Stryke wrote:
I can discard a strategy and/or replace it , and in fact all strategys have weaknesses , what remains absolute is the effeceincy and adaptability of my natural movement .
strategy gives simplification only if in itself it is setting a limitation .
The Jeet Kune Do Method of applying specific principles and concepts could and did apply to many Martial Arts movement systems. Therefore, JKD is not Wing Chun, Kali, Kickboxing, or a combination of various Martial Arts systems, but can be found in part or applied to these systems and many others. Because concepts and principles are universal, they cannot be confined to, or contained in, only one method.
The important part is here:
"But can be found
in part or applied to these systems and many others"
There are two big keys in JKD according to Bruce's writings.
First is the common thread that conceptually links all things together, things that at first glance may seem different. The idea is not to just use some of this and some of that, or worse as much as we can, but rather to select things for a reason and to do it in a systematic way to ensure that the sum of the parts is greater than the whole, in other words synergy and focused purpose are the objectives.
Using universal concepts one may effectively assimilate and synthesize a complete whole into one's mental and physical paradigm. Effective mental expression via recognition must follow some logical process, meaning that the parts must "FIT" both each other, the individual and the goal - all parts assist each other in order for natural expression. It is a disjointed amalgamation of random parts and peices, thrown together that can inhibit expression and freedom; This becomes the "mess."
Concepts that join parts into a logical whole is what humans need to mentally organize and freely express "ideas" and "solutions" this becomes possible because there is a paradigm at work. This is much the same as language, grammar and vocabulary. These "rules" are not limiting they are what allow for expression, without which one could only have a hodge podge of "creative words" from different languages that make no sense and cannot be used to express anything effectively because there is no order or reference to define any cumulative meaning. In other words chaos, quantity and disconnectedness does not equate to freedom; It equates to expressive congestion.
Second is the "Daily Reduction"
Another key in JKD is to reduce and distill the whole until you have only what is needed. IMO this is what a good style does - it does not limit rather it guides the creating individual - us. Like carving a large block of granite into a work of art one must indeed have a tangible idea in mind to know what to remove and what not to remove. Random removal of bits and pieces of the block results in no distinguishable work, just random shapes that mean nothing.
Finally it is these unifying concepts that allow for the adding and for the subtracting. More is not "more," LESS is more and whatever one is left with can only maximize its effectiveness if it can function as a true whole. Later these same concepts are used to streamline the option set, something we know today is very important. This paradigm gives the brain and body freedom to apply the art "conceptually" from anywhere across a range of applications and to finally distill it down into the simplest form of expressing the concept set - that's JKD - and what I personally belive in, and how I seek to "innovate" and "simplify."
Lau Tsu wrote:
Woe to him who wilfully innovates while ignorant
of the constant .
