I am pleased to announce that I have just released a new series of small e-books, entitled "Jeet Kune Do Essentials."

“Jeet Kune Do Essentials” are a series of handy, easy-to-use reference guides for training with various types of “mobile” and “fixed” equipment such as focus gloves, kicking shields, heavy bags, etc. Wherever you may be, whether it’s working out at home, training at a martial art school, or simply reading while sitting in a park or traveling on a plane, the “Jeet Kune Do Essentials” series offers you invaluable information on how to use training equipment correctly and effectively to develop or enhance your martial art performance. Each book in the series details different ways in which you can use the equipment and provides you with countless training drills to help you infuse variety in your workouts and stave off motivational boredom, and can serve as a catalyst for thought and ideas to help you develop your own training drills.

Each “Jeet Kune Do Essentials” e-book is available for Kindle now through Amazon.com for only $3.99

 

Volume 1: FOCUS GLOVES

The focus gloves (or focus mitts as they are also called) are one of the most versatile and useful pieces of training equipment that any martial artist can use to develop, hone and maintain their fighting skills. Focus gloves can be used to:

·         Develop proper and efficient body-mechanics in all different types of blows such as kicks, punches, slaps, elbows, or knees

·         Develop your evasive body motions such as slipping, snapping away, bobbing and weaving, and ducking

·         Build accuracy and timing in striking

·         Develop proper timing and distance for speed and power

·         Train “non-telegraphic” movement in your actions

·         Develop good defensive coverage and quick recovery skills

·         Develop the ability to shift from one method or form of attack to another

“Jeet Kune Do Essentials - Focus Gloves” covers all facets of training with focus gloves, including:

·         Training the various combative tools

·         The Various ways of Attack

·         Shifting between the various ways of attack

·         Working different distances

·         Training counter-offensive and defensive skills

·         Performance enhancement drills

- and more.

The following are brief examples of some of the material that is in the book:

Training the Various Ways of Attack

Combination attacks may use one side of the body, such as lead foot and lead hand, or rear hand to rear knee, or both sides of the body, such as lead hand to rear hand, etc.

Attack By Combination

·         Lead Foot - Lead Foot: slide-step low lead hook kick, slide-step lead inverted hook kick

·         Lead Foot - Rear Foot: slide-step lead side kick to rear spin kick

Progressive Indirect Attack

·         Foot - Hand – Close the distance with a slide-step low lead hook kick feint, shift into a high lead backfist

·         Hand - Hand – Feint a low lead straight punch to the opponent’s stomach while closing the distance, shift into a high lead hook

Combining Offensive and Defensive Skills

Fighting is a constantly changing game and often requires a rapid shift from offense to defense and vice versa. The following are examples of how you can combine offensive and defensive skills with the focus gloves:

·         Close the distance with low lead hook kick to high lead straight punch, bob and weave under the trainer’s high rear hook, fire a high rear straight and lead hook punch

·         Hit with your lead straight punch, snap away from trainer’s lead straight punch return, fire a high lead backfist

·         Hit with your lead straight punch, slip outside the trainer’s high rear straight return, fire a lead shovel hook to the ribs

Working Various Distances

Shifting from Close Range to Medium Distance  (relating to opening distance by shifting from hitting, elbowing to medium range punching, kicking etc.)

·         Shift from lead diagonal upward elbow to high rear cross and stationary low lead hook kick

Volume 2: KICKING SHIELD

The kicking shield (also referred to as the body-shield), is a versatile piece of training equipment that can and should be utilized by any martial artist in their training regimen.

The kicking shield can be used to:

• Develop both correct distance and proper penetration in kicks (and other blows) against a moving target.
• Develop speed and “suddenness” in your movements
• Train “non-telegraphic” movement in your actions
• Develop good defensive coverage and quick recovery skills
• Develop the ability to shift from one method or form of attack to another

  “JKD Essentials - Kicking Shield” covers all facets of training with the kicking shield, including:

• Various methods of “feeding” the shield
• The Various combative tools (hands, feet, elbows, knees, etc.)
• The 5 Ways of Attack
• Combining footwork and mobility skills with combative tools
• Shifting between various ranges of distance
• Working with multiple shields

- and more.

