View source for Jeet Kune Do

{{Short description|Hybrid martial art}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{original research|date=March 2019}}
{{more citations needed|date=August 2017}}
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{{Use American English|date=August 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2025}}

{{Infobox martial art
| logo = JeetKuneDo.svg
| logocaption = The '''Jeet Kune Do''' Emblem <br/> The ''[[taijitu]]'' represents the concepts of [[yin and yang]]. The [[Chinese character]]s mean: "''[[Wu wei|Using no way as way]]''" and "''Having no limitation as limitation''". The arrows represent the endless interaction between yin and yang.<ref>[[#Bishop2004|''Bruce Lee: Dynamic Becoming'']], p.23</ref>
| name = Jeet Kune Do
| native_name = 截拳道
| aka = JKD, Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do{{efn|name="Jun Fan JKD"|On January 10, 1996, the [[Bruce Lee Foundation]] decided to use the name '''Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do''' ({{lang|zh-Hant-HK|振藩截拳道}}) to refer to the martial arts system which Lee founded; Jun-fan being Lee's [[Chinese given name]].
}}
| focus = [[Hybrid martial arts|Hybrid]] ([[mixed martial arts]] [[kung fu]] philosophy)
| creator = [[Bruce Lee]]
| parenthood = ''Jun Fan [[Gung Fu]]:''{{efn|name="Jun Fan Gung Fu"|This refers to Bruce Lee's early concretized system, before he abandoned it and embraced progressive development of one's fighting ability by philosophy of Jeet Kune Do.}} [[Wing Chun]],<ref name="books.google.fi">Black Belt Magazine, November 1967 issue, pages 14-20 https://books.google.com/books?id=RM4DAAAAMBAJ&dq=black+belt+magazine+kato+jeet+kune+do&pg=PA14</ref><ref name="ReferenceA">Black Belt: Bruce Lee Collector's Edition Summer 1993</ref> [[boxing]],<ref name="Thomas1994">{{Cite book |last=Bruce Thomas |url=https://archive.org/details/bruceleefighting0000thom_d0z5 |title=Bruce Lee: Fighting Spirit : a Biography |publisher=Frog Books |year=1994 |isbn=978-1-883319-25-0 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/bruceleefighting0000thom_d0z5/page/11 11]– |url-access=registration}}</ref><ref name="books.google.fi"/> [[fencing]],<ref name="books.google.fi"/> ''[[arnis]]'', [[judo]], [[jujutsu]],<ref name="Polly, Matthew 2018">Polly, Matthew (2018). Bruce Lee: A Life. New York: Simon & Schuster. {{ISBN|9781501187643}}.</ref> [[savate]],<ref>{{cite book|author=Glover,Jesse|date=January 1, 1976|title=Bruce Lee: Between Wing Chun and Jeet Kune Do|publisher=Glover Publications}} {{ISBN|0-9602328-0-X}} {{ISBN|978-0-9602328-0-2}}</ref> [[Taekwondo#1946: Traditional Taekwondo|traditional taekwondo]],{{efn|name="Taekwondo"|Martial arts practised in Korea during the 1940s and 1950s by the nine original kwans, or martial arts schools, before the formation of the [[Korea Taekwondo Association]]. Bruce Lee learned different styles of Traditional Taekwondo from various people, most notably [[Jhoon Goo Rhee]] of [[Chung Do Kwan]] style.}}<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Nilsson |first=Thomas |date=May 1996 |title=With Bruce Lee: Taekwondo Pioneer Jhoon Rhee Recounts His 10-Year Friendship With the "Dragon" |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=H9oDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA39 |journal=[[Black Belt Magazine]] |volume=34 |issue=5 |pages=39–43 |access-date=2009-11-19}}</ref> [[tai chi]], [[catch wrestling]]<ref name="Polly, Matthew 2018"/>
| famous_pract = ''(see [[#Notable practitioners|notable practitioners]])''
| descendant arts = [[Jesse Glover|Non-Classical Gung Fu]], [[James W. DeMile|Wing Chun Do]], [[Emerson Combat Systems]], [[Leo Fong|Wei Kuen Do]], [[Mixed Martial Arts]] (modern)<ref>{{Cite book |last=Chris Crudelli |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QlI0fxSm1vgC |title=The Way of the Warrior |publisher=Dorling Kindersley Ltd |year=2008 |isbn=978-14-0533-750-2 |pages=318–319 |quote=(Regarding Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)) With [Bruce Lee's] philosophy of "absorbing what is useful and disgarding what is not", Bruce Lee's influence can be seen in the development of MMA.}}</ref><ref>[https://variety.com/2019/film/features/bruce-lee-once-upon-a-time-in-hollywood-dan-inosanto-1203287237/ Bruce Lee's Protégé Recalls His Humility Amid 'Once Upon a Time' Criticism] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190816130517/https://variety.com/2019/film/features/bruce-lee-once-upon-a-time-in-hollywood-dan-inosanto-1203287237/ |date=August 16, 2019 }}. ''Variety''. July 31, 2019.</ref><ref>[https://magazine.fighttimes.com/dana-white-and-the-future-of-ufc/ Dana White and the future of UFC] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181007145434/https://magazine.fighttimes.com/dana-white-and-the-future-of-ufc/ |date=October 7, 2018 }}. ''Fight Times''. October 1, 2004.</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Stets |first=Michael |date=July 20, 2013 |title=The MMA World Pays Tribute to Bruce Lee 40 Years After His Death |work=[[Bleacher Report]] |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1710603-the-mma-world-pays-tribute-to-bruce-lee-40-years-after-his-death |url-status=live |access-date=June 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200619051303/https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1710603-the-mma-world-pays-tribute-to-bruce-lee-40-years-after-his-death |archive-date=June 19, 2020}}</ref>
| country = [[Seattle, Washington]], U.S.
}}
{{Infobox Chinese
| c = {{linktext|截拳道}}
| l = "Way of the Intercepting Fist"
| p = Jiéquándào
| ci = {{IPAc-yue|z|it|6|-|k|yun|4|-|d|ou|6}}
| y = Jiht-kyùhn-douh
| j = Zit6 Kyun4 Dou6
}}
{{Chinese martial arts}}

