that they would not be fazed in the heat of battle. Since combat is unpre-
dictable, practicing with uncooperative opponents prepares the students
physically, mentally, and emotionally. They soon discover their techniques
will not always work without modifying or adapting them.
It is for this very reason that Bruce Lee did not advocate forms or kata
training, which he used to call “idealistic dry land swimming,” because one
must get into the water to learn how to swim. Forms and kata were the pri-
mary means of training for many martial arts throughout the 1960s. Al-
though they cultivate a fair degree of coordination and precision of move-
ment, forms do not completely prepare one for live and changing
opponents. In Lee’s opinion, unrealistic stances and classical forms were
too artificial and mechanical. For instance, forms hardly ever equip practi-
tioners to deal with opponents of various sizes and/or talent levels. Lee ar-
gued, “There’s no way a person is going to fight you in the street with a set
pattern” (Uyehara 1986, 6). Furthermore, students who blindly follow
their instructor develop a false sense of confidence that they can handle
themselves in a fight. Bruce Lee was not to be bogged down by formalities
or minor details because for him, “efficiency is anything that scores” (Lee
1975, 24). Elsewhere, he wrote, “When, in a split second, your life is
threatened, do you say, ‘Let me make sure my hand is on my hip, and my
style is “the” style?’ When your life is in danger do you argue about the
method you will adhere to while saving yourself?” (Lee 1975, 22).Philosophy of Jeet Kune Do
Jeet Kune Do meant much more to Bruce Lee than simply an efficient real-
ity-based fighting art. Lee’s philosophy toward martial arts and life, in gen-
eral, was a fusion of Eastern and Western culture. While he studied philos-
ophy at the University of Washington, Lee was exposed to a wide spectrum
of philosophers such as Socrates, Plato, and Descartes, as well as to Dao-
ism, Zen, and Krishnamurti. He also delved into the self-help books of the
late 1960s and utilized self-affirmations. As a result, Lee’s philosophy
stressed the individual growth of a martial artist.
The symbol Lee used to represent his art was the yin-yang symbol,
surrounded by two arrows, along with two phrases: “Using No Way as
Way” and “Having No Limitation as Limitation.” The yin-yang symbol
surrounded by the two directional arrows represents the continuous dy-
namic interaction between opposites in the universe. When one is using no
particular way (style or method), true adaptability can take place. One is
to approach combat without any preconceived notions and respond to
“what is,” being like water. When one has no limitation one can transcend
martial arts boundaries set by style or tradition. The JKD practitioner is
given the freedom to research any source to reach full potential.206 Jeet Kune Do