He came to San Francisco in 1959, Master Fook Yueng picked him up, took him back to Seattle. Fook Yueng was friends, and a fellow red boat opera performer with Bruce Lee’s father. Bruce lived above Ruby Chows restaurant, Fook taught Bruce Lee aspects of red boat wing chun, mantis, crane, chin-na, and tai chi, among other things related to performing and gung fu. In terms of boxing, he had exposure from Wong Shun Leung, when he came to US, his first student was Jesse Glover, and following students Ed Hart, and James deMile exposes Bruce Lee to boxing as well. Jesse also taught him Judo, as well as Fred Sato. He was doing long and mid range closing in his years in Seattle. From 4 to 6 feet away. His brother was a commonwealth fencing champion, at first he could get Bruce Lee, later he couldn’t, but Bruce Lee could close on his brother. But, his primary weapons were a super fast close, pressure sticking, and fast chain punch while moving forward. Aldo Nadi’s book is very good, and definitely an influence. Another book that should be mentioned is “Boxing: a self instruction manual,” which was also a direct influence.....

Fantastic JKD insights.. Thanks for the links...

The best summary of anything I've ever heard about Bruce.

I studied Wing Chun in the UK under Sifu Joseph Cheng, this was before Bruce Lee films hit the west and I believe Sifu Cheng was the first Chinese master to teach Wing Chun in the UK. He taught a way of punching I have never seen in Wing Chun teachings on the net. He taught us to use the bottom 3 knuckles with a vertical fist, the difference being the addition of an upward twist at the end of the punch, similar to a Karate punch twist but at 90 degrees to a horizontal Karate fist. The twist was drilled into the punch with repetition of the movement. Try it, trust me it works and adds more power to the punch. Try placing the fist on a training partners chin and just applying the upward twist. I used it once in self-defence and in combination with a tan sau block, caught the guy attacking me on the bottom of the cheekbone. It floored him and his cheekbone immediately swelled up to the size of a chickens egg! We always did knuckle press-ups to strengthen the wrist and encourage a very tight fist, obviously tensing up right at the end of the technique after throwing the punch totally relaxed. TRUST ME IT WORKS! Sifu Cheng was the real thing! I studied WC for 6 years before changing to TKD and practising that for 14 yrs reaching 3rd dan. I stopped WC when Sifu Cheng left the UK. Currently, at 66yrs old i am a Shotokan student.

Thank you Sifu this is really enlightening---many of us as students are a work in progress...knowing the history behind these amazing ideas adds much to my study and art.

great video as always sifu Jason!

Wow! This is crazy, only found out a few days ago that I'm related to Jim driscoll! Thanks for the video!!

Thank you very much for taking the time and trouble to produce such a cogent video. The background context to JKD gave an insightful understanding to a relative beginner, such as myself.

Thank You Sifu Jason. I've realized these things you spoke about in this vid. But I didn't have all the correct names and books. Thanks Again!

It is well known that Bruce Lee was also influenced and trained in boxing by his good friend Leo Fong, and in grappling by both Gene LeBell and Wally Jay. Look at the grappling in the fight scene at the beginning of Enter the Dragon. He didn’t learn that from a book on boxing.

Thank you , your perspective is a discovery.

This was best perspective on Bruce Lee Thank you

Great video

Bruce Lee even when he was a young boy was already an exceptional person and he learned fast and absorbed as much as he could in a very short period of time. As he grew older and met more and more interesting and exceptional individuals like himself, not only did he befriended them but also he learned ideas and skills from them or whatever talent they had he absorbed and improved and at the same time he was also developing his own style and increasingly innovated whatever knowledge he acquired. Moreover, he combined science and philosophy into his daily regiment of physical fitness and martial arts and lo and behold he became a sensational master of mixed martial artist...!!!

Another great HISTORY lesson on the life of Bruce Lee and the development of his art. This information is priceless !!!!!! Thank you sir

Muhammad Ali was using Sugar Ray Robinson boxing style. I met Ali many times in person in Chicago during the late 1960s when the government took his title away because he would not fight in Vietnam war. Muhammad Ali use to live in Chicago. I’m 70 years old and I still live in Chicago. I have never met Bruce Lee in person, but I met Muhammad Ali in person many times and his hand speed without boxing gloves is fast like Lightning flash.

Jesse Glover, Lee's first student, stated that he didn't jump around in a real fight. That was primarily during sparring. In the fights he saw Bruce have, he basically closed ground, or distance, and punched.