The following are brief examples of some of the material in the book:

Various Methods of Feeding

Holder circles --In this method the feeder is moving around and circling and the student is moving and relating to him. The feeder flashes a  particular line and the student responds with the proper kick, punch, etc. This drill can done by the feeder stopping when they set the line, or setting it while moving.

Working the Various Ways of Attack

Attack by Combination

·         Lead leg - Rear leg: Slide-step forward with a lead upward snap kick, then plant forward and rear hook kick as feeder retreats and sets the rear hook kick line.

·         Rear Leg - Lead Leg: Fire a stationary rear hook kick, plant forward and slide up with a lead side kick as trainer retreats and sets the side kick target line. (In this exercise both kicks use the same leg and student ends up in opposite lead)

Progressive Indirect Attack

·         Foot - Foot: Feint low lead front kick to close distance and draw reaction, shift to mid-level lead hook kick.

·         Foot - Foot: Feint mid-level inverted hook kick to close distance and draw reaction, shift to low stomping side kick.

Combining Footwork with Kicking/Striking

·         Curving right step followed by kick: Use a curving right step followed immediately by a lead hook kick.

Combining Various Weapons and Different Ranges

·         Medium-range to long-range (punching to kicking): Hit with a low rear cross, follow with a slide-step lead hook kick as trainer retreats.

Kicking From Ground Position

·         Lead side kick to shin, instep

The heavy bag is one of the most important and essential pieces of training equipment any martial artist can possess. It can be used to develop a multitude of essential qualities such as power, timing, rhythm, accuracy, balance, proper recovery, etc. You can use the heavy bag for not only developing devastating power in your kicks and strikes, but learning to apply that power as well. The heavy bag is also an invaluable tool for developing your sense of timing. Unlike focus gloves or kicking shields, a heavy bag doesn’t require the assistance of a partner around in order to be able to use it.

  “JKD Essentials - Heavy Bag” covers all facets of training with the heavy bag, including:

• Proper safety when using the heavy bag
• The Various combative tools (hands, feet, elbows, knees, etc.)
• Training the 5 Ways of Attack
• Combining footwork and mobility skills with combative tools
• Shifting between various ranges of distance

- and more.

The following are brief examples of some of the material in the book:

Dividing the Heavy Bag into Sections

To help you train more realistically you can visually break the heavy bag into various sections or target areas (some people actually draw lines or targets on the bag itself). Start with an imaginary vertical line running straight through the center of the bag as you face it. This divides the bag into left and right sides (or inside and outside if you prefer). Next, divide the bag with an imaginary horizontal line running across the middle of the bag, giving you high and middle areas (or head and body sections if you prefer). If you have a long banana bag such as the kind Thai Boxers use, you can also add a third section which would be considered the opponent’s legs, or low-line, groin, etc.).

Working the Various Ways of Attack

Attack by Combination

·         Foot - Hand: lead side kick to high lead backfist

·         Hand - Hand: high lead straight punch, high lead hook

·         Hand - Elbow: high rear straight punch, lead diagonal upward elbow

·         Hand - Knee: high lead straight punch, rear vertical upward knee

·         Knee - Elbow: lead vertical upward knee, rear diagonal upward elbow

·         Hand - Hand: low lead straight, high rear hook, high lead uppercut

·         Foot - Hand: lead hook kick, lead high straight punch, high lead hook

Progressive Indirect Attack

·         Foot - Foot: use a low lead front kick feint to close the distance, shift to a high lead hook kick.

·         Foot - Hand: use a lead side kick feint  to close the distance, shift to a high lead backfist.

·         Hand - Hand: use a high palm hook to close the distance, shift to a low palm hook.

·         Hand - Elbow: use a high lead hook feint to close the distance, shift to rear diagonal upward elbow.

Working Various Distances

·         Close-range to Medium-range: Fire a low lead uppercut into the heavy bag, then shove it away from you and follow with a straight blast.

Practicing Grappling Skills with the Heavy Bag

·         Shooting in and lifting the bag from ground as partner holds it upright.

Combining Footwork with Your Actions

·         You can close the distance with the kick and plant forward to close the distance.

·         You can use pendulum footwork to take you into range to kick and then return to long-range.