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1-Page Summary of Tao of Jeet Kune Do

Overview

This 208 page book contains Bruce Lee’s notes, writings and sketches that he recorded over nineteen years of martial arts study. He begins this project in 1970 when confined to bed for six months. He gets a back injury for which his doctors forbid him from practicing martial arts during recovery. During this time, he reflects on his life and writes the Tao as a guide for people interested in studying martial arts. His expressed intent is not to provide an instruction manual or how-to guide but rather to record his way of thinking as a source of ideas for all martial artists to develop without boundaries. Linda Lee hopes reading the book will help readers come to know her husband better and themselves also through learning about him.

The introduction and early sections of the book present some philosophical ideas recommended by Lee to become a skilled martial artist. The majority of the book’s content, however, details preparation, exercises, movements and practice required for initially developing Jeet Kune Do skills. Enlightenment is introduced in order to eliminate false notions about self-consciousness being a barrier towards proper physical action.

Jeet Kune Do is a form of martial arts that Bruce Lee promotes in this book. The way, or Tao, requires one to discard all ideals, patterns and styles. It also means being able to use any technique as needed. This allows you to master your will and assume any form necessary for the task at hand. The absence of stereotyped techniques and thought combines with non-attachment as its doctrine. One can partake in man’s pure-heartedness by using the tools of Jeet Kune Do. These natural weapons have the purpose of destroying an opponent while preserving yourself from injury or death. Bruce Lee claims that punches and kicks kill the ego because they’re not used defensively but offensively instead—to destroy your opponent rather than preserve yourself from harm.

Jeet Kune Do is a martial art that emphasizes natural ability, speed and agility. It teaches students to develop their spirit and emotions as well as the physical aspects of fighting. There are eleven steps in Lee’s fitness program, which includes coordination, balance, endurance and precision. The tools of Jeet Kune Do include punches and kicks; they are presented in combinations or variations. Preparation for combat involves feints and parries using footwork so one can move freely during battle. The author brings these elements back together in the Tao section on attack; short phrases express his style of simplicity.

Section 0 Summary (Introduction)

The Tao of Jeet Kune Do is a book about Bruce Lee’s philosophies on martial arts and life. It was written by him over the course of his lifetime, but he never finished it before his death in 1973. His wife, Linda Lee, hired Gilbert L. Johnson to collect all of Lee’s notes and writings from seven volumes into one book for publication in 1975. The purpose of this book is to be used as an idea resource for others who are interested in martial arts or philosophy without boundaries.

In the martial art of Zen, enlightenment means to eliminate everything that prevents you from living in the moment. False ideas about a separate self must be eliminated so that you can rise above your karma or destiny. Realization of emptiness is filled with life and power, as well as love for all beings. There are no opposites in voidness or between this and that; therefore, there’s no need to grasp at things. An example would be an unselfconscious wooden doll without ego thoughts or rigidity—that’s how we should act when handling situations in our lives. We shouldn’t allow ourselves to get caught up in thinking too much because it will only hinder us from performing properly during those moments. For instance, imagine seeing a moon under water: if we think about it too much then we’ll never see the moon because our minds will be clouded by all sorts of other ideas and possibilities (like what happens if we go into the water). But if we don’t think about it at all then maybe we won’t notice anything out of place until someone points out that there’s a moon under water! The same idea applies here: just let yourself flow naturally through each situation while establishing nothing and letting go; doing this allows you not to worry about achieving something great but rather enjoying every moment along your journey toward whatever goal you may have set for yourself.