Jeet Kune Do Masters of the Universe

In the last few years we’ve been witnessing a multitude of new martial arts and combat self defense systems coming out from every country in the world, most of them with their own Gurus, Masters and Grand Masters.
Bruce Lee’s Jeet Kune Do (JKD) is one of the most targeted arts and we are noticing organizations popping out in different countries with their own hierarchy system in JKD.
If you now just a little bit of Bruce Lee history, you quickly understand that such organizations should not even exists and they have no proof of legitimacy in the real JKD world.
Our friend Mark Stewart, who is a direct second generation JKD instructor under Ted Wong and Ted Lucaylucay, and also Dan Inosanto student, explains here below why there cannot be any Master or Grand Master in JKD.

JKD Education Part (1): Great Grand Master, Grand Master, Master are not titles/terms used in Jeet Kune Do.
This should be your first clue into understanding who is teaching real JKD or not!
JKD is a resurrected martial art.
Only after Bruce died was there any reference to Sijo: Founder and Sigung: Your teacher’s teacher. Other than that it is just Sifu: Teacher.
Most of us who teach real JKD are happy if you just call us by our name:) Coach, is more appropriate as JKD is progressive/modern…

JKD Education Part (2): JKD Timeline
Bruce Lee’s Letter to James Lee in 1965:
“I’m having a Gung Fu system drawn up–this system is a combination of chiefly Wing Chun, Fencing and Boxing. Boy, it will be IT!“–Bruce Lee (A letter to James Lee, July 31st, 1965) – Bruce Lee

Bruce Lee’s definition of JKD as formulated in a letter to his senior student Taky Kimura in February of 1967:
“My mind is made up to start a system of my own – I mean a system of totality, embracing all but yet guided with simplicity. It will concentrate on the root of things – rhythm, timing, distance and embrace the five ways of attack. Wing Chun is the starting point, chi sau is the nucleus and they are supplemented by the FIVE WAYS. The whole system will concentrate on irregular rhythm and how to disturb and intercept the opponent’s rhythm the fastest and most efficient way. Above all, this system is not confined to straight line or curved line but is content to stand in the middle of the circle without attachment. This way one can meet any lines without being familiar with them.” – Bruce Lee

Changes:

Letter to William Cheung 1969:
“During the last ten years, Chinese martial art has always been a major part of my activity, though I am now in a new field, the field of acting. My achievement is in the martial art is most satisfying and the word Chinese has come a long way in the circle of Martial art due to the fact that all three of the U.S. Karate free style Champs are studing under me. William I’ve lost faith in the Chinese Classical arts – though I still call mine Chinese ~ because basically all styles are product of land swimming, even the Wing Chun school” – Bruce Lee

Interview with Ted Wong:
“Over time, he began to change the stance from a Wing Chun Bai Jong to the “On-Guard” position, and because of that change, many other changes came about. For instance, he changed the way he kicked and punched, the delivery system of these techniques. Also, the curriculum that he taught in the class to a large group of people began to change somewhat. Still at that time, the Seattle, Oakland and Los Angeles curriculum were pretty much still Wing Chun influenced. But when I was training with him privately, there was a gradual diminishing of Wing Chun until, at the end, it was completely different than Wing Chun. Pretty much the only Wing Chun element that he applied was Chi Sao or “sticking hands” and also some simplified trapping. He thought that it was pretty unique, but then later, say, in 1969, he had pretty much discarded that as well. Taky [Kimura] told me that Bruce had called him in 1969 and told him that “Chi Sao is out.” – Ted Wong

“The End or Just the Beginning” 1972 Phone call to Daniel Lee
“That’s why I closed all the schools of Jeet Kune Do; because it was too easy for a member to come in and mistake the schedule as the Truth and the agenda as the Way.“–Bruce Lee (1972)

JKD Education Part (3)
JKD as developed and taught by Bruce Lee was never a sport. It was taught for self realization and self defense. Bruce did train/teach combative sports competitors (american karate champions), so yes, facets of JKD can be used in combative sports. I have a friend in the USA that has created some “sport JKD” competitions. I do not agree with his rules but wish him the best. Bruce Lee did not believe in rules or weight classes, so if you really want to create a “sport JKD” first you would need to learn “real JKD” and second, there would be no rules and no weight classes…

JKD Education Part (4)
I have been lucky that I lived in the USA. The birthplace of JKD. However, I did move thousands of miles from the Mid-West USA to California in order to learn it. I also moved thousands of miles away from the USA to share it.
I do understand that many in Asia have been highly inspired by Bruce Lee and did not have the same opportunity as I did.
However, some from Asia actually have traveled to the USA in order to learn but most have not, due to many reasons. Some have attended and hosted seminars as well here in their own countries.
This is no excuse for promoting yourselves as “Masters of JKD” especially when there are no Masters in JKD.
If you want to be honest you will say you are inspired by Bruce Lee and JKD…
Some of you are inspired from theatrical JKD (movies), some of you are inspired from the Wing Chun Based Jun Fan Gung Fu (early JKD), some of you are inspired from the Latter Stage JKD (Fencing/Boxing Hybrid), some of you are inspired from the JKD Concepts (Inosanto Martial Arts) and most of you do not even know the difference…

In closing… JKD is dead, long live JKD:)

Note from the author Mark Edward Stewart: The reason I wrote this post is because all over Asia the fake guys have teamed up to promote JKD as point fighting and they are all Masters and Grand Masters!

(For more info about Mark Stewart: Please check Boxer Rebellion JKD www.brijkd.com)

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