Many people think that Jeet Kune Do stemmed solely from Wing Chun,this is not completely true. Although it is widely known that as a youth ,he studied with Yip Man in Wing Chun,he also had training in other styles.
When he began teaching in the U.S. he used a modified form of Wing Chun, (not the pure art) and then would blend more of his own modifications and ideas on western boxing strategies and then would use principles and tactics of western fencing.Then took kicking from different systems both Chinese and non-Chinese systems. During his early days he had taught different methods to different people,under the open banner of Chinese Gung Fu. Eventually he called his art "Lee Jun Fan Gung Fu" and then later,"Jun Fan Gung Fu" (this is the base system of JKD). There is much confusion over the difference between Jun Fan Gung Fu and Jeet Kune Do. It is important to remember that Jun Fan Gung Fu was the base system That SiGung Bruce brought to the United States. A factor contributing to this confusion is that in the beginning JKD was a style for a very short time. The Jun Fan Gung Fu Institute was where JKD could be practiced.But this was a short period of no longer then 7 months,then Jun Fan Gung Fu evolved into a system of progressions. JKD "when first conceived" in 1966,was a specific style. However,SiGung Lee did not want to limit it, so after 6 or 7 months,around October 1967,it stopped being a style. Therefore JKD became a personal liberation from the Jun Fan Gung Fu,but "must" retain key elements and principles of JFGF in order to be called JKD.It has to be different for everybody. it can be taught but it can not be standardized. JKD's Lineage is the easiest to trace. There is only 1 man alive who was certified by Bruce Lee to teach his arts of : The Tao of Chinese Gung Fu,Jun Fan Gung Fu,and Jeet Kune Do- Sifu Dan Inosanto. During Bruce Lee's lifetime he had made only 3 instructors: 1. James Lee( Oakland, Ca.)who made No instructors 2. Taky Kumura( Seattle,Wa.)(Jun Fan Gung Fu not JKD) who made 1 instructor 3. Dan Inosanto( L.A. Ca.) who has certified more instructors then anyone. All of Dan Inosanto's training with SiGung Lee was one on one and he also taught 90-95% of the classes at the Jun Fan Institute in Chinatown. Tuhan Dan Inosanto is the guiding light behind JKD.He was not only Sigung Bruce Lee's training and research partner, but the man who has continued to carry out the wishes of Bruce Lee all these years and pass on the art to future generations. He was the man who continued Sifu Brandon Lee's training and made Brandon an Instructor in all of his dads arts.