the five ways of attack
IN FORMULATING HIS ART of Jeet Kune Do, Bruce Lee realized that strictly passive defensive maneuvers were not the most efficient and effective ways to deal with an opponent. Rather, he concluded that offensive moves, which put the opponent on the defensive, produced better results. Therefore, Lee investigated ways to improve the offensive capabilities of his art and adapted some tactics from Western fencing into Jeet Kune Do. Known as the five ways of attack, they represent a compilation of all the possible methods of attack into a handful of categories.
In this and the next several chapters, we shall examine each of these ways of attack in detail. We will begin by looking at Single Direct/Angulated Attack, through which a person can successfully score with one technique in one move. Next, we will consider Attack by Combination, which allows a person to launch multiple techniques in sequence. Another approach, Progressive Indirect Attack, is a deceptive manner of attacking by using feints to set up an opponent. Attack by Drawing lulls an opponent into attacking by presenting an open target, then countering the opponent’s move. Finally, Hand Immobilization Attack removes your opponent’s defenses so that you can complete your attack.
