He felt these were universal combat truths that were self evident, and would lead to combat success if followed.
Familiarity with each of the "Four ranges of combat", in particular, is thought to be instrumental in becoming a "total" martial artist.
JKD teaches that the best defense is a strong offense, hence the principle of an "intercepting fist". For a person to attack another hand-to-hand, the attacker must approach the target.
This provides an opportunity for the attacked person to "intercept" the attacking movement.
The principle of interception may be applied to more than intercepting physical attacks.
Non-verbal cues (subtle movements that an opponent may be unaware of) may be perceived or "intercepted", and thus be used to one's advantage.
The "Five ways of attack", categories which help JKD practitioners organize their fighting repertoire, comprise the offensive teachings of JKD.
The concepts of "Stop hits & stop kicks", and "Simultaneous parrying & punching", borrowed from épée fencing's and Wing Chun's concepts of single fluid motions which attack while defending, comprise the defensive teachings of JKD.
These concepts were modified for unarmed combat and implemented into the JKD framework by Lee, to complement the principle of interception.
'Be like water'
Lee believed that martial systems should be as flexible as possible.
He often used water as an analogy for describing why flexibility is a desired trait in martial arts.
Water is infinitely flexible. It can be seen through, and yet at other times it can obscure things from sight.
It can split and go around things, rejoining on the other side, or it can crash through things.
It can erode the hardest rocks by gently lapping away at them or it can flow past the tiniest pebble.
Lee believed that a martial system should have these attributes.
JKD students reject traditional systems of training, fighting styles and the Confucian pedagogy used in traditional kung fu schools because of this lack of flexibility.
JKD is claimed to be a dynamic concept that is forever changing, thus being extremely flexible.
"Absorb what is useful; Disregard that which is useless" is an often quoted Bruce Lee maxim. JKD students are encouraged to study every form of combat possible.
This is believed to expand one's knowledge of other fighting systems; to both add to one's arsenal as well as to know how to defend against such tactics.
Bruce Lee once said : "Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless, like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup.
You put water into a bottle and it becomes the bottle.
You put it in a teapot it becomes the teapot. Now, water can flow or it can crash. Be water my friend."
Economy of motion
Jeet Kune Do seeks to waste no time or movement, teaching that the simplest things work best. Economy of motion is the principle by which JKD practitioners achieve :
- Efficiency: An attack which reaches its target in the least amount of time, with maximum force.
- Directness: Doing what comes naturally in a disciplined way.
- Simplicity: Thinking in an uncomplicated manner; without ornamentation.
This is meant to help a practitioner conserve both energy and time; two crucial components in a physical confrontation.
Maximized force seeks to end the battle quickly due to the amount of damage inflicted upon the opponent.
Rapidity aims to reach the target before the opponent can react, which is half-beat faster timing, learned in Wing Chun and Western boxing.
Learned techniques are utilized in JKD to apply these principles to a variety of situations.
