Contrary to popular belief Jeet Kune Do is not a modified version of Wing Chun or a composite of different styles.

While it is true that Bruce Lee studied Wing Chun Kung Fu as a child and researched many different arts to say that Jeet Kune Do is either a mix of styles or Wing Chun is not correct. Jeet Kune Do is a series of concepts and principles that are applied to combative situations and also a life philosophy. Literally interpreted Jeet Kune Do means the “way of the intercepting fist” after the central tenet of Jeet Kune Do which is to intercept.

“I have not invented a “new style,” composite, modified or otherwise that is set within distinct form as apart from “this” method or “that” method. On the contrary, I hope to free my followers from clinging to styles, patterns, or moulds. Remember that Jeet Kune Do is merely a name used, a mirror in which to see “ourselves”. . . Jeet Kune Do is not an organized institution that one can be a member of. Either you understand or you don’t, and that is that. There is no mystery about my style. My movements are simple, direct and non-classical. The extraordinary part of it lies in its simplicity. Every movement in Jeet Kune Do is being so of itself. There is nothing artificial about it. I always believe that the easy way is the right way. Jeet Kune Do is simply the direct expression of one’s feelings with the minimum of movements and energy. The closer to the true way of Kung Fu, the less wastage of expression there is. Finally, a Jeet Kune Do man who says Jeet Kune Do is exclusively Jeet Kune Do is simply not with it. He is still hung up on his self-closing resistance, in this case anchored down to reactionary pattern, and naturally is still bound by another modified pattern and can move within its limits. He has not digested the simple fact that truth exists outside all moulds; pattern and awareness is never exclusive. Again let me remind you Jeet Kune Do is just a name used, a boat to get one across, and once across it is to be discarded and not to be carried on one’s back”.

Bruce Lee interview circa 1969

Underlying Jeet Kune Do is Jun Fan Gung Fu – which is a structured art that focuses on the four ranges of combat (kicking, punching, trapping and grappling). According to Dan Inosanto (one of only three people certified to teach Jeet Kune Do by Bruce Lee), Jun Fan is the vehicle we use to express Jeet Kune Do Concepts.

The Sydney Kali Academy is a member of the following

– Australian Jeet Kune Do Association, and
– Inosanto Academy International Instructors Association.