'''Jeet Kune Do''' ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|dʒ|iː|t|_|k|uː|n|_|ˈ|d|oʊ}}; {{lang-zh|c=截拳道|l=stop fist way' or 'way of the intercepting fist|j=zit<sup>6</sup> kyun<sup>4</sup> dou<sup>6</sup>}}; abbreviated '''JKD''') is a [[Hybrid martial arts|hybrid martial art]] conceived and practiced by martial artist [[Bruce Lee]] that centers the principle of counterattacking an opponent in order to impede their offense.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jeet Kune Do |url=https://bruceleefoundation.org/jeetkunedo/ |access-date=2023-02-01 |website=Bruce Lee Foundation |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="Bowman 2013 66–67">{{Cite book |last=Bowman |first=Paul |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CbYYNTXRHgMC |title=Beyond Bruce Lee: Chasing the Dragon Through Film, Philosophy, and Popular Culture |date=2013 |publisher=Columbia University Press |isbn=9780231850360 |pages=66–67}}</ref>  As an eclectic martial art, it relies on a fighting style heavily influenced by [[Wing Chun]], [[Tai Chi]], [[taekwondo]], [[boxing]], [[fencing]] and [[jujutsu]].<ref name="Crudelli121" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Rafiq |first=Fiaz |title=Bruce Lee: The Life of a Legend |publisher=Birlinn |others=Foreword by [[Diana Lee Inosanto]] |year=2020 |isbn=978-1-78885-330-9}}</ref> Jeet Kune Do, which Lee intended to have [[Aliveness|practical applications in life]] without the traditional routines and metaphysics of conventional martial arts, also incorporates a set of principles to help practitioners make quick decisions and improve their mental and physical health.<ref name="Bowman 2013 66–67" /><ref name="Tao">{{Citation |last=Lee |first=Linda |title=[[The Tao of Jeet Kune Do]] |year=1975 |publisher=Ohara Publications Inc. |isbn=0-89750-048-2 |author-link=Linda Lee Cadwell}}</ref>

Lee, who based Jeet Kune Do upon his experiences in unarmed fighting and self defense, as well as upon his eclectic, Zen Buddhist, Confucianist and Taoist philosophies,<ref name="Crudelli121">{{Cite book |last=Chris Crudelli |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QlI0fxSm1vgC |title=The Way of the Warrior |publisher=Dorling Kindersley Ltd |year=2008 |isbn=978-14-0533-750-2 |page=316}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Little |first=John |url=https://archive.org/details/warriorwithinphi00litt |title=The Warrior Within – The philosophies of Bruce Lee to better understand the world around you and achieve a rewarding life |publisher=McGraw-Hill |year=1996 |isbn=0-8092-3194-8 |edition=illustrated}}</ref> did not formally codify JKD before his death. As a result, later JKD practitioners had to rely on their own interpretations of Lee's philosophy.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Tom |first=Teri |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JjbRAgAAQBAJ |title=Jeet Kune Do: The Arsenal of Self-Expression |date=2012 |publisher=Tuttle Publishing |others=Foreword by [[Ted Wong]] |isbn=9781462905614}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Jerry Beasley, Ed.D. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FtwDAAAAMBAJ |title=(Black Belt Magazine) The Man Who Changed The World: How Bruce Lee Continues to Influence the American Martial Arts |date=September 2003 |page=58 |issn=0277-3066 |quote=Inosanto, Lee's top pupil and teaching assistant, had advanced the art of JKD in the years following his master's death...}}</ref>

As a hybrid martial arts philosophy drawing from different combat disciplines, Jeet Kune Do is often deemed a predecessor of [[mixed martial arts (MMA)]].

