| What is it about a man like Bruce Lee that has made | | | | importance of maintaining a proper on-guard stance |
| him a martial arts legend? While the fancy stunts of | | | | also includes an analysis of classical fighting stances |
| Jackie Chan and Jet Li provide us with heart stopping | | | | and how many of them hinder efficient defensive |
| entertainment, most of these feats employ the use | | | | movement. Correct body alignment and the |
| of trick photography, strings and trampolines. What is | | | | importance of maintaining proper balance is also |
| so intriguing about Bruce Lee is that the man was | | | | addressed in this chapter. Basic Training then logically |
| real and so were his martial arts. Regardless of who | | | | proceeds to developing proper footwork in Chapter |
| comes and goes at the box office, there will never | | | | Three. Bruce Lee's evasion principles are introduced |
| be another Bruce Lee. | | | | as they show martial artists how to get out of the |
| Bruce Lee's Fighting Method: Basic Training was | | | | way of an attack. |
| released by Bruce's wife, Linda Lee Caldwell, in 1977. | | | | The next two chapters look at power and speed |
| During his lifetime, Bruce was hesitant to publish his | | | | and how to achieve both with the use of training |
| training material because he wanted to avoid people | | | | equipment. Bruce Lee's famous one-inch punch is |
| learning from his books and then misleading the public | | | | discussed in Chapter 4 and readers are taught that |
| into believing that were personally trained by him. It is | | | | generating such awesome power requires the |
| important when reading Basic Training not to get | | | | coordination of everything from the right way to |
| sidetracked by the antiquated training equipment. | | | | make a fist, to the proper way to pivot your hip. |
| These photographs were taken in the late 60's and | | | | Using the hands and legs to strike objects like air |
| do not depict what we modern day martial artists | | | | shields, heavy bags, focus mitts and the makiwara is |
| are used to by today's standards. What does require | | | | also demonstrated. Speed Training talks about the |
| your attention is his training philosophy and the | | | | importance of building lightening speed without giving |
| means by which you may improve your overall body | | | | your technique away to your opponent. Bruce Lee |
| conditioning. While following his training guidelines will | | | | learned about the importance of not telegraphing by |
| not turn you into another Bruce Lee, you will improve | | | | observing the art of fencing. |
| your skill and fitness level if you put in the effort. | | | | Calasanz has encouraged his students to read this |
| One of the key ingredients to being able to handle | | | | book to enhance their martial arts understanding. |
| yourself on the streets is good physical conditioning. | | | | "This book inspired and helped me realize the depth |
| It is also important to master simple, effective | | | | of Bruce Lee's skill", says Calasanz. "He wasn't a |
| strikes that may be accessed during a time where | | | | tournament fighter who fought for a fancy plastic |
| adrenaline is flooding your body and clouding your | | | | trophy. Bruce Lee was someone who could survive |
| mind. It is in these moments that simple is best. All | | | | on the streets." Without degrading or upgrading any |
| the fancy, rehearsed combination's fly out the | | | | particular style of martial arts, Bruce Lee trained |
| window. This book prepares you for that reality. | | | | intelligently, dispensing techniques that were |
| Basic Training wastes no time in getting to the heart | | | | impractical for street survival. Bruce Lee's methods |
| of Bruce Lee's training philosophy. Chapter One | | | | are useful to any martial arts practitioner regardless |
| launches into the importance of increasing your | | | | of their chosen style and our students are still |
| aerobic endurance and then proceeds to show you | | | | adhering to his training philosophy in the new |
| how. This is followed by Chapter Two, entitled The | | | | millennium. |
| On-Guard Position. A detailed discussion of the | | | | |