Northwest Fighting Arts

1200 SE Morrison St. Portland, OR 97214

Jeet Kune Do: Philosophy and Self Defense

Jeet Kune Do is a philosophy of movement and self-defense.  As taught at Northwest Fighting Arts it draws from, but is not limited to, the arts of Jun Fan Kung Fu, Silat, Panatukan, Boxing, Muay Thai, Chinese Boxing, and Wing Chun.  JKD classes are varied, exciting and constantly interesting.  They train techniques from these arts intensely to develop a deep understand in an open environment that is accessible to everyone; beginners to advanced.

NWFA follows the lineage of: Yip Man, Bruce Lee, Maesto Ted LucayLucay, Guro Dan Inosanto, and Punong Guro Leonard Trigg

One of the concepts of Jeet Kune Do is to explore in depth many martial arts, drawing from them the techniques most effective and natural for you.  In this way you develop a kind of toolkit of movements to effectively express and defend yourself.  The concept of JKD can be applied not just to fighting but to all aspects of life.  What JKD is not, is a form.  It is non-attachment to forms.

"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 molds. 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 molds; 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

The JKD Lineage

Yip Man

Guro Ted LucayLucay

Guro Dan Inosanto

Punong Guro Leonard Trigg

Jeff Patterson

Yip Man: Was the first Wing Chun master to teach their art openly.  He was Bruce Lee's first Sifu.  He legacy is broad and he left the world several masters to continue the art.

Bruce Lee (Lee Jun Fan): Was the founder of the philosophy of Jeet Kune Do.  He was a profoundly talented individual who opened up the world of Kung Fu.   Not only by teaching Westerners at a time when it was frowned upon but by challenging traditional view of the arts.  Bruce Lee was an avid student of many styles of martial arts.  He advocated adopting what is useful and effective for each individual from many arts and integrating them into a personal form of movement and self defense.

Guro Dan Inosanto:  Is Bruce Lee's heir and leading authority on JKD.  Guro Dan continued to develop and refine the art introducing Filipino martial arts like Kali and Silat.   Eventually he detached the name JKD from any particular movements or techniques and boiled it down to it's core of "the concept of cross-training" in different styles and "doing your own thing"

Guro Ted LucayLucay:  "Ted Lucaylucay was born in the Hawaiian Islands and experimented with various martial arts styles. After moving to Los Angeles he became one of the early "backyard" students of Richard Bustillo and Dan Inosanto. He eventually became the first student to graduate from the Inosanto Academy in both JKD and Kali."  He continued to develop throughout his life and founded the LucayLucay Kali/JKD association.

Punong Guro Leonard Trigg:  Is an avid proponent of the Filipino martial arts.  He accepted leadership of  Guro Ted LucayLucay's organization upon his death as well as assuming the mantle after Punong Guro Edgar G. Sulite died.  Professor Trigg brought his deep knowledge of western boxing to the art.  He has coached many successful fighters, including sending some to the Olympics. 

Bruce Lee