==Overview and philosophy==
{{See also|Bruce Lee}}
Growing up in [[Hong Kong]], Lee was a student of [[Wing Chun]] Grandmaster [[Ip Man]].  Around 1964, following his duel with [[Wong Jack-man]], Lee disavowed the rigidity of systematized martial arts.<ref name="Dorgan">Dorgan, Michael. [http://www.kungfu.net/brucelee.html ''Bruce Lee's Toughest Fight''], 1980 July. Official Karate</ref><ref name="Mental Floss">{{Cite web |last=Rossen |first=Jake |date=August 10, 2015 |title=Bruce Lee: The Time Bruce Lee Was Challenged to a Real Fight |url=http://mentalfloss.com/article/67108/time-bruce-lee-was-challenged-real-fight |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160711225623/http://mentalfloss.com/article/67108/time-bruce-lee-was-challenged-real-fight |archive-date=July 11, 2016 |access-date=July 10, 2016 |website=Mental Floss |location=New York}}</ref> Lee then began a journey of research in order to refine his way of practicing martial arts. In 1965, he outlined the basic concepts of Jeet Kune Do in a press interview,<ref>{{Cite book |url=http://www.blurb.com/b/10483726-original-jeet-kune-do-quarterly-magazine-issue-11 |title=Original Jeet Kune Do Quarterly Magazine - Issue 11 by Lamar M. Davis II |date=2020-12-10 |publisher=Blurb Books |language=en}}</ref> but Lee resisted giving his school of thought a name. It was not until 1967 that he came up with the name Jeet Kune Do, but Lee's philosophy is still known by other names, such as Jun Fan Gung Fu.{{Efn|name="JunFan2"|As in [[Gung Fu]] of [[Lee Jun-fan|Jun-fan]], Bruce Lee's birthname.}}<ref name="ReferenceA" /><ref name="Thomas">{{harvnb|Thomas|1994|p=14}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Linda Lee |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2NAuMRjSUSIC&pg=PA26 |title=The Bruce Lee Story |last2=Mike Lee |publisher=Black Belt Communications |year=1989 |isbn=978-0-89750-121-7 |pages=26– |access-date=November 18, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727141228/https://books.google.com/books?id=2NAuMRjSUSIC&pg=PA26 |archive-date=July 27, 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Bruce Haines |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p4zTAgAAQBAJ&pg=PT131 |title=Karate's History & Traditions |date=November 22, 2011 |publisher=Tuttle Publishing |isbn=978-1-4629-0139-5 |pages=131– |access-date=November 18, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727154721/https://books.google.com/books?id=p4zTAgAAQBAJ&pg=PT131 |archive-date=July 27, 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> As Lee explained:

{{Blockquote|I have not invented a "new style," composite, modified or otherwise that is set within distinct form as apart from "this" method or "that" method. On the contrary, I hope to free my followers from clinging to styles, patterns, or molds. Remember that Jeet Kune Do is merely a name used, a mirror in which to see "ourselves". . . Jeet Kune Do is not an organized institution that one can be a member of. Either you understand or you don't, and that is that. There is no mystery about my style. My movements are simple, direct, and non-classical. The extraordinary part of it lies in its simplicity. Every movement in Jeet Kune Do is being so of itself. There is nothing artificial about it. I always believe that the easy way is the right way. Jeet Kune Do is simply the direct expression of one's feelings with the minimum of movements and energy. The closer to the true way of Kung Fu, the less wastage of expression there is. Finally, a Jeet Kune Do man who says Jeet Kune Do is exclusively Jeet Kune Do is simply not with it. He is still hung up on his self-closing resistance, in this case, anchored down to a reactionary pattern, and naturally is still bound by another modified pattern and can move within its limits. He has not digested the simple fact that truth exists outside all molds; pattern and awareness is never exclusive.
Again let me remind you Jeet Kune Do is just a name used, a boat to get one across, and once across it is to be discarded and not to be carried on one's back.|Bruce Lee<ref>{{Citation |last=Lee |first=Bruce |title=Liberate Yourself From Classical Karate |date=September 1971 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rtcDAAAAMBAJ |work=[[Black Belt Magazine]] |volume=9 |issue=9 |page=24 |postscript=. |publisher=Rainbow Publications, Inc.}}</ref> <!--http://www.blackbeltmag.com/daily/traditional-martial-arts-training/jeet-kune-do/liberate-yourself-from-classical-karate/ --><!-- https://books.google.com/books?id=RM4DAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA16&lpg=PA16 -->|source=}}
[[File:The age of 18 Bruce Lee and Ye Wen.jpg|thumb|300px|[[Bruce Lee]] with [[Wing Chun]] grandmaster [[Ip Man]]]]

The [[metaphor]] Bruce Lee borrowed from [[Zen|Chan]] [[Buddhism]] was of constantly filling a cup with water, and then emptying it, used for describing Lee's philosophy of "casting off what is useless".<ref>{{Cite book |last=Pollard |first=Maxwell |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RM4DAAAAMBAJ |title=In Kato's Gung-fu Action is Instant |date=November 1967 |publisher=Black belt magazine |pages=14–20}}</ref> Lee considered traditional form-based martial arts, which practiced pre-arranged patterns, [[Kata|forms]] and techniques, to be restrictive and ineffective in dealing with chaotic self-defence situations. Bruce Lee believed that real combat was alive and dynamic, and conceived Jeet Kune Do to enable its practitioners to adapt to the changes of live combat, believing that it was only through its use in real combat that a martial arts practitioner could judge a technique worthy of adoption.<ref name="Tao" />

==Principles==
Bruce Lee incorporated into Jeet Kune Do four universal combat truths that he felt were self-evident and would lead to combat success if followed.  The "4 Combat Ranges" in particular are what he felt were instrumental in becoming a "total" martial artist. This is also the principle most related to mixed martial arts.<ref name="BlackBeltMag">{{Cite journal |last=Hochheim |first=W. Hoch |date=Jan 1995 |title=The Maze of Jeet Kune Do |journal=[[Black Belt Magazine]] |publisher=Rainbow Publications, Inc. |volume=33 |issue=1 |pages=110}}</ref> These concepts help create a framework for adaptive, real-time decision-making in self-defence scenarios.

