To people who don't seem to believe Bruce Lee is the real deal..

[bodhisattva]

Well said! Sorry about the hackjob on your post.

One of my very best instructors avoided names of things all together. A punch is a punch, a kick is a kick. You can call it whatever you like or nothing but a thing to do...

The importance of a name is only to identify something in relation to something else...

Maybe so. But I sure find it a lot easier to teach guys boxing mechanics if I use boxing terminology.

For instance, if I substitute the word "hook" for the words "this is how you punch him when he's about a foot away" it sure makes the lesson more expedient. If I had to say that long phrase everytime, it would sure be wordy.



A punch may be a punch, but terminology is useful for efficient communication.

[bodhisattva]

I think everyone probably needs Ritalin. Not just here, but I mean, everywhere.

Pharmaceutical companies are bad.

Dang. I'm getting old. I had to go to dictionary.com to check on my spelling for pharmaceutical.

[dimmak786]

Posted by Mike Brewer "Um, lucidmist? I was actually talking to dim mak. I was defending what you wrote, man. I wasn't arguing your points. Actually, I was saying exactly the same things you were. Take your ritalin."

I think its you that needs ritalin, as like Lucidimist it sounded to me like you were taking my side. In fact with your stated views you are! Its just your too inbred and retarded to realise!
Cos your so hell belt with trying to suck my chops to use your brain

Thats a good hack job, it makes more sense when I read your version!

My thinking is very much on the lines of your instructor, to the extent that I made the decision some time ago to remove the shopping list of arts that was on my website, and just replace it with a very simple explanation of what a person can hope to learn from me.

Names is for tombstones baby

[Tant01]

I don't teach "Judo"

..... Just a question.. if we've learnt one style, and interpreted it and more or less evolved it into our own way of fighting, do we still impart others the style using the same name, or should we change it?

I think most instructors schooled in one system bring their own flavour to that art, but the bulk of what they teach is faithful enough, even with their own preferences, to retain the name. ...so in that example I think it would be misleading to add your own label.

However, when taking a composite of arts learned from a range of sources and trying to offer your mix and expression of those arts, then I think an individual label can help. ...

From my own personal point of view, I think its important to have your own label only when do you have a clear, differentiated expression of the arts, which is individual to you.

Well said! Sorry about the hackjob on your post.

One of my very best instructors avoided names of things all together. A punch is a punch, a kick is a kick. You can call it whatever you like or nothing but a thing to do...

The importance of a name is only to identify something in relation to something else...

I think most instructors schooled in one system bring their own flavour to that art, but the bulk of what they teach is faithful enough, even with their own preferences, to retain the name. Muay Thai is a good example. My lineage cuts straight across Master Toddy and Master Chai and in many areas you are taught very differently, in some areas they fundementally disagree and contradict. However, you are in no doubt under both lines that the art you are learning is Muay Thai, so in that example I think it would be misleading to add your own label.

However, when taking a composite of arts learned from a range of sources and trying to offer your mix and expression of those arts, then I think an individual label can help. Guro Inosanto asks his students to have their own label when teaching their expression of the arts (PFS, CSW etc), so that JKD does not become standardised.

From my own personal point of view, I think its important to have your own label only when do you have a clear, differentiated expression of the arts, which is individual to you.

[lucidmist]

I've been hesitating to order it online, cos I wasn't sure if it was necessary to have. I've read the John Little series, and always thought that THOSE were incomplete, thinking that maybe if I examined Tao, it would provide insights closer to Bruce Lee's. I didn't really like the idea that the John Little series consisted of interpretations of JKD from other people.. Never knew it was the other way round.. thanks.

Actually, having our own interpretations of whatever style we're schooled in should be the way, but I'm not sure how far I've deviated from what I've originally learnt. Just a question.. if we've learnt one style, and interpreted it and more or less evolved it into our own way of fighting, do we still impart others the style using the same name, or should we change it?

I'll agree that it has some great advice and words in, unfortunately though it's borrowed wisdom. Everything I found of value in the Tao was taken from other sources, be that Jack Dempsey's book, Don Drager's book, Zen Philosophy or Taoist teachings.

I'm probably biased because I waited weeks and weeks as a young man for the Tao to be delivered to my door, and when it came I was incredibly dissapointed. Maybe because I thought it would have all the answers.

Anyhoo, if you are looking to understand the methods of Mr Lee, I still maintain that the Little series is far superior.

[lucidmist]

I've posted on this before, I think the Tao is a terrible book, and it wasn't written by Bruce Lee. It is a set of incoherent snapshots of words taken at random from over 2,000 sets of notes in the Lee household, compiled by a publishing firm years after Bruce Lee's death.

I think John Little, with the assistance of Linda Lee and the Educational Foundation, did a much better job of going back to those notes, working with original Lee students, and putting together a more coherent overview.

Ok, thanks.. cos I've read some of the John Little books, but only bits from Tao. I had always thought that Tao was a decent book..

[jubaji]

and you forgot to give me 'permission' for something this time

Whatever man. This isn't something for picking senseless quarrels. Relax man!

Happy New Year!

Um, ok. Don't know why you keep insisting on an argument that doesn't exist and then keep saying "relax!"

I've posted on this before, I think the Tao is a terrible book, and it wasn't written by Bruce Lee. It is a set of incoherent snapshots of words taken at random from over 2,000 sets of notes in the Lee household, compiled by a publishing firm years after Bruce Lee's death.

I think John Little, with the assistance of Linda Lee and the Educational Foundation, did a much better job of going back to those notes, working with original Lee students, and putting together a more coherent overview.

[lucidmist]

A martial arts book, regardless of whether JKD or not, is pretty pointless if the goal is to teach technique. There are far better forms of media to achieve that.

Depends what you want to know about JKD. John Little's series offers good insight into Bruce Lee's training, teaching and ideas. Guro Inosanto's book "The Art and Philosophy of Jeet Kune Do" is a very interesting read. I always recommend Paul Vunak's first book "Jeet Kune Do, it's Concepts and Philosophies". It is written in very plain language and focusses on what I feel are some of the more crucial areas to understand the art.

Just my thoughts.

How about Tao of Jeet Kune Do? Is that a good place to start?

To be honest I don't remember it's been a while. They basically just taught you how to throw a basic punch and how to block a punch. There wasn't much beyond that.

A martial arts book, regardless of whether JKD or not, is pretty pointless if the goal is to teach technique. There are far better forms of media to achieve that.

Depends what you want to know about JKD. John Little's series offers good insight into Bruce Lee's training, teaching and ideas. Guro Inosanto's book "The Art and Philosophy of Jeet Kune Do" is a very interesting read. I always recommend Paul Vunak's first book "Jeet Kune Do, it's Concepts and Philosophies". It is written in very plain language and focusses on what I feel are some of the more crucial areas to understand the art.

Just my thoughts.

[lucidmist]

I can't stand her big long bony hands, either. I think she's one of those women that can be made to look good, but probably doesn't in day to day life. Especially with a big-ass tattoo of "Billy Bob" staring out at you.

Man.. not only her arms. Her legs look like they gonna break any time. She looked the best to me in "Bone Collector", when she still had some meat.

[blackrock]

Could you let me know which ones you read as that will give me an understanding of what you consider elementary and shallow, then I'll know what to recommend from there....if anything.

To be honest I don't remember it's been a while. They basically just taught you how to throw a basic punch and how to block a punch. There wasn't much beyond that.