Wing Chun Kung Fu - Jeet Kune Do

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Known as Jeet Kune Do (Cantonese), Jie Quan Dao (Mandarin), or Way of the Intercepting Fist (English); it is the Martial Art founded by Bruce Lee, incorporating all that is useful from every Martial Art, heavily influenced by the system of Wing Chun.

Linear or Circular Movements?

Jeet Kune Do makes good use of linear movements, but advises circular movements wherever possible to prevent tiredness and to flow between movements more harmoniously.

Jeet Kune Do suggests that linear movements require more time to transist between each movement, tiring the practitioner more quickly which then increases the time taken to execute each movement.

Jeet Kune Do does suggest, however, that when with the right spiritual attitude, one can summon inexhaustible energy to defend their life without getting tired.

In attack, Jeet Kune Do endorses striking from where your hands are, without first repositioning them; instantly taking an opportunity as it appears.

Wing Chun uses more linear movements than Jeet Kune Do, initially minimising the time taken to execute each movement. Jeet Kune Do may be more suitable for a long and tiresome fight though.

Flat Heels or Raised Heels?

Wing Chun keeps the heels rooted at all times as part of maintaining a solid skeletal structure.

Jeet Kune Do, however, employs raised heels in the ready stances, enabling one to instantly throw a leaping side kick with minimal preparatory motion, like a sprinter who is poised on his marks and ready to run at the sound of a gun, or a cobra who is coiled and ready to strike.

Raised Guard or Low Guard?

Wing Chun tends to have the hands raised and ready to fire punches to the opponent's face.

Jeet Kune Do suggests that the lead hand should be low, rather than raised high and forward, for the following reasons:

A guard hand that sticks out is offering itself for immobilisation - it's an easy target for the opponent.
With both hands raised as in the Wing Chun guard, there is little protection for the groin and low line.
With the lead hand low and closer to the body, the opponent has less awareness of your potential striking range, much like the coiled cobra.

Forms or Formless Form?

Forms are the backbone of most martial arts and Wing Chun is no exception.

Wing Chun has few forms, the movements of which have numerous applications, therefore practicing the forms is an efficient way of practicing the ideal movements of the system when alone, unhindered by the movements of a training partner, making best use of solitary training time.

While there is no compensation for practicing forms, forms are no compensation for training with a partner either. Both are necessary in Wing Chun.

Jeet Kune Do credits forms much less, relating the practice of forms to learning to swim on dry land.

Jeet Kune Do suggests that one should forget the movements of any form so that they don't interfere with the application of potentially better movements for a given situation.

Studied forms are limiting, unnatural, and inferior to the natural form.

The natural form which Jeet Kune Do endorses is unlimited and cannot be learnt. It can only be felt. In order to feel the formless form of Jeet Kune Do, one's mind must be fresh and aware, and un-clotted by knowledge such as that of studied forms. Jeet Kune Do teaches that there is no greater hindrance to success than the localisation of the mind, such as the conscious thoughts of knowing and wanting.

When engaged in mortal combat one must flow freely and unhindered in the pure, unlimited, formless, fresh, natural, spontaneous, subconscious part of the mind, facilitating instant reactions.

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