UNLIKE MANY traditional martial arts systems, Jeet Kune Do has never had a formal belt ranking system. Bruce Lee did not believe in belts to denote one’s rank or ability and, therefore, did not employ them. However, in the 1960s, when he started the third and final Jun Fan Gung Fu Institute in Los Angeles, he did establish a rudimentary ranking structure and awarded rank via certificates. Dan Inosanto, who served as Lee’s assistant instructor at the Institute, was given a third rank in Jeet Kune Do. Most students who trained for a sufficient period of time were awarded a first rank. Not long after, however, Lee stopped issuing certificates of rank.

It was not until after Lee’s passing that Inosanto, then the recognized head of Jeet Kune Do, created a new ranking structure. When he began the Filipino Kali Academy in 1974, he instituted a four-level phase system that denoted one’s level of training in the art. A student had to complete Phases 1, 2, 3, and 4 before becoming eligible for induction into what was then a single Jeet Kune Do class. Later on, Inosanto and Taky Kimura, Lee’s assistant instructor at the Seattle Jun Fan Gung Fu Institute, developed a modified ranking structure consisting of eight levels, with Bruce Lee at level eight.

Over the years, as more students have become instructors and established schools or training programs, they have instituted their own ranking structures. These structures vary widely in the ways that they recognize student advancement. These range from virtually no rank given at all to multilevels and sublevels of rank. Consequently, there is no single, uniform ranking structure that is consistently used by all Jeet Kune Do instructors.

However, there are those who still adhere to a four-phase structure that resembles the type used by Inosanto in the 1970s and 1980s, a form that he continues to use in his Academy today. This is probably the closest to a widely recognized system of advancement that exists in Jeet Kune Do.

Generally speaking, each of these four phases can vary in the amount of time required to complete it. Students who train two times a week on a regular basis can probably expect to spend about nine months to a year or more in each phase, depending upon their progress.

Phase 1 typically focuses on establishing a good foundation in footwork and in tool development—that is, learning how to properly kick and punch. Students learn how to correctly execute the lead hand and rear hand strikes, as well as lead and rear kicks. They work on proper body mechanics and moving from the bai-jong stance. Training is usually limited to use of resistance equipment, such as focus mitts and kicking shields. Basic trapping hands, such as pak sao and lop sao, may be studied in this phase as well.

Phase 2 usually builds upon this foundation by having students work on refining the tools by making the movements more economical. Students may be introduced to some or all of the five ways of attack. Often they will start learning some of the various defenses to an opponent’s attack. The majority of the training will still involve the use of resistance equipment. Students may also learn more of the trapping hands, including compound traps. Depending upon the instructor, students may take start to take part in limited sparring drills.

In Phase 3 students continue to work on the five ways of attack. They are also likely to explore defenses, such as bob and weave, slipping, and evasion, in depth. Students also typically study ways to counterattack at this point. Progressive sparring plays a more prominent role at this stage, as students seek to apply their knowledge in real time. Energy and sensitivity drills for trapping may also be practiced. Grappling may be introduced at this stage as well.

Finally, in Phase 4 students integrate the knowledge that they have learned in the previous phases. They are expected to have a working knowledge of all the various kicks, punches, close-quarters strikes, and traps. They develop the ability to flow easily from range to range, executing the appropriate tools in the right situations. They concentrate more on tactical elements such as distance, timing, and rhythm. They spar in the various ranges with more intensity, wearing protective equipment. By this time, they should have an appreciation for the philosophy and principles of Jeet Kune Do and be able to assist in teaching if called upon to do so.

It is important to understand that, while no uniform ranking system is utilized throughout the Jeet Kune Do community, there is still a definite progression to training. You must begin by establishing a firm foundation in the fundamentals of the art before you can master the more complex elements of attack, defense, counterattack, distance, and timing, to name a few. As you gain proficiency in the various aspects of Jeet Kune Do, you will grow in your sophistication and working knowledge of the art. This applies whether you are one of many in a school or whether you train privately. In this way you will be able to grow into a well-rounded fighter, able to handle a multitude of situations with confidence.