Steve Golden's Thoughts

JKD is a method or methods based on sound and provable principles. What Bruce Lee did was pull together principles and truths that have been around for hundreds or thousands of years. He then used them "his way" to make a combat system that used universal truths in a way that best fit his skills and personality. That is Bruce Lee's expression of JKD.

The information that Bruce Lee gathered, documented, and left in his notes gives us hints on how to put those truths and principles together into a usable and effective method for our own use. When that is done JKD becomes your own personal use and expression of those principles. JKD is alive and well in each of us when we follow these principles of combat. That does NOT mean that we must execute those principles in the same way that Bruce Lee did. It also doesn't mean that we can't do it the way he did.

The beauty of JKD is that it gives you the tools and lets you build what you personally need to gain effectiveness and excellence.

So, is it JKD if you deviate from these principles? Maybe. It's very important to understand that the principles are not laws. They are guidelines. There are times when you should break the "rules" because the situation dictates it. But you should also know and understand the implications of doing so. Do I stand strong side forward? Sometimes. Do I use the "Bi Jong" stance? Rarely. Am I doing JKD? Hmmm. I'm not sure I can answer that one. But, am I using the principles that Bruce Lee united? You bet I am! Does it work? Of course it does.

I've asked people and I've also been asked to define JKD. If you make the mistake of defining it you have destroyed its very spirit. That's because any definition is restrictive. It forces the method into artificial bounds and structures. If you want to understand JKD, then understand its principles but don't be bound by them. My description, not definition, of JKD should give you the spirit of JKD but not lock it into restrictive bounds.

Personally, I do not like using the term JKD because of the restrictions the term generates. I do say JKD, just as I have here, but that's only a matter of convenience so we know what subject we're discussing.

Steve Golden
June 17, 2004