Economy of motion is the principle by which JKD practitioners achieve:
Efficiency: An attack which reaches its target in the least amount of time, with maximum force.
Directness: Doing what comes naturally in a disciplined way.
Simplicity: Thinking in an uncomplicated manner; without ornamentation.
This is meant to help a practitioner conserve both energy and time; two crucial components in a physical confrontation.
Maximized force seeks to end the battle quickly due to the amount of damage inflicted upon the opponent.
Rapidity aims to reach the target before the opponent can react, which is half-beat faster timing, learned in Wing Chun and Western boxing.
Learned techniques are utilized in JKD to apply these principles to a variety of situations.
Stop hits & stop kicks
"When the distance is wide, the attacking opponent requires some sort of preparation. Therefore, attack him on his preparation of attack."
"To reach me, you must move to me.
Your attack offers me an opportunity to intercept you.
"This means intercepting an opponent's attack with an attack of your own instead of a simple block.
It is for this concept Jeet Kune Do is named.
JKD practitioners believe that this is the most difficult defensive skill to develop.
This strategy is a feature of some traditional Chinese martial arts, as well as an essential component of European épée fencing.
Stop hits & kicks utilize the principle of economy of motion by combining attack and defense into one movement thus minimizing the "time" element.
