Joe Lewis Book Review

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own interpretation of Jeet Kune Do.  I say this as the title of the book is obviously a good marketing ploy.  But to Joe's credit, he is quick to explain in the opening chapter that this book will reveal the JKD skills that Bruce taught him in their many workout sessions back in the late 60s.  And how Joe has continued to develop and improve these skills, concepts and principals of Bruce Lee's JKD teaching over the many years since his passing.  </div> <div> This book explains their relationship and lessons in fine detail with the constant use of quality photos to accompany the text.  You will learn how Bruce helped Joe to improve such skills as closing the gap, the concept of oneness, the art of non-telegraphing plus much more.  Here I think it is important to point out that Joe was already a karate champion before he met Bruce and never paid for any lessons. But at that time, Joe was a more rigid fighter.  It was only through his many hard and dedicated workouts with Bruce that he became a looser and certainly a more refined fighter.  You will learn how important the art of relaxation is for a fighter - not only in footwork and the application of techniques but also in state of mind.  How Joe and Bruce analyzed the fighting skills of the boxing greats like Muhammad Ali and how this helped their own personal development as fighters.  Joe has written and explained everything in very clear and simple terms so that everyone can understand the points he is trying to get across.  As a martial arts practitioner myself, I really enjoyed and found a great deal of useful information in these chapters and I would recommend any martial artist to absorb the wealth of material that these chapters contain.</div> <div> The book also contains very interesting contributing chapters written by many well renowned martial artists who both knew Joe and Bruce.  I thought these were a wonderful addition and they contain a lot of insight about their own personal views and experiences with both men.  One that stood out for myself was the chapter written by Mike Stone.  Being a Bruce Lee fan, I was looking forward to reading Mike's comments as I've only ever read a small piece by Mike from Blackbelt Magazine shortly after Bruce's death in 1973.  This chapter was very interesting and will surprise many fans as it did I.  I have always had a lot of respect for Chuck Norris but I was rather disappointed in the lack of material that he contributed.  Bruce gave him the opportunity of getting in the movies but Chuck doesn't even acknowledge that fact never mind much else.  I was expecting more from a man who knew both Joe and Bruce very well back in the day.  On the other end of the scale, Bob Wall contributes a rather lengthy piece that praises and respects Bruce in all ways for his skills, dedication and real fighting abilities.  There are many others contributing a lot more than Chuck in this good book including the likes of Dan Inosanto, Joe Hyams, Ted Wong and Gene LeBell.  </div> <div> Regarding the use of photos included in the book - Joe uses examples of Bruce's JKD and how he would perform these skills nowadays with his own personal expression of kickboxing.  So by the way of comparison, it is useful for the practitioner to analyze and experiment with both concepts.  Certainly all martial artists will have their own opinions and preferences about these photos.  In my opinion, I think many misunderstand the concept of trapping in JKD, even Joe.  No fighter should attempt to trap in a fight, it is always to hit.  Being a practitioner in the way of Wong Shun Leung Wing Chun, I find many think that the practice of chi sau (sticky hands) is to chase hands when this is certainly not the case.  Chi Sau is used as a training aid to hit using the concept of nearest weapon to nearest target and trapping hands is only used as a last resort.  The concept of oneness in both body and mind is also developed in the art of chi sau.  You haven't got time to think, only to respond instantly.  I think many misunderstand this training in the art of Wing Chun which Bruce Lee was very proficient at before he started to originate JKD.  </div> <div> Joe explains JKD as the free way of expressing oneself which I certainly agree with as long as the techniques are performed in the most simple, direct and effective way.  Lastly, I would recommend all martial artists to absorb the useful wealth of information that is found in this book as I believe Joe has done a remarkable job.  Don't forget that Joe is a highly respected martial arts legend in his own right and deserves to be listened too.  This is a very welcome and worthy addition to any martial artists book collection!</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>To Order Joe's New Book - </B><A HREF="http://www.BruceLeeBook.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.BruceLeeBook.com"><U><B><U>Click Here</U></B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> I would like to thank John Graden for his help and for supplying me with a copy to review for this site and for Joe Lewis for writing a great book and for kindly signing it.</div> <div> The following is an interview with Joe Lewis that was conducted at this site in July 2003 :-</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Question</U></B> - Hello Joe Lewis, many thanks for being here and giving us the chance to talk to you!</div> <div> There is irrefutable evidence that verifies (amongst other things) that Bruce Lee led with his strongest side (i.e. his right), threw punches with his fists aligned <I>vertically</I> on impact and also was not a supporter of many of the principles and techniques of classical Karate.