On Health, Fitness & Jeet Kune Do

My older brother and his wife recently had their first child.

Maybe it’s the birth of my niece that has made me more aware of the issue, or maybe it’s patients of mine who relate stories of how they would never let their children do this and that. In the clinic, it is not my place to be counseling parents on how to raise their children, especially as I don’t have any of my own. The issue I am referring to is that of overprotecting and censoring children from stimuli and experiences that are actually integral to holistic development and maturation.

It is definitely important to keep children safe, yet hearty doses of full spectrum “real life” experience are vital to optimal health on all levels.

Here is an article from The Daily Telegraph that addresses the point.

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,23709886-5005941,00.html

Here is a great video from TED that also touches on the subject.

In Health,

–
Nhan-Esteban Khuong, L.Ac.
www.SGVJeetKuneDo.com

In “Enter the Dragon”, Bruce Lee states one of his more well known quotes when O’Hara breaks a pine board as a warning of his martial prowess, “Boards don’t hit back.”

Was Bruce Lee mistaken?

You decide!

–

Nhan-Esteban Khuong, L.Ac.
www.SGVJeetKuneDo.com

1. Jeet Kune Do is a concept that does not have tangible techniques.

This is a very prevalent myth that is largely kept alive by “JKD Concepts” and the misinterpretation of “Using no way as way.” Bruce Lee’s JKD does, in fact, utilize specific concepts and value sets in the art of combat. The approach emphasizes liberation from the confines of “style”, however one must keep in mind that it was Bruce Lee’s martial art and therefore, the specific techniques he was practicing and developing provide the tangible foundation of his fighting method.

The idea of creating a hodgepodge of techniques from various martial arts and deciding that “this is what works for me”, then calling it JKD is absolutely preposterous. It is true that my Jeet Kune Do will look different from your Jeet Kune Do, but this is not necessarily due to any difference in technique, but rather to a difference in the way that those techniques are utilized. For example, someone with a longer reach may prefer to stay at a distance using long range weapons and elusive footwork whereas a person with a stockier build may prefer to close the gap and blast away at short range.

Giving credit to the founder’s efforts, there is a certain universality of human biomechanics and combative psychology that keep the JKD techniques and strategies from requiring much further, if any, modification.

2. Jeet Kune Do is a form of modified Wing Chun.

Much like the first myth, this misunderstanding of JKD is largely based on Bruce Lee’s early Jun Fan Gung Fu days when his fighting methodology was primarily based on his Wing Chun background. As his understanding and experience increased, Bruce Lee continued to shave away at the Wing Chung base of his approach, evolving his martial art into something entirely different keeping only very simplified vestiges of the Wing Chun influence.

An additional point of confusion here can be seen in the corroborated reports of his private students, in that the material being taught to his “backyard” class was quite different from the heavily Wing Chun based training at his schools. Although we may never know why he did this, I presume it is because he was using his private students as part of his Jeet Kune Do laboratory and therefore chose not to publicly teach his prototypical stuff that was still in development.

3. Jeet Kune Do is a blend of Western Boxing, Fencing, Wing Chun and other martial arts.

This myth stems from the fact that Bruce Lee was researching and analyzing different martial arts in order to broaden his own understanding. The Tao of Jeet Kune Do along with his other posthumously published works make numerous references to various fighting systems. Bruce Lee was very methodical and to say that JKD is an early mixed martial art is like saying that humans are a blend of various apes. Sure, humans may share a large amount of genetic material and a prehistoric ancestry with apes, but we evolved separately much like JKD shares certain elements with other fighting arts, but evolved separately.–
Nhan-Esteban Khuong, L.Ac.
www.SGVJeetKuneDo.com

The subject of supplementation for health and performance has been a point of heated discussion among experts ever since the industry emerged.

Bruce Lee was known to be big supporter of nutritional supplements as he used them heavily himself and also recommended them to others as is noted in an interview with Ted Wong published in “Knowing is Not Enough.  Ted Wong goes on the explain how Bruce Lee helped him gain muscle mass through weight training and supplementation.

The general understanding of nutrition, however, and the availability of knowledge has come a long way since Bruce Lee’s time and I think a review is in order.

Is the power of supplementation hype or hope?

From my experience, there are more health / fitness experts that lean towards the supplementation side of the equation than not.  As for my own opinion, I see real whole food as king in the grand scheme of things, yet supplements can play a very important role in maintaining and even boosting health.

