Jeet Kune Do (J.K.D.) is a widely-used but seldom-understood name. Often the name Jeet Kune Do is incorrectly used to describe individual martial art styles when in reality it is a series of concepts and training methodologies that may encompass many different styles at any given time. Once a student has established a base of skills he or she will be able to transcend technique and flow through any range of combat.
Jeet Kune Do was conceived by Bruce Lee in 1967 when he uncovered the concept of interception. In fact, the literal translation of the phrase Jeet Kune Do is ‘Way of intercepting fist’. When the term Jeet Kune Do was coined intercepting was not a characteristic of any particular martial art or style.
In fact, the skill vocabulary of Jeet Kune Do is basically an amalgamation of approximately 26 other martial arts which have been adapted to suit individual expression and experience. Bruce Lee’s goal was to release Jeet Kune Do pupils from the restrictions of conforming to any one style or pattern. Bruce Lee advocated that the truth in combat is different for each individual.
JKD is a nontraditional art and teaches the practitioner to adapt to any given situation or range of combat. Ranges of combat include, punching, kicking, trapping and grappling. Students are taught to flow seamlessly from one range to the next utilising techniques from many different martial arts with its aim to use whatever is useful, direct, effective and efficient. It is an art without limitation and forever evolving. Some of the martial arts it draws from are Wing Chun, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Shoot Wrestling, Boxing, Muay Thai, Savate, Kali/Escrima and Silat just to name a few.