How Important Is A Name?

When it comes to the current debate over "Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do" versus "Jeet Kune Do Concepts", it seems that the largest point of argument centers around what the term "Jeet Kune Do" is supposed to represent. One side claims it is a distinct style, while the other claims it is not. One thing both organizations agree on is that there is a base system to be learned that encompasses what Bruce Lee developed, taught, and practiced during his lifetime. While it is well established that both camps teach this base system, each group chooses to call it something different. The concepts group calls it "Jun Fan Gung Fu" while the original group calls it "Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do". Well, since both can't be right, maybe its better that both are wrong. What should this base system be called, then? Only Bruce Lee could answer that question. However, he has been dead since 1973. Maybe, just maybe a closer look at Sijo Lee may reveal clues that could help us settle this issue?

Consider the following points:

1) Fact = Bruce Lee referred to his art only as Jun Fan Gung Fu from 1959 to 1964.

2) Fact = From 1965 to early 1967, Lee often referred to his art in one of three ways: Jun Fan Gung Fu, the Tao of Chinese Gung Fu, and Chineseboxing.

3) Fact = From February 1967 to July 1973, Lee formally referred to his art as Jeet Kune Do. It is interesting to note that during this time, Lee gave out certificates that identified his art as "Bruce Lee's Tao of Chinese Gung Fu", "Jun Fan Gung Fu" or "Bruce Lee's Jeet Kune Do".

4) Fact = From 1959 onward, Lee almost always went by his anglicized name of Bruce Lee rather than by his birth name of Lee Jun Fan or Jun Fan Lee (both of which would have been more accurate).

5) Fact = Lee referred to his art as Jun Fan Gung Fu and not as Lee Jun Fan Gung Fu. This is like saying, "Ed's Kenpo Karate" rather than "Ed Parker's Kenpo Karate". There is a significant difference between the two.

6) Fact = Lee referred to all three of his kwoons as The Jun Fan Gung Fu Institute and not as The Lee Jun Fan Gung Fu Institute or The Jeet Kune Do Institute. Again, in terms of accuracy, there is a significant difference between them.

The point? How important was the accuracy of a name to Bruce Lee? Evidently, it was NOT IMPORTANT AT ALL!

**Remember, Bruce Lee himself stated, "If people say Jeet Kune Do is different from 'this' or from 'that', then let the name of Jeet Kune Do be wiped out, for that is what it is, just a name. Please don't fuss over it."

So, in conclusion, what should Lee's base system be called? It doesn't matter! If Bruce Lee didn't care about the accuracy of a name, then why should we?