The Straight Lead: The Core of Bruce Lee's Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do Paperback – November 15, 2005

Over the years there has been a steady barrage of books published about Bruce Lee and his unique fighting system of Jeet Kune Do. As someone who was seriously involved in numerous martial and weapon arts (Karate-Do, Judo, Jujitsu, American Combatives, Krav Maga, Kenjutsu, Wakizashi-jutsu, Kobudo, Law Enforcement defensive tactics, PR-24 Police Baton and straight baton) for more than 50 years I have always admired Bruce Lee and read everything I could find on him and his fighting art of Jeet Kune Do.One book on Jeet Kune Do I had not read until recently is The Straight Lead: The core of Bruce Lee’s Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do by Teri Tom. Having read countless books and articles on Jeet Kune Do, even being shown some basics of the fighting art from a student of Jeet Kune Do I thought I was fairly knowledgeable on this system; however, reading this book really enlightened me on the simple yet complex at the same time Jeet Kune Do’s straight lead punch/strike.Many people assume that because Jeet Kune Do is known for its simple and direct strikes it is an easy art to master. This wonderful book is a book that explains that there are numerous details and coordination involved in performing Jeet Kune Do’s straight lead punch/strike.This book also explores some of the outright lies and misconceptions surrounding the development of Jeet Kune Do by Bruce Lee. The author, Teri Tom criticizes and pulls the rug out of some of the many myths which I also believed before reading this book. Since I am limited by several medical issues and age, I could only practice the straight lead technique in my pool and I found it to be a very challenging technique when putting all the details together in training.If you are seeking a realistic and authentic Jeet Kune Do lesson this is a must book to have in your personal library. It is a fantastic read.Rating: 5 Stars. Joseph J. Truncale (Author: Tactical principles of the most effective Combatives systems).

Teri Tom is to be congratulated for writing a thought provoking and detailed book.Simply put, this is a book about punching, footwork, and much more. Punching or striking in any style is a fundamental skill. Teri's book is about the lost art of generating power in punches by punching in a straight line rather than generating power with a hooking motion.Punching with a straight lead also delivers the punch with minimal distance to travel, less telegraphing, greater speed, and more power especially when the shoulders do not overtake the body's center of gravityOne of my favorite example of this is Bruce's 1 inch punch demonstration. Examine his feet, hips and shoulders as he demonstrates the 1 inch punch. If you pause the video between 0.18 and 0.19 you'll see his left knee straighten, but watch his shoulders not overtake his front foot. You can see it again at 0.37 on the video.[…](You fans of the 1 and 3 inch punch will also probably notice that his right heel comes off the floor after the punch is delivered.)Teri Tom exposed me to a side of Bruce Lee I didn't know. I have read that he studied Savate, Fencing, Boxing, etc. Teri Tom showed me how his study of Fencing and Boxing shows up in the way he taught his students to punch with their dominant arm.For example Bruce studied the writings of famous fencer Aldo Nadi as he was developing his ideas about stance and movement. He studied the way boxer Jack Dempsey delivered punches and read Dempsey's book Championship Fighting, Punching and Aggressive Defense.Dempsey's book explored in detail the question of generating power. Which delivers more power in a strike: a wildly thrown hook punch or a well-timed straight lead punch? Dempsey and Lee both favor the latter over the former for many reasons--not the least of which is that the hooking punches are easier to see.I knew that Bruce was eclectic in his habit to borrow strikes and techniques from different fighting styles. One has only to watch the opening scene from Enter the Dragon to see Bruce grappling 2-4 decades before MMA came into fashion. But Teri's book introduced me to a Bruce Lee that embraced elements of Western fighting as much as he shared elements of his own with us.I'm left with a Bruce Lee that incorporated Western styles of fighting into the ways he taught forms of fighting from the Far East. To do that, Bruce Lee had to continually grow in his study of fighting far beyond the limits of his own comfort zone.In my judgment that makes him an even greater teacher and example than before. I realize that I have again underestimated Bruce's contribution to Martial Arts and to Fighting. I am thankful to Teri for revealing that side of Bruce to us.Fighters of any style and skill level can benefit from good fundamental punching skills. Teri should be commended for reminding us of the importance of good basics especially in punching.

