Jeet Kune Do - Way of the Intercepting Fist

 

Jeet Kune Do is an eclectic/hybrid style of no style and philosophy of life founded by martial artist Bruce Lee with direct, non-classical, and straightforward movements. Due to the way his style works, Jeet Kune Do practitioners believe in minimal movement with maximum effect and extreme speed. The system works on the use of different 'tools' for different situations. These situations are broken down into ranges (kicking, punching, trapping and grappling), with techniques flowing smoothly between them. It is referred to as a "style without style" or "the art of fighting without fighting" as said by Lee himself. Unlike more traditional martial arts, Jeet Kune Do is not fixed or patterned, and is a philosophy with guiding thoughts. It was named for the concept of interception, or attacking your opponent while he is about to attack. However, the name Jeet Kune Do was often said by Lee to be just a name. He himself often referred to it as "The art of expressing the human body" in his writings and in interviews. Through his studies Lee came to believe that styles had become too rigid, and unrealistic. He called martial art competitions of the day "Dry land swimming". He believed that combat was spontaneous, and that a martial artist cannot predict it, only react to it, and that a good martial artist should "Be water, my friend." and move fluidly without hesitation.

Bruce Lee was born November 27, 1940, in San Francisco, CA. Lee passed away at age 32 on July 20, 1973, the result of hypersensitivity to a pain medication he had taken to alleviate a headache. At 23, he was well on his way to becoming one of the most prominent martial arts figures in history.

JKD's roots can be traced to Bruce Lee's first martial art style of Wing chun Kung fu. Lee adopted many facets of the Wing Chun style. However, Lee made so many modifications over the years, it is sometimes difficult to see the similarities between the two systems.

Literally, Jeet Kune Do means "The Way of The Intercepting Fist". Jeet Kune Do was formally named as such in the Late 60's. It was the culminaton of years of study, by Bruce Lee, in science (phsysiology), philosophy, and theology.

Bruce Lee's evaluation of existing martial art styles found that they were not practical in actual combat. This was the inspiration for the concept of Jeet Kune Do. It was designed to be applicable to real life situations. JKD revolves around the central theme that there are no techniques or styles, only expressions that you yourself define from the basic tenets of Jeet Kune do. Everyone has their own interpretation of the concepts illustrated in Jeet Kune Do. Use what works for you, throw away what doesn't. There is a definite distinction between Jeet Kune do itself and a students own personal exploration of martial arts. In fact, a true student of JKD could not truly call themselves such as their journey will be different than any others.

JKD does not try to mold or train the student to a specific system. The ultimate goal of Jeet Kune Do is not attaining mastery of the concepts held within, but to modify, adjust, and transform JKD conecpts until JKD or any style, system or technique is dissolved and there is no system at all.

Interestingly, in Jeet Kune Do there exists no formalized ranking system such as the traditional colored-belts or sashes. Bruce Lee recognized that belts were non-essential to martial art training. While he initially did establish a ranking system for Jeet Kune Do, he discarded it because he believed that the motivation for meaningful improvement lies within the will of each individual as opposed to chasing after external accessories such as colored belts. In many cases, the “chasing after” the next belt or stripe often becomes more important to the student than the self-knowledge and personal growth they acquire through training.  The JKD ranking system was not belts or sashes, but rather a series of various colored Yin/Yang symbol patches (see above).

The origins of the colored-belt ranking system came about when Dr. Jigaro Kano, the founder of Judo, wanted to get the art taught in public schools in Japan. In order to do that he had to create some form of standardized ranking that all the schools could use. In China, within the martial art school, family titles such as “older brother” and “younger sister” were used instead of rankings.

Teaching a training process without a belt system shocks many people because they tend to judge or label a person by the belt they wear -- “Oh, he’s only a green belt, he only knows this or that” -- And if you don’t have a belt then you cannot be any good -- “They don’t have belts so they must not be any good” -- These people have been entrained to think that way by the martial art industry, media, etc. When those who practice JKD discuss the subject with such people they always remind them that Bruce Lee never possessed a belt or sash. Does that mean that he wasn’t any good or didn’t know anything?

The bottom-line is that colored belts and sashes are tradition-based and have nothing to do with reality. When it comes to martial art, you can either apply the technique in a combative situation if necessary, or you can’t. It doesn’t matter how many belts you have, if you are not comfortable with it, and your ability to execute it when necessary, that you can do it reflexively, you can have as many belts that say the contrary, it doesn’t mean it’s true.

How Dana White Turned the UFC into a Global Phenomenon

 

The UFC's early days were marked by controversy, skepticism, and outright chaos. The organization's founders, Art Davie, Rorion Gracie, and John Milius, had a vision for a martial arts tournament that would showcase the effectiveness of different fighting styles, but their approach was unorthodox and often brutal. The first event, UFC 1, was held on November 12, 1993 and featured a unique format with no weight classes and minimal rules. The tournament was a groundbreaking success, with Royce Gracie's dominant performance showcasing the effectiveness of Brazilian jiu-jitsu. However, the events were often criticized for their raw, unbridled nature, with fighters from various disciplines facing off in intense battles.

