THETAO

THE WAY OF THE INTERCEPTING FIST

A Taoist priest

Within an absolutely free soul

Thoughts and emotions Not even the
Tiger finds space to nail its
Fierce claws.

If the same breeze passes over the

Pines on the mountain
Robles in the valley; Why do they give a
Different sound?

No thought, no reflection,
Perfect emptiness;
However, something is moving inside.
Following its own course.

The eye sees it,

But the hands cannot seize him
The moon in the current.
Clouds and Mists
They are environmental transformations
Above them, the Sun and the Moon shine eternally.
The victory is for those,
That even before the fight.
Do not have thoughts about oneself,
And that I dwell in the non-consciousness of the Great Origin.

THE MARTIAL ARTS INCLUDING

BOXING

Martial arts are based on the

understanding, hard work, and comprehension
total of the skill. Using force is easy and
the power training, but the
total understanding of all the skill of the arts
martial arts is difficult to obtain. For
to understand it, one must study everything
natural movements in living beings.
Naturally, you can understand the arts.
martial arts of others. One can study the
measurement of time and weaknesses. Just with
the knowledge of these two elements is
acquires the ability to take him down quite a bit
easily.

THE HEART OF MARTIAL ARTS

RESIDES IN UNDERSTANDING

OF THE TECHNIQUES

To understand the techniques, one must

to learn that contain a great amount of
condensed movement. This may seem like
very heavy. When you start learning it
finds that it is very uncomfortable for one. This
it happens because a good technique includes
rapid changes, great variety and speed.
It can constitute a very opposing system
similar to the concept of God and the Devil.

In the speed of events, what is it due to

to really take into account? ^They change places to
the speed of lightning? The Chinese believe so.
Put the heart of martial arts in your
own heart and have it as a part of you
it means a total understanding and the use of a
free style. When you achieve this you will know that not
there are limits.

PRECAUTIONS IN PHYSICAL TECHNIQUES

Some martial arts are very popular, a true crowd-pleaser, because they seem good.
and they have attractive techniques. But be careful. They are like a wine that has been diluted. A diluted wine, no
It is indeed a wine. A good wine, it is hardly the genuine product.

Some martial arts may not seem that good, but they are known to have appeal, something, a flavor.
genuine. They are like olives. The taste should be strong and sweet-bitter. The flavor lingers. It develops.
a taste for them. No one ever develops a taste for watered-down wine.

ACQUIRED TALENT AND NATURAL TALENT

Some people are born with good physical conditions, with a sense of speed and with
a lot of vigor. This is fine. But in martial arts, everything that is learned is acquired skill.

Taking on a martial art is like the experience of Buddhism. The feeling for it comes from the heart.
One must dedicate oneself to obtaining what is known to be needed. When it becomes a part of you, you know that
It is had. It is obtained. It may be that it is never fully understood, but it is preserved. And when it
progress, one knows the true nature of the simple path. It could be part of a temple or of a
kwoon. The simplicity of nature is contemplated. One experiences a life that has not been lived before.

THE TAO OF JEET KUNE DO

INTRODUCTION

My husband Bruce always considered himself a martial artist first.

place and as an actor in second place. At the age of 13, Bruce began to take
lessons in the wing chun style of gung-fu with the purpose of learning self-defense.
Over the next 19 years, he transformed his knowledge into a science, an art, a
philosophy and a way of life. I train my body through exercise and practice; I train my
mind through reading and reflection and record your thoughts and ideas
constantly for these 19 years. The pages of this book represent pride
of the work of his life.

In his lifelong search for self-knowledge and expression

personally, Bruce was continuously studying, analyzing, and verifying everything the
available relative information; its main source was its personal library that
consisted of more than 2,000 books that dealt with all forms of physical condition,
martial arts, combat techniques, defenses, and related topics.

In 1970, Bruce suffered a significant injury to his back. His doctors told him
they ordered to interrupt the practice of martial arts and stay in bed for
allow your back to heal. Surely it was the time of greatest testing and discouragement.
in Bruce's life. He stayed in bed, practically lying on his back, for
six months, but he could not take his mind off the work whose result is this book. The
most of these writings were made during this time, but some notes
isolated incidents were recorded in earlier and later periods. The personal study notes
Bruce revealed that he was particularly impressed by the writings of Edwin L.
Haislet, Julio Martínez Castelló, Hugo and James Castelló and Roger Crosnier. Many of the
Bruce's theories are directly related to those expressed by others.
by these writers.

Bruce had decided to finish the book in 1971, but his work on the movies kept him
I completely separate myself from that. I was also hesitant about the advisability of publishing this.
I worked because I thought it could be used for wrong purposes. I didn't intend to.
that it was a book of 'how to do'; nor a 'how to easily learn kung-fu in 10
"lessons". It was meant to be a record of a man's way of thinking and a guide, and
It's not a set of instructions. If it can be read through this prism, there is much to
Learn on these pages. And, probably, many questions will arise, whose
You will have to find the answers within yourself. By the time you finish this book,
You will get to know Bruce Lee better, but you also have to wait until you know yourself better.
same.

Now open your mind and read, understand and experience, and when you have reached
At this point, leave this book. You will be able to use the pages of this book later.
any other purpose.

Linda Lee

In the hands of a singular man, the simplest things evoke a harmony.

undeniable. Bruce's orchestration of martial arts has that quality more
significant in their combat movements. Immobilized for many months with
an injury in the back, he took the pen. Also here, he wrote just as he spoke, such
how it moved —directly and honestly.