I HAVE HAD THE "STRIGHT LEAD" SINCE ITS PUBLICATION AND HAVE READ THE BOOK MORE THAN SEVEN TIMES. IT IS THROUGH THE UNTIRING EFFORTS OF TERI TOM AND THE TRUE TEACHINGS OF JFJKD ARE SAVED FROM EXTINCTION. THE BOOK IS WELL RESEARCHED AND WRITTEN, USING BRUCELEE'S OWN NOTES AND REFERENCE MATERIALS.THE STRIGHT LEAD IS MUCH MORE THAN JUST A MERE "JAB" IT IS A KNOCK OUT PUNCH THAT STANDS ALONE ABOVE ALL OTHER TECHNIQUES IN JFJKD. IT IS SIMPLE, DIRECT AND IN YOUR FACE. THE MECHANICS OF THIS PUNCH ARE QUITE SIMPLE, BUT HARD TO ACHIEVE WITHOUT DEDICATED PRACTICE. IT WILL THE AVERAGE MARTIAL ARTIST 3 TO 6 MONTHS TO GET A GRIP ON IT, HENCE THE REASON MANY WHO PRACTICE JKD JUST DON'T GET IT. MOST PEOPLE KNOW THAT THE MOST POWERFULL KICKS IN MARTIAL ARTS ARE THE "FLYING KICKS" OR "JUMP KICKS". THIS IS BECAUSE OF THE LAWS OF PHYSICS OF MASS AND ACCELERATION. IF THE BODY MOVES FORWARD AND GRAVITY PULLS DOWNWARD THIS CREATES POWER. THE STRIGHT LEAD IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF MODERN SCIENCE AND ART COMBINED. ONE CAN SAY THAT "FLYING PUNCHES" HAVE THE POWER TO K.O. THE OPPONENT BECAUSE OF THE FORWARD MOMEMTUM AND POWER OF THE PUSH OFF FOOTWORK.THERE ARE MANY WHO CLAIM TO BE ABLE TO DO THE STRIGHT LEAD, BUT I HAVE YET TO SEE IT IN PRINT OR ON VIDEO. IT IS HARD FOR SOME TO MAKE A CHANGE AFTER REPEATING THE SAME MISTAKE FOR OVER 30 YEARS. JUST ADMIT YOU HAVE BEEN MIS-GUIDED, IT'S NOT YOUR FAULT, IT HAPPENED TO ME BUT I WAS OPEN TO CHANGE AND FINALLY SAW THE LIGHT. I UNDERSTAND THE MECHANICS OF THE STRIGHT LEAD, AND THE FOOTWORK, IT WILL TAKE YOU SOME TIME....IF YOU PRACTICE, YOU WILL GET IT! BRUCE LEE ONLY LEFT A ROADMAP TO JKD IN HIS NOTES.TERI TOM LEAVES A GPS SYSTEM. HOW MUCH SIMPLER CAN IT GET.DR. RICK LENGYELJFJKD INSTRUCTOR UNDER BILL MATTUCCISTUDENT OF TED WONG

This book is a good complement to her other writings. It reveals the true nature of Bruce Lee's method and style.A bit pricey, but worth the money.

As a practitioner of Wing Chun and JKD for twenty years now, I can honestly say Ive seen and read many many articles and clips on JKD...or what pertains to be JKD..when really it isn't. This book blew me away. Teri has presented a clear and direct discussion in this book, and backed it up with proper research from Bruces notes and Teds own experiences with Bruce. Teri also makes sure that the material sticks to what Bruce Lee laid down, rather than the various add ons and incarnations that have bastardized the great mans art. For make no mistake, JKD is an art that Bruce was very proud of and that he spent years refining and researching. At its core, simplicity, directness and efficiency. drawing heavily on boxing and fencing principles. Its not 'do whatever you want' or a 'mixture of 27 arts'. This book goes into great background on where Bruce pulled his ideas for the straight lead...a punch that many JKD folks cant get right. Im glad this book is out there. Bruce and Ted would be so proud. May I say, that a lot of people in the JKD circle may not like to hear that JKD is not stickfighting, nor is it MMA, or even Wing Chun. There is so much different incarnations of Bruces art out there that it is a mess. But this book is a must for anyone wanting to cut through the mess. In my opinion, it is the best JKD book out there so far. Ive read it twice and will keep reading it. Buy it!

L'autrice esperta dell'arte marziale di Bruce Lee, e allieva di Ted Wong, esprime i concetti che riguardano questa arte marziale in prevalenza considerando la scherma e la boxe.Ci sono riflessioi scientifiche sulla fisica di newton e sui concetti che intendeva esprimere Lee attraverso la scienza ed il modo migliore per muoversi in una situazione di difesa personale rispettando i principi fisiologici del corpo umano.

Ted Wong Schule bleibt aber Original JKD und wird von der Bruce Lee Foundation akzeptiert.Sehr Gut das Buch zum Thema.Teile nicht die Meinung von einigen,dass Sie nichts kann,die hat's richtig drauf.Kaufempfehlung und locker fünf Sterne von mirMit Respekt

L'equivalente moderno di Explosive Punching and Aggressive Defense di Dempsey, filtrato secondo i precetti del Jeet Kune Do. Libro davvero ben scritto, molto utile per lavorare sui particolari.

This book will teach you whats behind the straight lead, why bruce lee chose it for the backbone of jkd, who inspired bruce on selecting this technique. But be warned, your view will be changed permenently concerning the front hand lead.