The UFC faced intense scrutiny and criticism, with Senator John McCain spearheading a campaign to ban the organization, famously labeling it "human cockfighting." In response, the UFC implemented rule changes to address concerns and work towards legitimacy. The organization worked with state athletic commissions to establish standardized rules and procedures.

After a long battle to secure sanctioning, SEG stood on the brink of bankruptcy. In 2000, Station Casinos executives Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta, along with their business partner Dana White, a boxing matchmaker and manager, approached SEG with an offer to purchase the UFC. White, who would go on to serve as the UFC's president, played a crucial role in the organization's growth and success. In January 2001, the Fertittas bought the UFC for $2 million, creating Zuffa, LLC as the parent entity.

The UFC slowly rose in popularity after the Zuffa purchase, driven by increased advertising, corporate sponsorship, and its return to cable pay-per-view. According to Dana White, future President of the United States, Donald Trump was one of the few people who recognized the UFC's potential early on. The organization secured its first television deal with Fox Sports Net, which aired the first mixed martial arts match on American cable television in June 2002.

UFC 40 proved to be a critical event in the Zuffa era, with a near sellout of 13,022 at the MGM Grand Arena and 150,000 pay-per-view buys. The event featured a championship match between Tito Ortiz and Ken Shamrock, drawing mainstream attention from media outlets like ESPN and USA Today.

Under Dana White's leadership as UFC president, the UFC experienced exponential growth, transforming into a global sports powerhouse. White's vision and business acumen propelled the UFC to unprecedented heights, with lucrative television deals, international events, and strategic partnerships. The UFC's popularity soared with the rise of superstars like Ronda Rousey, Conor McGregor, and Khabib Nurmagomedov. Today, the UFC is one of the largest and most successful sports organizations in the world.

Hagler vs Leonard: The Debate Continues

 

The fight between Marvelous Marvin Hagler and Sugar Ray Leonard, dubbed “The Superfight” took place on April 6, 1987.  It was the first fight I ever watched and is still the subject of debate almost 40 years later.  

Hagler, known for his formidable middleweight title reign, faced off against the crafty and charismatic Leonard, a former welterweight champion moving up to the middleweight division. Leonard had come out of retirement after three years specifically for this fight.

The bout was highly anticipated, with Hagler's powerful style facing Leonard's speed and footwork. Leonard's unorthodox style and effective use of jab and movement ultimately led to a split decision victory.

The scoring breakdown highlights just how contentious the decision was. The closeness of the fight is evident in the scores from Lou Filippo and Dave Moretti, both having it 7-5 (Filippo in favor of Hagler, Moretti in favor of Leonard).  JoJo Guerra's scorecard, however, was notably more lopsided in favor of Leonard.

Given the scoring breakdown, opinions vary on whether Hagler was "robbed." While some felt Hagler had done enough to win, the judges' scorecards reflect the subjective nature of judging in boxing. The fight remains a significant moment in boxing history, showcasing Leonard's adaptability and skill in a new weight class.

Hagler requested a rematch, but Leonard chose to retire again. Hagler eventually grew tired of waiting and retired himself in June 1988. Leonard later came out of retirement multiple times. In 1990, Leonard offered Hagler a rematch worth $15 million, but Hagler declined, having moved on to a new life as an actor in Italy.

In 1994, Hagler and Leonard participated in a mock rematch by playing against each other in the video game Boxing Legends of the Ring at the Consumer Electronics Show. During this event, they claimed that an actual rematch was being planned.

Leonard's boxing career continued after the Hagler fight, but he eventually faced a harsh reality check. On February 9, 1991, Leonard lost by a lopsided decision to Terry Norris, with scores of 120–104, 119–103, and 116–110. After the fight, Leonard announced his retirement, stating, "It took this fight to show me it is no longer my time... Tonight, was my last fight. I know how Hagler felt now.” However, Leonard would come out of retirement one last time on March 1, 1997, to face Hector “Macho” Camacho, 10 years after his fight with Hagler. Unfortunately for Leonard, Camacho won the fight in the 5th round by TKO, leading to Leonard's permanent retirement from boxing.  Sadly, Marvelous Marvin Hagler passed away on March 13, 2021, at the age of 66.

So was Hagler “robbed” on that fateful night in Las Vegas in 1987?  Despite Guerra’s silly judging, it was a close fight that could’ve gone either way and both fighters deserved to win, but one thing’s for sure: The debate continues…

Personalized Championships in Wrestling

Once in a while a wrestler will create his/her own championship which is based on their persona.  These are known as personalized championships.  Now this should be in no way a regular thing but when it happens it can be interesting.  Here are a few examples of personalized championships over the years.

