Power side forward or not

[adamuk]

Does the JKDU system prefer the power side forward?

How does this relate to MMA or Muay Thai?

Does it mean all JKDU fighters can lead with either side....and if your right handed and switch from Southpaw to Orthodox fighting position aren't you know leading with the non-power side?

How does the concept of leading with the power side apply in JKDU?

[chessmachine]

I believe JKDU prefers to have the power strike on the rear hand but I could be wrong.

[Shelt]

JKDU emphasizes the boxing "structure," which usually means power at the rear. Structure is the more important point because many of us do develop the ability to switch leads yet the emphasis is  still the boxing structure. When discussing leading with the power side many people think about the WC/JKD structure.

[marcus]

hi shelt ,

 when you say boxing structure do you mean that you use youre front hand has a tester for distance and to set combinations? cause thats to me the boxing structutre.

ok thank you

a plus!

[Shelt]

"Boxing structure" means the structure seen in boxing. Chin down, hands up and close, shoulders slightly rolled, flexed knees, etc. Our hands tend to be a little higher because we're not wearing big boxing gloves and slightly more bladed to protect the groin more....versus the Bai jong type stance that is so familiar in JKD and what is often visualized when speaking about lead powerhand.

[marcus]

ah ok i see what you mean.

 i always tought that the boxing ready position and the jkd one was the same except for the front leg in jkd that is a bit more hmm closed if i can say to protect the groin.

thanks for the info shelt.

[James McRae]

What Shelton says is heresy!  Shelton: I hereby expel you from the Jeet Kune Do Nucleus!  Turn in your decoder pin and portable Bruce Lee shrine immediately! 

All BS aside, I'm still sticking to my guns: I'm a right hander who fights in a southpaw stance.  I listed my reasons in an earlier post <http://jkdunlimited.com/forums/index.php?topic=1476.0>.

Ultimately, I think it is a matter of personal preference: some people just fight better in one lead than another.  I've spent a lot of time fighting in an orthodox lead and it has never felt quite as good to me.  I give all my students a choice of which lead they wish to fight in, and they tend to split about 50/50 between strong-side-forward and strong-side-back.  Anyone who preaches one lead as if it were religious dogma needs to lighten up.     Both work just fine.

[Mike dk]

I do the same as Jim. Let people decide which works best for them and the split is also 50/50 at my gym. I do prefer the powerside myself.
Historically speaking Bruce Lee did emphasize the power side and it is also what is taught in "jun fan jeet kune do".