</div> <div> However, in spite of this you seem to encourage your students to lead with their weak side, rotate knuckles and I think it's safe to say you are a textbook Karate practitioner of the highest order (you've even got the white karate outfit to prove it!).</div> <div> So, I respectfully ask what gives you the right to call the stuff that you teach Jeet Kune Do and what (apart from one or two vague metaphysical concepts) does your fighting method have in common with what Bruce Lee did?</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>JL</U></B> - <I>Dear Equalizer,</I></div> <div> <I>These are good questions from you. Don't be afraid to use your own name. Bruce Lee and I both always use our real names, nothing to hide behind.</I></div> <div> <I>First, I do not believe in the theory of "strong" side forward. I have BOTH sides strong. What does strong side mean? One side you have power and the other you can't hurt a flea? One side is fast and the other is slow? If weightlifters had a "strong" side, then one end of the bar would go up and the other end would freeze. Sprinters would have one leg moving faster than the other. </I></div> <div> <I>Does this mean you can knock someone out with one hand but not the other? Is the poor guy who is born ambidextrous excluded from this untested theory? I fought both ways and knocked guys out with both sides.</I></div> <div> <I>If this theory worked, than why aren't there any Chinese world champion boxers or fighters? In the real world of fighting, the lead hand or leg is used as a tool to stabilize the target before you shoot the power. Sometimes you want to try to break your opponent's balance or blind him with the lead hand. This is part of what stabilizing the target means. Bruce knew all this, but wasn't going to tell the world until later.</I></div> <div> <I>Vertical punching means nothing more than someone subscribing to outdated teachings. It does not protect the center line. Western fighters usually counter punch over the top of incoming strikes--not underneath as in JKD or Wing Chun.</I></div> <div> <I>Western fighters use vertical, inverted, and rotated punching techniques. If you limit yourself to only vertical punches, you'll never be able to execute cutting, (bleeding), strikes. Rotating your punches allows you to use the little knuckle as the axes for inside strikes, and the forefinger knuckle as the axes for outside/in hook punches to the body. It also employs the full contraction of the pronator teres muscle in the forearm for added power at contact.</I></div> <div> <I>When you rotate your hip through the center line during the executing of a hook punch or straight right "before" you release the punch, you add about 30 to 40 % more power to your punches. This is not taught in JKD.</I></div> <div> <I>Also, when you break your cervical arch before you make contact with your punches, you will loose at least 30% of your power. This cervical arch principle is not taught in JKD or karate. Rotating your punches not only lessens the chance of a fighter breaking his cervical arch before contact, but it also increases the span of contact surface for striking.</I></div> <div> <I>I do not own, as you implied, a white gi. I am extremely proud of my karate roots. If you knew anything about the principles of punching, you would never say that I am a "textbook karate practitioner."</I></div> <div> <I>I do not call my stuff JKD as you stated. My "stuff" is and has always been and will remain simply "fighting." I often teach JKD as well as other martial art and combat forms. If and when I teach JKD, I demonstrate clearly exactly what Bruce Lee "privately" taught me. No one can ever challenge that, because simply no one ever watched Bruce and I work together during our privates.</I></div> <div> <I>Of course he showed me things he didn't teach others. At major tournaments, I was his disciple designated to explain to the audience what was JKD and its principles, and why it was different from classical karate. He also picked me to physically demonstrate real JKD in front of tournament spectators. Bruce Lee never had anyone else attempt these assignments.</I></div> <div> <I>When he picked me, it was not based on as you say any "right" but rather something more important. It was because of power. I had the power to know it and also do it.</I></div> <div> <I>Power was a major part of Bruce's persona. When the Chinese establishment said he was too young to teach kung fu or to call himself a master, they challenged his "rights." Bruce said "screw you." "Where there is power, you delegate responsibility." Bruce knew that power dictates, not rights. Rights have no meaning without power.</I></div> <div> <I>Likewise, I do not need someone's permission to teach what I know. No one owns my knowledge or controls my right to express it.</I></div> <div> <I>Finally, my fighting teachings have nothing to do with as you say, "vague metaphysical concepts." I do not teach abstract nonsense or supernatural myths. Which one of my seminars did you get that from? What we teach is based on science and field testing.</I></div> <div> <I>As for what my fighting has in common with Bruce's? What's your point? Fighter's don't copy each other. I do know that we both believe in getting your ass in shape which 99% of martial artists don't. And secondly, always question what someone shows you. Never accept anything based on tradition or that hasn't been field tested "recently." Before you take a gun into combat, always test fire it. The same applies to martial art teachings.</I></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Question</U></B> - Joe there has been speculation that Bruce picked up his side kick from you, would this be a correct statement or did he already have this kick perfected when you met him.