MILLION DOLLAR CHAMPIONSHIP

When the subject of personalized championships comes up, chances are this is the first one that will come to mind.  The "Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase's attempt to buy the WWE (then WWF) Championship from Hulk Hogan is a memorable moment in wrestling history.  He hired Andre the Giant and a bogus referee, Earl Hebner, who had undergone plastic surgery to resemble Dave Hebner, a legitimate WWF referee (who was Earl’s real life twin brother) in an attempt to acquire the WWF Championship.  After numerous failed attempts to win the championship, a frustrated DiBiase decided that he didn’t need the WWF Championship and would create his own.  Thus, the Million Dollar Championship was born.

The original plan was for DiBiase to win the WWF Championship at WrestleMania 4, but it was changed when the Honky Tonk Man refused to drop the Intercontinental Championship to Randy Savage.  However the  creative team still wanted DiBiase to have a championship so they created the Million Dollar Championship especially for DiBiase, which provided him with a new opportunity to showcase his character and engage in exciting storylines.  DiBiase stated that although it would’ve been nice to have been the WWF Champion, he had more success and enjoyment with the Million Dollar Championship than he ever would have had with the WWF Championship.

The title was rarely defended but had memorable moments, including Jake “The Snake” Roberts stealing it and DiBiase defending it against his former bodyguard Virgil. The championship was abandoned in 1992 when DiBiase and Irwin R. Schyster (IRS) won the WWF Tag Team Championship but was revived several times, most notably in 1996 when DiBiase (now a manager, having retired from in-ring competition due to injury) awarded the belt to his new protege “The Ringmaster” (a.k.a. Stone Cold Steve Austin).

FTW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

The FTW (F**k The World) Heavyweight Championship was created by Taz in 1998 due to storyline limitations and injuries affecting top champions. Taz introduced the title as a symbol of rebellion.

Taz lost the title to Sabu on December 19, 1998, intentionally, as he was confident he would soon win the ECW World Championship from Shane Douglas. Taz regained the FTW Championship from Sabu in a title versus title match at Living Dangerously on March 21, 1999 then unified the FTW Championship with the ECW World Championship, defeating Sabu and subsequently retired the FTW title.

In 2020, Taz revived the FTW Championship in AEW and awarded it to Brian Cage.  Chris Jericho later won the title and rebranded it as "For The World," but the original meaning was restored after he lost the title to Hook, who retired the FTW Championship after his title defense on September 25 at Dynamite: Grand Slam and returned the title to Taz.

INTERNET CHAMPIONSHIP

The Internet Championship is a unique title in the independent circuit, created by Zack Ryder (now known as Matt Cardona) on his YouTube show "Z! True Long Island Story" in 2011. Ryder was the inaugural champion and still holds the title today, having continued to defend it under his real name since 2021. The title was not officially recognized by WWE.

Why Lineal Championships Would Not Work in Wrestling

The concept of lineal championships is a traditional way of recognizing world champions in combat sports like boxing and mixed martial arts. A lineal champion is a fighter who has defeated the previous champion in a match, creating a continuous lineage of champions. This concept is more suitable for sports where the outcome is determined by the athletes' performance in the ring, rather than by external factors like storylines or creative direction.

Lineal championships have several key characteristics that distinguish them from other types of championships. These include:

• Direct Descent: The title is passed down through direct victories, where a fighter must beat the reigning champion to become the new champion.
• No Stripping: Lineal champions can't be stripped of their title by sanctioning bodies; they can only lose it in the ring or by retiring.
• Vacancy Resolution: When a champion retires or moves to a different weight class, the title is filled by a bout between top contenders.

It's essential to note that the lineal championship is a symbolic concept, with no physical belt or title to represent it. This distinguishes it from traditional championships, which often have a tangible prize associated with them.

The lineal championship concept is not well-suited for professional wrestling, which is sports entertainment. In wrestling, championships are often used as a narrative device to drive plotlines and character development, rather than as a legitimate recognition of a fighter's achievement.

If lineal championships existed in wrestling, there would likely be multiple instances where the official champion and the lineal champion are different. This would lead to confusion and a proliferation of "lineal champions" throughout wrestling history. For example, if Cody Rhodes defended the WWE Championship in a 3-way match against John Cena and Roman Reigns, and Cena pinned Reigns to become the new WWE Champion, Cody would still be considered the lineal champion because he wasn't defeated by Cena or Reigns.  However, the lineal championship concept could be used as a creative angle in wrestling storylines. If Cody Rhodes, as a "heel" (a villainous character), were to refer to himself as the lineal champion, it could be a clever way to build tension and create a compelling storyline leading up to a rematch against John Cena.

By claiming to be the true champion, Cody could portray himself as the rightful holder of the title, while also casting doubt on the legitimacy of the current champion (John Cena). This could lead to a series of promos, interviews, and interactions where Cody asserts his claim to the title, further fueling the rivalry and setting up their upcoming match.

In conclusion, the lineal championship concept is a traditional way of recognizing true world champions in boxing and/or mixed martial arts. While it has its characteristics and advantages, it would not work in professional wrestling.  But in all honesty, wrestling fans wouldn’t dig this concept anyway.