Jeet Kune Do: Art & Philosophy of Bruce Lee

This classic book has been out of print for about 35 years! It was the first substantive book about the evolution of Bruce Lee's personal martial art, Jeet Kune Do. Dan Inosanto was one of Lee's first Southern California students, and was also a close personal friend of the Lee's. The contents are accordingly, fairly accurate, but also unique as Inosanto continued on a martial arts path after Lee was no longer able...

This book includes a lot of personal history from those early training days, and offer a picture of Lee far removed from the kung fu character actor most people today think of. MANY photos of people, early Jeet Kune Do (JKD) training items, cards, T-shirts, logos, and other historic things and places. See the Restaurant where Lee worked as a waiter shortly after his arrival in Seattle (pg 29), sites of former schools, homes, fights, etc. Mr. Inosanto knew Lee as a friend and teacher, so these views are uniquely warm.

Does an excellent job covering and explaining Lee's progression from Wing Chun Kung Fu to Jun Fan Gung Fu, to Jeet Kune Do. Includes many recollections from the early days in Seattle from people who are no longer with us, including this one by Taky Kimura:

"During one of Bruce's early demonstrations, a Japanese Karate black belt took exception to his outspoken opinions and ideas and issued a challenge.

Bruce tried to explain that it was not his intention to downgrade any particular system but rather to clarify his own methods.

Available original print $100

But the karate expert persisted in demanding a bout...so Bruce was forced to accept the challenge, and the two departed for a nearby handball court.

The challenger wanted to first establish certain ground rules such as no punching to the head or groin...Bruce accommodated him to an acceptable degree. Still, the outcome of the brief (11 seconds) match was never in doubt. The Karate man opened with a strong kick which Bruce effortlessly avoided before punching his opponent from one end of the court to the other..." (page 33-34)

Includes many recollections from and photos of people like James Yimm Lee, Allen Joe, Richard Bustillo, Dan Lee, Ted Wong, American Kenpo founder Ed Parker & Lee on page 36, Linda Lee, and others.

This is about Lee's martial art, and doesn't go into the acting side so much. Some technical demonstrations of technique application against opponents and equipment to explain the art.

- C. Hardman