JKD practitioners also subscribe to the notion that the best defence is a strong offense, hence the principle of "Intercepting".  Lee believed that in order for an opponent to attack someone they had to move towards them.  This provided an opportunity to "intercept" that attack or movement.  The principle of interception covers more than just intercepting physical attacks.  Lee believed that many non-verbal telegraphs (subtle movements that an opponent is unaware of) could be perceived or "intercepted" and thus be used to one's advantage.  The ''"5 Ways of Attack"'' are attacking categories that help Jeet Kune Do practitioners organize their fighting [[repertoire]] and comprise the offensive portion of JKD. The concepts of stop hits & stop kicks and simultaneous parrying & punching were borrowed from [[European Fencing|European fencing]] and Wing Chun's theory of simultaneous defending and attacking. They comprise the defensive portion of JKD.  These concepts were modified for unarmed combat and implemented into the JKD framework by Lee.  These concepts also complement the principle of interception.<ref name=BlackBeltMag/>

===Be like water===
Bruce Lee believed that martial systems should be as flexible as possible.  He often used water as an analogy for describing why flexibility is a desired trait in martial arts.  Water is infinitely flexible. It can be seen through, and yet at other times it can obscure things from sight. It can split and go around things, re-joining on the other side, or it can crash through things. It can erode the hardest rocks by gently lapping away at them or it can flow past the tiniest pebble.  Lee believed that a martial system should have these attributes.  JKD students reject traditional systems of training, fighting styles and the [[Confucian]] [[pedagogy]] used in traditional [[kung fu|Kung Fu]] schools because of this lack of flexibility.  JKD is claimed to be a dynamic concept that is forever changing, thus being extremely flexible. ''"Absorb what is useful; disregard that which is useless"'' is an often quoted Bruce Lee [[w:en:Maxim (saying)|maxim]].{{cn|date=November 2025}} A JKD student is encouraged to study every form of combat possible, both to add to his arsenal and to know how to defend against such tactics.<ref name="Lee 1975">{{Cite book |last=Lee |first=Bruce |title=Tao of Jeet Kune Do |publisher=Ohara Publications |year=1975 |isbn=0-89750-048-2 |language=English}}</ref>

===Economy of motion===
JKD students are told to waste no time or movement. This technique can be called the technique of "least action" - strike the opponent with the least distance, time and energy possible but also giving a powerful and precise strike. When it comes to combat JKD practitioners believe the simplest things work best.<ref>{{cite web|title=What Makes Jeet Kune Do an Effective Fighting Art? |website=Las Vegas Shaolin Kung Fu Academy |date=March 25, 2023 |url=https://www.lvshaolin.com/what-makes-jeet-kune-do-an-effective-fighting-art/ |access-date=March 29, 2024}}</ref> "Efficiency, directness, and simplicity are the hallmark of Jeet Kune Do," according to Bruce Lee.<ref name="Lee 1975"/>

====Stop hits and stop kicks====
Adherents of JKD are taught to intercept an opponent's attack with an attack of their own, rather than simply blocking the attack. JKD practitioners consider this to be the most difficult defensive skill to develop. This strategy is a feature of some traditional Chinese martial arts, as well as an essential component of European épée fencing (known in fencing terminology as the "counter-attack"<ref name="Inosanto 1980">{{Cite book |last=Inosanto |first=Dan |title=Jeet Kune Do: The Art & Philosophy of Bruce Lee |publisher=Know Now Publishing |year=1980 |isbn=0-938676-00-8 |language=English}}</ref>).

====Simultaneous parrying and punching====
When confronting an incoming attack, the attack is parried or deflected and a counterattack is delivered at the same time. This is not as advanced as a stop hit but is more effective than blocking and then counterattacking in sequence. This is also practiced by some Chinese martial arts.<ref name="Inosanto 1980"/>

====No high kicks====
JKD practitioners believe they should target their kicks to their opponent's shins, knees, thighs, midsection, and no higher, as these targets are the closest to the (kicking) foot, provide more stability, and are more difficult to defend against. However, as with all other JKD principles, nothing is written in stone, and if a target of opportunity above the midsection presents itself, one may take advantage of it without feeling hampered by this principle.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Lee |first=Bruce |url=https://archive.org/details/tao-of-jeet-kune-do/Bruce%20Lees%20Fighting%20Method_%20The%20Complete%20Bruce%20Lee/page/n189/mode/2up |title=Bruce Lee's Fighting Method |date=April 8, 1975 |publisher=Ohara Publications, Inc. |edition= |volume= |pages=190–195}}</ref>

===The four ranges of combat===
Jeet Kune Do students train in each of four "ranges" equally: [[Kick]]ing, [[Punch (combat)|Punching]], [[Clinch fighting|Trapping]], and [[Grappling]]. According to Lee, this range of training differentiates JKD from other martial arts, as most traditional martial systems specialize in training at one or two ranges. Lee's theories have been especially influential in the field of Mixed Martial Arts, as the [[Mixed martial arts#Phases of combat|MMA Phases of Combat]] are essentially the same concept as the JKD combat ranges. The ranges in JKD have evolved over time. Initially the ranges were categorized as short or close, medium, and long range.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Lee |first=Linda |title=[[The Tao of Jeet Kune Do]] |date=1975 |publisher=Ohara Publications Inc. |isbn=0-89750-048-2 |author-link=Linda Lee Cadwell}}</ref>  These terms proved ambiguous and eventually evolved into their more descriptive forms although there may still be some practitioners who prefer the three categories.<ref name="The Philosophy of Jeet Kune Do">{{Cite web |date=25 May 2025 |title=The Philosophy of Jeet Kune Do |url=https://wheecorea.com/ra-masia-project/the-philosophy-of-jeet-kune-do/ |website=WHEE Korea}}</ref>