As always your insight coherence to both the technical and deeper undersanding is some of the best around. Wonderful tutorials; and on the nail as an emerging descriptive of Jeet Kune Do and indeed its original roots Blessings from Ireland Keith

Awesome instruction history lesson too🤝

Thank you! I read and build my art.

Good information. Glad you shared.

As a student of Paul Vunak for 2 decades, it's very clear where JKD came from and where it was meant to go

Good shit! Eye was always telling people about how Bruce Lee didn't come up with everything out if thin air. He just researched it and put shit together and prospered.

Great video I thought I knew a lot about Bruce but didn't

You are awesome.

He got a little bit from different style that work for him that’s being creative , like art, but he really taught himself!!

You can also read Joaquin Marcelo's "Jeet Kune Do the way of simplicity" which also covers Bruce Lee's training source.

Thanks from Texas.

Bravo!

Knowing the roots helps explain the style.... Kind Regards from Australia Hopefully one day my country will allow us to travel again!

What about the influence of Filipino Kali, Escrima, Arnis and Dumog grappling which Bruce Lee had learned from his friend and training partner Guro Dan Inosanto? Lee also studied wrestling holds and counter grappling techniques with Gene Lebell.

Bruce was in a boxing club in High school( yes, Hong Kong). He was recorded as winning one tournament. Some of his biggest influences were western boxing and fencing. He also had one leg longer than the other. This gave him and advantage in kicking.

A lot of his boxing style, and his punch delivery, was also influenced by Sugar Ray Robinson.

Fook Yeung who was friends with Bruce Lee's father taught Bruce Lee in Seattle too according to most of his original group of students Jessie Glover and so forth, a great guy to look up is Steve Smith he knows a lot of the history he has done a few interviews about his teachers and friends great stuff and as you say the truth will set you free. Love your videos man 😊

Check out Edwin Haislet's boxing manual as well. Large portions are quoted in The Tao of JKD. I got my copy off Amazon.

You are correct. "Keep what is useful, reject what is useless."

Former KD student and reader of all things Bruce Lee and o approve this message

In watching this for the 3rd time, I had a Homer Simpson moment (DOH). I used to wonder why the academy was a combination of boxing, Wing Chun and JKD. Now I get the method to your brilliance!

Great information keep going sir

Yes! So true!

And he actually did totally dump Wing Chun from JKD. He still used WC stuff in films...but insofar as his JKD, he dumped it. Dan Inosanto has stated so many times. Ted Wong has stated that also, to his top student Teri Tom who studied for years under Ted with over 1,000 hours of sparring with Sifu Ted in total. JKD used techniques and methods and principles MAINLY from fencing and western boxing with a tiny bit of savate and muay thai, judo/jiu-jitsu/wrestling etc. methods.

I'm thoroughly convinced that Bruce WOULD have learned other arts..even if he DID learn the entire Wing Chun style because he was always looking for more knowledge.

Ankle to shoulder ..open hand until impact..with the torque in your hips..distance matters

Jason Sifu, Thank you for so freely sharing your art. As a Tai Chi guy, I wish there would be more acknowledgment of the fact that Bruce Lee's foundation was in the Tai Chi that his father taught him as a child. Your own counter that closes inside the opponent, we cal "entering the opponent's garden." If you watch Tai Chi Chuan Wu Shu, I'm sure you will see how TRai Chi, Wing Chun and Jeet Kun Do are a logical progression. Much respect /o --Fr, James+ Tai Chi for Christians

many good points. curious you skipped over the time Lee spent in Seattle.

New subscriber, nice balanced opinions

In the fight video of lee with taky kimura you can see the similarity in his stance and foot work to Driscoll.

Jeet Kune Do is a "Concept" and cannot be standardized. Find your personal Jeet Kune Do, what works for you. And JKD is a process and evolving, today's JKD will never be the same JKD in the future.

You need to get with Robert Kerbo in Tulsa, Oklahoma. We under Ted Wong as well.

As I understand it the 26 arts included ALL influences on JKD no matter how minor. For example most are just different Kung fu systems that influenced his view of Chinese martial arts. When you take those out you’re basically left with boxing, Savate, and Muay Thai for striking, kali and fencing for weapons, and wrestling and Jiujitsu for grappling. Boxing and wing Chun were always the main influences though, like 85-90% or so.

