Tao of Jeet Kune Do

I have been an avid fan of Bruce Lee since a very young age. From watching all his movies to reading dozens of books either written by or about him. I heard very good things about this book and was keen to learn more about Jeet Kune Do. Bruce Lee to me is more than just a massive movie star as their is so much more to him than kick ass moves. Such an intelligent and inspiring human being that everyone could learn a thing or two from. This book gives you a good account of what's involved in jeet kune do, now I'm not saying that if you read this book you'll be able to crane kick light bulbs on the ceiling into oblivion but certainly for the martial arts enthusiasts it can be applied and maybe help your own techniques improve or for a novice to start off your basis from the legend.

Great to have a copy with me on my travels

I was always curious on this book so gave it a go. Very nice! The quality is spot on but by only moan would be that the price could come down a few quid.

It's not a teaching book it's a coaching book. Bruce is very clear, he can't teach you his art. He can only share the concept in his own words and help you find the answers yourself. He shares the insights from his journey in case they're useful on yours. The rest is up to you. This open style is very refreshing for me and exactly what I wanted. To be empowered instead of constrained. Haven't finished the book. Loving what I've covered so far.

It's not like a book which you can just read, it's more like bruce's notebook with his very own fighting style but it's still very nice, interesting illustration and explanation made by Bruce makes it worth checking out. I gave only 4 starts because book was damaged when arrived, some people treat books with respect and when I see it in bad condition its getting on my nerves. Secure your parcels better amazon.

First off I thought this would be a more... A done piece of work, but it looks more like notes and sketches for a future book on Jeet Kune Do. That disappointed me a bit at first, but now I love it. This is what Bruce Lee thought about fighting, how far he had gotten and how he thought it should be applied in future fighting. If you're a fan of MMA this will tickle that fancy as well. I use this as inspiration for Kung Fu and MMA training (and a little grappling), so I experience the martial arts angle, but I am very new to it and I do not do Jeet Kune Do, so I am not reviewing this as a JKD practitioner in interest of full disclosure.

Although I don't understand most of it, Bruce Lee's Tao of Jeet Kune Do is like a reflection of the moon, illuminating the depths and creating waves in the oceans of my mind. The winds go by and melt all the icy restrictions that stop the flow of my inner river. A lot of it is unclear full of contradictions and difficult to decipher sometimes, but so is Shakespeare's work. A great book for anyone really.

As a martial arts practitioner and fan it is great to have some of Bruce Lee's thoughts presented in this way. Forever a topic of debate but great to have as a go to for when reflecting on ones own training.

1. Der Name Lee‘s Witwe ist Cadwell, nicht Caldwell. 2. Nach 10 Jahren Boxen, TKD, Kyokushin, JJ, FMA und hauptsächlich Wing Chun Trainings und Beherrschen aller seiner 4 waffenlosen Formen inkl. deren Anwendung finde ich die Bücher des wohl bedeutendsten Kampfkünstlers aller Zeiten für mich von unschätzbarem Wert. Die Leitsätze Lee‘s in diesem Buch vermögen den Horizont eines jeden seriösen Kampfkünstlers zu erweitern und helfen mir, Stile wie Wing Chun u.a. als solche hinter mir zu lassen und „frei“ zu sein von allen Formen, Sektionen, Regeln und sonstigen Einschränkungen, die mich bis jetzt nur behindert und ausgebremst haben. Nur wenn der Geist frei von alledem ist, kann man das wahre Potenzial des eigenen Körpers im Kampf ausschöpfen. 3. Neben „Fighting Method“ eines der wichtigsten Bücher (in Originalsprache), das ich uneingeschränkt empfehlen kann.

First I must confess that I'm very much a Bruce Lee fan. He was born a few years before me so we are of the same generation. Someone like myself can't help but wonder, when reading this book, what Bruce might write today from the vantage point of age and experience. My personal opinion is that his basic philosophy would not have changed. He would have probably matured in his ideas and continue to evolve and in middle and old age he would have probably adjusted his martial arts to fit the unique needs of aging. But, we'll never know since he died before he had a chance to age. His philosophy, however, was ancient and great. He was wise far beyond his years. And we can still learn much from him --- both about his Tao (Way) and his martial arts style. The book couples his philosophy, which is mostly Buddhist or eastern, and his method of fighting. I find them both enlightening. For example, he tells us to keep our chin tucked toward our shoulder as a defense. He teaches us how to keep from being an easy target and how to attack with explosive action from a neutral stance. These are things that never go out of style. Lee writes, "With the chin dropped and pinned tight to the collarbone, the muscles and bone structure are in the best possible alignment and only the top of the head is presented to the opponent, making it impossible to be hit on the point of the chin." I found one or two things that didn't sound like Bruce and they didn't fit in with his times. I felt the editor took a few liberties and added his own thoughts or what he felt Bruce might have believed. For example, under "Everyday opportunities for exercises" we read: Take a walk whenever you can -- like parking the car a few blocks away from your destination. Avoid taking the elevator; climb the stairs instead. . . . the rest sounds like Bruce. The above statements, while certainly good advice, were not in the lexicon of Bruce's era. They came into being during the last decade or so. Moreover, these two statements do not sound like Lee. They sound like every modern fitness writer on the planet. This book is more than Bruce's fighting method, though it is that. It is inspiring and powerful. It is full of wisdom and inspiration and thoughtful advice and meditation. Lee had a wide range of interests. He was a dancer. He was an artist. He took an interest in many things and many philosophies. He was not a good actor. His wife Linda often says that Bruce considered himself a martial artist first and an actor second. I'm not sure that's true. Lee took a keen interest in his acting career and the income he got from it. But like Elvis Presley, his ability to act was very limited. Yet he brought magic to the screen with his lovely body and outstanding skill. He didn't need to be a good actor. Much that we have heard about Bruce Lee is pure myth. But what is not myth is his martial arts greatness and his keen mind that absorbed information like a sponge, his ability to take what he needed from everything and discard the rest. He did not get attached to any one idea. He evolved in his thinking and adapted daily to his needs. There is much about Bruce Lee that is, and probably always will be, powerful motivation for millions. He was only 5' 8" and weighed about 140lbs, but he loomed large on the screen and in the hearts and minds of all who saw him or knew him. Whether or not you want to learn about Jeet Kune Do, you will gain much by reading this book. It is deep and meaningful. Highly recommended. - Susanna K. Hutcheson

Excelente libro de Bruce Lee, ampliamente recomendado

Great for self improvement!

Cómo no leer el libro que plasma las reflexiones y el estudio de las artes marciales del maestro Bruce Lee. Una lectura obligatoria para todos los practicantes de artes marciales y también para los curiosos. Eso si, esta edición está en inglés y es necesario cierto nivel, pero es la mejor manera de captar el pensamiento de Bruce Lee.