JEET KUNE DO DEVASTATING FIGHTING TECHNIQUES BY DAVID ELWOOD

With Thomas J. Nardi. Ph.D.

Copyright 1996
Koinonia Productions 6818 Nevada Avenue Canoga Park, California 91303

Table of Content
Introduction Part One: Long Range Attacks Part Two: Medium Range Attacks Part Th
ree: Close Range Attacks Conclusion
4 13 27 42 59

Dedication
To my wife and family for their continued support

Introduction
This book presents devastating Jeet Kune Do fighting techniques. The techniques
cover the three ranges of combat: Long (or kicking) Range, Medium (or boxing) Ra
nge, and Close (or trapping/grappling) Range. To be a truly complete fighter, on
e must be able to function in all three combat ranges. A total approach fighter ha
s no one range that he prefers he can fight effectively in all ranges. He does n
ot need to set up his techniques because, as Bruce Lee said, he is responding li
ke an echo to the opponent. The experienced reader will be able to recognize the
source of some of these techniques. In true JKD style, the techniques are eclec
tic, drawn from many different arts. They are unified in their effectiveness. In
JKD, techniques that work are endorsed; those that are too stylized or embroide
red, are discarded. The discerning reader will recognize the influence of thai,
kali, boxing, judo, etc. within these pages. Remember Bruce Lees admonition; do n
ot mistake the finger pointing to the moon for the moon. Learn these techniques
as well as you can by practicing them repeatedly. Learn how and when to apply th
em, and then forget them. Let them be automatic so that you do not need to rememb
er them. Do you have to remember to walk, talk, or eat? Of course not. You once h
ad to learn these skills but now you no longer need to remember how to perform the
m. Now you just do them. So, too, allow these techniques to become as natural an
d as automatic as walking, talking, or eating. These techniques are extremely da
ngerous. Be careful in practicing them and even more cautious in deciding to use
them for real in self-defense.

About the Author

Bruce Lee advised his fans, students, and admirers that JKD is only a name; dont f
uss over it. What would the Little Dragon think of todays JKD scene? Would he be p
leased with so many groups (not individuals, mind you, but groups) claiming to b
e teaching the one and only or authentic JKD?
David Elwood, in his own exploration of JKD, studied with a number of the most p
ublicized JKD teachers. Prior to pursuing JKD, Elwood studied other martial arts
including combat tai chi, American Isshin-Ryu karate (in which he holds a 3rd d
egree black belt) and kickboxing. He absorbed what was useful from them and indeed
was even encouraged to teach the art. His search for what he considered the fin
al phase of his JKD journey arrived when he met Master Leo Fong. Master Leo Fong
, teaching with the Total Approach Organization (TAO) opened new vistas for Elwo
od. He was quick to realize that Master Fong has influenced the development of J
KD as well as having been nurtured by it himself. The young Bruce Lee had sought
out Fong because of Fongs reputation in the Chinese community. Young Bruce Lee w
as fascinated by Fongs boxing skills. He taught Fong wing chun and in exchange Fo
ng showed Bruce the rudiments of western boxing. The exchange of theory and tech
niques led to the foundation of Jeet Kune Do. Dave Elwood now considers himself
a student of Master Fong. While still respecting his past instructors, Elwood co
ntinues to teach at his own school in Somerville, New Jersey while being a part
of Master Fongs Total Approach Organization (TAO). He also teaches at Total Appro
ach seminars. This is the first in a series of books on combat JKD.

Special Thanks
Special appreciation and thanks is expressed to Dr. Thomas Nardi for his assista
nce in preparation of this book. A well known martial artist, Dr. Nardi is also
a clinical psychologist and university professor. He is a martial arts practitio
ner with black belts in several arts including goju-ryu karate, jujitsu, and Mod
ern Escrima. He is a private student of Guro A.K. Boouraca in penchak silat and
kali. Dr. Nardi is the cofounder and co-director of the Total Approach Organizat
ion (TAO).
Acknowledgement
Thanks are also given to Shawn Oldham for posing for the pictures in this book.

Part One
Long Range Attacks
Long range refers to the distance between two combatants in which one can reach
the other with a kick, but not with a hand strike. Some stylists prefer to fight
in this range. Tae Kwon Do stylists, for example, favor this range for the obvi
ous reason that it suits their repertoire of kicking techniques. It is important
, however, to be equally comfortable at all ranges of combat. Regardless of your
own style, mastery of the techniques in this section will add to your overall a
bility.
Technique One
Photo (1) Dave Elwood, on the right, faces an attacker at long range.
(2) Sensing the attackers intention to move, Elwood initiates the engagement by t
hrowing a low kick to the knee. The Indonesian term for this low scooping kick i
s sepa. It is designed to damage the knee joint.