===Five ways of attack===
* ''Single Angular Attack'' (SAA) and its converse ''Single Direct Attack'' (SDA).
* ''Hand Immobilization Attack'' (HIA) and its counterpart ''Foot Immobilization attack'', which make use of trapping to limit the opponent's function with an appendage.
* ''Progressive Indirect Attack'' (PIA).  Attacking one part of the opponent's body followed by attacking another part as a means of creating an opening.
* ''Attack By Combinations'' (ABC).  This is using multiple rapid attacks, with volume of attack as a means of overcoming the opponent.
* ''Attack By Drawing'' (ABD).  This is creating an opening with positioning as a means of counterattacking.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Inosanto |first=Dan |title=Jeet Kune Do: The Art & Philosophy of Bruce Lee |date=1980 |publisher=Know Now Publishing Co. |isbn=0-938676-00-8 |pages=104–106 |author-link=Dan Inosanto}}</ref>

===Three parts of JKD===
JKD practitioners believe that techniques should contain the following properties:
* ''Efficiency''  - An attack that reaches its mark
* ''Directness''  - Doing what comes naturally in a learned way.
* ''Simplicity''  - Thinking in an uncomplicated manner; without ornamentation.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Lee |first=Bruce |title=Tao of Jeet Kune Do |publisher=Ohara Publications |year=1975 |isbn=0-89750-048-2 |publication-date=1975 |pages=4 |language=English}}</ref>

===Centreline===
The centreline refers to an imaginary line running down the centre of one's body. The theory is to exploit, control and dominate one's opponent's centreline. All attacks, defences and footwork are designed to preserve one's own centreline and open one's opponent's. Lee incorporated this theory into JKD from Wing Chun.  This notion is closely related to maintaining control of the centre squares in the strategic game [[chess]].<ref name="The Philosophy of Jeet Kune Do"/>

The three guidelines for centreline are:
* The one who controls the centreline will control the fight.
* Protect and maintain one's own centreline while one controls and exploit one's opponent's.
* Control the centreline by occupying it.<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 May 2025 |title=The Centerline Theory of JKD and Wing Chun |url=https://dragonsedgeacademy.com/2019/03/08/the-centerline-theory-of-jkd-and-wing-chun/ |website=Dragon's Edge Academy}}</ref>

==Branches==
Although Bruce Lee officially closed his martial arts schools two years before his death, he allowed his curriculum to be taught privately. Since his death, Jeet Kune Do is argued to have split into different groups. They are:<ref name="About JKDC">{{Cite web |date=25 May 2025 |title=About JKDC |url=https://sites.google.com/site/jeetkunedoconcepts/about-jkdc |website=Jeet Kune Do Concepts}}</ref>
<!--EDITORS AND CONTRIBUTORS, LET'S PLEASE KEEP THE PROPONENTS OF EACH OF THE BRANCHES TO 1ST GENERATION INSTRUCTORS THAT STUDIED DIRECTLY UNDER LEE. IF WE DON'T THIS WILL GET FAIRLY MESSY. THIS IS NOT AN AREA FOR PROMOTING YOUR INSTRUCTORS OR YOURSELVES.-->
* The ''Original (or Jun Fan) JKD'' branch, whose proponents include [[Taky Kimura]], James Lee, Jerry Poteet, and Ted Wong; these groups claim to teach only what was taught by Bruce Lee and encourage the student to further develop his or her abilities through those teachings. The inherent training principles of this branch are shaped by the static concept of what was "originally taught", just as the training systems of "traditional" martial arts have been taught for centuries and become recognizable as "styles", except it is referred to as a philosophy of "style without style".<ref name="About JKDC"/>
<!--EDITORS AND CONTRIBUTORS, LET'S PLEASE KEEP THE PROPONENTS OF EACH OF THE BRANCHES TO 1ST GENERATION INSTRUCTORS THAT STUDIED DIRECTLY UNDER LEE. IF WE DON'T THIS WILL GET FAIRLY MESSY. THIS IS NOT AN AREA FOR PROMOTING YOUR INSTRUCTORS OR YOURSELVES.-->
* The ''JKD Concepts'' branch, whose proponents include [[Dan Inosanto]], [[Richard Bustillo]], and [[Larry Hartsell]]; these groups strive to continue the philosophy of individual self-expression through re-interpretation of combat systems through the lens of Jeet Kune Do, under the concept that it was never meant to be a static art but rather an ongoing evolution, and have incorporated elements from many other martial arts into the main fold of its teachings (most notably, [[grappling]] and [[Kali (martial art)|Kali]] / [[Escrima]] material) based on the individual's personal preferences and physical attributes. According to this branch, the entire JKD "system" can be described through a simple diagram, and the concepts can then be applied to a variety of contexts in a "universal" way.<ref name="About JKDC"/>

To understand the branches of JKD it is important to understand the difference between the two "types" or viewpoints of Jeet Kune Do:

