Is this guy legit?

[Mr Roper]

As someone new to JKD I bought "The Tao of Jeet Kune Do" a few months ago, and I thought it was a truly dreadful book. It is a collection of confusing, incoherent thoughts brought together with no real common thread or structure. This is in no way the fault of Bruce Lee, the book was compiled by a publishing firm years after his death, with the content being taken at random from over 2,000 sets of notes in the Lee household.

I believe it was released for commercial gain, and it worked because I bought it along with millions of other people, but as an aid to the study of JKD I have found it worthless.

[Happy Cat]

Mr. Roper,

I know what you mean. The book (or colection of notes) will give you insight into how and what Sifu Bruce thought, but it is not a JKD training manual. The lack of a narative can make it incoherent at times. That is saying a lot for such a skinny volume.

If you try to teach JKD to yourself from the book you could get hurt. If it is usless to you, discard it. I find something new in it every time I pick it up.

In my mind, JKD is very simple but dificult to learn.

[Mr Roper]

I hear you on the training manual front, I have found an amazing teacher so hopefully I am on the right road.

There is a paradox here I guess. Many people hold the Tao up to be a great insight into Bruce's art and his ideas, and quote from it at will. Yet they also acknowledge that it is incoherent and sadly lacking. Something of a contradiction to me.

[Happy Cat]

Yes, you are on the path without a path.

There are a lot of contradictions in Sifu Bruce's thinking, especially when compared over time. He was a complex individual with complex ideas and we must remember complex motivations. It was not always in his interest to pass on what he had learned and developed. Once he was at the top, he wanted to stay there, not teach a rival how to beat him. It was these contradictions in Bruce's philosophy that ultimately led to the many divisions in JKD.

That is why, in my view, many sides of the JKD debate can all be "right" at the same time, even while saying things that contradict the other groups. JKD itself contains complex contradictions. Yet it is in essence simple (another contradiction.)

[g-bells]

the Tao was not an instructional book but

[Liberty]

That dog "lap-topping" picture - what the....
Man. I can't stop laughing. You should see he ones someone sent me with the various living Presidents in drag!

[g-bells]

That dog "lap-topping" picture - what the....
Man. I can't stop laughing. You should see he ones someone sent me with the various living Presidents in drag!

WTF???????????????

[Liberty]

WTF???????????????

It's a response to a post near the bottom, of the page n this link:

http://www.defend.net/deluxeforums/showthread.php?t=19663

[Liberty]

Everytime you open your mouths you show your ignorance. Thanks for coming and drive safely.

Something to consider. Everytime I, you, anyone quote someone we chance opening a can of worms. Heck, just because it may not help the other sides arguement, their not happy about it, and they have no problem twisting things to their case! Anyway, your Joe Lewis comments, the man has gone, in his own words, from having been barely influenced by Lee, to having given Lee, Lee's 5 angles of attack, to now he's some kind of a JKD expert - do the research.

And he's just one example of the hazards of relying on other's words to back up one's own statements. Notice I did not quote Lewis once, nor attach a link to back up my claims, for example.

That's my point. Do the research. I mean, your passion, your convictions are ceratainly there. Honor them. Why open them up to any tom, dick, or harry who will stop at nothing, let alone, use holes in your arguements against you that you yourself could have "covered."

While I'm at it, let e cover (not cover up, but cover as in "I'll get the back door, you stay here, cover me") one of my own here - this post has not been meant as an attack any of the people who normally post each other back and forth here. As for anyone having any doubts as to my comments on Lewis and his statements, do the research and let me know, if I was off.

[g-bells]

[QUOTE=Liberty;284463]It's a response to a post near the bottom, of the page n this link:

[abcdefg]

I highly doubt this guy is legit, he runs his sessions out of his house. I'd think as a real instructor he'd have some sort of building. Plus, its illegal to run a business out of your home.

I know where he lives, i've seen him, im outside of philly too.

[fenwick99]

there are quite a few internet tuff guys who want to make money off of Lee's name and art... in the USA we have both free speech and free enterprise. South Korea and Japan actually control the credentials of certain arts.
But in America, any green belt can declare himself to be a 10th degree red belt in five secret arts and open up shop-- until he is either sued or gets his butt kicked by a 14 year old orange belt.