In Search of the Ultimate Martial Art: The Jeet Kune Do Experience [1 ed.] 0873645162, 9780873645164

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IN SEARCH OF THE ULTIMATE MARTIAL ART

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Jerry Beasley, Ed.D.

IN SEARCH OF THE ULTIMATE MARTIAL ART

The Jeet Kune Do Experience PALADIN PRESS BOULDER, COLORADO

In Search of the Ultimate Martial Art: The Jeet Kune Do Experience by Jerry Beasley, Ed.D.

Copyright © 1989 by Jerry Beasley ISBN 0-87364-516-2 Printed in the United States of America

Published by Paladin Press, a division of Paladin Enterprises, Inc., P.O. Box 1307, Boulder, Colorado 80306, USA.

(303) 443-7250 Direct inquiries and/or orders to the above address. All rights reserved. Except for use in a review, no portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the publisher. Neither the author nor the publisher assumes any responsibility for the use or misuse of information contained in this book.

Cover photos: Top left: American Karate magazine files. Lower left and right: Ric Anderton.

Contents

Preface

vii

Introduction

Chapter 1

Finding the Path

Chapter 2

Going to the Source

Chapter 3

The Next Generation

Chapter 4

The Skills of Jeet Kune Do

Chapter 5

Conclusions

ll

Figure 1. Dan Inosanto

This book is dedicated to Dan Inosanto on behalf of his thousands of students worldwide. .

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Acknowledgments

I first want to thank my wife, Gina, who was instrumental

in preparing this manuscript. Thanks also to Ric Anderton who photographed most of the subjects included in this text, and to Larry Ritchie who spent many hours developing and processing the film and prints. A very special thanks is extended to the many experts who posed for photos, including Tim Tackett, Larry Hartsell, Fred Degerberg, Cliff Lenderman, Dick Harrell, Graciela Casillas, Francis Fong,

members of the Degerberg Academy, and all those who helped. I am indebted to Ann and Vic Payne for allowing me to interview and photograph jeet kune do members at their camp. I wish to extend my greatest admiration and appreciation to Joe Lewis and Dan Inosanto. These two master teachers have greatly influenced my own development in the martial arts and, in turn, made this book possible.

Finally, a word of humble thanks to the late Bruce Lee who changed the course of martial arts forever.

Preface

This book addresses the subject of training in the system of jeet kune do (JKD). In so doing, the focus is not on Bruce Lee; rather, attention is given to discovering the art that he created. Lee discovered a set of universal principles that can be found in any martial art or any combination of arts. It is the perfect unison of strategic principles with the arts that best serves to actualize the intent of the principle that defines JKD. For perhaps the first time a specific outline will be unveiled that will enable the reader to discover in more cogent

terms how best to begin an individualized JKD experience.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM The purpose of this study is to provide an acceptable definition of the term jeet kune do, based on the principles that compose the conceptual framework. In so doing,

attention is drawn toward recognizing the views and values of individuals who studied with Bruce Lee directly, or as second generation participants. Vil

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IN SEARCH OF THE ULTIMATE MARTIAL ART SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study is significant in several respects. First, the results of this study will contribute to the body of literature available on jeet kune do. Moreover, the study addresses a most neglected area of concern: defining the concept of JKD. There exists growing frustration on the part of many within the martial arts community who recognize JKD as an elite methodology that has not yet established recognizable parameters for the organized dissemination of information. The popular martial arts editor, Dave Cater, in a 1988 issue

of Inside Kung-Fu, comments on the fact that JKD is defined as the “style of no style.” If there is no style, how do you know if an instructor is legitimate? By establishing a clear definition of JKD, it is intended that both the JKD group and those who are interested in studying the system may benefit. The subject of legitimacy has for many years been a major stumbling block for students who desire to study Bruce Lee’s conceptual framework, also known as JKD.

METHODOLOGY The data collected in this study is qualitative in content. In view of the fact that JKD has as yet not been satisfactorily defined, qualitative analysis seems to be the best approach. The techiques of ethnography were employed to collect what

could easily be viewed as rather “slippery” and “hard to get at” information accurately describing the practice of JKD. Regarding the techniques of this analysis, | have chosen to employ multiple methods in the study of the same topic. Since each data collection method is admittedly limited and imperfect, it is hoped that the combination of various methods may well provide the researcher with a more complete understanding of the subject of jeet kune do. To this end, the techniques of participant observation, interviewing, personal experience, the use of informants, and content analysis were employed. The cognitive style of composition presented may be best defined by what Abraham Kaplan, in his book, The Conduct of Inquiry, has termed the “literary style,” i.e., a plot is unfolded, a behavior sequence

Preface

ix

is disclosed to have certain significance in terms of the specific purposes and perspectives of the participants, rather than

in terms

of the abstract

and

general categories

of the

scientist’s own explanatory scheme. I include this brief section on methodology to assure the reader that, while I feel a strong sense of appreciation for

the JKD members who have worked with and taught me, I have attempted to provide an objective analysis of the phenomena under investigation.

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