Hey Jason I want to ask you about your opinion on the Tao it jeet kune do, is it worth it for me To Read

Awesome video. I am wondering where did the grappling come from? I have started up with Syracuse Martial Arts Academy which teaches Wing Chun, JKD and Kali. I haven't taken too many JDK classes yet but there seems to be a lot of it that is oriented to grappling, takedowns and judo similar ground fighting. Some of the classes are basically 1 hour of judo which really isn't something that I want to be doing, even though I probably SHOULD want to be doing judo. The physical fitness portion of the class at the beginning also relies heavily on 3 ground exercises geared toward ground fighting and one is called "shrimping". Did Bruce Lee's JDK contain a shit ton of judo / wrestling or did that get introduced later by various people looking to add their own favorite martial arts to JKD?

Please everybody read Bruce Lee’s article in Black Belt magazine.

Hi Jason. I hope that people listen to your advice imo it’s spot on. Anyway, if you got hold of an old British Boys Boxing Manual, they describe the cuff riposte, otherwise known as a pak-sao punch, and executed simultaneous circa1924. Trivia but maybe a little interesting. Just to rave on. I believe that BL followed Ip Man and sought to not only fill gaps in his WC but to improve or adapt, which it seems Ip Man did. That is, Ip seemed open to modifying his expression of WC where necessary. Have a good one.

Whatever it is... Bruce Lee is the Best. That's the only thing i know and i believe.. 😊

Bruce love Willie pep and jersey Joe Walcott he love there balance and foot steps

William Cheung deserves a mention in teaching Bruce Lee

Yes, one must study the sources Bruce studied rather than taking Bruce's word for their validity without doing ones own research....People would frequently criticize Bruce as 'not being the originator' of this material having reproduced passages of it sometimes even word for word changing terms but what these critics miss is that Bruce was BRINGING TOGETHER ALL THE BEST SOURCES and using them to RE THINK LIMITATIONS with regard to what was PRACTICAL..In boxing as well as Driscoll's book he also read Dempsey's and Haislet's boxing.....The thing one also has to remember about Bruce was that he was LARGELY SELF TAUGHT.....Some people tried to say he was over rated not staying the course on Wing Chun for instance but people like Ed Parker said Bruce was a brilliant 'Auto Didactic' who could cut through the impractical to get to the practical very quickly and whose basics never faltered...He studied OLD school boxing for its mechanics and he saw the limits of Wing Chun in close and how with boxing counterattack it could be destroyed by angles and power...He indeed studied Muhammad Ali's technique in a mirror to observe Ali's style in reverse but I believe he did so NOT for practical scientific streetfighting because Ali's style being a SPORT would have been much too UNECONOMICAL in this more dangerous environment....He studied Ali more for the cinematic stuff in Way of the Dragon which he wouldn't have used for street in real altercations......One thing I might argue is that Bruce didn't lose most of the trapping from Wing Chun because he was patching up his own limitations having not finished all the stages of it...Rather Bruce jettisoned this stuff because he was becoming more RADICAL at applying these PRINCIPLES of SIMPLICITY to refine the art to make it more EFFICIENT in dangerous situations...These Principles of Economy originally came from Wing Chun but ironically they were not applying them radically enough (& certainly not as radically as Bruce was applying them)....For evidence of this we need to talk to those who knew Jesse Glover who had listened intently to Bruce's vision of 'fencing with the hands and feet' even if getting exceptional at this is VERY difficult to achieve....You mentioned Ted Wong,,,,Actually it was TED who used the metaphor of Wing Chun being 'the core of an Apple' of the Art....That JKD grew around the core but once the fruit has grown around it we don't eat the core....We jettison it to replace it with simpler ways relating to closing the distance fast on decisive targets by staying DETACHED rather than plugged into the opponent physically....Now,,,what about CATS ? ...Well' cats understand economy of movement better than humans if you watch how they don't trap each others paws before striking...As for cats hating humans,,, welllll,,,,,In my experience with looking after strays where I am in S.E England I've found if humans are mean to them then a Baby Bengal can turn into a Siberian Tiger...But conversely If humans are nice to them they generally can mellow into the PINK PANTHER .....a groovy cat,,,,a gentleman, a scholar & an acrobat.....and its as plain as your nose, (sings)..The-one-an-only-truly ORIGINAL JKD Panther from head to toes .....errrr,,,sorry....lol

