My JKD

This blog begins just before my Thai Boxing years. I was training hard, not in Martial Arts at that time, as I was more interested in the art of music at that point. But still, Martial Arts were still missing from my life. A love lost when the local Judo club closed, and we were left with nothing but semi-contact Karate. In which I had zero interest. I was a full-contact guy and still quite classical in my mentality, which also kept me from what we had considered, pretend fighting.

On a weekend away in Dumfries, I met up with a guy who introduced me to the ‘Tao of Jeet Kune Do’ by Bruce Lee. The book was somewhat of a revelation to me. Most of what this man, Bruce Lee, said just clicked with me. I am sure many reading this have a similar opinion. Myself and the lad from Dumfries, I forget his name now, played around with many of the principals. Quite a few bruises and such were picked up doing this. Especially because of inexperience with trapping, combined with no padding of any description. This became a very personal study to me. That is what JKD is really. Personally, at that time, it meant efficiency in real combat. No BS, no wasted motion etc. Later, it permeated my whole life. Everything became about application and efficiency.

One day, sitting on the ferry reading ‘The art of expressing the human body’, A bloke approached me and said “You into Bruce Lee mate… JKD?” “Something along those lines” I replied. He obviously understood because he took no offence at my tone and showed me his knuckles. They were bright red and he told me he had just been training it and invited me along to the Thai Boxing club where, I was told, they stayed behind for a while and did JKD. It turned out not to be the case, but Thai Boxing became an art I enjoyed due to the full full-contact nature. Plenty of hard sparring and so on. Competing was something I had no interest in anymore as my job as a doorman provided me with more than enough experience in applying my principles and techniques.

But alas, even Thai Boxing still did not suffice. Thankfully, at that time, I found Tommy Carruthers, who helped me take my training to the next level, and I had the opportunity to train with Ted Wong, RIP, as well as some other great unknowns. Tommy was/is very much a purist and follower of Bruce’s way. Something I couldn’t buy into. I didn’t believe that was what Bruce was trying to put across to us. Maybe that was ultimately the reason I went my own path. Not comparing myself to Tommy here. Let me make that clear. Anyway, from there, the whole world of martial arts opened up to me. A clearer vision of what it was about, what it meant to me and how best I could help others with it. Again, coming full circle as any good teacher will tell you that you should.

Coming full circle lets you return to the start with a greater understanding. Allowing you to proceed in continual development. Never being afraid to put your white belt back on, is a popular saying that serves well to explain the principal. Each time I come full circle I feel stronger and more resolute on my path. So for me JKD is nothing. The void, some might say. Purely a label that even Bruce Lee came to dislike. It is simply the Martial Way. Stripped of BS. Bruce Lee simply hung it out and beat the dust off. Breaking many boundaries along the way. Forging his own path, as should we all. It is my core, my way of life. Not a collection of techniques or a mix of Martial Arts and philosophies. To me, those that believe so are unfortunately misguided or mislead.

Do not be trapped inside a box looking out, or outside the box looking in. There is no box. Cheesy but true. That is ‘My JKD’ and quite possibly yours as well. Thank you Bruce Lee, and all my great teachers. Without them I may never have tread on my own path.

Time to train, hope you enjoyed my point of view on this.