Bruce Lee and Clint Eastwood are both huge icons from the 70’s who have played larger than life characters. But the question is would there be a film big enough to hold them both? In an epic battle between the orient and the wild west. Bruce Lee Vs Clint Eastwood who would your money be on?
The Art of Expressing the Human Body
Bruce Lee’s Jeet Kune Do: A Philosophy of Physical Self-Perfection
by David Quigley
It is a safe assumption that almost everyone has heard of Bruce Lee. He was and remains arguably the most famous Asian-American star in the history of film (sorry, Jackie Chan). And anyone who has seen any of his films cannot help but notice his amazing physique, speed, agility, and flexibility. However, what a lot of people do not realize – especially those outside the martial arts world – is that Bruce Lee was a philosopher obsessed with fitness, or what he called, the art of expressing the human body. Indeed, Bruce Lee was a philosopher in every aspect of his life, and focused a lot of his writings on honest self-expression and self-perfection. Even the martial art he developed, Jeet Kune Do (or, the Way of the Intercepting Fist), is in itself a philosophy.
JKD is not ‘Martial Art’; It is a Philosophy
First thing is first, though, and I need to make a clarification, so please bear with me. Jeet Kune Do is not a martial art, per se. It is, as I stated above, a philosophy. Jeet Kune Do evolved over time – from the days of the original Jun Fan Gung Fu Institute in Seattle to his final Los Angeles/Chinatown school – into a fighting system centered on personal expression, simplicity, and personal liberation. The techniques Bruce taught his students changed constantly as he researched different ideas. Therefore the “Jeet Kune Do” of 1968 looked different than the “Jeet Kune Do” of 1970. Jeet Kune Do, therefore, is not a style, but an evolving philosophy, which is important to keep in mind.
Jun Fan Gung Fu (Bruce Lee’s Cantonese name is Lee Jun Fan) is a system developed by Lee, taking aspects from myriad martial arts, but focusing on Wing Chun Gung Fu, western boxing, fencing, Savate, and kickboxing. I am not trying to split hairs here, but I want to make it clear that JKD has techniques in Jun Fan Gung Fu. In fact, Bruce Lee developed an amazing curriculum he handed down to Dan Inosanto at the L.A. school, which shows the depth to which Bruce had developed his fighting philosophy.
That being said and on top of all of his martial creativity, Bruce Lee was obsessed with self-perfection in all aspects, including the physical. Fitness was (obviously) very important to Bruce. What records we have of his regiments show his amazing fitness level, understanding of the human body, and his desire to be physically capable in every aspect. He even had very specific equipment pieces built to develop power and speed for specific techniques. One needs only to talk to a few of his students to hear stories of his almost super-human strength and speed to know that his constant training and development paid off. This is a lesson every martial artist should heed.
Nevertheless, I frequently see massively overweight martial artists who are unable to execute their techniques correctly. Too often these martial artists rely solely on their training (whatever that may be) for their physical fitness, and the results are often dismal. For this reason, fitness is an important aspect of JKD training. The art itself requires a certain level of physical fitness to be able to perform many of the techniques. In other words, training the art is not enough; one must develop the physical attributes necessary to be able to pull off the techniques in real-time, with speed, strength, and accuracy. In testing my students, I require a physical fitness portion, which consists mostly of pushups, pull-ups, bag work, and plyometrics in addition to the rigors of the test itself. I have noticed that this addition to my tests has not only improved my students’ fitness level, it has also increased their ability to perform the techniques more fluidly, with more power and speed. In effect, it has increased their ability to honestly express themselves.
In this article I’ve focused on the most basic of introductions to Bruce Lee’s amazing martial art and its relation to fitness.
