An Explanation of the JKD Emblem




Instead of opposing force by force, a JKD man completes his opponents' movement by 'accepting' his flow of energy as he aims it, and defeats he by borrowing his own force. In order to reconcile oneself to the changing movement of the opponent, a JKD man should first of all understand the true meaning of Yin/Yang, the basic structure of JKD.

JKD is based on the symbol of the Yin and Yang a pair of mutually complementary and interdependent forces that acts continuously, without cessation, in the universe. In the above symbol, the Yin and Yang are two interlocking parts of "One whole", each containing within its confines the qualities of its complementaries. Etymologically the character of Yin and Yang means darkness and light. The ancient character of Yin, the dark part of the circle is a drawing of clouds and hills. Yin can represent anything in the universe as: negativeness, passiveness, gentleness, internal, insubstantiality, femaleness, moon darkness, night etc. The other complimentary half of the circle is Yang, which in its ancient form is anything as positevness, activeness, firmness, external, substantiality, maleness, sun, brightness, day etc.

The common mistake of most martial artist is to identify these two forces, Yin and Yang as dualistic (Thus these so-called soft style and the firm style). Yin/Yang is one inseparate force of one unceasing interplay of movement. They are conceived of as essentially one, or as to co-existing forces of one indivisible whole. They are neither cause and effect, but should be looked at as sound and eco, or light and shadow. If these oneness is viewed as two separate entities, realization of the ultimate reality of JKD won't be archived. In reality things are "whole" and cannot be separated into two parts. When I say the heats makes me perspire, the heat and perspiring I just one process and they are co-existent and the one could not exist but for the other. If a person riding a bicycle wishes to go some where, he cannot pump on both the pedals at the same time. In order to go forward, he has to pump on one pedal and release the other. So the movement of going forward requires this "oneness" of pumping and realizing. Pumping is the result of releasing and vise versa, each being the cause and result of the others. Things do have their complementaries, and complementaries co-exist. Instead of mutually exclusive, they are mutually dependent and are a function each of the other. 

In the Yin/Yang symbol there is a white spot on the black part and a black spot on the white one. These is to illustrate the balance in life, for nothing can survive long by going to either extremes, be it pure Yin (Gentleness) or pure Yang (Firmness). Notice that the stiffest tree is most easily cracked, while the bamboo or willo survive by bending with the wind. In JKD, yang (firmness) should be concealed in Yin (Gentleness) and Yin in Yang. Thus a JKD man should be soft yet not laxed, firm, yet not hard.

Firmness/Gentleness

What is gentleness ? It is a pliable reed in the wind-----it neither opposes nor gives a way.

What is the highest of yielding ? It is like clutching water.

What is true stillness ? Stillness in movement.

What is adaptation ? It is like the immediacy of the shadow adjusting itself to the moving body.

You wish to know what is internal school and external school ? Not two !



BRUCE LEE