Product Description

This book reveals how the iconic warrior attained his legendary speed, power, and footwork. Included are practical, effective stretches for increasing flexibility, abdominal exercises that can be performed anywhere, and hard-hitting advice on running, biking, skipping rope, and shadowboxing. More than just a fitness guide, this must-have manual also delves into the fundamental aspects of Bruce Lee's revolutionary combat philosophy, jeet kune do, including how to strengthen your fists with iron-palm training, get the most out of your punches and kicks, camouflage your attacks, develop the footwork to evade almost any blow, cover distance rapidly, escape from a tight corner, conserve energy for countering, build muscles without sacrificing speed, fix flaws in your stance, and improve your peripheral vision, leverage, and timing.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #151795 in Books
• Published on: 1977-12-01
• Format: Illustrated
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 128 pages

Customer Reviews

A Great Insight Into Martial Arts!
I have been training in the Martial Arts now for over four years, and i thought that it was now about time to start increasing my overall knowledge in the area of my life that i am so fond of. Being a big fan of Bruce Lee, i decided to check out some of his books, and once i had got this one, i was very suprised at why i had not brought one earlier.

It is split into five chapters; The Fighting Man Exercise, The On-Guard Position, Footwork, Power Training, and finally Speed Training. Chapter one has loads of stuff on stamina exercies, warming up exercies, flexibility exercises, and abdominal exercises, all of which were used by Bruce Lee himself.
Chapter two has details on the right stances to adopt during a fight, and how best to hit without yourself being hit. It also explains about the importance of balance, and how having good balance can give you the edge on your oponent.
Chapter three is all about footwork, including ways to shuffle, side step, and an ultra fast 'burst', which alowed Lee himslef to cover a distance of eight feet in three quarters of a second!
Chapter four has details about power training and basically how to get extreame power on your kicks and punches, that before you probably never knew you had.
The final chapter is about probably one of the most valuble tools to have; speed. Even if you have amazing power and flexibility, it will be of no use if you can't get you kick or punch in fast enough.

For every thing mentioned in the book this a black and white photo demonstrating it, and although they were taken in the sixties, they are still very clear and precise, and you will have to trouble seeing ehat is going on in them.

Overall a very good book for any serious Martial Artist and even if the teniques don't really apeal to you, the stamina, flexibilit and speed exercies certainly will. Don't be fool though into thinking that because it was mostly written by Bruce Lee that it is purely for people studying JKD, because i am a Black Belt in Karate and i found this book very useful to my training. Also as it is written by probably the greatest martial artist of all time, you know that what he is saying is quality and will work in practise.

Basic is basic
If you were like me, and had very little idea about martial arts except you wanted to learn it, then this book is a good choice.

It has good descriptions of basic stretching, strength training, speed training and more, on how to get you physically fit and capable of practicing martial arts.
It includes the basic techniques of stances, punching and kicking that you would learn should you take up the art of Jeet Kune Do with an instructor.

Have no illusions, you will not be able to pick up this book as a novice and suddenly be a legned of JKD just because it has Lee's name on it. It is made clear in the book, just as it would be taught by an instructor, that you must train in these ways for months to get them down. When you do this, the techniques start to become second nature which is the important thing.

It explains in great detail of the reasons behind the training. Muscle memory, nerve memory, stamina and latent power are some of the reaons behind needing the correct form.

As I say, these are the basics.
You will need this book, even if you feel more advanced as a martial artist because of the simple reason that the basics in JKD are different to other forms, and as many Martial artists will tell you, the continual practice of the basics keeps you on top.

To get into JKD, learn the basics, learn from the man that developed the formless art, buy this book.

This is what I, as a martial artist, consider my Bible
This book is probably the most important book of this series. I am a martial artist who trains in the JKD philosophy. This is the book I look back to constantly, and I will always consider this the most important one in my martial arts library. The Basics are the MOST important aspect of your training. A great fighter must have a great foundation.

Don't buy this book expecting to become Bruce, to become great you must want to be great. What is covered in this book all of Bruce's student's teach. If you go to a Richard Bustillo, Tim Tacket, Chris Kent, or Dan Inosanto, chances are you'll be learning the stuff directly from this book.

The book covers basic exercises, stance, footwork, and ideas behind punching and kicking. DON'T expect this book to be the only "way". Don't expect this book to train you. It's only a book not a personal trainer. The exercises in the book are not "impossible" as one person commented. They are totally effective.

You should buy this book with an open mind. Don't just read this book, understand this book.