# Book Review: “The Straight Lead”

- Link: https://brianejohns.com/2008/01/09/blog-book-review-the-straight-lead-teri-tom/
- Published: 2008-01-09T18:31:00-05:00
- Author: Brian Johns

Recently, I read “[The Straight Lead](https://www.amazon.com/Straight-Lead-Core-Bruce-Lees/dp/0804836302/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=the+straight+lead&qid=1593556429&sr=8-1)”
by author Teri Tom.

Hands down, this is one of the best martial arts books I have ever read. Teri Tom
comes from a JKD background. In this book, she describes the history, science, and
mechanics of Bruce Lee’s JKD core punch, the straight lead. Tom is a student of 
Ted Wong and writes regular columns for “Inside Kung Fu.”

![The cover of Teri Tom's book.](https://i0.wp.com/brianejohns.com//wp-content/uploads/
2020/06/Screen-Shot-2020-06-30-at-6.53.59-PM-716x1024.png?resize=716%2C1024&ssl=
1)

Unlike most of the “how-to” martial arts books on the market, Teri Tom details the
science of the straight lead and illustrates the science with numerous illustrations
and photographs. She provides a fascinating insight into Bruce Lee’s development
of this punch.

### Further, Teri Tom reveals that Bruce based this technique mainly on Western fencing and early 20th-century boxing.

The result was the development of a non-telegraphic punch that combined speed and
[power](https://brianejohns.com/2008/05/28/blog-book-review-martial-power-by-steven-j-pearlman/).

She covers the proper stance, footwork, and punch mechanics and finishes with the
punch’s delivery. She explains the scientific foundation for each aspect of the 
straight lead for each stage.

While this book does not directly discuss Filipino martial arts, it illustrates 
a concept many FMA practitioners have long known. The most difficult attacks to 
defend against are thrusting attacks because they are difficult to detect and defend
against.

Like the straight lead, thrust attacks are difficult to see. For example, detecting
a thrust to your left eye is more difficult than detecting a #1 attack.

Likewise, there is not much time for defending against a #5 thrust to the abdomen,
particularly if you are in the medio or corto range. On the other hand, you have
a better chance of success against angles #1 through #4 because they are easier 
to see. For those reasons, the thrust type of attack deserves extra attention in
the dojo.

Kudos to Teri Tom for a terrific book. I highly recommend adding this book to your
[martial arts library](https://brianejohns.com/2008/06/14/blog-jeet-kune-do-books/)!

 * [Angles of Attack in Filipino Martial Arts](https://brianejohns.com/2015/08/10/blog-angles-of-attack-in-filipino-martial-arts/)
 * [Stealing and Keeping The Lead](https://brianejohns.com/2016/07/19/blog-stealing-and-keeping-the-lead/)
 * [The Most Dangerous Angles in FMAs](https://brianejohns.com/2015/08/26/blog-the-most-dangerous-angles-in-filipino-martial-arts/)
 * [How I Teach Filipino Martial Arts to Children](https://brianejohns.com/2015/07/20/blog-how-i-teach-filipino-martial-arts-to-children/)
 * [5 Problems With One Step Sparring](https://brianejohns.com/2016/03/23/blog-5-problems-with-one-step-sparring/)

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