You are correct on what you mentioned , Bruce also was influenced by his own students or piers which ever way you want to see them karate , kenpo and tae kwon do backgrounds . Such as Joe Lewis , Mike Stone, Jhoon Rhee , and others

He also has books he would read and extract knowledge from and his close friend James got him into weight lifting and hand conditioning and they wrote a book "ironpalm in 100 days" with James ,but Bruce learn from many people and sources ,I got a few Bruce Lee books and Boxing is a heavy influence on his Martial Arts system along with Wing Chun and Grappling, it is also believe that Bruce was a amateur boxing competitor but his knowledge and understanding of conditioning was extremely advance because he was doing what he loved and knew many knowledgeable people that shared information with him ,but he really like boxing and should that knowledge could be take to a whole nother level personally and teaching.

*I trained in JKD for about a year. My trainer was Mike Rivas who was taught by Ted Wong. To be honest, I trained in 2003 and my training is a bit hazy. I wish I had a bit more experience but, I later moved on to an MMA gym, to a boxing coach and now Krav Maga.*

I have been inspired by these videos and did a full session with just my lead jab with my power side forwards!!!! Ok that was weird !!! Normally my left is forwards!!! I also did footork with the Jab and kicked my shin on the coffee table!!!! Anyway thank you for sharing your wisdom Sifu! I think Bruce was a genius for his time!

Jhoon Ree taught Bruce Lee effective kicking techniques.

I try to explain jkd and mma to people, who must be only half listening when they say "That stuff doesn't work" Using only what works doesn't work guys

How was Bruce able to execute such rapid kicks with the amount of force he had? My legs don’t move like that.

Bruce did not study directly under Ip Man (also known as Yip Man). Bruce was trained by his seniors Wong Shun Leung and Cheung Cheuk Hing (William Cheung).

What's the main difference between Ted Wong and Dan Inosanto's approach to JKD? Thanks

Watched Video. Went straight to comments to see how much people were calling blasphemy. Wasn't disappointed.

Bruce took part in boxing in high school for a while. When Bruce started learning Wing Chun Kung Fu, Yip Man only taught him a little bit. Yip Man was quite elderly and was more of a supervisor. Bruce learned most of his Wing Chun from the senior students in Wing Chun, Wong Shun Leung and William Cheung. After coming to the USA Bruce also learned some Judo from Gene LeBelle.

Bruce Lee was a great speaker, his expressions are a marvel. You all have seen his numchuck vs matches! Epic If old man Bruce were alive today the world would be a better place. I learned from reading him, and gave up all forms.

the bottom line is who train you in this art and who were your instructors i would like to see you have a talk with goru Dan and speak about JKD concepts and compare notes and ideas and also who was your wing chun instructors also

If you watch Enter the Dragon, Bruce Lee clearly uses double stick techniques that look very much like Kali, Escrima or Arnis.

If you haven’t already, look at Jack Johnson’s boxing style. Johnny Famechon, who you likely have not heard of, was a fly weight boxer whose defensive skills saw him win a lot but notably, was never seriously hurt in the ring. Famechon traces his style directly from Jack Johnson. Famechons book is more than likely out of print, but you never know. Just a suggestion since you have an interest in the area and what you find might be of value to your skill set.

This was pretty good. For once somebody trying to keep it real. I believe Lee also studied the brown bomber Joe Louis for his timing and compact power shots. And Sugar Ray Robinson who Ali was mimicking.

Dragon is barely a biopic. It leaves out that Bruce Lee was a huge child star in China, as big as Macaulay Culkin.

But how will you know what bruces thaughts was on it ? About ali innosanto said(even i dont like him caling all them other arts jkd) that bruce watched him move from the back of the screen like if you are seating in the cinema behind the screen so it looked like he was standing with the right foot forward. If we want to do it we could watch him mirrored. Keep on recomending them books and making videos .thx for the work man .

You should do a video on the books Bruce Lee read what his library at home what kind of books he owned

100%agree with you!Both Bruce Lee s widow and his daughter said fencing and boxing were the main sources for jkd and he NEVER studied filipino martial arts!And Jack Dempsey in his book recomend to use "last 3 knuckles vertical fist"

Wait, Linda Lee herself said Bruce Lee beat Wong in 3 minutes and he in fact did run away but Bruce chased him. So where did you get your info? (Dont mean that to sound rude, just a legitimate question.)

