Tao of Jeet Kune Do
by Bruce Lee
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Book Summary Information
Author: Bruce LeeEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 1975-10-01
ISBN: 0897500482
Number of pages: 208
Publisher: Ohara Publications, Inc.
Book Reviews of Tao of Jeet Kune Do
Book Review: Look into the mind of the master and learn
Summary: 5 Stars
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
Summary of Tao of Jeet Kune Do
Compiled from Bruce Lee's notes and essays and originally published in 1975, "Tao of Jeet Kune Do" is the best-selling martial arts book in the world. This iconic work explains the science and philosophy behind jeet kune do - the art Lee invented - and includes hundreds of Lee's illustrations. Topics include Zen and enlightenment, kicking, striking, grappling, and footwork. With introductions by Linda Lee and editor Gilbert Johnson, "Tao of Jeet Kune Do" is essential reading for any practitioner and offers a brief glimpse into the mind of one of the world's greatest martial artists.To watch Bruce Lee on film is an amazing experience. Those who have read Tao of Jeet Kune Do, however, know that Lee's prose can also be exhilarating. This praiseworthy and enduring bestseller (mainly written over six months when Lee was bedridden with back problems) compiles philisophical aphorisms, explanations on technique, and sketches by the master himself.
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