Tao of Jeet Kune Do

by Bruce Lee

Book Overview

Compiled from Bruce Lee's notes and essays and originally published in 1975, this iconic volume is one of the seminal martial arts guides of its time. The science and philosophy behind the fighting system Lee pioneered himself--jeet kune do--is explained in detail, depicted through hundreds of Lee's own illustrations. With the collaboration of Lee's daughter, Shannon, and Bruce Lee Enterprises, this new edition is expanded, updated, and remastered,...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0897502027
• ISBN13: 9780897502023
• Release Date: November 2011
• Publisher: Black Belt Books
• Length: 250 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 8.4" x 10.9"

Customer Reviews

Tao Jeet Kune Do

My son is in Jiu Jit su and really enjoyed Bruce Lee's book thank you very much.

Great for any martial artist

This book is a great resource for any martial artist, no matter what style you practice. The section on zen by itself is worth the time and money put into this book.

Not in English as ordered.

When I ordered, it said in the description that the book I would receive is printed in English. When I received the book it was NOT in English, therefore I cannot read and enjoy the book I payed for.

Not in English, as advertised

I was so excited about receiving this book and I’m sure it’s great. I would love to review it however it’s not in English as was stated in the description. I’m returning it promptly and will be reluctant to use this company again ad this was my first experience with them. Hopefully I will find a copy that IS in English. Very disappointed.

Great book!

I've wanted this book for 30 years, but never got around to buying it. Wish I had! It definitely doesn't disappoint!

There is no better book on martial arts philosphy

I have had my copy of this book for many years. I often refer to sections of it for advice and inspiration.While Lee's views on the arts may be controversial, I think that anyone who has studied the arts seriously [ this excludes the black belt factories ) can appreciate the philosophical tone of the work. Too many of us get too into dictated technique and form as well as tradition to appreciate Lee's theories. Jeet Kune Do is the style that is not a style. One that is infinitely flexible and adaptable to the individual and the situation. I have been a Bruce Lee fan for 30 years and while I have never had the honor of meeting him or personally seeing him in form, I have been inspired and awed by him.The Tao of Jeet Kune Do is an inspired and original work and to me embodies the essense of the true martial artist. They are called the "arts" for a reason. How poor would other arts be if all of the artists merely copied others - I don't mean inspired by others but COPIED others. By and large that is what the so-called kwoons teach these days.One way and one way only, for $$$$$ we guarantee a black belt in 14 months. Arts by definition are intensly personal and open for interpretation. How rich would the world of culture be today if Michealangelo merely copied Davinci or Monet was discouraged to explore impressionism saying it was not "true art"?Lee breaks new ground and we who study him are the richer for it.I recommend this book to any one with a serious interest in the martial arts. Those of you unfortunates stuck in black belt factories please study this book; it will open a new world for you.

One of the best

I had the opportunity to see Bruce Lee in action at an East Coast karate tournament in 1969. He wasn't competing but was there as a celebrity guest. I stood with others at the back of the tournament hall and listened in awe as he talked about having just finished filming Marlow and his plans to leave soon for Hong Kong to begin filming a movie. Later, I watched him warm-up a great tournament fighter named Luis Delgado. Lee's speed was absolutely incredible. His backfist was nearly imperceptible and his footwork for closing the gap was a blur. What a loss to the martial arts world that he left us so soon. But we still have this book of his notes. It a wonderful bible, if you will, that will make any martial artist look at his own training to see how some of Lee's ideas can fit. There will always be the Jackie Chans and Jet Lis who will come along and dazzle us with their screen antics. But Bruce Lee was a seeker of knowledge, a true master of the fighting arts and philosophy. Some of it is in this wonderful book. As an author of 13 books on the martial arts, I highly recommend this book for every MA library.

Tao of Jeet Kune Do

Bruce Lee's Tao of Jeet Kune Do is a testament to both Bruce Lee's open mindedness as a martial artist, and his wisdom, in forging such a concept of Jeet Kune Do is a time when few Westerners had ever heard of, much less knew, anything about the martial arts in any serious form. Tao of Jeet Kune Do is essentially the Bible of the contemporary martial artist, and will live on as being truly on of the greatest martial arts philosophies of all time.

Absolutely a MUST have for anyone - Martial artist or NOT!

I picked this book up from the local bookstore after sustaining a severe injury to my knee. I previously had not taken any real formal martial arts training or done any reading on the subject, however I always liked all of the funky stuff that these guys like Jackie Chan have done on the big screen. Anyways, while recovering I studied this book intensely and within the week I was so inspired to start training with what I had learned that I tossed the crutches aside and began walking. Well, pretty soon I was working to perfection all of the techniques and skills that I had learned plus accumulated several other martial arts books on other styles and I even started training like Bruce Lee!To this day I wake up at 5:00 am every morning and work on flexiblity and abdominals before I go to school and I feel great! I recently purchased a punching bag to work on applying power to all my techniques as well! In closing I would say that by reading this book it started a whole revolution in my life, and changed the way that I look at any situation in life. So I can only hope that it does for everyone else what it did for me.