#'''JKD framework:''' This type of JKD provides the guiding principles. Bruce Lee experimented with many styles and techniques to reach these conclusions.  To Lee these principles were truisms. The JKD framework is not bound or confined by any styles or systems. This type of JKD is a process.
#'''JKD Personal Systems:''' This type of JKD utilizes the JKD framework along with any techniques from any other style or system to construct a "personal system". This approach utilizes a "building blocks" manner in which to construct a personalized system that is especially tailored to an individual. Lee believed that only an individual could determine for themselves what the usefulness of any technique should be. This type of JKD is thus a product.
Lee believed that this freedom of adoption was a distinguishing property from traditional martial arts.<ref name="About JKDC"/>

There are many who confuse the JKD Framework with a JKD Personal System (e.g., Bruce Lee's personal JKD) thinking them to be one and the same. The system that Bruce Lee personally expressed was his own personal JKD; tailored for himself. Before he could do this, however, he needed to first develop the "JKD Framework" process. Many of the systems that Bruce Lee studied were not to develop his "Personal JKD" but rather was used to gather the "principles" for incorporation in the JKD Framework approach. The uniqueness of JKD to Lee is that it was a "process" not a "product" and thus not a "style" but a system, concept, or approach. Traditional martial arts styles are essentially a product that is given to a student with little provision for change. These traditional styles are usually fixed and not tailored for individuals. Bruce Lee claimed there were inherent problems with this approach and established a "Process" based system rather than a fixed style which a student could then utilize to make a "tailored" or "Personal" product of their own.<ref name="About JKDC"/>

The two branches of JKD differ in what should be incorporated or offered within the "JKD Framework". The '''Original (or Jun Fan) JKD''' branch believes that the original principles before Bruce Lee died are all that is needed for the construction of personalized systems.<ref name="Vunak 1988">{{Cite book |last=Vunak |first=Paul |title=Jeet Kune Do: Its Concepts and Philosophies |publisher=Unique Publications |year=1988 |isbn=978-0865681491 |language=English}}</ref> The '''JKD Concepts''' branch believes that there are further principles that can be added to construct personalized systems. The value of each branch can be determined by individual practitioners based on whatever merits they deem important.<ref name="Vunak 1988"/>

Original JKD is further divided into two points of view - OJKD and JFJKD both hold Wing Chun, Western boxing and fencing as the cornerstones on Bruce's JKD.
*'''OJKD''' follows all Bruce's training from early Jun Fan Gung Fu (Seattle period) and focuses on trapping with Wing Chun influence.<ref name="Vunak">{{Cite book |last=Vunak |first=Paul |title=Jeet Kune Do: Its Concepts and Philosophies |publisher=Unique Publications |isbn=978-0865681491 |publication-date=1988 |language=English}}</ref>
*'''Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do''' is a signature version of JKD as Bruce taught privately to Ted Wong. This is a later time period and practices a greater emphasis on elusiveness and simplified trapping unique to Bruce's later approach to combat. The focus is with fencing and Western boxing.<ref name="Vunak"/>

==Conditioning==
Some of the exercises Lee did included ''Da Sam Sing'' or ''Gak Sam Sing, a'' traditional method of [[forearm]] conditioning practiced in classical Kung Fu. He also did exercises simulating a fight against a four-limbed human using the traditional [[Mu ren zhuang|''Mook Yan Jong'']] used in Wing Chun. Lee was also an avid follower of [[India]]n wrestler [[Great Gama|The Great Gama]]'s training routine. He read articles about him and how he employed his exercises to build his strength for [[wrestling]], incorporating them into his own routine. The training routines Lee used included isometrics as well as "[[Push-up|the cat stretch]]", "the squat" (known as "baithak"), and also known as the "deep-knee bend."<ref>Little, John, ''Bruce Lee – The Art of Expressing The Human Body'' (Tuttle Publishing, 1998), p. 58</ref>

==Influence and references in popular culture==
[[Kato (The Green Hornet)|Kato]] from ''[[Green Hornet]]'' is the first fictional character to use Jeet Kune Do, as he was portrayed by Bruce Lee in the [[The Green Hornet (TV series)|1966 TV series]]. In the aforementioned TV series, Lee would demonstrate various techniques associated with Jeet Kune Do.<ref name="books.google.fi"/><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cM4DAAAAMBAJ&dq=black+belt+october+1967&pg=PA1 |title=Black Belt |date=October 1967 |publisher=Active Interest Media, Inc. |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Polly |first=Matthew |title=Bruce Lee: A Life |publisher=Simon & Schuster |year=2018 |isbn=978-1-5011-8763-6 |language=English}}</ref> Following Lee's death, Kato would utilize JKD in subsequent incarnations of Green Hornet media.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Nitz |first=Jai |title=The Green Hornet: Parallel Lives |publisher=Dynamite Entertainment |publication-date=2010 |language=English}}</ref>

In Arrow, Jeet Kune Do is the martial arts style of the League of Assassins.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bamford |first=James |date=October 2015 |title=Arrow – Fight Choreography Interview |work=ComicBook.com}}</ref>