5 Top Tips for Studying Kung Fu in China
The begining…
“The interesting parts are between the facts… “
In the summer of 2007 while on a break from my urban planning job back in Belfast I made the decision to travel to China and study traditional kung fu. I craved adventure and a change from the daily grind. Most of my friends had gone travelling between school and university or between university and work. I’d created a window of opportunity and felt this was the right time to use the money I’d saved. My martial arts experience at that time was limited to my regularly Jeet Kune Do classes. Despite my lack of sashes or belts I wasn’t worried. What I lacked in experience I knew I had in determination to work hard and learn as much as I could. Like most of you reading this article I’ve an interest and passion for martial arts as well as a growing interest in learning more about the spiritual and healing arts of China. As a teen I used to day dream about what it would be like to visit a land where a monkey could become a king.
China here I come…
Immediately I set to the task of researching kung fu schools in China. I craved being taught in a traditional way without distractions. I wanted to learn how to deal with confrontation effortlessly and improve every aspect of my life.
So I took action and found a school, got my visa and boarded a plane. 13 hours later I arrived in Beijing totally unprepared. I stayed the night in a hotel near the airport and the next day I boarded my internal flight to my end destination with high hopes. I was as green as the grass I’d left back in Ireland. From that moment until now it’s been one hell of an adventure.
Over the last few years I’ve visited a lot of kung fu schools and met a number of students studying at these schools. Some have come for martial arts, some adventure, some for health and fitness and some simply to create space for changing past bad habits. Your reasons for seeking this experience are your own. But what they should have in common is a desire to improve. Focus on your training and the experiences and other benefits will follow. So here are my 5 top tips for getting the most out of your training at a kung fu school.
My top 5 tips
- There are more schools than ever popping up all over China specifically to cater for the growing demand from westerners who want to study traditional kung fu. Make your decision carefully, not just in terms of your school choice and style but also in terms of what you want to achieve and get out of the experience. Schools now offer students more than just martial arts. They offer often offer additional classes in Chinese language, Buddhism and TCM for example. These are good and offer you the chance of dipping your toes in the water from which further learning can be sought.
- The importance of your fellow students at a kung fu school should not be under estimated. These students will be people you will learn from and have to live with.
- Be realistic. There have been occasions when I’ve received enquiries from students that are just damn right ridiculous or expect to be able to open their own schools after as little as 6 months to a year of studying.
- Be prepared for a culture shock and a different way of thinking or in some cases a total lack of thought. Remember that can also be part of the enjoyment too. You’re not in Kansas anymore so don’t expect it to be the same or constantly winge about it. We all go through this and at times have a love hate relationship with the place(s) we visit. When you catch yourself doing this stop! If it continues just go home. Don’t bring those around you down with a bad attitude or negitivity or disturb your fellow students training or enjoyment. Be patient, present and self aware.
- And remember just because someone is wearing kung fu shoes, a kung fu suit, or has some prayer beads it doesn’t mean that they are a good master or martial artist.
If you’d like to find out more or have any questions about studying martial arts in China this site is the pick of the bunch. www.StudyMartialArts.Org
Study Martial Arts & Teaching English in China
I’ve been studying and working now in China for a few years. Since 2008 in fact. Now into my fifth year I’ve been working on ways to allow students the opportunity to combine studying martial arts and teaching. So these up coming entries will focus on my experiences and I hope it can help serve as a means of reference and support to others out there who are currently on or are planning a similar path.
The trick is of course in the perfection of yin and yang. A balancing act of work and study. Something I certainly have not mastered but something I know more than most about here in China. Through these entries the sharing of others experiences my hope is that readers can get closer to that middle path.
As I continue to take on extra demands and responsibilities as I develop www.StudyMartialArts.Org This balancing act between life, teaching, studying and building a sustainable martial arts business becomes ever more important. So my fellow bloggers and readers your input and advice will be invaluable as we chew the fat of this topic. Communication and teaching is about a two way process and so should these blog enters.
So as you sit scratching your head on how you can extend your travel and training experience into a work and study experience, financial necessities and the lurking shadow of securing your Chinese visa will be your primary concerns. Therefore from time to time I will post on these very topics and group together some of the best options I have come across. I’ll use my connections and experience to provide followers of these blog entry’s with the right information and support. If on the other had you are lucky enough to have some cash squirreled away then I’ll have plenty of recommendations for you in terms of studying and getting the most out of that cash.
SMA bloggers 