Cornerstone Jeet Kune Do

Don’t over-simplify Jeet Kune Do. That’s as bad as complicating it. If the stop-hit or immediate counter isn’t available (technically or if it’s a dicey tactical decision and your timing is off for whatever reason) use your footwork to get off the line. Obviously, we’d love to hit first but this is the real world and the other guy isn’t cooperating. Use your footwork to move your ready position to avoid the wild swing and create a new line for a “late” stop hit (as we call it sometimes).

Don’t forget to train for what you’re really going to face in a self-defense fight, which is an angry and overcommitted attack. It’s highly unlikely you’ll face a skilled counter puncher like you would in sport combat, so training extensively for that can lead to a training versus reality problem.

Get ready for a wild swing and/or an aggressive rush. Train to stop-hit, counter, or, as discussed here, move off the line and then counter.

Really old footage of Sifu Lamar Davis teaching at my first Jeet Kune Do school in Greenville, South Carolina. We were messing around with counters and follow-ups. I think the funny thing is, besides the fact that Sifu Lamar was showing this in jeans, was the size of the room. The camera was on the back wall. In other words, you’re seeing basically the whole school because the front door is just past the desk. Those were the days!! Oh, and who says that Sifu Lamar is all and only trapping. Obviously, as you can see, he’s a tremendous athlete and walking encyclopedia of Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do knowledge. He could take you out at any range! As you can see, pick your poison with him.

All training is like a prescription. We don’t want to OD on something, even something as important as sparring. It’s not the real thing and we must remember that and keep the main thing the main thing.

Keep it simple. If the guy grabs you, his body is open and the best option is the short hook. The solar plexus. The ribs. The bladder or even the groin. Learn to hit with explosive power even at close-range or else you’ll try and compensate with more complex technique. Again: keep it simple.

There’s a reason why just keeping your hands up is a recent tactic. For all of history there were no boxing gloves, so blocking punches with the back of your hands wouldn’t work. In JKD we rely on lightning fast counters with footwork, evasion and parries instead.