Bruce Lee's JKD and Dan Inosanto

[Great Sage]

So much has been argued about the difference between what Bruce Lee's JKD and what is being taught today. Primarily, the teachings of Dan Inosanto.

Anyone who's still arguing is missing the entire point. Bruce Lee's JKD is different because that was his JKD, his expression... Likewise, Dan Inosanto will have his own expression or interpretation. Why would Dan try to imitate Bruce? That's not who Dan is. Bruce Lee said that you must bring what is uniquely your own and I think Dan has done that. None of the JKD guys have tried to become like Bruce Lee, they simply used the core to enhance their individual strenghts: Larry Hartsell — grappling, etc...

So, it's a really stupid point that people keep bringing up about the differences.

Oh really? Is that why he grades people in phases, to see if they can do it HIS way?

Perhaps JKD SHOULD be about each individual, but that certainly isn't the way Inosanto trains his students.

[Szczepankiewicz]

Hey, let's see how long we can kick the dead horse?

[Ryu (JKD?)]

*Ryu continually kicks the carcass...*

Stupid horse! Think you're so big.... *kicks*

........ huh? You mean this horse is dead?

Ryu

[brokenelbow]

Matt Thorton is the current embodiment of JKD!

[lssanjose]

why do you think that? not lowering his status or anything. Just wondering why you think matt thorton is the embodiment of JKD? I 'm not sure if he considers himself that either. But interesting yes, what points do you have to support your statement? I"m just curious. How about no one is ? not thorton, not lamar davis II, not steve golden, etc, etc.. JKD is about the individual is it not? about the subject. you're right ... dan isn't bruce lee.. and neither is anyone else. .Bruce lee simply was .. bruce lee. as I remember a recollection by steve golden, he was doing a technique, Bruce asked him why he did that technique a particular WAY.. . steve told him that it was how bruce did it. I remember but not too well Steve talking about how Bruce 's face met his [steve golden's] and said "..You're not Bruce Lee..."

In regards to Inosanto, i don't think he's radically changed JKD .. he still has the foundation .. it may appear that he's mixed jkd with these other arts but he really hasn't .. the other stuff are just classes being offered. As he stated time and time again that he promised not to commercialize or make mass appeal to JKD. . that he would teach at seminars JKD concepts as in how the concepts of JKD would work in other arts; in that he would keep that promise to Bruce ..as Bruce told him it's not a mass art which really it isn't.. it is for the individual .. that's why bruce preferred private lessons...

[brokenelbow]

Why do I think that? Aliveness. Try the 50 pound test.

[lssanjose]

well that is only one aspect of JKD .. an important one though...yet only one aspect nonetheless..

[samHell]

Check this out:

http://www.videowrestling.com/video/red_dragon.mov

[spiderchoke]

Wow!

How can you add anything to a full cup? You must first learn the basics of the format. The so called "his way". "He" trained with Bruce. Maybe it is Bruce's way. Maybe it is some guy named Arse Face's way. Who cares. There must be somewhat of a way or there can be no way. There must be a "no way and a way". Enough circle talk. If no one sets a starting point then cooking ramen noodles becomes JKD. After all you have to use a pot and a spoon, a stove and a pack of Ramen. If that is the core of JKD then I don't know what is under the umbrella of no standards at all.

What did I just say?
I don't know either, but it was composed of words and punctuation.

Late,
Spiderchoke

[Disciple]

What Dan Inosanto teaches to his students are concepts(stressed over techniques) from different arts that he has found to be effective in fighting through his 40+ years of martial arts training. Dan Inosanto's "way" was formed by evaluating his own experiences or research after laying a foundation by learning Bruce Lee's "way". You can bet that if Bruce Lee had lived, he would have continued researching, training, learning, reevaluating and his "way" would probably look very different than it did 30+ years ago. A new student with no martial arts training has no experiences and therefore has no idea what is effective or what is his or her own "way".

Every one will have different experiences in the martial arts and can evaluate what works for them, provided they stick with it long enough. In the beginning, people need a starting point though. Who better to gain a solid foundation under than someone who has been researching effectiveness in combat for 40+ years. When that person has trained long enough, has a solid understanding of why certain concepts work and why others don't and a good grasp of their own strengths and weaknesses; that is when they can find their own "way" and why JKD is ultimately up to the individual.

Think of pro basketball players. They start out in school learning the same basics, and by the time they are in college (some when they are in high school), they have their own game-style-"way" whatever you want to call it, from your athletic small forwards, to speedy point guards, to dominating big men. While you have players with similar "games" no two play exactly the same way.

[Disciple]

As for Matt Thorton being the current embodiment of JKD:

He obviously has the skill, knowledge and training to have his own theories on the way aliveness should be incorporated into training. Many people see him as being the current embodiment of JKD because his ideas are new and refreshing. This is his JKD. He also has trained successful NHB fighters which proves that his methods are effective.

Are his methods on how to incorporate aliveness superior to the training progressions of other respected JKD instructors with regards to street combat? I don't believe this can be either proven or disproven at this time.

[Demi Barbito]

Bruce Lee???

JKD???

Dan Inosanto???

Fill in the blank???

Here's the story of modern JKD:

http://www.demibarbito.com/article.html

Demi

[spiderchoke]

1st Area--------2nd Area-------3rd area--------------4th area
single stick----Double stick----stick and dagger---double dagger

5th area---------6th area-------7th area
single dagger---palm stick-----Pangamut (Empty hands)

8th area-----------------------------------9th area
Staff, Spear,two handed weapons---Flexible weapons

10th area---------11th area---------------12th area
Hand thrown-----Projectile weapons----Mental, emotional,spiritual
weapons

This is only the cirriculum from Inosanto Kali.

As for the rest, Self development is part of the philosophy. We must seek out what we need to complete our skills. Conflict resolution should be somewhere in there.

[JIMI]

Guro Dan is the only true follower of the essence of what Bruce Lee was trying to teach us. PERIOD!!! Anyone who thinks otherwise is wrong