===Fighting games===
Various video game characters utilize Jeet Kune Do as their choice way of fighting. These include:
* [[Liu Kang]], [[Johnny Cage]] and [[Mokap]] in ''[[Mortal Kombat]]''
* [[K']] in the ''[[King of Fighters]]'' uses a style notably similar to Jeet Kune Do, although his fighting style is listed in official profiles as "pure violence."
* [[Jacky Bryant]] and [[Sarah Bryant (Virtua Fighter)|Sarah Bryant]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 13, 2002 |title=The Virtua Fighter of the Day: Sarah |url=http://uk.ign.com/articles/2002/03/13/the-virtua-fighter-of-the-day-sarah}}</ref>{{additional citation needed|date=November 2020}} from ''[[Virtua Fighter]]''
* [[Marshall Law]], [[Forest Law (Tekken)|Forest Law]], and [[Lee Chaolan]] from ''[[Tekken]]''
* Midknight from ''[[Eternal Champions]]''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bobinator |date=May 2, 2014 |title=Eternal Champions |url=http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/eternal-champions/ |access-date=March 6, 2023 |website=[[Hardcore Gaming 101]] |quote=Midknight;A vampire who uses Jeet Kune Do. Formerly a scientist commissioned to create a biochemical weapon to end the Vietnam War, he ended up falling into a vat of his own formula after having a change of heart. The mixture somehow turned him into a vampire, with hypnotism powers and all. Then he ended up getting staked by a government agent 133 years later.}}</ref>
* [[Jann Lee]] from ''[[Dead or Alive (franchise)|Dead or Alive]]''<ref>{{cite web|title=Jann Lee DOA6 Character Bio|url=https://teamninja-studio.com/doa6/uk/chara_jann.html|access-date=2024-04-16|quote=Master of Jeet Kune Do, nicknamed "Dragon."}}</ref>
* [[Fei Long]] from ''[[Super Street Fighter II]]''{{citation needed|date=September 2023}}
* [[Jon Talbain]] from ''[[Darkstalkers]]''{{citation needed|date=September 2023}}
* Chou from ''[[Mobile Legends: Bang Bang]]''{{citation needed|date=September 2023}}
* Clair Andrews from ''[[Ehrgeiz]]''{{citation needed|date=April 2024}}
* [[Iron Fist (character)|Iron Fist]] from ''[[Marvel Rivals]]''

==Notable practitioners==
{{more citations needed section|date=October 2023}}
{{For|practitioners of Jeet Kune Do|Category:Jeet Kune Do practitioners}}
{{Dynamic list}}
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* [[Ben Saunders (fighter)|Ben Saunders]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/369207-ufc-111-ben-saunders-harnessing-his-inner-bruce-lee-for-jon-fitch|title=UFC 111: Ben Saunders Harnessing His Inner Bruce Lee for Jon Fitch|first=Tom|last=Ngo|website=Bleacher Report}}</ref>
* [[Brandon Lee]]
* [[Bob Breen]]
* [[Dan Inosanto]]
* [[Erik Paulson]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Erik Paulson Combat Submission Wrestling |url=https://www.jkd.gr/csw.html |access-date=June 21, 2025}}</ref>
* [[Ernest Emerson]]<ref>Combs, Roger (2004), "Emerson Knives", Knives Illustrated, 18 (2): 36–41, 65–69</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Emerson |first=Ernie |year=2006e |title=IMB Academy News |publisher=IMB Academy |url=http://www.imbacademy.com/archive/ernie-emerson-torrance-ca/ |url-status=live |access-date=February 20, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070704030026/http://www.imbacademy.com/news-2006testimonial2.html |archive-date=July 4, 2007 |quote=I first met Richard Bustillo as a fledgling student at the Filipino KALI Academy in Torrance, California in the 1970s. I had moved from Northern Wisconsin just to train at what was at the time the only full-contact fighting school in the world. This was a fighter's school and needless to say I was more than a little intimidated at our first encounter. After all, here I was in a school filled with some of Bruce Lee's original equipment in front of someone who had trained with Bruce.}}</ref>
* [[Glenn Danzig]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 10, 1999 |title=Glenn Danzig Satan's Child |url=http://www.the7thhouse.com/news/Articles/d6_art6.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705013840/http://www.the7thhouse.com/news/Articles/d6_art6.htm |archive-date=July 5, 2008 |access-date=October 9, 2009 |publisher=the7thhouse.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |year=1992 |title=Glenn Danzig trained in Jeet Kune Do by Bruce Lee |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlBcD8qqGT8 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130513103730/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlBcD8qqGT8 |archive-date=May 13, 2013 |access-date=August 23, 2007 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref>
* [[James Wilks]]
* [[Jang Hyuk]]
* [[Jason David Frank]]
* [[Jason Scott Lee]]
* [[Jeff Imada]]
* [[Jerry Poteet]]
* [[Joe Lewis (martial artist)|Joe Lewis]]
* [[Junichi Okada]]
* [[Kareem Abdul-Jabbar]]
* [[Patrick Marcil]]
* [[Richard Bustillo]]
* [[Nick Irving]]
* [[Ron Balicki]]
* [[Shannon Lee]]
* [[Taimak]]
* [[Taky Kimura]]
* [[Tim Boetsch]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com/stories/ufc/ufc-155-fight-card-preview|title=UFC 155 fight card preview &#124; Fox Sports|website=amp.foxsports.com}}</ref>
* [[Tim Tackett]]
* [[Yorinaga Nakamura]]
{{div col end}}

