Jeet Kune Do

[big bad john]

I've been invited to some classes in this form of Kung fu.  Anyone know anything about it pro or con?  All I have is the web site that the owner of the school who is my brother in law gave me.  I don't want to waste my time and he is family...

http://ottawajkd.com/pages/1/index.htmhttp://ottawajkd.com/pages/1/index.htm

 

[wildman0101]

very good martial 99.9 defensive .1 agressive..
judo was ok got to do alot of screaming
hanging out with a couple guys
trying to develo[pe our own
cheers
              scoty

 

[wildman0101]

tae kwon do,karate,shotokan.zu
start with the small and go big grasshopper
scoty

 

[Zertz]

404 on the link. As a martial artist (Traditional Karate with application) all I can say is there are good schools and there are McDojos (money in, an hour or so of aerobics later, tired person with less cash out). The scary thing is you may not be able to tell if its a McDojo or not, my advice is to try it out.

 

[big bad john]

I trained quite a bit in the Marines, I just get a bit nervous when people mention Bruce Lee, that's all.  I'm going to take the lesson, I just thought that I'd see what people here thought.

 

[wildman0101]

semper/fi

 

[Zertz]

I trained quite a bit in the Marines, I just get a bit nervous when people mention Bruce Lee, that's all.  I'm going to take the lesson, I just thought that I'd see what people here thought.

Tell us how it goes!

 

[paracowboy]

Jeet kune do has become exactly what Bruce Lee dearly wanted to avoid: a 'system'.

He originally began to experiment in other styles simply to develop defenses against them in his original style of Wing Chun. Then, he began to study them for techniques that he could employ successfully. He laid these ideas out in the form of concepts, and taught them to students of his Wing Chun school. Many of his theories were actually drawn from his studies of Philosphy, principally Krishanmurti's teachings.

Then, he named it. And immediately regretted it. (Yeah, HUGE Bruce Lee fan, here. Read everything he ever wrote, watched everything he ever appeared in.)

As it stands now, JKD can be a devasting system taught by true masters of the concepts and philosophy. Or, it can be the same cookie-cutter crap you get taught in a McDojo's.

I say, give it a whirl, and if you don't like it, just bow out with something like, "It's just not for me. After all Bruce Lee said 'Your Way is not my Way. Your Truth is not my Truth'."

The quote from Bruce should let him think that you put a lot of thought into JKD. He'll be flattered, and less likely to be touchy about it.

But, you may want to go to the Library and see if they have a copy of Bruce's Tao of Jeet Kune Do. It's a compilation of his various notes and thoughts on the ancient and honourable art of the Sukiyaki Nose-Toss. Good reading. Thought provoking.

 

[nullterm]

Fixed link: http://ottawajkd.com/pages/1/index.htm

Here's some reading on JKD, I know some people that studied it and enjoyed it.  Can't tell much about a club from its webpage.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeet_kune_do

Go with what you'd find interesting.  The most important aspect is motivation.  And interest is a big factor in that.

Probably more important than the art, find a good instructor.  Watch a class, does the class look like they are really into it?

Safety is paramount.  I once heard a JKD instructor say "Yeah, sometimes someone gets hurt, that's just part of it."  That struck me as negligence.  Injuries do happen, but they should be freak occurences, not common events.  Again, comes down to the instructor.

 

[Bert]

For comparasion, try a free class here since its in the Ottawa area:

http://www.ottawakungfucentre.com/

This is more traditional wing chun.

 

[Wolfmann]

JKD is as much a philosophy about life as it is a martial arts system...I've been a student of the martial arts since I was 11 (I'm 30) and all I can recommend is that you go out and try it and try different styles...don't be afraid of trying new things. I've studied twelve different arts, and found to focus on three of them - okinawan goju ryu, aiki jitsu, and wing chun...vastly different, yet complimentary arts.

JKD is as much about discovery...and it's ironic, but that's exactly what you need to do.

 

[big bad john]

I tried a private class today, skepticism about my new brother in law and all.  It was very, very good!  As I was told here, very much a philosophy based martial art.  But also very physical.  I would recommend that anyone give it a try, with the right attitude and match, it would be brilliant experience!

Thank you for any and all comments.

 

[Kal]

Like any weapon or fighting skill set, it's a tool.  It's mindset and the willingness to use those skills which matter.  Sadly, most martial arts schools are teaching crap and very little, if any, valid self defence skills for the environment and culture we live in. 

Glad you had a good had a good time and I hope you'll learn what you're seeking.

 

[nullterm]

Great to hear you had a positive experience with the school.  Keep those hands up! 

 

[CougarKing]

How about Krav Maga, the Israeli (YES, Israeli) Martial Art? Correct me if I'm wrong, but I hear it's used by US special forces.

http://www.kravmaga.com/

 

[paracowboy]

How about Krav Maga, the Israeli (YES, Israeli) Martial Art? Correct me if I'm wrong, but I hear it's used by US special forces.

http://www.kravmaga.com/

you are corrected.

There are several threads containing info on Krav Maga. Consensus: good system, if taught properly.

 

[Nemo888]

Tae Eun Lee(Tae Kwon Do) is pretty good in Ottawa. Ex Korean special forces instructor. He has at least put it to the test in life or death battle. A few "Martial Artists" I've sparred with are wimps who think they are ultimate warriors. If they don't spar regularly they are ususally not of much practical use. But watch you joints, they will only take so much wear and tear.