What is "IT"

[Valpolicella]

Just what is it that people do not get about JKD? It is often said that JKD is not for everybody and very few people get "IT."
Is it that there are principles behind JKD that make everything work and it not simply enought to learn a set number of techniques.
Is it that it takes time to develop the skill and most peole simply want something to quickly?
As far as mastering or funtional ability goes I look at it like this, when I do a guitar solos I'm not thinking about all the scales and runs I know. I'm just letting it fly out of me. Simple as that. After enought time dedicated to practising something you should start to grasp how to just let it happen. The though process is no longer is involved. So "IT" plays the guitar, just like "IT" punches.
Is this the "IT" that people do not understand because of lack of time dedicated?
Or is there something else that I do not know about because I have'nt reached it yet?

[Arron Grammond]

There are others more wise than I, but this is my short version of "IT."

There is no mystical secret power. Its just superior training and conditioning.

JKD is not a fighting style or even a fighting method.
JKD is a training method.

"IT" is what you get when you sift out all the BS and get down to the REAL application of all the training and conditioning. My "IT" won't be your "IT" though there may be similarity in our influences.

So your observation that someone who is too lazy to put the work in can't get "IT" is partly true.

At least that is my current take.

Find your own truth,

[Geoff]

Everyone learns the abc in the alphabet but whos to say you cant find your own expression in poetry,fiction,etc, you have to learn the scales and chords in music but after you have learnt them, you can learn jazz,rock,etc why are there people who like jazz more than rock and soul more than pop,etc?
Everyones "it" is different but there are the main stream things,principles that everyone has to go through as Ive said above,then the body will learn from its own intelligence...(wu wi) and when it does this, it doesnt matter what instrument you play on......it will act on its own achord,and hit different chords off its own intelligence, the natural way.

This is why you can say people come up with there own songs.....like bruce made his own song on hes bodys own intelligence.......so the only secret is too practice and there are no secrets..


just a thought.....

[john]

Do you think that music teachers say to their students "well its like a jab cross, evasion, you know you gotta know how to knock the bloke out, how to pivot the weight then and only tehn can you play the tuba"

do you think they do????

:lol:

[Arron Grammond]

Just what is it that people do not get about JKD? It is often said that JKD is not for everybody and very few people get "IT."
Is it that there are principles behind JKD that make everything work and it not simply enought to learn a set number of techniques.
Is it that it takes time to develop the skill and most peole simply want something to quickly?
As far as mastering or funtional ability goes I look at it like this, when I do a guitar solos I'm not thinking about all the scales and runs I know. I'm just letting it fly out of me. Simple as that. After enought time dedicated to practising something you should start to grasp how to just let it happen. The though process is no longer is involved. So "IT" plays the guitar, just like "IT" punches.
Is this the "IT" that people do not understand because of lack of time dedicated?
Or is there something else that I do not know about because I have'nt reached it yet?

It is simple really to get it one has to be better than someone else delivery system method or style, so getting it is not the goal but get it and discard it when it is not necessary. And just like the hammer principle getting it is a process, not a goal. If one is successful in the process and the opponent is getting one,s interception then getting it is for anyone who applies it. Who to say except the defeated opponent he sure did get it and fast. And that might change in the next match up. That is if the opponent got it and wise up to JKD. And so on just like the hammer principle, getting it just enought to defeat an opponent, until the next time.

Just like a progression in a career of say boxing, music, or whatever, who ever thinks he has got it, is stagnant and in a rut.

Your post almost seems to imply that no one has IT unless they have won a fight and then IT is only until you loose a fight?

I agree that the IT is a moving target, but I think that it becomes stagnate without training properly or growing. Not by just by thinking you have IT. One is an effect of the other.

Bruce knew he had it didn't he, but he kept training hard to grow and evolve his undertsanding of "IT."

"IT" is the journey down the path of learning and developing yourself without a final destination.

[Geoff]

Depends if the music teachers wants the musicians to be muscians or conductors....
And if conductors... Then.... they will teach them to play that front hand like a conductor does with his stick.....and then he or she can play there own music based on whats needed....light instruments or the big base.
(you just feel the music with your own intelligence).......but saying that.
you going to read the music from a script? or you going to play your own tune. obviously with the guardence from your teacher so he or she can teach you the scales and different chords.
So in conclusion can one play bruce lees music like if someone was going too try and play jim hendrix guitar?,they couldnt find anyone too play the same as jim.........but you had to find your own way,just like in boxing the structure is the same,,,,,,,,,,but each one had too learn from "it" through there own intelligence like I said.


anyway just my oppinion not too say its right ok? thanks

[Geoff]

one off the things ive heard on here is!! bruce once said if I want to knock the guy out (something like that) .....I will just lean over and knock the guy out, I ve seen it done with people who dont know martial arts and they seem too do a good job of it.........in self defence off cause.


ps .....using the bodys own intelligence

[john]

anyway just my oppinion not too say its right ok? thanks

Course its ok. Man if it helps you understand it then use it. Im just funning with you all.

