Jeet-Kune-Do's Blueprint For Combat

Part 2: Interception By Arthur Ligopantis

The stophit is the stroke chosen to deal with the stepping preparation. - Bruce Lee

Bruce Lee’s uncanny speed was not the only attribute that gave him the edge on his opponents. His ability to read his opponent’s subtle motions through awareness, along with this understanding of the principle of interception, allowed him to score almost at will.

The term Jeet-Kune-Do ultimately means the way of the intercepting fist or foot, which is by far the highest level of expression in J.K.D. Bruce borrowed the principle of interception from western fencing, which allows for a J.K.D. fighter to attack on the opponent’s preparation.

In combat, there are basically three timings in which an attack can take place- before, during and after. Before meaning to attack on your opponent’s preparation, this is the epitome of Jeet-Kune-Do. The slightest movement from your opponent will facilitate what we refer to in Jeet-Kune-Do, as a stophit. The second timing or the during is referred to as lin sil die dar or simultaneous attack and defence. This method is initiated once an attack has been launched and we’re attacking and defending simultaneously. The last method, the after, is predicated on your opponents commitment and recovery. Once he’s committed to attacking we’re borrowing his moment of commitment and flowing with his recovery to score with a hit.

Interception can either be in the form of a stophit/kick or timehit/kick. The stophit is predicated on scoring on the opponents preparation to attack, whilst the timehit on the other hand, is like a stophit which anticipates the line the attack will end, then closes that line of attack with an attack of ones own, preventing the opponents attack from arriving on target. Either way, we’re scoring with a single direct attack to either the high line or low line, allowing us to enter safely.

In order for one to intercept efficiently, one must understand the pre-requisites for interception, which are:

Bruce Lee explains the principle of interception in the Paramount Pictures Television series, "Longstreet - (Episode - Intercepting Fist)." and although he plays the character of Li Tsung, Bruce is actually introducing the world, to his method of combat known as Jeet-Kune-Do. Furthermore, he goes on to explain about Interception.

Bruce is seen side kicking and hurling Mr Longstreet over a chair, "played by James Franciscus." So impressed by the sheer power of Bruce’s sidekick is a character by the name of Duke Paige, who asks Bruce, "what is this thing you do?" Bruce replies, "in Cantonese Jeet-Kune-Do, The way of the intercepting fist or foot." Duke’s response, "intercepting fist huh!"

Bruce goes on to say, "touch me, any way you can." Bruce immediately shoots out a low side kick and replies, "to reach me, you must move to me. Your attack offers me an opportunity to intercept you. In this case, I’m using my longest weapon, my side kick against your nearest target, your kneecap! It can be compared to the left jab in boxing, except it’s much more damaging."

Duke responds, "I see! speaking of left jab" (he attempts to throw a left jab). Bruce once again intercepts with the right lead and replies, "ooh! this time I intercepted your emotional intentions. You see, from your thought to your fist, how much time was lost."

Once again, the example above is the epitome of interception to the enth degree and only by training and understanding the pre-requisites and developing a high level of attributes, will you be able to develop a high level of interception.

Training Methods

Although there are many ways of training the principle of interception, just as important is the safety of your partner. The last thing you want to do is injure your training partner. With that in mind, the proper equipment should be used.

When intercepting your opponent’s movement, the hands will generally intercept the legs and the legs will intercept the hands. That’s not to say that the reverse isn’t true.

One of the ways we train, is what we refer to as the visual awareness drill. Your partner will be padded up and standing in front of you, either from a natural position or from a fighting position, the idea being that he will either make an exaggerated movement or just a slight subtle movement or possibly even a facial gesture. The second you see that movement your reacting with a pre-chosen tool. The tool you might use could be a finger jab, a low line sidekick or even a rear leg hook kick. Although there are many different tools we could use, the emphasis is on intercepting your partner’s movement on the first beat.

Another hand drill we use, is to have your partner shoot out either a jab or even a hook punch. On the jab, we’re attacking on his forward motion with either a rear leg hook kick to the lead leg, shuffle hook kick to the groin or a low line side kick to the knee. On the hook punch, we’re intercepting with either a straight lead punch or finger jabbing to opponent’s eyes through the use of safety goggles.

Intercepting the legs can be trained in different ways, as stated earlier, it is generally done with the hands, although the legs can also be used. For example, against a sidekick, we could shuffle in on his preparation and stophit him with a sidekick of our own.

Against a rear leg hook kick we could shuffle in and intercept with a fingerjab or straight lead jab. Against a rear leg spin kick, we could intercept him on his turning motion and scoring with a foot jab on his tail bone.

Although interception could be an end in itself, intercepting your opponent will not only de-moralise your opponent mentally, it will also allow you to enter safely and terminate your opponent in that very lethal trapping range.

Whatever the case, interception is the core central theme behind Jeet-Kune-Do. And as the name implies, "the way of the intercepting hand or foot" not kickboxing, but the way of intercepting. If your not intercepting then your not doing Jeet-Kune-Do, your only kickboxing.

This article is an excerpt from the up and coming book The Art & Science of Jeet-Kune-Do

Arthur Ligopantis is Head Instructor of Progressive Combat Systems and is certified under Jeet Kune Do instructors, Walt Missingham and Paul Vunak.

He can be contacted on (0419) 253 106.