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Bruce Lee is to Martial Arts what Hogan is to Golf. I have often wondered what these two masters of motion would have discussed had they spent time together. The reason I am writing this thread is to encourage a discussion about how the Tao of Jeet Kune do applies to golf. For those that are unfamiliar with the Tao of Jeet Kune Do, it was written by Bruce Lee and it expresses his martial arts philosophy en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tao_of_Jeet_Kune_Do I would like people to write the quotes or ideas in the book that they find inspiring to their golf journey. For those that don’t have the book, Google Tao of Jeet Kune quotes. Here is my first quote that I believe relates to golf

“When there is freedom from mechanical conditioning, there is simplicity. The classical man is just a bundle of routine, ideas and tradition. If you follow the classical pattern, you are understanding the routine, the tradition, the shadow — you are not understanding yourself.” Bruce Lee

Mr. Robinson,

Very interesting thread. I love martial arts, and for the same reason you have brought it's teachings here. it applies to all motion.

From the site your offered I picked this quote;

"Tao of Jeet Kune Do Quotes (showing 1-5 of 5)
“Use only that which works, and take it from any place you can find it.”
― Bruce Lee, Tao of Jeet Kune Do "

This is so true.

Thanks for the thread, I hope to learn from all that post here.

Mark, 1lovegolf24

One of my favorite Bruce Lee quotes

"You have offended my family, and you have offended a Shaolin Temple"

(sorry I just couldn't resist)

Always loved his 'water' analogy.

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Haha as long as Bruce Lee wasn't saying it to me

I also like the "Be like water" line...and these..

It's not daily increase but daily decrease. Hack away at the unessential
That is one of the most relevant to golf

ain't that the truth.

“Do not deny the classical approach, simply as a reaction, or you will have created another pattern and trapped yourself there.” Bruce Lee

What does this mean to you?

My Bruce Lee quote 05/2/2012

Golfwrx

"Have no way as way, have no limitation as limitation" Bruce Lee Quoting Taoism

What does this mean to you?

Brian Robinson wrote:


Brian,

It means to me,at least to me, that every moment is new and that each moment possesess endless possibilities. The past is the past and future is unknown.

How would that translate into golf/

IMO,

Each shot is new and requires a new way. Limitations bring fear of the unknown into the present.

What does it mean to you?

Mark, 1lovegolf24

"Have no way as way, have no limitation as limitation" Bruce Lee Quoting Taoism

What does this mean to you?

Mike Myers ripped off Bruce Lee's line.

www.hark.com/clips/ryzjpfflfq-no-way-way

It is a statement that has influenced my whole life. When I was about a 11yrs old I started reading a book about Taoism. When I came across this statement it profoundly impacted my way of thinking. To me it is a way of stopping me from being a know it all or close minded. In the words of a Zen master “awake everyday as a new born child, empty your cup. The person that awakes and there cup flows over, their mind has stop learning." In golf we have to be careful how much we invest in a belief. It could be so deep that we can no longer see reality. I have suffered from this in my own golf career and I had to reflex back on that one simple quote to correct my ignorance.

I dont think he stole it. It is a common statement that many people use to express a belief. Bruce Lee never credited Taoism for the statement but that is due to it being a very commonly used quote. Taoist statements were very popular back in the 60' and 70's.

What does this mean to you?

Brian,
You asked.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Wise words, I think.

If Mike Myers is tuned in.. I was kidding. Should have used one of those , happy faces.

On,” have no limitation, as limitation” in golf, I wonder if this can lead one to make a sport, a pastime, an obsessive/compulsion in some of us. Rather than looking for enjoyment, the search for perfection, can lead to disillusionment:?

One wise man said to enjoy every shot, even the bad ones. One day we will each hit our last and we wont know when that time will come.

Would the Tao say we waste our time and effort if not striving for perfection?

Brian Robinson wrote:


The mind does not need to destroy what mind itself has created. When mind is aware of its own creations (fictions) they may simply be seen as they are: ephemera.

A reaction to deny a mental construct, enters the mind in a cyclical pattern of rejection (moving away from) OR affirmation (moving toward). In fact such a pattern of duality remains another mental trap.

[I know nothing of Bruce's teachings... but the above is my own take on the meaning of the saying.]

Brian Robinson wrote:


Present awareness contains no limitations. It is boundless and non-conceptual.

Brian Robinson wrote:


"Once you consider yourself something, you fall flat on your face, you see."

"There's a great difference between intelligence and wisdom. You might have a college sheepskin, but that doesn't make you educated. Life's too short for me to go around explaining myself. A lot of people don't understand modesty. Not everybody wants publicity, you know."

-Ben Hogan, 1970 Golf Digest Interview.

Well in Taoism the Ego can be our enemy. So perfection can be a manifestation of our ego in a bad way. To live a life in balance is very important. Here is a Taoist quote "He who knows much about others may be learned, but he who understands himself is more intelligent. He who controls others may be powerful, but he who has mastered himself is mightier still." I am a golf professional so I struggle with my narcissism. My search for perfection is based heavily on my ego and I have to understand that is my fault. Hogan once said "I had to learn 9 out of 10 shots were good miss hits." So to perform an art based on narcissim and the desire of meaningless perfection in the end i will be lost. If i perform an art to understand myself then i have lived a life worth living. I admire those that practice an art in private for the pure joy of the art. I also admire the doctor who seek perfection to save another life. To a large degree i am at times a failed Taoist lol But I put a lot of meaning into my golf, it has become a way of life for me. I use it to discipline my ego and my mind. Golf can be a metaphor of life and a glimpse into ones soul. We can learn a lot about someone in 18 holes can't we. We can also learn a bit about ourselves

Perfection is an interesting concept. In a sense it means "nothing more can be added to make it more perfect." And in that sense, you need not search, because perfection does not lie "out there." The very ground of your existence itself is complete and does not need a judgment or standard. And in that sense, the sense that there is nothing more to add, you are already perfection. Yet, this perfection I am speaking of is not a conceptual idea, and cannot be "grasped" or "attained."

So, if you are searching for perfection and blaming the ego for being in the way, consider whether you are on the right path. Look within and it is present at this very moment.

What blames ego? Only ego.

Bring it! You have awakened me from a rut. Thanks!

Perfect is as you are saying a relative thing. It is defined by those around us and our own beliefs. Sometimes we awake up one day and realize it all meant nothing.

anything i can help you with let me know my friend:)

Brian Robinson wrote:


Or, awaken to the nature of things as they are, and real-ize that experience as real-ity, in which case the crux of awakening brings a simultaneous death (past constructs and conceptions meant nothing) and rebirth (seeing the world as new experience of oneness).