(3) Elwood then moves in and places his foot behind the attackers lead leg. At th
e same time, Elwood enters into the attacker with his hands protecting his head.
This entry is called the tai chi sail as (4) & (5) Elwood drives the attacker ba
ckwards over his leg and onto the ground.
(6) Elwood then completes the technique by stomping onto the attackers knee. This
will shatter the knee cap.

Technique Two
From the position of Photo (1) the attacker throws an overhand right. (7) Elwood
turns, braces his hands on the ground, and throws a back kick to the midsection
.
(8) Elwood then rises, turns and throws a kick to the attackers groin. Note his r
ight hand has grabbed the attacker while his left is up to guard his face.

(9) Elwood then turns as he pulls the attackers arm, extending it so that he can
strike to the elbow. This strike can easily snap the arm. (10) Elwood then steps
through and side kicks the attackers left leg, forcing him to the ground.
Technique Three
Street attackers have become more sophisticated in their assaults. Many of them
have added thai kicks to their arsenal. It is important, therefore, to know how
to defeat such an attack.

(11) Elwood on left faces opponent. (12) As opponent throws his kick, Elwood mov
es forward. This jams the opponents technique and prevents it from landing with e
ffect. At the same time, Elwood is throwing a low kick to the ankle of the oppon
ents support leg.
He is also grabbing the attacker. Elwood grabs the opponents leg and then drives
a palm heel strike to the opponents jaw. He grabs the jaw and then (14) throws a
knee to the groin (15) sending him to the ground.

Part Two
Medium Range Attacks
The medium range of fighting is also referred to as the boxing or punching range
. This is the distance within which the combatants can reach each other with han
d strikes. It is a closer range than kicking range but it is not as close as tra
pping or grappling range. Medium range is preferred by those who study hand tech
nique arts, e.g. boxing, many styles of karate, as well as street brawlers. It i
s the range within which most street confrontations begin. Those who favor this
range will attempt to position themselves closer to their opponent before the fi
ght actually starts. One defensive strategy is to always maintain a farther or c
loser distance between you and your opponent. This will prevent him from fightin
g in his range of choice. An even better strategy, and one reflective of the Tot
al Approach to combat, is to be just as comfortable in this range as in other ra
nges. To be a complete and total warrior means being able to fight effectively i
n all ranges. Here are some techniques that have been proven to work on the stre
et in medium range.
Technique One
(16) Attacker on left grabs Elwoods arm. This may be an attempt to pull Elwood fo
rward, to temporarily check his arm to prevent him from blocking a strike, or th
e beginning of an attempt to lock the arm. It makes no difference what the attac
kers intention may be: once he commits himself with the grab, you must immediatel
y swing into action.
(17) Elwood immediately reverses the grab by performing his own grab on the atta
cker, while simultaneously stepping forward with a high elbow strike to the jaw
or neck.

(18) Elwood then grabs the attackers shoulder while bringing his right leg in fro
nt of the attacker and (19) sweeping it backward and upward into the attackers le
ft thigh. While doing this, Elwood is turning his body to his left and leaning f
orward. Note how he completes the throw by pulling on his left hand (on attackers
neck). Elwoods leg can sweep upward against the attackers thigh or against the gr
oin. Those familiar with judo will recognize this throw as a variation of uchi-m
ata, the inner thigh throw.
Technique Two
(20) The opponent has made a boxing-type attack by throwing a right hook. Elwood
ducks the punch and counter-strikes with a straight right to the groin. Note ho
w his left hand is guarding his face and also note that Elwood has dropped his w
eight down, he has not bent over, to avoid the hook.

(21) Elwood then steps over to trap the opponents left foot, preventing him from
withdrawing it. He also grabs the attackers shoulder. (22) He then drives/pushes
the opponent to the ground by sweeping his leg while pushing his shoulder. This
will topple the opponent to the ground where follow-up techniques could be appli
ed.
Technique Three
(23) From boxing range, the attacker throws a right cross which is intercepted b
y Elwood who steps in with a palm strike to the jaw while grabbing the attackers
arm.
(24) Elwood then reaches up and grabs the attackers hair and yanks his head down
forcefully. (25) The opponents natural reaction will be to attempt to resist. As
soon as he begins to pull his head back,

Elwood releases his hair and drives his elbow up into the jaw. If the attacker d
oes not try to straighten up, Elwood simply releases the grab on the hair and do
es the rising elbow strike.
(26) Elwood grabs the attackers neck while turning to his own left. Note that he
has retained his grip on the attackers arm.
He begins to pull the forward and around (27) while he drops to the ground. This
is considered a sacrifice throw because Elwood must allow himself to go to the gr
ound. He is pulling/rolling the attacker forward and over his legs.

