Learn the Most Important Martial Arts Lessons Bruce Lee

Taught -- From His Top Disciples! Part 5

Black Belt contacted 16 well-known martial artists who teach jeet kune do or were heavily
influenced by it to get their thoughts on the most important part of Bruce Lees art. Part 1 features
replies from Dan Inosanto, Tim Tackett, Kelly McCann and Joe Lewis. Part 2 offers the answers we
got from Burton Richardson, Matthew J. Numrich, Teri Tom and Richard S. Bustillo. Part 3 includes
Leo Fong, Bustillo, Paul Vunak and Gary Dill. Part 4 focuses on the thoughts expressed byLamar M.
Davis II, Dr. Jerry Beasley, Matt Thornton and Thomas Cruise. In this conclusion, we highlight Lewis,
Fong, William Cheung and Richardson.

Photo Courtesy of Black Belt

JOE LEWIS
First-Generation Bruce Lee Student
Former World Karate Champion
Two-Time Black Belt Hall of Famer
The top three principles Bruce Lee emphasized for fighters were distancing, relaxed explosiveness
and movement (rhythm). Although many of his students talked about broken rhythm, few understood
what it really meant and almost no one could execute it. His indirect-angular-attack theory
(progressive indirect attack) was primarily used to level the playing field when two equal
combatants were engaged. As in the sport of boxing, this faking-type movement pattern is a last
resort to disrupt the other persons timing. Again, the problem was that few students developed the
faking skills necessary to use this principle.

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Head, body and foot rhythm have always been a major weakness for martial arts practitioners. This
rhythm principle (usually called movement) is used in all tactics. Its the most important attribute of
any strategy, both defensively and offensively. The two principles that are most useful in combat are
distancing and controlling the set-point. Each requires the effective use of movement. Movement
skills are the best way to control an opponent to take away his best technique or challenge his will to
fight. Bruce and I used to study the movement skills of Willie Pep, Sugar Ray Robinson and, of
course, Muhammad Ali.

Photo by Peter Lueders

LEO FONG
First-Generation Bruce Lee Student
Black Belt Hall of Famer
Author of Beyond Kung Fu
The most important principle is one that goes with the jab: progressive indirect attack. I used it to
deceive my opponents. I never jabbed straight in; rather, I would shift slightly to the left or right
before snapping out the straight front-hand lead. In other words, I would strike at an angle. Using
this principle, I developed an entire repertoire of deceptive moves.

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The most important concept is using no way as way. When Lee shared this with us back in the mid1960s, I didnt quite understand what he was talking about. Today, I see it as meaning that once the
technique is mastered, there are no boundaries or deliberation. Its much like the relationship
between a sound and an echo. In the elementary stage, you just do the technique and remain
conscious of every detail. As you practice the technique over and over, it finds depth and becomes an
expression and an emotional response to what is. Youre no longer self-conscious about whether
youre doing the technique correctly. You become the technique, so to speak.

Photo by Robert Reiff

WILLIAM CHEUNG
Wing Chun Master
Training Partner of Bruce Lee While in Hong Kong
Black Belt Hall of Famer
If I were to teach only one thing, it would be the wing chun vertical punch. The fundamental
prerequisites in combat are keeping calm, using the eyes effectively, and achieving static and
dynamic balance.
Why the vertical punch instead of the horizontal punch? The horizontal punch has only the elbow
behind it. That doesnt generate much power unless the whole arm is fully extended or you use your

momentum by pushing your shoulder forward and putting your body behind it. Even then, if your
opponent steps away or deflects your arm, youll be off-balance.

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Before wing chun was developed, all punches were horizontal and the elbow was never fully
extended to avoid jarring the elbow. While wing chun was being created, the first technique
developed was the vertical punch. Its more powerful because the elbow, shoulder, hip, knee and
stance are behind it all the way. When the elbow is at the centerline of the body, the distance the
punch must travel is only one-third the distance the horizontal punch travels. Furthermore, the
vertical punch doesnt require any preparation. The wing chun vertical punch is just like jeet kune do
simple, effective and dynamic.

Photo by Robert Reiff

BURTON RICHARDSON
Jeet Kune Do and Silat Instructor
Founder of Jeet Kune Do Unlimited
Black Belt Hall of Famer
Star of Burton Richardsons Silat for the Street Online Course
An important reason for the emphasis on sparring [in self-defense training] is that it gives empirical
feedback that helps the student follow one of Bruce Lees most famous quotes: Absorb what is useful,
reject what is useless, and add what is specifically your own.
To know what is useful and what isnt, you must test each technique yourself. JKD is a personal

experience, which means that you must experience combat (hard sparring). Just copying techniques
from an instructor and doing light drills wont create a fighting experience. If you merely look at a
technique from afar or test ideas against cooperative partners, you arent conducting a scientific test.

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You must test your techniques and tactics under conditions that are similar to the combat
environment. Since its unethical and unadvisable to purposefully get into street fights, sparring in all
the ranges becomes the best means to develop complete, functional fighting skill. If you dont believe
me, consider Lees own words: There is nothing better than free-style sparring in the practice of any
combative art.
Read Part 1 of this article here.
Read Part 2 of this article here.
Read Part 3 of this article here.
Read Part 4 of this article here.
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