Hello and welcome back to Second Chance to Live my friend. I am happy to see that you decided to stop by to visit with me. Thank you. Yesterday morning my Mom sent something to me that brought about some reflection. I would like to share my reflection with you. For many years of my life I felt confused by what I could not put my finger upon, because of what I experienced – frustration, disappointment and discouragement.
I believe that my confusion gained clarity and my frustration, disappointment and discouragement took on new meaning through my training and study of Jeet Kune Do. Bruce Lee founded what he called Jeet Kune Do (JKD) in 1967. The principles Bruce Lee taught and the lessons that I learned from my martial arts instructor (Sensei) helped me to make sense of what I had a hard time understanding or accepting for much of my life.
Bruce Lee’s philosophy surrounding Jeet Kune Do (JKD)
“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
What Bruce Lee’s JKD philosophy helped me to recognize is that what had occurred over much of my life prepared me to be effective in what I am doing today. By drawing from my experiences, circumstances, lessons and opportunities I have been able to discover how to use what works best for me. In the process of discovering what works best for me, I have been given the freedom to stop judging myself for what does not work for me.
“Absorb what is useful, reject what is useless and add what is specifically your own” Bruce Lee
The principles that Bruce Lee taught inspires me to celebrate my process and to focus on what is useful, as I look to creatively express myself in every area of my life. The principle of absorbing what is useful and adding what is specifically my own has encouraged me to follow my own path, progress in my own capabilities, find my own way, know myself, bend with adversity, use economy of motion, be open to learn and not give up on myself.
“Life’s battles don’t always go to the stronger or faster man. But sooner of later to the man who thinks he can win.” Bruce Lee
“Freedom lies in understanding yourself from moment to moment.” Bruce Lee
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