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

[Guest]

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.

[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!"

[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..

[Guest]

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 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?

[Guest]

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.

[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...

[Guest]

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

[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

[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.

[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]

Physical feats:

Lee's phenomenal fitness meant he was capable of performing many exceptional physical feats. The following list are the physical feats that are documented and supported by reliable sources.

Lee's striking speed from three feet with his hands down by his side reached five hundredths of a second.

Lee could spring a 235lb opponent 15 feet away with a 1 inch punch.

Lee's combat movements were at times too fast to be captured on film at 24fps, so many scenes were shot in 32fps to put Lee in slow motion. Normally martial arts films are sped up.

In a speed demonstration, Lee could snatch a dime off a person's open palm before they could close it, and leave a penny behind.

Lee could perform push ups using only his thumbs

Lee would hold an elevated v-sit position for 30 minutes or longer.

Lee could throw grains of rice up into the air and then catch them in mid-flight using chopsticks.

Lee performed one-hand push-ups using only the thumb and index finger

Lee performed 50 reps of one-arm chin-ups.

From a standing position, Lee could hold a 125lb barbell straight out.

Lee could break wooden boards six inches thick.

Lee performed a side kick while training with James Coburn and broke a 150-pound punching bag

Lee could cause a 300-lb bag to fly towards and thump the ceiling with a sidekick.

In a move that has been dubbed "Dragon Flag", Lee could perform leg lifts with only his shoulder blades resting on the edge of a bench and suspend his legs and torso perfectly horizontal midair.

Lee could thrust his fingers through unopened steel cans of Coca-Cola, at a time before cans were made of the softer aluminum metal.

Lee would use one finger to leave dramatic indentations on pine wood.

Lee could also fly, I once heard tell.

In fact, he could fly using only his shoulder blades, a can of coca cola, and some dramatic impressions in pine.

We're not sure how he used those things to fly, but we're pretty sure Chuck Norris's round kick had to play into it somewhere.

[Tant01]

Mute...

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.

How do you say "hook" in Tagalog? Portuguese? Nihongo? or other dialects?

Can you diferentiate Hook Kick from Hook Punch or Fish hook from heel hook?

See where I'm coming from? Despite the broken english and lack of names one can still learn by doing those things.

I still don't know what to call some stuff but I learned a few Japanese names for things to do many years ago and NOW all the names are different...

Fancy shit like "Darce" or "Anaconda" is still just shimewaza to me...

One man's udegarami is another man's "kimura"

Phui...

Pugilism is no different. Hit here or there...with this or that.

Efficient communication is GOOD but action often speaks much louder than words.

[dimmak786]

Hey lets get it staright you lying sack of shit. I just finished celebrating xmas and I had 8 intimate PMS from lil mikey asking me so many questions like he wanted to know all about me....and aaaaaahhhhh what do you know I didnt even reply to one of them.
And now I see mikey went out of his way to create a thread especially for me so that I could insult him more and he could wank off over it even more cos he's a forearm training expert!

Nice to hear that curse is working out fine like i thought it would!

[jubaji]

LOL! Jump! Jump!