Bruce Lee über JKD

I have not invented a "new style," composite, modified or otherwise that is set within distinct form as apart from "this" method or "that" method. On the contrary, I hope to free my followers from clinging to styles, patterns, or molds. Remember that Jeet Kune Do is merely a name used, a mirror in which to see "ourselves". . . Jeet Kune Do is not an organized institution that one can be a member of. Either you understand or you don't, and that is that. There is no mystery about my style. My movements are simple, direct and non-classical. The extraordinary part of it lies in its simplicity. Every movement in Jeet Kune-Do is being so of itself. There is nothing artificial about it. I always believe that the easy way is the right way. Jeet Kune-Do is simply the direct expression of one's feelings with the minimum of movements and energy. The closer to the true way of Kung Fu, the less wastage of expression there is. Finally, a Jeet Kune Do man who says Jeet Kune Do is exclusively Jeet Kune Do is simply not with it. He is still hung up on his self-closing resistance, in this case anchored down to reactionary pattern, and naturally is still bound by another modified pattern and can move within its limits. He has not digested the simple fact that truth exists outside all molds; pattern and awareness is never exclusive. Again let me remind you Jeet Kune Do is just a name used, a boat to get one across, and once across it is to be discarded and not to be carried on one's back.

Absorb what is useful,
Reject what is useless.
Add what is specifically your own.
Man the creating individual is more important than any established style or system.

-Bruce Lee-

The Paths of Life

We are all climbing different paths through the mountain of life,
and we have all experienced much hardship and strife.

There are many paths through the mountain of life,
and some climbs can be felt like the point of a knife.

Some paths are short and others are long,
who can say which path is right or wrong?

The beauty of truth is that each path has its own song,
and if you listen closely you will find where you belong.

So climb your own path true and strong,
but respect all other truths for your way for them could be wrong.

Dan Inosanto

Adaption

"Be formless... shapeless like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle; it becomes the bottle. You put it into a teapot; it becomes the teapot. Water can flow, and it can crash. Be water, my friend..."

Bruce Lee

Understanding Martial Arts

" To understand your martial art, you must understand the philosophy
of that martial art.

To understand the philosophy you must understand the culture
it came from.

To understand the culture it came from, you must understand the history
of that culture."

Cass Magda