Kung Fu(Gong Fu), Jeet Kune Do

Kung Fu

Kung fu is the most popular form of martial arts in China and pretty much the rest of the world for that matter. There are many different styles and interpretations. Some are known for their punching and kicking techniques but most are named after animals. Here are some styles of kung fu:

--- Choy-Li-Fut ---

Choy-li-fut is a long fist based system. It has many circular strikes, extension and projection. It's stances tend to be low( meaning that the knees are bent with the body closer to the ground than normal) but powerful. It is very practical for both street and dojo fighting. It has four main fist strikes:

  1. Tsop - Straight Punch
  2. Qua - Back Fist
  3. Jong - Uppercut
  4. Sow - Roundhouse Punch
These all use body projection and torque for power. This system contains grappling and throwing along with many weapons(a very diverse system).

--- Hung Gar ---

Hung Gar also uses low stances. It uses five elements(metal, wood, fire, water, and earth) and a variety of weapons.

--- Wing Chun ---

Named after it's founder Yim Wing Chun, it is the only style that was founded by a female. Uses up close, multiple attacks and it uses the body to project power. Uses one hand to grab the opponents attacking limb and then attack with the rest of the body.


Here are some of the animal styles fo kung fu:
--- Snake ---

A very quick and flowing style which allows you to wrap up your opponents limbs and throw off their balance. It uses grappling and throwing while simultaniously using hand attacks.

--- Tiger ---

Good for fighting up close. The objective is to overpower your opponent using the entire body. The tiger style also uses many throws and manipulation like aikido.

--- Praying Mantis ---

Much like wing chun, it uses limb grapples with one hand while simultaneously attacking with the other hand or the feet. It also uses many fast hand strikes. Power and speed are the main advantages here.

--- Monkey ---

The monkey is agile and tricky. This crouching and bouncing style is meant to confuse your opponent. Now, the monkey has five sub-styles of it's own:

  1. Drunken Monkey: As you probably thought, the drunk monkey is like monkey except for the drunken, staggering movements. Much like drunken boxing but in monkey form.
  2. Lost Monkey: The lost monkey is constantly moving. Changing direction, rolling, anything to confuse the opponent as to where he is going next.
  3. Standing Monkey: Like monkey but with more conventional stances and less rolling.
  4. Stone Monkey: A hard defense. Absorbing and retruning force.
  5. Wooden Monkey: The most aggressive of the monkey styles. jumping at the opponent and grabbing on to attack the head.

--- Leapard ---

With speed and power the leapard lunges in for an attack then backs off quickly to avoid retaliation. It uses the entire body to gain momentum.

--- Dragon ---

Proud and majestic, the dragon swoops in and attacks quickly. This style uses whip-like and spinning kicks. Often adopts other animal techniques making it difficult to predict it's movements.

--- Crane ---

Using grace and balance the crane is good at fighting from a distance. Keeps the enemy at bay and uses devastating hand techniques.

--- Eagle ---

Usually attacks the soft tissue(eyes, throat, groin). It uses a unique attack called the "Eagle Claw".

Eagle Claw:
Similar to jujitsu, it uses takedowns and joint locks. Attacks the pressure points.

Jeet Kune Do

Founded by the famous martial artist Bruce Lee, jeet kune do is one of the most effective of all martial arts. Jeet Kune Do means "Way of the Intercepting Fist". Uses the simultaneous blocking and attacking of wing chun. The main principle is to use whatever works. This style is reffered to as the "style of no-style".

When developing this style, Bruce Lee combined about three different styles including Wing Chun kung fu. Although Bruce Lee did have his own punching and kicking techniques, this style is an adaptive style. You can combine a few existing styles along with the below principles and strategies to practice jeet kune do.

These are the main principles of jeet kune do:

---Principles---
  1. Always use as much force as you can.
  2. Simultaneously attack and defend.
  3. Always maintain a good cover and balance.
  4. Assume nothing is final; Always use follow-ups.
  5. Longest weapon to the closest target.
  6. Analyze and improve the speed of all your techniques.
  7. Understand the progression of range.
  8. You must learn to accept reality.
  9. Each aspect must be adapted to your body and mind.
  10. Deflecting-Parrying-Dissolving.
  11. Do not use force against force.
  12. The imaginative use of equipment and training methods.
  13. Let the weapon teach your hand.
  14. always cultivate your tools.
  15. Continually expand your abilities.
  16. the abilities of the body and mind are endless.
  17. Analyze everything you can for economy, safety and effectiveness.
  18. You will fight how you train.
  19. Using no way as way(not quite sure what this one means).
  20. Having no limitations as your limitations.

Those are the 20 principles. You must learn and follow them if you expect to practice jeet kune do. Now, to move on to the strategies of this style:

--- Strategies ---
  1. When you are threatened you must be ruthless with your attack! There is no room for mercy.
  2. Do no inflict any more damage on your attacker than what is neccessary to effectively end the conflict and escape to safety.
  3. Be well trained in all fighting ranges.
  4. Use proper visual focus principles.
  5. Attack vital targets immediately.
  6. Hit fast, hit hard and hit first.
  7. They can't hit what they can't see(jab 'em in the eyes).
  8. Destroy the foundation and the upper body dies too.
  9. Intercept incoming attacks at the earliest possible moment.
  10. Use the longest weapon to strike the nearest target.
  11. Simultaneously defend and attack.
  12. Defend the upper body with the arms and the lower body with the legs.
  13. They can't hit what they can't reach.
  14. Use combination attacks.
  15. If someone grabs you just hit them.
  16. At close range use your in-fighting tools.
  17. If the opponent has a knife be prepared for the possibility fo being cut.
  18. Don't go to the ground.
  19. When in doubt, straight blast.
  20. Be prepared to kick them when they are down.
  21. Get it over with; there is no time to play around.
  22. When it is over get out of there.
  23. If you encounter law enforcement officials be polite, be cooperative and inform them that you reacted immediately because you felt you life was in danger.
  24. Do not go looking for trouble but be aware that it is always there.
  25. Bottom Line: It's always better to be tried by twelve than carried by six.