The Ted Wong Interview
Conducted by Paul J. Bax
Besides James Lee (deceased) and Dan Inosanto, Ted Wong remains the only student certified by Bruce Lee in his art of Jeet Kune Do. Wong has kept a low profile for many years and has only recently emerged to teach JKD as it was taught to him by Bruce Lee. With the growing confusion as to what JKD consist of, Wong has finally become more available to the public through seminars and video tapes. The martial arts community has come to think JKD was compiled of Kali and Silat or created from twenty six different arts. Besides dispelling these rumors, Wong openly comments on the confusion in JKD and how Bruce Lee would feel about how JKD has been taught over the years. The late James Lee is also discussed, as is the unfortunate passing of Brandon Lee. Furthermore, he explains what JKD is and more importantly, what it is not.
WHEN AND HOW DID YOU MEET BRUCE LEE AND WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST IMPRESSION OF HIM?
TED WONG: I first met him in 1966, but I didn’t get to know him until 1967 when he opened his Los Angeles Chinatown school. He impressed me quite a bit even before I met him, since I used to watch “The Green Hornet.” When I got to know him was when he first opened his school. He gave a demonstration and a lecture. I was impressed with his technique and his philosophy.
HOW LONG DID YOU TWO TRAIN TOGETHER?
TW: I trained with him for almost five years, from 1967 to 1972.
WHAT WERE SOME OF THE INNOVATIONS BRUCE MADE IN JKD BEFORE HE DIED?
TW: The bottom line was to make the technique simple and direct. The changes were kind of gradual and subtle. He always tried to improve his art and make it better. I think the major changes in 1971 and ‘72 was probably the fact he incorporated more kicking into the art. He also incorporated more speed in closing the gap.
WHAT ASPECTS OF COMBAT DID HE EMPHASIZE MOST TO YOU?
TW: Probably judging distance and footwork. He always emphasized that the most important thing was footwork and judging distance. Last came the technique.
WHAT WAS IT LIKE SPARRING BRUCE LEE?
TW: He was so quick and he could judge distance so good. Even if he was standing real close to you, you still couldn’t touch him at all. I learned a lot from just sparring with him. You had to give one hundred percent and you had to learn to move quick every time you sparred him.
SINCE YOU WERE HIS CLOSE COMPANION DID YOU SEE BRUCE IN ANY STREET FIGHTS?
TW: I never did. I never saw him in any street confrontations.
DID BRUCE LEE FEEL THAT JEET KUNE DO WAS ONLY A CONCEPT OR AN ACTUAL MARTIAL ART?