The Jeet Kune Do Experience: Understanding Bruce Lee's Ultimate Martial Art with Jerry Beasley, Ed.D.
Book Review by Alain Burrese
8 ½ x
11, softcover, photos, 216 pp. ISBN 1-58160-131-X $30.00
Available
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When
a book is written by a Black Belt magazine Hall of Fame member as well as the
recipient of numerous other awards, and is endorsed by such legendary martial
art greats such as Dan Inosanto and Joe Lewis, you have high expectations when
opening the cover. I was not
disappointed. The Jeet Kune Do Experience by Jerry Beasley is an enjoyable and
educational book all the way through.
This
book incorporates material from two of Beasley’s earlier works, In
Search of the Ultimate Martial Art and The
Way of No Way, and is divided into two parts by the same titles.
The first part describes Beasley’s path to JKD as well as the
development of JKD in general. Beasley
has a relationship with many of the JKD pioneers as well as the second
generation instructors, and his interviews with Dan Inosanto, Larry Hartsell,
Joe Lewis, and Tim Tackett are informative and one of the highlights of the
first part of the book.
The
remainder of part one is full of pictures depicting various techniques and more
importantly concepts. Illustrating
these concepts are those mentioned that were interviewed as well as other
notable martial artists. This is
not at “how to” book on JKD, and the photos are not meant to “teach” you
all of JKD. The photos are there to
illustrate some of the principles of JKD that Beasley shares. He shows an interpretation of a few styles to help illustrate
the principles such as range, five ways of attack, individual and instructor
preference, environment and others. Beasley
doesn’t give a simple definition of JKD, but points out that defining JKD
requires an understanding of the philosophical, the physical, and the social
components that characterize the practice.
In
Part Two of the book, Beasley addresses some of the politics surrounding the
growth of JKD. This part
incorporates some of the articles Beasley has written for various periodicals
throughout the years and also has many concepts being illustrated with
photographs, many including Beasley and Joe Lewis doing the illustrations.
I especially found the chapter on the JKD Matrix to be informative and
help my understanding of JKD.
The
Jeet Kune Do Experience
is an informative and enjoyable study based on the principles that compose the
conceptual framework of JKD. Beasley
has put together a book that will be a source for all those that practice JKD,
as well as a source to help those who do not practice this art better understand
what JKD is. The principles this
book addresses will benefit any martial artist, no matter what style is trained
in. Beasley has done an excellent
job in defining the concept of JKD and I look forward to more from him in the
future.
Reviewed by Alain Burrese, July 2001
The Jeet Kune Do Experience
Understanding Bruce Lee’s Ultimate Martial Art
By Jerry Beasley, Ed.D.
Review by Alain Burrese November 2007 for amazon
The Jeet Kune Do Experience: Understanding Bruce Lee’s Ultimate Martial Art by Jerry Beasley incorporates material from Beasley’s In Search of the Ultimate Martial Art and The Way of No Way. It addresses the subject of training in the system of jeet kune do (JKD). The book is not about Bruce Lee, but rather the art that he created.
In this book, Beasley attempts to provide an acceptable definition to the term jeet kune do, based on the principles that compose the conceptual framework. He does this by recognizing the views and values of individuals who studied with Bruce Lee directly, or as second hand participants. Beasley’s knowledge of JKD comes primarily from his study with Dan Inosanto and Joe Lewis, two very accomplished martial artists in their own right. There will most likely always be contention among jeet kune do practitioners regarding what true jeet kune do is or how it differs from jeet kune do concepts and other training philosophies that use the same term JKD. Because of this, there may be readers that disagree with Beasley’s definition of jeet kune do and his version of Bruce Lee’s art. All I can say about that is that I do not study or teach JKD, or any version of it. I tried to read this book as Beasley wished, with open-mindedness and without burdens of preconceived opinions and conclusions. And from that standpoint, I found this book to be an educational and entertaining read. I found things in this book that I could relate to my own martial art training and teaching.
The first half of the book was Beasley’s In Search of the Ultimate Martial Art that he wrote in 1988. The chapters include Finding the Path, Going to the Source, The Next Generation, The Skills of Jeet Kune Do, and Conclusions. I especially liked the chapter Going To The Source witch contained interviews with Dan Inosanto, Larry Hartsell who we unfortunately lost just recently, and Joe Lewis. I enjoyed reading the words of those that have been such an influence with not only JKD but martial arts for so many years. The weakest part of this section of the book for me was the chapter on JKD skills. This chapter showed a small sampling of techniques illustrated with sequenced photographs. The chapter was okay in showing a small sampling of JKD techniques, and that was its main purpose. It is not meant to teach you JKD, and that is good. I just enjoyed the rest of the book more than this chapter. The conclusions chapter provided some concepts that anyone in the martial arts should be aware of and study. It was enlightening the way Beasley presented his thoughts his book gave me more to think about in my own jouney.
The second part of the book is Beasley’s The Way of No Way, originally published in 1992 and based on a number of Beasley’s magazine articles from that time period. It consists of chapters titled Developing a Science for JKD, Utilizing the Principles of JKD, The Matrix, Basic Training, and Conclusions and Observations. Again, I enjoyed the conceptual writings much more than the techniques accompanied with photographs. I felt the weakest chapter in the book was Basic Training. It provided a few basic weight lifting exercises and training drills shows through pictures. This chapter was no where near as useful as the chapter on utilizing the principles of JKD. I especially liked the reprinting of the article written by Beasley and Joe Lewis, “Beyond the Angles of Attack” that was originally published in the July 1988 issue of Black Belt magazine.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I do not study or teach JKD, but I still found a lot of wisdom and value in some of the concepts Beasley wrote about. I also enjoyed learning more about Jeet Kune Do and those that have pioneered the art since Bruce Lee’s passing. I especially connected with how Beasley closes the book in reminding us of the ending of the movie “Circle of Iron” where the main character opens the book of “truth” to find a reflection of himself. Each of us represents our own truth. Beasley’s JKD might not be like other’s JKD, and Beasley himself acknowledges and accepts that. However, Beasley’s “The Jeet Kune Do Experience” is a very good book for those that want a better understanding of the art of JKD and quite possibly a better understanding of their own training.