:D :wink:

[Arron Grammond]

one off the things ive heard on here is!! bruce once said if I want to knock the guy out (something like that) .....I will just lean over and knock the guy out, I ve seen it done with people who dont know martial arts and they seem too do a good job of it.........in self defence off cause.


ps .....using the bodys own intelligence

Now why did,t mike tyson just lean over and knock lennox lewis out, a quick coupleof shots just to test out lennox then the tussle. Leaning over and knocking someone out "bruce lee quote" hmm bruce just hit and no lean all in the same motion.

The hand is faster than the eye can see, so don,t think react, with an interception upon his preparation. That bring me back to Mike tyson no fool to just knock lennox out as he is liable to be knock out himself.

Now was that friend of yours picking one some with better reach, footwork, and instinct, and JKD interception, so comparing his success against non-fighter and his own short career as a fighter, till he has been struck before he can land a punch. Even mike tyson appreciate that interception is not to be taken lightly.

LOL you need to compare Pre prison Tyson to Post prison Tyson.
He lost his edge and conditioning while in Prison. He never seemed to recover after that.

PS: Guess who lives around here... Thats right Mike Tyson.

[Valpolicella]

You know John maybe a music teacher would tell the student just that, if they had both trained JKD and had a common understanding.
Now I say maybe because as of yet I don't know if I'm raelly comparing apples to apples just yet. I could be comparing apples to focus gloves...
For me that's the only point of reference or understandingof "IT" I have.

Now I know most JKD guys are genuinly humble and shy away from saying they are masters. Quite admirable but, does there never come a point where you accept that you are just damn good. I completly and totally understand that martial arts training is about one trying to improve ones own ability. But is'nt there apoint where you can look back on all that you've accomplished and agree that you've reached perhaps what you would call a point of mastery and now you are just sharpening the sword that you have forged?
Was'nt Bruce a master (I know he disliked that type of terminology GrandMaster etc...)
For example that felow who wrote the Book of 5 Rings. If historical accounts are correct he seemed to have reached a point of mastery.

Maybe at that point you have discovered "IT". However it seems from all your posts you are constantly developing "IT". I think to a certain extent I have "IT" but I just have'nt developed "IT" enough.
I have definetly had moments of greater understanding that have lead me to greater skill. I think everybody has those "OH YEAH!" moments that open the door, right?
I know there is no magic per say to martial arts but remember when you just started training and the older guys could always trap you in CHI SAO and now you're the one trapping the young guys?
Anyway this is getting kind of long and nobody like to read long posts so, what do you think?

[Valpolicella]

JKD is a method of fighting that uses the most direct destructive technique to deal with an opponent. Then you can put your self on auto pilot and just let "IT" hit when you need it.
You can surely get more from JKD, but is that maybe the essence. Is it not just a fighting system?

[zippy]

"It" is years of attention to detail whilst constantly trying to perfect what you have, that why most people dont have "it", because they are too busy moving onto the next technique rather than perfecting and improving upon what they already have.

[Geoff]

So therefore ......we was born with "it" and only been misguarded by our own malipulation off "it"

so therefore it doesnt matter what training equipment you train on or what instrument you play on........."it" will perform off its own intelligence, the natural way.

[john]

You know John maybe a music teacher would tell the student just that, if they had both trained JKD and had a common understanding.
Now I say maybe because as of yet I don't know if I'm raelly comparing apples to apples just yet. I could be comparing apples to focus gloves...
For me that's the only point of reference or understandingof "IT" I have.

Now I know most JKD guys are genuinly humble and shy away from saying they are masters. Quite admirable but, does there never come a point where you accept that you are just damn good. I completly and totally understand that martial arts training is about one trying to improve ones own ability. But is'nt there apoint where you can look back on all that you've accomplished and agree that you've reached perhaps what you would call a point of mastery and now you are just sharpening the sword that you have forged?
Was'nt Bruce a master (I know he disliked that type of terminology GrandMaster etc...)
For example that felow who wrote the Book of 5 Rings. If historical accounts are correct he seemed to have reached a point of mastery.