(28) After the attacker has hit the ground, Elwood drops his knee onto him and p
repares to throw a punch. Note the attacker is pinned to the ground by Elwoods kn
ee and grip on his right arm.
Part Three
Close Range
There has been a lot of attention focused upon close range fighting, particularl
y by those who are highly trained fighters. Close range is sometimes called trap
ping or grappling range. It is the range in which the average, untrained fighter
is least comfortable. Ironically, it is also the range in which most fights end
up. Many fighters will automatically grab onto their opponent when they get hit
. Boxers are trained to clinch, for example, whenever they start to get hit. But
even untrained people will clinch when they feel like they are in trouble. Judo
players, wrestlers, wing chun students all prefer this range of fighting. This
is the range that best allows them to showcase their techniques. It is the range
that prevents most kickers or punchers from using their tools. Once again the r
eader is reminded: master these techniques but do not become a slave to them. Le
arn to fight and be comfortable in every range.
Technique One

(29) Opponent on left grabs Elwood and begins to grapple. (30) Elwood immediatel
y drives a head butt to below the chin. Note how Elwood has lifted his back foot
in order to gain more drive and penetration with the head butt. Note also how c
lose their bodies are: this is real close-in fighting.
(31) Elwood next drives his knee into the opponents groin while still maintaining
a grip on him. (32) Elwood then steps across, pulling the opponent in close and
onto his hip and (33) throws him over by pulling and turning to his left, sendi
ng the opponent to the ground.

(34) Elwood then finishes the technique by dropping his knee onto the opponents h
ead and lowering his arm over his thigh. The knee to the head controls the oppon
ent allowing Elwood to apply the arm bar.
Technique Two
(35) The attacker moves in and begins to choke Elwood (36) who responds automati
cally with a finger spear to the throat. Note that Elwood has grabbed the attack
ers right wrist, pinning it so that he cannot pull away.

(37) Elwood then grabs the opponents other wrist and (38) then turns into the arm
, locking it, while stepping across and trapping the opponents right leg with his
right hand. This checking of the leg prevents the opponent from escaping the te
chnique.
(39) Elwood continues to pressure the opponents arm, taking him to the ground. No
te that the opponent is helpless: Elwood is kneeling on his legs to control him,
his own body is on top of his right arm, and Elwood is applying a lock to the l
eft elbow.
Technique Three
Many martial artists are frightened of being attacked with a wrestling leg tackl
e. How can I escape this ultimate fighting technique, they wonder. Heres how. Oppon
ent grabs Elwood to tackle him. Elwood sinks his center of gravity (i.e. balance
) by bending his knees and sinking his weight.

(41) He then overhooks the wrestlers neck and applies a choke to the exposed thro
at of the attacker. (42) He then slams his shin up into the attackers groin while
maintaining the choke.
(43) Elwood allows
. (44) Elwood does
s is a very lethal
carefully and with

the shin kick to lift the attacker over him and to the ground
not release the choke and now applies even more pressure. Thi
technique because of its focus on the neck. Practice it very
safety in mind. Do not injure your training partner.

Conclusion
All of the JKD techniques shown in this book have been tested in actual combat.
These techniques will work if you perform them correctly. But all the techniques
in the world are useless if they cannot be applied. Practice these techniques s
lowly and master them. Spend sufficient time with each one before attempting to
learn the next one. Do not try to rush through these techniques. Progress from s
low, steady practice, not from rushed frantic practice. One schedule of practice
might be to learn the first technique from each range. Spend several weeks or m
ore drilling these techniques. Then begin practicing the second from each range
and then, finally, the third from each range. This may take several months. Then
go back and drill the three techniques for long range, then the next week, the
three from medium range and, finally, the following drill the three from close r
ange. Varying your practice will make the drills more interesting and will preve
nt staleness. It would also help if you become self-analytical. Ask yourself: wh
ich range do I favor? Why? Which techniques come naturally for me? Why? Use thes
e techniques as a method of exploring your own strengths and weaknesses as a fig
hter. Ask yourself: How would I fight someone like me? We at the Total Approach
Organization believe the mind is very important in your practice of JKD or any o
ther art. Use the material in this book to understand yourself. Remember the adm
onition of Sun Tzu: Know yourself and know your enemy and you will never be defea
ted. This is the first volume in a series of JKD. Other books will cover other as
pects of JKD techniques and theory. Study the material in this book carefully an
d you will be ready for the future volumes.