Let me explain.

The human body has an extraordinary potential to grow, adapt, heal, and protect, given that all the materials it needs to perform these functions are present.  From the physical side of things (considering true health and optimal performance includes elements of the mind and spirit) food and exercise provide the material and mechanical basis for health.  Historically, humankind has been very physical in everyday life and has had a varied natural food diet that changed accordingly with the seasons.  This is obviously not so in modern times.

As wild variations of foods become extinct at an alarming rate and natural whole foods become increasingly more difficult to obtain, supplementation becomes a more viable option to make a wide array of micro nutrients easier to incorporate into the average diet.

With this is mind, there are many high quality supplements available on the market today, but there are far more of poor quality that offer no benefit and may even be potentially harmful.  The nutraceutical industry is a booming business that is largely unregulated with  all manner of products and health claims.  Although many of these products can be powerful boon to the right person . . . buyer beware.

In future posts, I will cover the basics some common supplements, their properties, and how to choose high quality brands.

In Health,

–
Nhan-Esteban Khuong, L.Ac.
www.SGVJeetKuneDo.com

Technorati Profile

Here’s the latest on the long awaited Bruce Lee Foundation event this July.

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON JULY 18 - 20, 2008

Registration is officially open!

As you know, this summer marks the 35^th anniversary for Enter the Dragon as well as the passing of Bruce Lee.  We the BLF has put together their most elaborate event yet to commemorate these important occasions.

Where: Seattle Art Museum and Lakeview Cemetery

When: July 18 - 20, 2008

What: Seminars, a 35^th Anniversary Bruce Lee Exhibit, screenings of Enter the Dragon, the first ever JKD Instructor Summit, a Graveside Memorial and Celebration Banquet, an Exclusive Limited Entry Preview Night, and much, much more!

Registration Information:

To register for the event, contact Tammy at info@bruceleefoundation.org or send your name and contact info with your payment and which events you are registering for to:

    Bruce Lee Foundation
Seattle 35^th Anniversary Celebration
11693 San Vicente Blvd
Suite 918
Los Angeles, CA 90049

Mailed registrations will not be accepted after Monday, July 14, 2008.

Events and Pricing:

All events except the graveside memorial and the lunch on Sunday take place at the Seattle Museum of Art!!
 

Exclusive, Limited Entry Preview Night* - Friday, July 18, 2008

Wine and Appetizers
Special Guests
An Exclusive First Look Tour of the Bruce Lee Exhibit with Linda and Shannon and other contributors
A Private Screening of Enter the Dragon with Q &As and Bonus Footage
Unveiling of the Plans for the Bruce Lee Museum
Limit 100 participants
$125.00
*Full schedule of activities not yet confirmed. Confirmed schedule to follow shortly.

Seminars and Demos Only* - Friday, July 18, 2008 and Saturday, July 19, 2008

            Friday and Saturday - $100.00 per participant
            Friday Only - $40.00 per participant
Saturday Only - $80.00 per participant

Discounts available for groups of ten or more when purchasing both Friday and Saturday. Please contact Tammy at info@bruceleefoundation.org for information.

            *schedule and instructor / demonstrator list to follow shortly

Screening of Enter the Dragon - Saturday Evening, July 19, 2008

            $10.00 per ticket
           Limit 250 seats

Graveside Memorial and Luncheon - Sunday, July 20, 2008

Graveside Memorial - FREE
Transportation from Seattle Art Museum to Lakeview Cemetery to Restaurant back to Cemetery
$20.00 per person

Celebration Luncheon
New Hong Kong Restaurant
900 S Jackson Street
traditional Chinese lunch, special guests, speakers, raffle prizes and more
$50.00 per person

Instructor Summit - Sunday Morning, July 20, 2008

Community meeting with JKD Instructors to discuss the future of JKD, how to work together, licensing and other issues, and more

FREE

Bruce Lee Exhibit - July 18 - 20, 2008

            Open to the Public
            FREE

All Inclusive Package for All Events* July 18 - 20, 2008

            Includes all seminars and demos, Saturday screening of Enter the Dragon, transportation to the memorial and luncheon, Celebration Luncheon, one raffle ticket, and a free tee shirt
            $160.00 per person
Discounts available for groups of ten or more. Please contact Tammy at info@bruceleefoundation.org for information.
*excludes Friday preview night

Specific seminar and events schedule and accommodations information to follow next week but don’t wait! Reserve your spot now! This promises to be a very special event and we hope you will join us!