Good and very well researched video. I have always wondered why Lee didn't explore Muay Thai or have a greater regard for it. It certainly was very 'alive', the fighters conditioning is off the charts, and it is a somewhat hybrid system with stand up grappling and a distinct boxing influence and structure. Maybe because he came back to the US as a relatively young man?

Great video. I was impressed that you didnt perpetuate the myth of why Bruce fought Wong Jack Man.

What book on Wing Chun would you reccomend?

The list of people that Bruce Lee trained with are a who's who of martial arts legends. Aside from several Chi Sao sessions, Bruce did not train with Yip Man. Bruce Lee's main Wing Chun teachers and influences were Wong Shun Leung and Fook Yeung. The first evidence of Lee's genius were his modifications of his beloved Wing Chun which included the inclusion of the backfist. A day after his fight with Wong Jack Man, Oakland student Leo Fong suggested to Bruce that he incorporate Boxing techniques into his art, with an emphasis on hook punches and the use of angular attacks. During this time period, Bruce was also learning joint locks and holds from Small Circle Jujitsu founder Wally Jay, and grappling techniques from Judo expert Hayward Nishioka. In early 1966, the Einstein of Martial Arts then added Fencing techniques to his fighting method, leading to the birth of JKD. This fascinating mixture of Wing Chun/Boxing/Fencing was unlike any Martial Art in 1966, and it remains unique in 2019.

not well known , but savate was in there too and not just from a book .

A very, very, enjoyable video. Not a bunch of rah, rah, rah, or showing off, nor hidden agenda to promote and capitalize. Homegrown knowledge through research and investigation. He didn't conceal discoveries and even selflessly shared his work. Never once trying to sell you...not saying profit is a dirty word. You just gained a loyal subscriber. This is a true teacher. Please realise how much time he has saved you. Furthermore, the paths and paved direction...priceless. Thank you, sir!

My sifu always did research as well and separated Kali from jkd the big deference is the practice of the straight lead with we got from Tim tackett

I hear jersey joe walcott was a big inspiration of both lee and Ali

Wong shun Leung did study how boxers fought seriously

Would love to come train with you, I'm in Atlanta Ga

Lee learned from anyone he good ,

You forgot that William Cheung was also helping Yip Man to teach Bruce Lee. ( Not only WSL ) Lee also learned Tai Chi from his father since he was very young. He also learned pieces of 8 or 9 different Kung Fu styles in Hong Kong when he was a teen. These included Buk Pai and Tom Toi and White Crane ( Northern and Southern ) and others. He sometimes traded dance lessons for Kung Fu lessons, often leaving after a few weeks when he got the main forms down....which he did in weeks as he was a very quick learner with a great mind body memory for physical movements. ( And Kali and other forms aren't shown to be JKD by people....people such as Dan Inosanto. No. Dan and others teach Kali...as KALI, as part of Filipino martials arts, separately....NOT as being JKD. )

So glad I found this. I have read all of the mentioned books and highly commend you for the absolute truest and best record of what inspired BL to create JKD. Too many people try to imitate him without understanding the essence of his powerful system. Just understand the Driscoll book will make anyone who understands it a powerful striker. Thank you sir

Great topic, Bruce’s library was known to be significant by the time he reached the state’s. Another great book on boxing is Joe Louis’s book “How to Box” which covers stance, weight distribution, and the importance of the jab and much more. It came out in 1948 and was most probably was in his collection. Bruce honored these legends writings on the west’s boxing and fencing by incorporating them into JKD!

Leo Fong said Bruce needed to learn boxing because he was open to hooks. He also told me that Bruce was not the greatest fighter in the world. Greatest film star, yes!

Dempsey, Nardi, and Ali

Sifu Jeet kune do is better than wingchun reply me ?

R.I.P PEERLESS JIM DRISCOLL 🥊🙏

I would say Bruce is a legend. I don’t care where he got all those techniques and principle he taught in JKD. The most Important thing to me was he gave us the idea on how to combine techniques that works in times when we need it.

Burce said punch from balls of feet as well which boxers do .

Excellent video! Really enjoyed your insightful explanation to some of the origins of Bruce Lee's JKD. Well put together!Keep up the good work! I also studied JKD with Ted Wong and Sifu Dino Orfanos, at NY Martial Arts Academy and Wing Chun for over 7 years from a combination of Wing Chun instructors, Sifu Ducan Leung, Sifu Chow and Sifu Alan Lamb.