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march 11, 2002
What is your opinion on other types of martial arts than wushu. What is your view on Bruce Lee, and Jun Fan / Jeet Kune Do?
Alex Xaver
Tully, New York, U.S.A.
Jet's Response:
As I've said in the past, all martial arts have different aspects. For example, Tae Kwon Do or Judo are olympic sports -- that's one aspect of martial arts. Another part is training for health and physical strenth. Another part is self defense and application. But in the movie and entertainment business you use the style of martial arts that best fits the character. We don't always use wushu, or any particular style in the movies. Sometimes we utilize Chinese opera or circus movements -- whatever movements are available to constantly create a new experience for the viewer.
All styles of martial arts have people who appreciate them. Just to become an olympic sport requires a great deal of love of the style by very many people. It's quite an accomplishment. I don't think you can really say that one specific style is better than another because each person is unique and how they feel about martial arts, their motivation for learning, their abilities -- it all plays a part in the equasion.
For example, when you want to drink you can choose water, juice, tea, soda -- all of them can satisfy your thirst. They are all fluids with the potential to be used for that purpose. The essence of their fluidity is still there, but each has it's own flavor. Each type of liquid is good, if that is the type of liquid that is best suited for your individual tastes. If you like orange juice and promote it as the best drink in the world, the people who don't care for orange juice aren't going to agree with you. Perhaps they like tea instead. Then you get into an argument about which drink tastes better, when really both drinks are used for the same purpose -- to stop you from being thirsty.
Personal motivation is important too. If your personality leans towards destructive behavior or unkind thoughts then you will use what you know to those ends. Alone, martial arts don't have meaning. It's the interpretation of the student -- the reason they study and why they use it -- that determines if a style is good or bad.
Bruce Lee, the creator of Jeet Kune Do, was an extremely good martial artist. I think what is unique about Bruce Lee is that he was able to fuse his personality with his own style of martial arts. His personality was a part of each movement. It was very unique and you'll never find that combination again because it was specific to Bruce Lee. Even if you see someone else doing Jeet Kune Do it doesn't look the same. It was his own thing, combined with his power and speed and personality. He was a great actor and martial artist.
