This is a controversial issue and some people may be offended. But I think that are a lot of similarities in their philosophies (Jeet Kune Do and Krav Maga).
Krav Maga
http://www.j-grit.com/athletes-imi-lichtenfeld-krav-maga-founder.php
In developing the self-defense system, survival in any situation was foremost in Imi's mind. Accordingly, krav maga relies on a person's natural instincts and reflexes for self-defense. Awareness and mental conditioning are integral to krav maga training. Krav maga's philosophy is never to do more than necessary, but to react with speed, economy of motion, and the appropriate measure of force. Speed is paramount and one is taught to strike instinctively at the human body's vulnerable parts. Krav maga is dynamic and constantly evolves as situations require. The system is battle-tested and street-proven.
Jeet Kune Do
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeet_Kune_Do
I have not invented a "new style," composite, modified or otherwise that is set within distinct form as apart from "this" method or "that" method. On the contrary, I hope to free my followers from clinging to styles, patterns, or molds. Remember that Jeet Kune Do is merely a name used, a mirror in which to see "ourselves". . . Jeet Kune Do is not an organized institution that one can be a member of. Either you understand or you don't, and that is that. There is no mystery about my style. My movements are simple, direct and non-classical. The extraordinary part of it lies in its simplicity. Every movement in Jeet Kune-Do is being so of itself. There is nothing artificial about it. I always believe that the easy way is the right way. Jeet Kune-Do is simply the direct expression of one's feelings with the minimum of movements and energy. The closer to the true way of Kung Fu, the less wastage of expression there is. Finally, a Jeet Kune Do man who says Jeet Kune Do is exclusively Jeet Kune Do is simply not with it. He is still hung up on his self-closing resistance, in this case anchored down to reactionary pattern, and naturally is still bound by another modified pattern and can move within its limits. He has not digested the simple fact that truth exists outside all molds; pattern and awareness is never exclusive. Again let me remind you Jeet Kune Do is just a name used, a boat to get one across, and once across it is to be discarded and not to be carried on one's back.
– Bruce Lee
I would even suggest that those who practices Krav Maga IS practicing Jeet Kune Do!
Krav Maga is many things to many men. Some take it as a means to learn simple effective self-defence techniques.
Some wants to learn the art of dirty fighting.
Some like the andrenaline pumping routine of Krav Maga classes.
Some like to learn the different elements:
a. Judo
b. Jujitsu
c. Close combat
d. Karate/Tae Kwon Do/ Hapkido
e. Street fighting
All evolve in a "single" artform.
The danger of practicing Krav Maga is to think that you are all things and therefore can take on anyone at any time. Many instructors like to let their students "enjoy" this fallacy.
Judo, Jujitsu, Karate... have survived and is practiced by so many due to their effectiveness and their ability to hone a certain skill.
An expert in Judo and Jujitsu practitioner if he decides to take up Krav Maga is a devastating Krav Maga exponent.
But you CANNOT say it the OTHER way around. A KM practitioner will never kick or throw as well as the Judo or Jujitsu person. Even without rules, the Judo or Karate guy will and can ditch his ethical stance and be dirty too!
Therefore, unlike JKD where Bruce Lee is directly expounding martial arts truth, Krav Maga exponents can delude themselves into thinking they are the "ultimate" fighter!
There are some who even say, KM is for those without prior fitness levels. Bruce Lee says, you MUST be fit and outlast your opponent.
But look at how those Israelists train? Full out, mind blowing, lung busting routines to be effective Krav Maga fighters.
My point is, KM practitioners can / should embrace some basic JKD principles (after all Bruce Lee is regarded as the father of MMA), such as fitness levels and evolvement of an art.
While JKD practitioners now can mesh all their different skills and use it under the Krav Maga category, because Krav Maga is really an art that takes the most dangerous elements of all the other arts.
I love and practice Krav Maga for its all round effectiveness, I practice gracie jiujitsu for more purity in ground fighting techniques and I keep fit so that i can ACTUALLY do all that without being winded easily!
Cheers all!
P.S. There is NO bad martial art, only bad martial artists!