==See also==
* [[Tao of Jeet Kune Do]]
* [[Bruce Lee's Fighting Method]]
* [[Chinese Gung Fu: The Philosophical Art of Self-Defense]]
* [[Bruce Lee filmography]]
* [[Bruce Lee Library]]
* [[List of awards and honors received by Bruce Lee]]
* [[Bruceploitation]]
* [[Bruce Lee (comics)]]
* [[Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* {{Cite book |last=Assli |first=Salem |title=Jeet Kune Do 'Toutes les techniques de Bruce Lee' |publisher=Editions Chiron |year=2002 |isbn=2-7027-0693-2}}
* {{Citation |last1=Balicki |first1=Ron |title=Jeet Kune Do: The Principles of a Complete Fighter |url=https://archive.org/details/jeetkunedoprinci0000bali |year=2001 |publisher=HNL Publishing |isbn=0-9531766-3-0 |last2=Steve Gold |url-access=registration}}
* {{Citation |last=Beasley |first=Jerry |title=The Jeet Kune Do Experience: Understanding Bruce Lee's Ultimate Martial Art |year=2001 |publisher=Paladin Press |isbn=978-1-58160-131-2 |ref=Beasley2001}}
* {{Citation |last=Bishop |first=James |title=Bruce Lee: Dynamic Becoming |year=2004 |place=Dallas |publisher=Promethean Press |isbn=0-9734054-0-6 |ref=Bishop2004}}
* {{Citation |last=Cheng |first=David |title=Jeet Kune Do Basics |year=2004 |publisher=Tuttle Publishing |isbn=0-8048-3542-X |ref=Cheng2004}}
* {{Citation |last=Davis |first=Lamar |title=Jun Fan/Jeet Kune Do: Scientific Streetfighting |year=2001 |publisher=HNL Publishing |isbn=978-0-9531766-1-8 |ref=Davis2001}}
* {{Citation |last=Hochheim |first=W. Hoch |title=The Maze of Jeet Kune Do |date=January 1995 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FdIDAAAAMBAJ |work=[[Black Belt Magazine]] |volume=33 |issue=1 |publisher=Rainbow Publications, Inc. |ref=HochheimJan. 1995}}
* {{Citation |last1=Chris Kent |title=Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do: The Textbook |year=1989 |publisher=Action Pursuit Group |isbn=0-86568-131-7 |ref=Lee1978Kent, Tackett1989 |last2=Tim Tackett}}
* {{Citation |last=Lee |first=Bruce |title=[[Tao of Jeet Kune Do]] |year=1975 |publisher=Ohara Publications |isbn=978-0-89750-048-7 |ref=Lee1975}}
* {{Citation |last=Lee |first=Bruce |title=[[Bruce Lee's Fighting Method]] |year=1978 |publisher=Ohara Publications, Inc. |isbn=0-89750-062-8 |ref=Lee1978}}
* {{Citation |last=Little |first=John |title=The Warrior Within: The Philosophies of Bruce Lee to Better Understand the World Around You and Achieve a Rewarding Life |url=https://archive.org/details/warriorwithinphi00litt |year=1996 |publisher=McGraw-Hill |isbn=0-8092-3194-8 |ref=Little1996}}
* {{Citation |last=Little |first=John |title=Jeet Kune Do: Bruce Lee's Commentaries on the Martial Way |year=1997 |publisher=Tuttle Publishing |isbn=0-8048-3132-7 |ref=Little1997}}
* {{Citation |last=Little |first=John |title=Bruce Lee: Artist of Life |url=https://archive.org/details/bruce-lee-library-bruce-lee-john-little-bruce-lee-artist-of-life-inspiration-and/mode/2up |year=2001 |publisher=Tuttle Publishing |isbn=0-8048-3263-3 |ref=Little2001}}
* {{Citation |last=Little |first=John |title=Striking Thoughts: Bruce Lee's Wisdom for Daily Living |url=https://archive.org/details/bruce-lee-library-bruce-lee-john-little-striking-thoughts-bruce-lees-wisdom-for-/mode/2up |year=2002 |publisher=Tuttle Publishing |isbn=0-8048-3471-7 |ref=Little2002}}
* {{Citation |last=Seaman |first=Kevin |title=Jun Fan Gung Fu Seeking The Path of Jeet Kune Do |year=1999 |place=S.l. |publisher=Health 'N' Life |isbn=0-9531766-2-2 |ref=Seaman1999}}
* {{Citation |last=Thomas |first=Bruce |title=Bruce Lee: Fighting Spirit |url=https://archive.org/details/bruceleefighting0000thom |year=1994 |place=Berkeley, California |publisher=Frog, Ltd. |isbn=1-883319-25-0}}
* {{Citation |last=Yılmaz |first=Yüksel |title=Dövüş Sanatlarının Temel İlkeleri |year=2000 |place=İstanbul, Turkey |publisher=Beyaz Yayınları |isbn=975-8261-87-8 |ref=Yılmaz2000}}
* {{Citation |last=Yılmaz |first=Yüksel |title=Jeet Kune Do'nun Felsefesi |year=2008 |place=İstanbul, Turkey |publisher=Yalın Yayıncılık |isbn=978-9944-313-67-4 |ref=Yılmaz2008}}

==External links==
Archived [[iarchive:jfjkd-newsletter-1|Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do Newsletters]] on the Internet Archive{{Martial arts}}
{{Bruce Lee}}

{{Authority control}}

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