Tao of Jeet Kune Do by Bruce Lee Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Tao of Jeet Kune Do
Book Review: A Martial Arts Must Have!
Summary: 4 Stars
This book was very cool, and I was very impressed with the way they draw connections between the philosophy of martial arts, and the physical disciplines needed to be a serious student. Highly recommended! I would also recommend "The Samurai Series", which contains "The Book of Five Rings", "Hagakure", and "Bushido" all in one volume. The Samurai Series: The Book of Five Rings, Hagakure -The Way of the Samurai & Bushido - The Soul of JapanBook Review: A Matrix of Zen, Taoism, and Martial Arts
Summary: 5 Stars
I enjoyed reading this book a lot. Being a martial arts enthusiast myself, I have read through a great many "how-to" books and others that tackle the subject, but none come as close to being as prolific and profound as Lee's ideas. What everyone must understand when reading this is that it is not a step-by-step manual for JKD; in fact, Lee never intended JKD to be a separate martial art in itself. JKD is an amalgam of different disciplines that a fighter can incorporate into his own practice, depending on the need. Thus, Lee instructed his students not to teach JKD as a martial art.
The Tao of JKD offers guidance of both mind and body in that when a fighter begins to falter in technique, the mental supplement in these pages should help the fighter find the way back. In the same way that Lee espouses having no way as a way, I found that a truly pure fighting man should never be bound by walls, especially if a fighter finds him/herself in a life-threatening situation. Use all means possible, discard conventional methods, and think out of the box. Given this understanding, it can be argued that Lee's ideas served as a major catalyst for MMA development.
I like what Linda Lee says at the end of her introduction to the book, which is that after one reads through the Tao, the book should be discarded. I guess Bruce Lee stuck fast to his idea that even his ideas should not be regarded as gospel truth and that one must always be in a continuously absorbent state of mind-- keep learning and be like water.
Book Review: A Must for Any Martial Artist
Summary: 5 Stars
Lee's Tao of Jeet Kun Do is the martial artists "bible". It takes all the physical and mental aspects of Jun Fan Jeet Kun Do, and glues them together with the fighting philosophy that was Bruce Lee. Lee touches on the most critical points of combat. This book helps "structure" a martial artists mind, to be prepared completely; not to just know movements, or punches or kicks. Bravo Bruce Lee, for taking martial arts out of the box that has defined it merely as kicks and punches. Excellent book.Book Review: A few comments
Summary: 5 Stars
One thing that struck me right away about Lee's approach in this book (as well as most of his others) is how he spends as much or maybe even more time discussing strategy and other advanced principles rather than specific techniques. This is because Lee expected those who read his books to at least have mastered the basics of blocking, punching, and kicking before trying to learn the more advanced technical and strategy principles.
For example, although the chapter on "Tools," in which he discusses the techniques, is 40 pages long, the chapter on "Qualities" is 38 pages, in which he discusses various principles like speed, power, timing, and so on, and the "Attack" chapter is 36 pages, which is 74 pages right there, and doesn't include the other similar chapters in the book.
There is so much material here that it's hard to summarize, but I enjoyed many things about it, such as the little technical tips like, "The essence of any hook is that the striker raises his elbow at the last possible moment when swinging, to attack strategies, such as "Do not hurl yourself at your oponent, but gain and maintain distance in a calm and precise manner." And also "Nothing bothers an adversary more than variety in both attack and defense."
The cover says that the book has sold over 750,000 copies in 9 languages, an interesting statistic. (I'm surprised it's not over a million). In addition to Lee's thoughts and notes on technique and advanced strategy, there is even an extensive illustration of grappling and ground techniques and holds and locks, an interesting technique area by itself that has gotten more attention in recent years. Bruce shows that he was ahead of his time in integrating this with JDK decades ago.
Lee also makes the important point that in JKD there is almost no, if any, direct attack--they are all indirect after a feint or as a counter-punch or technique--but that requires the ability to draw out an opponent, out-maneuver him, and a scientific approach.
Another nice technical point he makes is, "In all hand techniques, the hand moves first, proceding the foot. Keep this in mind--hand before foot--always."
I find this interesting in that in tai chi and some kung fu, the foot is expected to be just as fast as the hand and to move in synchrony with it--as difficult or as impossible as that may seem.
Bruce Lee only wrote six books, but if there's a bible of JDK this is it, and is probably essential reading for any JKD or any other martial artist interested in Lee and his ideas and what made him so great.
Book Review: A great book about a great way of life.
Summary: 5 Stars
The Tao of Jeet Kune Do.Bruce's own words, explans thing very complicated and in many cases complex philosofical problems.
Not only is it about the thinking in JKD, but about how Bruce wanted JKD to be for him self.
This is NOT a manual to JKD but a bunch of scrap notes and thoughts from Bruce Lee. It is HIS JKD, and he just trys to point the way for others to find there own way to JKD. The Tao of JKD is for the open minded martial artist, for him/her that what to know the trouth.
The Tao of JKD is not the trouth, far from it, but it is a finger pointing in the right direction.
Do not just read this book, understand it! And when you do you are far beonde this book.