This does not mean the opposite,and I am not trying to suggest that we don't need teachers to learn Martial Arts. I'm saying some will benefit from a
teacher and some won't. Some will need much instructing, some will need none. Some already have great self discipline and courage to train themselves. Miyamoto Musashi lived without the aid of a teacher and he was known as one of the greatest swordsman and Martialists of all time. Teachers are a signpost directing you down the
path. You must take what they teach and walk the path alone. On the path you will have to change what you've learned so that it will be suitable for your journey. Don't underestimate anyone as a
teacher. You can learn a world of truth just by watching a child play.
Breathing Martial Arts means looking at life and taking lessons from there.The Sun Rises, The Sun Sets. Through nature we see that a period of
light does not exist without a period of dark. So much so to the point where you would say they are one thing. In All Martial Arts Styles there are many strengths and many weaknesses. Good and Bad,
Light and Dark. If you wish to see how a technique is strong first learn how it is weak. This is working your way inside to outside, instead of the other way around. Most would apply there
technique to a useful situation, but then if they were caught in an uncomfortable scenario they might freeze up because they never anticipated the many different ways their technique can be
inferior. Learn how you can be defeated, then you will know what to look for if your about to be struck down and even further more how to avoid it.
Breathing Martial Arts teaches you to train with the mindset of balance.If you over train in Martial Arts you set great gaps between your strengths and
weakness. While you will be extremely strong in one area you will be completely vulnerable in another. If you are good at kicks try doing more punches, if your good with your left hand leading, try
training with your right hand. The point is too learn what you are naturally good at and balance it out with efficient training of your weakness. Do not completely deny your strength for your
weakness or you will start the cycle all over again. Instead reach a a balancing point where you can flow into any technique or position.
When you are breathing Martial Arts, you are aware or yourself in relationship to your environment.You must have the utmost dedication to pursue any Art
form. Thus perform every action in life with the utmost dedication. Honor your actions by doing them with 100 percent of your entire being. If your washing dishes, Wash them like your life depends
on it. Wash them as if it is as fun as playing guitar. Wash them for the proof and satisfaction of knowing your alive. When you treat all things in this manner, you will notice a change in your
life. You will began to pursue things with all of your heart. You put your entire self behind all of your actions. You will save time and energy normally wasted by complaining or procrastination.
If you cannot focus and dedicate yourself to something simple how can you hope to focus and dedicate yourself to Martial Arts? You must breathe Martial Arts and let it reveal itself to you in all things. The spirit that moves the man to mop the floor is the same spirit that moves the man to do a sweep kick.
Tao Of Jeet Kune Do Quotes
Jeet Kune Do is often a misunderstood style, so I would like to say that anything I say or have said about Jeet Kune Do is only what Jeet Kune Do means to me.
It will mean something different for every single person. The martial art and the philosophy form two parts of a whole. Many claim
to know the martial art without the philosophy or the philosophy without the martial art. This is not possible though because they
are two parts of a whole. The yin and the yang. Philosophy is yin and the Martial Art is the Yang of Jeet Kune Do. These quotes can be
found in both Striking Thoughts and the Tao Of Jeet Kune Do, excellent books for all martial artist and philosophers.
"If people say Jeet Kune do is different from "this" or from "that," then let the name of Jeet Kune Do be wiped out, for that
is what it is, just a name. Please don't fuss over it."
"Self-knowledge is the basis of Jeet Kune Do because it is effective, not only for the individual's martial art, but also for his
life as a human being."
No one is born with perfect understanding of anything. Things are understood as we experience them. Overtime we are programmed and systematized into different ways of living
based upon social convention and ones close to us, as well as the changing of the times. A man truly is more like his times than
like his father. When we remove this programing we arrive at who we really are. The sculpture beneath the clay. This process of
deprogramming allows us too see are ignorance of what we think we are and what we think we are capable of. This video clip below
is a part from the Longstreet episode did called The Way Of The Intercepting Fist. It captures the essence of Jeet Kune Do.
"Learning Jeet Kune Do is not a matter of seeking knowledge or accumulating stylized pattern, but is discovering the cause of
ignorance."
"Set patterns, incapable of adaptability, of pliability, only offer a better cage. Truth is outside of all patterns."
"Approach Jeet Kune Do with the idea of mastering the will. Forget about winning and losing; forget about pride and pain..."
