Customer Reviews

Jeet Kune Do: The Principles of a Complete Fighter

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is one of the most COMPLETE JKD books I have ever read. It has Jun Fan Gung Fu, grappling, kali, kickboxing, and everything else anyone could ever want in a JKD book. Also, it is VERY well written and has very helpful pictures. Mr. Balicki knows his stuff and it shows in this book. It has very helpful drills and techniques that can be easily learned and applied. It also has a cool (but not as helpful as I would have liked) section on handling group attacks. I highly recommend it!

This book is a must for any serious JKD Student. While it tends to be a little too philosophical it has great drills and training tips for any JKD practioner. I am an Asst. Instructor in JKD and I can tell you that I use a lot of the material from this book when I teach. Trust me get this Book!

I'm a pretty eclectic martial artist myself, having trained in Okinawan, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Filipino, and western systems, including empty-handed and weapons-based styles, so the very eclectic aspect of this book didn't bother me as much as some people. For me it's all "sauce for the goose," as they say. If you have primarily trained in one or two arts, this book will expose you to some other concepts, which is fine, too. For me, the most important aspect of the book was the section devoted to multiple attackers. From my own experience in training and teaching martial arts, this area is one of the most neglected. Other than the classic Nakayama and Draeger book on defense against multiple assailants, which of course was Shotokan-based, and Bucksom Kong's Tiger-Crane set Hung Gar book, which showed some applications of the form, there are few books on the market covering situations with multiple attackers. But these scenarios should be practiced also, especially by advanced students who are already compentent defending man-on-man with one attacker.

Ron Balicki (and Steven Gold) has done a good job on this first book on JKD and it's Concepts. Ron Balicki is an excellent presenter of information in real life, and that quality comes across clearly in this book.

While this book has a lot to offer `any' reader, I think that a person with some previous martial arts experience, especially in Jun Fan, Wing Chun, (or Kali), will reap greater benefits and dividends from it. But that's just my opinion. It takes nothing away from the overall positive nature of this book

Ron has successfully translated his skills from real life-to video tapes- and now, to the printed page. Thumbs up.

Ron Balicki is an accomplished martial artist who demonstrates different aspects of training from his vast experience. I think this book is for martial artists who have some experience in the martial arts. I say this because he doesn't explain details behind moves and techniques, but instead giving the overview with photographs and short descriptions of the drills, which implies that a practitioner has knowledge of the basic moves. I enjoyed the variety of drills for focus mitts and weapons which I already practice with, so it gave me new ideas or new ways of looking at old ideas. I particularly liked his concepts for multiple attackers, which many martial arts classes do not spend much time on. He also gives an excellent overview and interpretation of Bruce Lee's concept of Jeet Kune Do. Overall, a good book, but I would have liked a little more material in areas of training which he mentions in the book, including heavy bag work, and more detailed ground concepts. However, I think Mr. Balicki intends to give a taste (not a comprehensive program) of different aspects of training, and is completely successful in this purpose!

Clear, concise discussions of JKD and the techniques. A little on training. Not a bad book on the subject. (I have seen few GOOD books on the topic). Worth checking out with Paul Vunak's books and Chris Kent and Tim Tackett's efforts.

I bought this book several years ago before attending one of Guro Ron's seminars. I'm glad I did, because I feel that this book only presents maybe an 8th of what he'd show you at a live seminar. But you'd be lucky to retain an 8th, so by reading the book ahead of time you get more out of the seminar.

Anyway, Ron has studied under quite a few martial artists in his time, and knows quite a few systems. If another book reviewer accuses him of being "incoherent" at times its because they probably aren't able to follow it themselves. I never had any trouble reading it. The book coveres all ranges, gives several techniques, but as others have stated covers a lot of philosophy as well. I'd like to have more material to read, but I don't have the $400-$800 for his DVD set yet. The book is a great substitute though, for a fraction of the price.

THIS BOOK IS A GREAT REFERENCE FOR PRINCIPALS ON HOW TO IMPROVE YOURSELF AS A FIGHTER. THE AUTHOR DOES NOT JUST GIVE YOU MOVES HE GIVES YOU PRINCIPALS THAT YOU CAN WORK FROM TO INPROVE YOURSELF.