Maybe at that point you have discovered "IT". However it seems from all your posts you are constantly developing "IT". I think to a certain extent I have "IT" but I just have'nt developed "IT" enough.
I have definetly had moments of greater understanding that have lead me to greater skill. I think everybody has those "OH YEAH!" moments that open the door, right?
I know there is no magic per say to martial arts but remember when you just started training and the older guys could always trap you in CHI SAO and now you're the one trapping the young guys?
Anyway this is getting kind of long and nobody like to read long posts so, what do you think?

Dont know mate you lost me half way through. too long too much input lol

Me developeing it but dont have it? mate I really couldnt care 2 hoops.

[Geoff]

I agree on that sounds too mystic to me, lol. just wondering bruces thoughts on some off the philosophy he studied ??

[john]

I agree on that sounds too mystic to me, lol. just wondering bruces thoughts on some off the philosophy he studied ??

I wish he was here to explain Geoff. I bought the book unfettered mind at the weekned on Lamars recomendation as he said Bruce liked it so much he carried it everywhere. Maybe I will find some answers after Ive read it.

How are you anyway? good I hope.

[Geoff]

Im ok!!

[john]

Geoff, good nice to hear it.

Joe, I wont speak for Lamar on what he thinks, even though I know what he thinks cause he told me in the shop his own personal take on philosphy. I kinda agree with what you say about reading the state of ones own mind. Nice way to read :wink:

[john]

Joe please no labels (master john). I am just john because that is the label from my parents so they could find me in the dark. I have no use for it now, except for my son to now find me in the dark.

[john]

Joe, Dont make too much out of it. He calls I come, I called my parents came. You cant think like a child anymore, just as you cant think like an old man.....yet.

Stop labeling (trying to explain/pointing at the moon) if you trully know, then you will understand that it cant be talked about.

[Valpolicella]

John,
When I said-- However it seems from all your posts you are constantly developing "IT". I meant everybody who has been nice enough to have this conversation with me, I did'nt mean to single you out. I think that's what you meant when you wrote "Me developeing it but dont have it? mate I really couldnt care 2 hoops."
No biggy just, I'm just making myself clear.
And Hey, maybe I am lost in my own mind. I'm just trowing stuff against the wall and seeing what sticks.

[john]

Hi Valpolicella,

Ok yea I get what you mean, sorry for misunderstanding and thanks for explaining.

As long as im having fun thats all that matters. Im having lots of fun at the moment. Im begining to see having it could be more trouble than its worth.

You know the problem with throwing stuff at the wall is that one day you throw something and it goes through, wow look a whole new world, lets climb through. :wink: 8)

take care

[Tim Tackett]

"it" is being able to actually do JKD. Not everyone can.
"Knowing is not enough you must do. Willing is not enough you must apply"
One of Bruce's favorite quotes.

[Valpolicella]

I think maybe after all I finally get what "IT" is. The difficult part is admitting that I probably don't have it. In so much as I don't really train everyday and dedicate myself to my martial arts training as much as I would like to.
My first child was born 6 months ago so until this week I've only been going to class once a week. Before that it was only twice a week. That is all the time I devote to training so I only have a decent to good grasp of the style I study.
So if what I was training was JKD I guess I would'nt really be "doing" JKD.
I love martial arts to the point of having my club's dragon tatooed on my arm (and man that's for life!). I'm always thinking about it during the day. I'm always sizing people up on the street to see how I'd deal if they suddenly attacked.
I don't think I will ever stop my training but I'm only a part timer. I do have some skills, don't get me wrong, but after reading that quote that Tim posted it kind of became clear.
But like I said kung fu is one of my passions and I will never stop training or learning, I'm in it for life, it's in my blood. And you know what? For me that's good enough.

[Tim Tackett]

You don't have to get "it" to be good. The only foe you have is yourself. Just work on getting better each day. All we can do, is do what we can with what we have.

[Valpolicella]

My Sifu sometimes says during class that he wishes he had had a video camera so he could tape us during our first lesson and then play in back to us down the road to prove to us just how far we've come.
Maybe we don't always see our progress, either because we foolishy compare ourselves to others or the human spirit is always driving us to be better than we see ourselves.
Our biggest enemy is ourselves, is'nt it?
Of all my accomplishments in martial arts I'd say defeating fear in it's many manifestations has been the sweetest. Whether that's facing another man when tempers flair or my boss at work who thinks because he pays me a few bucks an hour that he owns me.
I personally can't think of a better way to build self confidence than martial arts. Training never stops teaching or rewarding us, does it?