</div> <div> There has been a lot of talk about Bruce never sparring with any of his better know students like yourself, Chuck Norris, Mike Stone, did you ever touch gloves with Bruce and if so can you describe him as a fighter on a real world situation?  What was the best thing you gained from Knowing Bruce?</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>JL</U></B> - <I>Dear Bruce Lee Hippy,</I></div> <div> <I>I don't know if Bruce Lee picked up on my side kick. I got it from Okinawa. It was not a technique within his style before I met him. No one owns a kick. He did copy my fighting stance as did Jean Claude Van Damme. Bruce admits that he studied top fighters and integrated things he felt useful.</I></div> <div> <I>We didn't spar. I never thought about sparring him. I only wanted to learn when I was around him. I trained at home. Angelo Dundee didn't spar his clients either. He had fourteen world boxing champions and Ed Futch had 23. Like Bruce, they were trainers, not sparring partners.</I></div> <div> <I>The best thing I picked up from Bruce was his creative thinking, the highest form of intelligence. His readings of Krisnamurti and also in the Objectivist philosophy, a common tenet is that "conformity is the absence of not thinking." Almost all martial art systems advocate conformity.</I></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Questions</U></B> - Dear Mr. Lewis; would you mind giving your opinion on the following please?</div> <div> 1; Not sure if this is true, but I once read that you said Bruce Lee definitely wasn't as good as he is reputed to be (in the minds of some of his fans). Do you blame the fans for this misconception, or do you think Bruce deliberately set out to deceive people regarding his ability?</div> <div> 2; Jesse Glover once wrote that a great part of Bruce Lee's strength as a fighter/martial artist was down to the way he developed his body (particularly in specific areas) apparently, Lee strengthened certain muscles, connective tissue, joints etc. Mr. Glover points out that Lee's body, in places, was solid like mahogany. As a strong man yourself, were you impressed with Lee's physique? It seems that he was constantly showing off his body....do you think he developed it mainly for show?</div> <div> Thank you very much for your time. I look forward to your new book.</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>JL</U></B> - <I>Dear Mark,</I></div> <div> <I>I do not enjoy evaluating Bruce Lee's credentials or skills. I went to him as a teacher which is hard for anyone to gain my respect. I never once thought about how good was he or what kind of fighter he was and so forth. Over the years others constantly bombarded me with those questions. I never thought of any of my teachers as fighters, only as mentors. How can any fighter stand in front of their coach and think about fighting them at the same time? That's childish. That's as low class as some boy thinking about having sex with his Mother.</I></div> <div> <I>Of course Bruce worked on his body for show. Please do not ask me for my impressions about any martial artists' body. I came from the weightlifting world. The first man to ever put three times his body weight over his head was in the 132 lb class, a Japanese lifter. Bruce weight about the same, 138 lbs. However, he couldn't do half that much weight. </I></div> <div> <I>Bruce's fan's bragged about his ability to do pushups on two fingers. A fellow body guard from Iran I worked with in the '70's weighed 220-lbs. He could do pushups at that weight on just one finger.</I></div> <div> <I>Forgive me. I grew up with the fastest men and the strongest men in the world. Later as I got into martial arts, very little in the physical skills impressed me. If someone bragged about being able to kick my ass, so what. My Mother had already done it many times and she was only 5-ft, 1-inch tall.</I></div> <div> <I>Bruce did his best to train daily. Unlike most martial artist in those days, he was in shape. He was fast, strong, muscular, could run six miles a day and demonstrated superior technique execution.</I></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Question</U></B> - Greetings Mr Lewis,</div> <div> I was wondering after sessions were, did all or most of the students hang out together? How long and often did you train with Bruce?</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>JL</U></B> - <I>Dear Deron,</I></div> <div> <I>I never worked with any of Bruce's students. I never hung with any of them and still to this day do not know who they were. I only knew Ted Wong. I spent all my time in the gyms with fighters, boxers and top karate competitors. I only hung out with women, never other martial artists.</I></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Questions</U></B> - Thanks for coming for this tribute to Bruce Lee.</div> <div>  What was the secret of Bruce's closing the gap speed?</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>JL</U></B> - <I>Dear Nick Clarke,</I></div> <div> <I>Bruce's ability to close the gap was based on two things. First, he identified the concept. If you can't name something something, you can't control it. Secondly, he worked on that skill using drills to target that issue. Bridging the gap was a principle. Bruce worked on principles, while other martial artist only worked on technique execution.</I></div> <bR> <div> I would like to thank Joe Lewis for his generous time and effort in answering these questions.  I really enjoyed his insight in to the art of fighting and Bruce Lee.  Also thanks to George Tan for arranging this interview.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Book Review by Nick Clarke (March 2004)</B></div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>