Man, I'm torn to reply, but what the Hell, I'm feeling saucy this morning.
In regards to shooting in a street fight. Anyone hear what happened to Renzo Gracie? Sure, he beat the Hell out of the guy, but he messed up his need and needed to have it repaired. The point is: if you shoot and drop your knee as wrestlers are trained to do on anything solid, like concrete or pavement (which is very common) you have a HIGH probability of damaging your knee; and the sad truth is-most of you guys are kids that are posting and frankly haven't learned the toughness yet. Plain and simple. The exception would possibly be a kid who has wrestled since they were 4, but that isn't that commone from what I've seen over the last 5-10 years. Most of you are brand new, pre-teens, or teens.
If you WANT to take someone to the ground in a street fight, it's much safer for you/damaging for the opponent, and gives you more control if you take down from the clinch. A Judo/Sambo/Greco throw is higher percentage and more bang for the buck. It protects you, and ensures that most of the time you will land on the ground in an advantagous position. If you shoot beyond arms length anyway, you have no clue. Those extended shots have only worked when you can push someone into a cage or wall, and even then we're seeing them slowy disappear from MMA.
As far as JKD not being effective: well, I have been in many altercations, and I have several peers on here who either are JKD or former milatary that will tell you: effective striking/eye gouging makes a huge difference. As someone who starter primarily as a striker (Boxer), I can tell you: I studied wrestling to avoid the takedown because 99% of the morons out there can't box or take a punch. If you can't take me down, can't box, and don't like/can't take getting hit, then it's going to be rough for you. If I get you on the ground and you can't deal with punches, it's going to suck. Just having one thing: Grappling or Striking isn't enough. JKD has tought that fundamental principle for 40 years. Period. JKD is effective is understood. If it's taken for granted or misunderstood, it's no better than the guys out there claiming to be a 10th Planet or BJJ ranked guy without having fundamental principles or techniques understood. It's hubris to think that any one thing is better. You need to be well rounded and understand what reality is.