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As mentioned earlier in the What is JKD? page 2, a fighter uses what ever means at his disposal to reach his goal. With this in mind we can discuss exactly how these attacks will land.
YIN & YANG
The idea of Yin & Yang is a concept that goes back centuries in Eastern philosophy. Yin & Yang symbolizes the positive and negative forces of nature, showing their equality and their interdependency. Without Yin, Yang energy has no control and quickly destroys itself. Without Yang nothing will be achieved. Yin relies on Yang to supply sustenance or drive. For without it, Yin energy will subside, giving in to its surroundings and withering away. One without the other cannot exist. An excess towards either extreme results in instability.
How does this relate to fighting? Let's relate it to a simple physical action first.
A marathon runner runs to build his endurance. He, with practice, is capable of running great distances without rest. The act of running is Yang in itself. Rest is Yin. A man cannot run forever. He needs rest to rebuild his strength. Moreover, there can be no Yang without Yin.
Even though the act of running itself is Yang, it also contains a bit of Yin. The great distances a runner achieves is only through practice. In this practice he finds the traces of Yin within his exhertion. He finds at a steady, even pace to balance the supply of oxygen (Yin) with the exhalation of CO2 (Yang). With this balance, the heart rate drops to a more constant level enabling the runner to relax (Yin). While running is Yang, it can be maintained for a greater period of time by utilizing Yin to create a balance. Also, seeing that it takes practice to achieve this balance, it can be assumed that prolonged periods of Yang, results in finding Yin. Hypothetically, If the runner did not even his pace and pushed him self to run faster and faster, he would quickly find Yin by collapsing from exhaustion.
MAKING IT A STRATEGY
The example above illustrates the necessity to equal the forces of Yin & Yang. As a strategic ideal, Yin and Yang must play a part in every aspect. Every action and every reaction should have equally balanced parts that make up the whole.
Punching, for example, Must have both Yin & Yang. As explained in the explanation of the straight lead on the Techniques & Strategies page, the punch is launched (Yang), the hand is held open and relaxed (Yin), at the moment of impact the fist is clenched (Yang). Afterwards, it relaxes again going back to Yin. The same is applied to all attacks, be it a kick, a knee, or even a headbutt.
In action, not only are the tools themselves balanced in nature, but also their application is in accordance to the principles of Yin & Yang. To go all out and throw everything you've got (Yang), without thought as to where and when for the appropriate attack, you will find Yin as you lie unconscious on the floor.
Bruce Lee stated, "Make your opponents attack your attack". What's meant by this is that his actions should depict yours. If he throws out a jab, your movement is made in accordance to his. His attack is Yang. Your immediate response should be Yin. Either aviod the attack by redirecting it with a parry or evade it by moving out of the way. In both cases Yin begets Yang.
Continued on next page
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