Is the JKD on guard stance the optimal stance period?

[Towel Snapper]

Bruce Lee seemed to think so. His "style" was all about not being restricted by any one particular way, but he insisted on having a set way for the stance.

Ive never seen a more intelligently designed stance. It seems to be a stance thats formed around being high %, for the purpose of street fighting. Theres only so many ways a human can make a stance I think Bruce chose the highest % way to make a stance for the purposes of offense, defense, mobility and stability.


(this is for an official stance not the pretend im not about to deck you, deck you, stances, (the deceptive or caught off guard stances have their own strengths and weaknesses) but lets separate them from the discussion and make this about "on guard" stances, because the fence and these other approaches have alot of merit, but this discussion is about "on guard stances" where you have time or inclination to get into a stance)

 

[blindsage]

Self defense won't have an "on-guard" stance. If you're dueling, maybe. But if you need an "on-guard" stance to defend yourself, you're gonna get got.

 

[Towel Snapper]

Self defense won't have an "on-guard" stance. If you're dueling, maybe. But if you need an "on-guard" stance to defend yourself, you're gonna get got.

Nearly all martial arts and fighting sports have "on guard" like stances they have a ready stance position, so it cant be a bad idea to use one surely?

 

[blindsage]

Depends. Are you dueling? Are you in a one on one manly scrap? Sure. Otherwise, on the street, relying on an 'on-guard' stance to defend yourself will just get you hit. In most styles an 'on-guard' stance is an ideal place to be and what that ideal is depends on the style and it's approach. But add in multiple attackers, the element of surprise, weapons, limited movement ability, any number of environmental circumstances, etc. and that ideal stance goes out the window. There is no one 'best' stance. And if you think that stance is ideal in all situations, at all times, and you rely on it as such, you will get got.

 

[Dirty Dog]

Nearly all martial arts and fighting sports have "on guard" like stances they have a ready stance position, so it cant be a bad idea to use one surely?

Static stances are only for training. The ideal guard position during any actual confrontation is the one that keeps you from getting hurt and will be constantly changing.

 

[Blindside]

Bruce Lee seemed to think so. His "style" was all about not being restricted by any one particular way, but he insisted on having a set way for the stance.

Ive never seen a more intelligently designed stance. It seems to be a stance thats formed around being high %, for the purpose of street fighting. Theres only so many ways a human can make a stance I think Bruce chose the highest % way to make a stance for the purposes of offense, defense, mobility and stability.

I use the stance all the time, but I agree that it is mostly for duelling rather than "streetfighting." And it isn't great on poor traction situations.