Jeet Kune Do
Jeet Kune Do (Chinese: 截拳道; "way of the intercepting fist"; abbreviated JKD) is a hybrid martial art conceived and practiced by martial artist Bruce Lee. It was formed from Lee's experiences in unarmed fighting and self-defense—as well as eclectic, Zen Buddhist and Taoist philosophies—as a new school of martial arts thought.
The Jeet Kune Do Emblem The taijitu represents the concepts of yin and yang. The Chinese characters mean: "Using no way as way" and "Having no limitation as limitation". The arrows represent the endless interaction between yin and yang. | |
| Also known as | JKD, Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do |
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| Focus | Hybrid (mixed martial arts kung fu philosophy) |
| Creator | Bruce Lee |
| Famous practitioners | (see notable practitioners) |
| Parenthood | Jun Fan Gung Fu: Wing Chun, boxing, fencing, arnis, judo, jujutsu, savate, traditional taekwondo, tai chi, catch wrestling |
| Descendant arts | Non-Classical Gung Fu, Wing Chun Do, Emerson Combat Systems, Wei Kuen Do, Mixed Martial Arts (modern) |
| Jeet Kune Do | |||||||||||||||
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| Chinese | 截拳道 | ||||||||||||||
| Literal meaning | "Way of the Intercepting Fist" | ||||||||||||||
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The core of Jeet Kune Do is the interception of the opponent, making corresponding responses or counterattacks that strike at incoming attacks. JKD also incorporates a set of principles to help practitioners make instant decisions and improve the physical and mental self, being intended to have practical applications in life without the traditional routines and metaphysics of conventional martial arts. As an eclectic martial art, it relies on a fighting style heavily influenced by Wing Chun, Tai Chi, taekwondo, boxing, fencing and jujutsu.
Bruce Lee himself never formalized Jeet Kune Do before he died. This forced later JKD practitioners to rely upon their own interpretation of the philosophy created by Bruce Lee.