JKD?)]

"So is your blast similair to just pummelling someone in the face like a speed bag?"

No. The speed bag has an unrealistic cadence to it if you compare it to really hitting someone's face. Also, most of the speed bag drills you see on TV are just basically rolling the forearms while keeping the elbows stationary.

My blast looks kinda like (dare I say it haha) Vitor Belfort's chain punching against Vandelai Silva. However, I don't bring my elbows as far back as he did.
The main thing I stress in my blast now is that my fists are shooting straight out (still hand over hand), and are not simply "rolling"
Rolling your fists doesn't give you that much power in my opinion.
I launch a lead straight, then another straight cross, then another straight cross, etc. I keep my fists in centerline, but I try to actually straighten my arms out into his face.
Your blast should be extremely powerful. I want to be able to knock people out with my blast alone. If they still are up I can hopefully take them out with some headbutts and elbows. If they turn their back (a common response) I can hopefully clinch with them, and body slam them on their head, back, etc.

To answer your question... I wasn't around when Bruce was alive... I don't know what he said about it.
I know he does have commentary on it.

Here's one of his commentaries on the straight blast.
"One hand out, one hand back (not to the hip!) for protection and securing strategic position. Thumb up (rapid firing of both arms) and (strike with) the last three knuckles with body weight behind each blow."

Bruce probably didn't talk about it as the be all end all because it's simply not the be all end all. I'm sure Bruce liked it and was very good with it.... but I think he didn't want people to get "attatched" to any one technique or range for that matter.

Ryu

[robertlee]

power from the blast was compared to the jab not intended for the knock out. but to upset But can be modified to your needs.

[RBFC]

Effective use of the blast is also a "higher" skill than merely chain punching. In the Tao, Bruce mostly talked about general concepts and attributes, and was not so focused on more complex techniques. Blasting requires a knowledge of range/timing which demands that the practitioner has spent time in the boxing ring, etc. to pick up the proper moment to enter. Otherwise, against a skilled boxer or Wing Chun man, the lesser-skilled blast is doomed to failure.

In my opinion, the most important aspect of the blast is the forward pressure generated, and the resulting loss of offensive ability by the opponent. The ensuing set-ups for the finish flow from the trap/clinch/blow, etc. that ends the forward rush.

Bruce spent a lot of time detailing the performance of a single punch, and perhaps the notes regarding the blast were never written, or lost before publishing. I WAS alive and active in martial arts while he was alive, and never saw much print dedicated to the blast.

Lee

[Watchdog]

In Vol. 3 of the Commentaries on the Martial Way aka Jeet Kune Do, which was edited by John Little and published by Tuttle, Bruce Lee does talk about the Straight Blast. This book is an organized compilation of Bruce's notes on JKD and is a better representation of his thoughts on his martial art than the Tao of JKD.