Just as when listening to a musical composition, understanding its elements

internals add something special to the sound. For this reason, Linda Lee and I carried out the
introduction of Bruce's book, to explain how he came to be.

The Tao of Jeet Kune Do

It actually started before Bruce was born. The style
Classic Wing Chun that set him on his path was developed 400 years before Bruce.
The 2,000 books that Bruce owned and the countless books he read,
They described the individual 'discoveries' of thousands of men before him. No
there is nothing new in this book; there are no secrets. "There is nothing special," they used to say.
to say Bruce. And so it was.

Bruce's special key was to know himself and his own capabilities
to correctly choose the things in your favor and turn these things into motion and
in language. He found in the philosophies of Confucius, Spinoza, Krishnamurti, and others, a
organization for its concepts, and with this organization the book of its tao began.

When the book died, it was only partially complete. Although it covered seven
Only one volume was completed. Among the main stacks of copies, there were pages
unnumbered blank paper, each simply headed with a title. A
sometimes he wrote introspectively, asking himself questions. More often
he wrote to his invisible student, to the reader. When he wrote quickly, he sacrificed the
grammar, and when I had time I was eloquent.
Part of the material in this volume was written in a unique composition and showed
the natural progression of a well-directed conversation. Other parts were of
sudden inspiration and incomplete ideas that were quickly scribbled when
they entered Bruce's head. They are spread throughout the work. In addition to the
seven bound volumes, Bruce wrote notes throughout the entire development of
on Jet Kune Do and left them on shelves and drawers among their belongings. Some were
ancient ones and others were more recent and valuable for this book.

With the help of his wife, Linda, collect, examine, and classify the whole
material. Then try to assemble the isolated ideas and form blocks with coherence.
Most of the copies were left unchanged; the drawings and sketches are the originals.

However, the organization of the book would not have been possible if it weren't for the
patient work by Danny Inosanto, his assistant instructors, and the class of students
ancient. They were the ones who took my eight years of training in arts
martial, they threw them to the ground and transformed theories into action through their
knowledge. They have my gratitude both as the editor of this book and independently
as a martial artist.

It should be mentioned that the Tao of Jeet Kune Do is not complete. The art of Bruce
changed every day. For example, within The Five Attack Paths, originally
it started with a category called
immobilization of the
hand._Later,
found this too limiting, as the immobilizations could be applied to the
legs and arms, as well as the head. It was a simple observation that showed
the limits of labeling any concept.

The
The Way of Jeet Kune Do
it doesn't really have an ending. Instead, it serves as a
beginning. It has no style, it has no level, although it is read more easily by
those who understand their weapons. There is probably an exception to every
statement contained in the book; no book could provide such a complete picture of the
combat arts. It is simply a job that sets the direction of the studies of
Bruce. They leave investigations undone; the questions, some elementary and others
complex, they are left unanswered to make the student question themselves.
Similarly, drawings are often left unexplained and can offer such
just a vague impression. But if they provoke a question, if they awaken an idea, then
They must have had a purpose.

We hope that this book will be used as a source of ideas for all artists.
martial arts, ideas that should be further developed. Inevitable and unfortunately
the book could also spark a surge of "Jeet Kune Do" schools, led by
people who know the reputation of the name and very little about the art. Watch out!
such schools! If their instructors forget the last line, the most important one, there is
there's a high probability that they will fail to fully understand the book.

Even the organization of the book means nothing. There is no real line.
between speed and power, between precision and kicks, or between blows with the hand and
scope; each element of the movement in combat affects those who are
around him. The divisions I have made are only for a reading
convenient; do not take them too seriously. Use a pencil while reading and
make a reference in the related areas that you find. Jeet Kune Do, as you will see,
it has no lines or defined boundaries, only those that you create yourself.

Gilbert L. Jonson
THE TAO OF JEET KUNE DO

INDEX

In Zen .......................................................................................................................9

The art of the soul

Jeet Kune Do
...............................................................................................................13

Organized desperation
16

The facts of Jeet Kune Do

........................................................................................24

The form without form

.......................................................................................................25

PRELIMINARIES
............................................................................................................28

Training
..............................................................................................................29

Warming

Guard position
..............................................................................................31

Progressive weapon table

....................................................................................................37
The eight basic defensive positions
.......................................................................39

Some attack points

42

QUALITIES
44

Coordination
45
Precision
........................................................................................................................47

Power
.........................................................................................................................47

Resistance
48

Balance
............
.'
49
Body perception
................................................................................................................52
Good shape
..................................................................................................................53

Visual awareness
..........................................................................................................57

Speed
........................................................................................................................59

Timing (synchronization)
...................................................
..,..
.....................................................62
Attitude
...........................................................................................................................71

TOOLS
..........................................................................................................73

Some weapons of the JKD

Kicks
..........................................................................................................................79

Punches
.....................................................................................................................92

Holds
.........................................................................................................................119

Studies on Judo and Ju-Jitsu

....................................................................................126

PREPARATIONS
....................................................
.
..........................
...........................128

Fintas
.............................................................................................................................129

Stops.
....................................................................................................................................133

Manipulations
.............................................................................................................139

MOBILITY
142

Distance
143
Leg game (Movements)
............................................................................146

Evasion
.......:................................................................................................................158

ATTACK
164

Preparation of the attack

................................................................................................168

Simple attack
................................................................................................................170

Composite attack
174
Counterattack
............................................................................................................................177
Response
......................................................................................................................186

Renewed attack
............................................................................................................188

Tactics

Five forms of attack

..........................................................................................................198
CIRCLE WITHOUT CIRCUMFERENCE
...........................................................................204

JUST A NAME
..................................................................................................................209