For any questions or concerns contact Tammy at info@bruceleefoundation.org.

All profits go to support the Bruce Lee Foundation’s general operating budget and special programs and events. Thank you for your support!

See you there!

–
Nhan-Esteban Khuong, L.Ac.
www.SGVJeetKuneDo.com

When Bruce Lee injured his back in 1970, he was bedridden for months and told by his doctors that he would never be able to kick again.

This could have been the end of the Little Dragon and of Jeet Kune Do, but it was during this time of trial that Bruce Lee created what is now arguably his biggest martial arts legacy — the Tao of Jeet Kune Do and the additional volumes of notes he hand wrote on the martial way. It is also during this time that he ceased physical training and immersed himself if inner work or rather spiritual training and personal growth. Bruce Lee studied and quoted the works of the Buddha, Alan Watts, Carl Rogers, Lao Tzu, Fritz Perls, Daicet Suziki, Jiddu Krishnamurti, Helen Keller, and many more.

It is important to remember the power of the mind, our perceptions, beliefs, and spirit. The world really is what we make of it.

We, as individuals, have a greater potential for greatness if we live as though everything that happens in our lives is a direct result of our thoughts and actions.

On this thought, here is a tremendous blog post from Ross Enamait at RossTraining.com on the power of positive thinking.

http://rosstraining.com/blog/2008/05/15/life-is-tough-deal-with-it

–
Nhan-Esteban Khuong, L.Ac.
www.SGVJeetKuneDo.com

The one inch punch concept has been around for some time, however it was Bruce Lee’s presentation that seems to have made it so popular.

This is one of those techniques that has achieved “secret weapon” status via multiple sources including, but not limited to:

- Bruce Lee’s super stardom and deification

- Showbiz

- The Chinese (and most Asian cultures) cultural tendency to harbor “secret this-and-that”

- The human desire for something greater

All the hype aside, Bruce Lee’s one inch punch is an excellent example of Jeet Kune Do biomechanics at their best. It is the synergistic culmination of optimal body angles, leverage, timing, coordination, speed, strength, and control at a very short distance.

It’s important to keep in mind however, that the punching speed in Bruce Lee’s demonstrations is significantly lower than would be used in actual application, for the safety of the volunteer. Furthermore, his technique is quite different from the “traditional” version in his use of the power line and the lead hand.

Here is an excellent video presentation on the one inch punch produced by a San Francisco film student as a school project.

Enjoy!

–
Nhan-Esteban Khuong, L.Ac.
www.SGVJeetKuneDo.com

Here’s a great article that lists some compelling reasons to start getting physically active.

I would like to add that incorporating fitness via a self defense training program does wonders for self confidence and can be a very powerful tool for stress relief.

In any case, one of the best ways to get on an exercise program and stay on it, is to choose an activity that you enjoy . . . and better yet, take a friend.

Happy training!

The greatest challenge in developing a permanent exercise habit is finding motivation that lasts. It’s easy to get to the gym when you’re preparing for that big beach vacation or want to look great for your high school reunion. But what about the rest of the time?

For much of my life I followed a pretty consistent pattern:

• Get a bit fat.
• Start to hate the way I look.
• Hit the gym with a vengeance for a few weeks.
• Start to look noticeably better.
• Smugly enjoy my new found vanity.
• Lose motivation and stop working out for a few weeks.
• Repeat from beginning.

Vanity, it turns out, isn’t a great longterm motivator for most people. It wasn’t until I associated exercise with rewards beyond physical appearance that I was able to get myself to the gym 5-6 times a week without any lapses.

To help you bring consistency and enthusiasm to your exercise schedule, here are some powerful reasons to work out that have nothing to do with looking good.

Read the full article here: 10 Reasons to Work Out That Have Nothing to Do With a Sexy Bod

–
Nhan-Esteban Khuong, L.Ac.
www.SGVJeetKuneDo.com

The harsh reality is that self defense situations involving knives exist

With this in mind, there are tons of knife defense techniques out there; some of the stuff is coming from reputable sources while the grand majority comes from martial artists regurgitating the same old defense and disarm techniques that only work if the attacker initiates in a very specific predetermined way.

Despite the comedic emphasis in this video, there is an important lesson to be learned.

Enjoy!

–
Nhan-Esteban Khuong, L.Ac.
www.SGVJeetKuneDo.com