Bruce Lee – The Legend of Martial Arts

“Kung fu is not about winning; it’s about perfection.” The legendary Bruce Lee is one of the most iconic figures of the last century. A Hong Kong-American martial artist, actor, and philosopher, Bruce Lee was born November 27, 1940 and grew to be one of the most influential martial artists of the 20th century because of his creation of the hybrid martial art of Jeet Kune Do. Jeet Kune Do is a mixed martial art based on Kung Fu, Boxing, Muay Thai, Wrestling, and Jiu Jitsu. Jeet Kune Do is considered by many to be a big influence on modern MMA. His influence of martial arts will never be forgotten, the films he starred in have entertained the world, and his philosophy was profound and insightful.

On the other hand, some may claim that Bruce Lee was not very great. That he was just an actor and that his actual fighting skills were at best questionable and at worst non-existent. It is questioned how well he would take a hit, due to his relatively small stature as a fighter, as well as his evasive fighting tecnique. Unlike martial artists such as Chuck Norris, Lee was seldom found competing in tournaments which may indicate that he rarely fought. However, he did fight and he did win. He may not have fought that much, but he was undoubtedly a fighter. “He could end any physical confrontation within three or four seconds'. Great fighters like Mike Stone and Joe Lewis have commented on Bruce Lee’s excelence. “Strongest pound for pound, much stronger than I am” (Mike Stone). (Fastest and most intelligent. Greatest martial artist of all time” (Joe Lewis).

First, the legacy and influence of Bruce Lee, which has had a lasting impact in the world of martial arts. More than 40 years after his death, his legacy can still be seen everywhere. Even the president of the UFC called him the “father of mixed martial arts.” He created Jeet Kune Do, which is still practiced today. Bruce Lee’s image in martial arts changed the perception of people of Asian descent in the western world. In Hong Kong, where he grew up, street fighting culture and youth gangs were prevalent. This influenced his learning of martial arts. Growing up in these conditions, he saw what worked, as well as what did not work. This result-oriented way Lee saw martial arts led to his creation of Jeet Kune Do. Jeet Kune Do is considered to be the first true form of mixed martial arts. Bruce Lee’s creation of Jeet Kune Do is one of his most notable achievements in martial arts as well as in his life. And that great Bruce Lee martial arts legacy still lives on today.

Next, Bruce Lee’s legacy as an actor in film. One might say Bruce Lee single handedly popularized martial arts in film. Before wowing audiences with his martial arts performances, Lee as child was cast often as a guttersnipe. After drawing the eyes of an LA producer while performing in a karate tounament, he was cast as a Kato; a main character in the TV show The Green Hornet. His apearance in The Green Hornet was the biggest role an asian in america had ever achieved. After The Green Hornet was cancelled he treveled to Hong Kong to star in the martial arts film The Big Boss which was later adapted in america to be called Fists of Fury and it was a hit. He also found success starring in a film in Hong Kond called Fist of Fury, not to be confused with Fists of Fury, a title released in america. He eventually struck a deal with Warner Brothers to star in Enter the Dragon, which was a world wide success. Many of his films have become cult classics. Although no could replace Bruce Lee, he has paved way for many other martial arts figures in film such as Jackie Chan, Chuck Norris, and Steven Seagul. He was a trailblazer of martial arts in film and popular culture in america. He has truly had a great impact on film in american culture.

Lastly, the the insightful philosophy of Bruce Lee. “Always be yourself, express yourself, have faith in yourself, do not go out and look for a successful personality and duplicate it”. According to Lee’s philosophy, everyone has a unique personality that ought to be expressed and you shouldn’t try to be someone who you are not. He also believed that expressing yourself was a prerequisit for self growth, which he also stressed as important for life. “Don’t get set into one form, adapt it and build your own, and let it grow, be like water. Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless-like water. Now you put water in a cup, it becomes the cup; you put water in the bottle it becomes the bottle; you put it in a teapot; it becomes the teapot. Now water can flow or crash. Be water, my friend”. Basically his message is: if you want to grow as a being, than you must adapt and change, and you should be like water because water is always changing. His philosophy on race is inspiring and hopeful. When he was asked if he considered himself to be american or chinese he responded “You know what I want to think of myself? As a human being. Because, I mean I don’t want to be like “As Confusious Say,” but under the sky, under the heavens there is but one one family. It just so happens many people are different” (Bruce Lee). He saw people as human above all else. “The meaining of life is that it is lived, and it is not to be traded and conceptualized and squeezed into a pattern of systems” (Bruce Lee). His ultimate philosphy for the meaning of life is important as he insists that people do not fall into a pattern of just existing and doing as the world wants, but actually living freely.

In conclusion, Bruce Lee has had an overall positive legacy. He will be remembered for years to come, for his legacy as an icon of the world. His impact on the world of martial arts as the creator of Jeet Kune Do. His immortal greatness in film and television in america and abroud. His wise words of philosophy and their meanings. For all of these things he will be remembered.