Jeet Kune Do, the martial art and philosophy founded by Bruce Lee, has long been a subject of both fascination and confusion, especially when it comes to the question of ranking. Dan Inosanto, one of Bruce Lee’s closest students and a respected figure in the martial arts world, provides clarity on this often misunderstood topic.
According to Dan Inosanto, only three individuals were ever certified by Bruce Lee to teach Jeet Kune Do: Taky Kimura, James Lee, and Inosanto himself. Of the three, Taky Kimura holds the highest rank, achieving fifth rank under Bruce Lee's guidance. James Lee and Dan Inosanto were both awarded third rank. Ted Wong, another close student of Bruce Lee, was not certified to teach but reached second rank in Jeet Kune Do. He is considered one of Bruce Lee's most well known personal students.
A crucial distinction often overlooked is the difference between Jun Fan Gung-Fu and Jeet Kune Do. Jun Fan Gung-Fu refers to Bruce Lee’s early martial arts system, which incorporated elements of Wing Chun, Western boxing, and fencing. Jeet Kune Do, however, being rooted in grounded in Jun Fan Gung Fu, it is the philosophy that evolved from Lee’s personal journey in martial arts, emphasizing directness, simplicity, and adaptability.
Dan Inosanto once pointed out that only Bruce Lee could issue certificates in Jeet Kune Do, and these were awarded solely to individuals who trained with him personally in one-on-one sessions. If a practitioner trained with Bruce Lee in a group setting or under the instruction of Kimura, James Lee, or Inosanto, they would receive a certificate in Jun Fan Gung-Fu, not Jeet Kune Do.
While he was alive Bruce Lee was the sole authority on Jeet Kune Do certification. Dan Inosanto, continues to teach the "concepts and principles" of Jeet Kune Do. This decision is a testament to Sifu Dan Inosanto’s respect for Bruce Lee’s legacy and the unique relationship that Lee maintained with his personal students.
While traditional martial arts often employ colored belt systems to signify rank, Bruce Lee developed his own system for Jun Fan Gung-Fu and Jeet Kune Do. His ranking structure was based on the principles of yin and yang, symbolizing the balance between opposing forces. This ranking system was used from 1965 to around 1968 and consisted of eight ranks:
Unranked – Beginning student (Phase 1, for us)
1st Rank – Intermediate student (Phase 2, for us)
2nd Rank – Advanced student (eligible for Apprentice Instructor) (Phase 3, for us)
3rd Rank – Associate Instructor (Phase 4, for us)
4th Rank – Full Instructor (Phase 5, for us)
5th Rank – Senior Instructor (Phase 6, for us)
6th Rank – Dan Inosanto
7th Rank – Taky Kimura
8th Rank – Bruce Lee (Sijo, or Founder of the System)
It’s important to note that while Bruce Lee’s ranking system applied to both Jun Fan Gung-Fu and Jeet Kune Do, it was disbanded in 1969. Inosanto reinstated a version of this ranking system in his own backyard school in the 1970s before ultimately dropping it in 1974. In 1988, Taky Kimura and Dan Inosanto revived the Jun Fan Gung-Fu and Jeet Kune Do Concepts ranking system, continuing Bruce Lee's martial legacy.
Today, Jeet Kune Do continues to evolve, but the integrity of Bruce Lee's teachings remains safeguarded by those closest to him, like Dan Inosanto. While official Jeet Kune Do certification died with Bruce Lee, the "concepts and philosophies" of JKD live on, passed from teacher to student in the same way Lee himself taught—in direct, personal instruction. Jeet Kune Do is more than a system of techniques—it's a philosophy rooted in the personal relationship between teacher and student, a journey of self-expression that transcends the formal structures of martial arts ranking. Through Sifu Dan Inosanto and others, Bruce Lee’s vision of martial arts as an evolving, adaptive form continues to thrive, shaping generations of martial artists to come.
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