| A
key element in the Jeet Kune Do arsenal, the straight
punch is a deceptively simple technique that Bruce Lee
described as the most difficult move in Jeet Kune Do
- "Only one in 10,000 can handle it."
Jeet Kune Do Straight Lead describes
the development of the straight punch in Western martial arts
and describes Lee's refinement of the technique. It also offers
a thorough instruction in the complexity and power of the
move-showing martial artists of any discipline how to incorporate
this devastating attack into their repertoire.
Foreword of The Straight Lead by Ted Wong:
Truthfully, I have not seen anyone else - with the exception
of Bruce Lee, that is - throw a a lead punch that is as fundamentally
sound and technically refined. She's a natural straight shooter
with both the front and rear head ... Teri's physical prowess
is matched by an intellectual strength. Showing a sincere
curiosity about the origins of JKD, she read and absorbed
the published works of Bruce Lee and the authors who inspired
him ... In retracing Lee's footsteps, Teri is thoughtful and
clear in her words. Altogether, she presents a truly accurate
perspective on the development of the straight lead, and a
truly meaningful contribution to the study and appreciation
of Jeet Kune Do and the man who created it, Bruce Lee.
– Ted Wong, October 2004
All Customer Reviews
5 out of 5 - March 14, 2006
I find it interesting that Teri Tom had no martial
arts experience at all when she found Ted Wong and began to
study Jeet Kune do. Teri Tom isn't what the masses have been
trained to expect in a martial arts teacher--neither are her
methods. That may be why I bought this book. She teaches what
~is~ concerning this important combative building block, what
works. That being said, the practical means and methods contained
within Tom's book are the foundation of Boxing, kickboxing,
Jeet Kune Do, numerous systems of Chinese and Okinawan Karate
(Kyokushinkai if we're talking actual competitive combat),
and a number of other practical street oriented schools.
The Straight Lead. Fundamental element within virtually every
school of boxing in the world, regardless of culture. This
is a very technical treatis on a foundation technique contained
in virtually every form of fistic art known to man. Within
this volume you'll discover a history of fighters (generally
Western boxers) who were known for controlling matches by
their application of the straight lead, as well as the connection
between the straight lead and fencing, how Bruce Lee became
enamored of this technique and came to include it in the core
of his jeet kune do curriculum, and more.
The explanation of stances and footwork going beyond the
usual (yawn) basic fare. You don't have to ask why, Teri Tom
explains the physics of the technique and how variations in
stance, balance, and body shifting can influence the application
of the straight lead. Also included are drills for speed and
timing, bag work, combining with other techniques. I like
the fact that there are plenty of photographs to clearly get
the concepts across, while the writen descriptions leave no
room for doubts. The whole work flows well and is put together
in a logical and understandable way. You most certainly do
not have to be a Jeet Kune Do afficianado to understand this
book. I believe it will be of assistance to any person with
a mind for understanding mechanics or the technical side of
martial arts practice.
5 out of 5 - April 13, 2006
I enjoyed reading Teri Tom's book on the Straight Lead. I
too had been researching Bruce Lee's sources of his Jeet Kune
Do for over 30 years and have kept my findings, discoveries
and research to myself. I am glad to see that someone has
publicly published a book that has respectfully revealed some
of the sources of Bruce Lee's techniques in JKD. Unlike popular
belief, Bruce Lee did not take the best of many styles (especially
the misconception that Bruce took 27 different arts)to create
JKD. To put in bluntly, JKD is a science of martial arts as
expressed by the human body. And just as the old Boxing Books
helped Bruce Lee understand the Science Of Punching as expressed
by the human body, the art that Bruce Lee discovered and eventually
called Jeet Kune Do is useful today as it was back in the
1970's. The reason for this is that the art is a Science.
And this scientific martial art known as Jeet Kune Do works
as well today as it did back then. Unless human beings grow
an extra arm or foot, this science can not be ignored. To
read Teri Tom's book, will help to understand and appreciate
this fact.
Some people may get offended when reading this book because
it takes aim at those who counterfeit the art of JKD (Chapter
10). Perhaps this should have been left for another book.
But then again, to be politically correct just to sell a book
is not something Bruce Lee himself would have done. So you
have to give the author credit for telling it like it is,
though it won't win any great reviews here in Amazon from
those that are teaching the "mixed martial arts"
version of JKD.
A book like this should be in every martial artists library,
whether you agree with part or all of it's content. If you
forget about the politics and just keep an open mind to learn
from this book, you will definitely enjoy it. It is sure to
be a classic. I can see the martial artist of the future searching
for a copy of this book (if it ever goes out of print), just
as many people are now searching for books from Jack Dempsey,
Jim Driscoll and James Corbett. These authors understood the
Science of Punching, and now you have an opportunity to read
what they discovered and why Bruce Lee incorporated the Lead
Straight Thrust into his Jeet Kune Do. P.S., It is not just
a jab, as one reveiwer remarked.
5 out of 5 - January 17, 2006
Anyone who wants to separate the myths from fact will love
this book! I can see why the Bruce Lee estate and family has
endorsed it. The death of a legendary hero like Bruce Lee
often brings out added pain in the form of necromantic exploitation
by people that want to attach themselves to the legend. Some
have even taken this practice to the point of taking credit
for Bruce Lee's art and speaking for him as if from the grave.
Bruce Lee's family has had to endure this distasteful fraud
that not only misrepresents Mr. Lee but also does the art
a disservice.
Teri Tom has done a meticulous job of setting the record
straight, exposing these frauds using the best weapon; facts.
Shannon Lee was very careful to approve everything that would
represent her father honestly and accurately and provided
a treasure chest of evidence to back up every claim.
It's easy to see where this book will ruffle the feathers
of those who have created their own "cult" by exploiting
the myths that this book dispels.
A previous reviewer seems to be a member of that necromantic
"cult" considering his weak logic and attempts to
respond to claims that this book does not make instead of
addressing the facts. If he had honestly read it, he would
have known that Ted Wong does not claim to be Bruce Lee. This
reviewer seems to be very interested in making lame excuses
for the people that have contributed to the mythology that
has polluted Bruce Lee's incredible impact on the martial
arts world. I wonder why. Hmmmm
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