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My understanding is that Bruce Lee never trained/cross trained in Escrima or any other type of FMA. Although Dan Inosanto was one of his three "main" students, I think Dan was just beginning his own study of FMA at the time when Bruce Lee was heavily involved with his Hong Kong movie career, just before his untimely death. I have read some contradictions to this, claiming Lee indeed had "some" training in FMA ( proof of this is usually to cite his mastery of the nunchucks, which of course are Okinawan). Anyone know if Lee had any background in FMA?
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Why do you ask? Why do you care? -
"Why do you ask why I ask? Why do you care if I care?"Comment
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Hello Im new here but I can help with your question.
Bruce Lee did study and practice Filipino martial arts and possibly Silat. I have heard it said elsewhere that Dan Inosanto introduced Bruce Lee to Willem Reeders who had personal training sessions with Bruce Lee for several years. Apparently if you go to the VDT Academy in Bellflower California, they have copies of Bruce Lee's personal notes on Silat that he wrote/drew during and after his training with Reeders on the wall in the training hall. These notes were given to the VDT Academy by Inosanto who inherited them from Bruce Lee. I haven't confirmed this myself as I don't live in California. If anybody does, please check it out and verify the story!!!!! (With pictures!)
As far as the nunchaku, he was introduced to these by Dan Inosanto. Please note that the way Bruce uses the nunchaku in his movies is NOT in an Okinawan fashion. Watch any Okinawan Nunchaku instructional and you'll see a difference in usage. Ive heard it said the Filipino version of the nunchaku is used more like how Bruce used it.....primarily striking without much blocking/defense.
Any Kali/Escrima Bruce would have learned would have also come from Inosanto, I have not heard any stories of another Filipino master teaching Bruce Lee. If anybody knows otherwise, please correct me!
Hope this helps.
TC
Oh, and aseepish: This is a forum to discuss martial arts, etc. Why are you telling him hes not allowed to discuss this? You a moderator?Comment
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Guro Inosanto exposed Bruce Lee to the Filipino Martial Arts to a certain extent, but by his own admission it was not an extensive study. Mr Lee's primary interest, at that time period, was the asthetic and theatrical qualities of the arts due to the primary focus on his film career. To that extent, according to Mr Inosanto, Mr Lee enjoyed the Double Stick and the Tabak-Toyok (nunchaku). The use of both, and other weapory, can be clearly see in latter films. However, as a focussed endeavour in the practical application of the martial arts, Mr Lee did not engage in any extensive study. This is not a reflection on FMA, more a result of Mr Lee's focus at that time, which was on his film career. The progression of Jeet Kune Do had been left with Mr Lee's respective instructors at the three branches.
TopCrusader - we welcome your input, but aseepish is a long standing and respected member of the forum, he knows why we are here. I suspect his question stems from the fact that many of the posts in the JKD forum carry some kind of underlying political motivation.Comment
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Michael Wright - Yeah I understand, I forgot the "political" stuff that can happen around JKD, my apologies to aseepish. Anyhow, my comment above about Silat, have you ever heard that before? I dont recall right now where I heard of Willem Reeders, hopefully the story is true and not just made up. Any insight? Also, not to stir up too much of a hornets nest but if you recall I believe Paul Vunak's "26 fighting elements" of Jun Fan from his book (and other articles), Filipino Sikaran is listed. I am not familar with this name, is it just meaning filipino fighting arts in general?
Thanks
TCComment
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Hi, thanks for the reply.
That story may well be true, I hadn't heard it before and I read it with interest. I know Mr Lee was exposed to Silat at some stage, so what you have heard may be right.
It is a bit of a hornet's nest but the introduction of the Filipino Martial Arts into the Jun Fan matrix came from Guro Inosanto, not Bruce Lee. It is important to remember that Mr Lee left Guro Inosanto with an outline for the development of the art and gave him an open remit to continue the work that had been done.
If its OK, lets leave that conversation there, it will be guaranteed to bring out the politics. I haven't posted on the forum for quite a while, I really don't want to get into a ruck on my first day back
Good talking to you.Comment
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Welcome back Mr. Wright!
It was not my intention to put a leash on anyone's discussion or opinion. I caught a whiff of politics and tend to have a bit of a reaction to that sort of thing. I blame the whiskey.Comment
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Thanks everyone for the information.
My intention was simply to learn if indeed Mr. Lee had trained in FMA (and it would seem Indonesian MA as well). I tend to follow the Inosanto approach to JKD and have a strong interest in Dumog and certain aspects of Escrima, so I am not out to "purge" FMA from JKD in anyway.
In the past two decades I have spoken to individuals or read articles or various pieces from all over the spectrum on this; Bruce Lee was an accomplished Escrimador, to Bruce Lee never studied or wanted to study FMA. In this instance it would seem the "truth really does lie in between".Comment
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Thanks for clarifying!Comment
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Bruce had exposure to FMA but didn't pursue an active study of it.Originally posted by HybriDD1 View Post
Lee actually advised Inosanto to abandon FMA as Lee felt as though in real combat FMA had little value.
Do a little research and you'll find and interview where Inosanto himself states this.
Michael Wright is correct about FMA coming from Inosanto. Lee wouldn't have it as a part of his system.
Isn't that interesting????Comment
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thanks for listing us as well (Trinity group). I was going to do a less detailed reply...ie JKD Family / Trinity / Kombat. There's also the Brian Zarnet's group that comes through Burton Richardson's JKD Unlimited and Vunak's PFS.
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In interviewing some first generation, "original JKD instructors" I believe Dan was Bruce's main influence in FMA. You can check out some of the interviews I've done with top JKD instructors at JKD Newsletter - Jeet Kune Do, JKD, Jeet Kune Do Instruction, Bruce Lee Jeet Kune Do, Jeet Kune Do Training, Jeet Kune Do Instructors, techniques training, and JKD DVD distance learning, jeet kune do videos, jkd videos, learn jkd, classes, martial arComment
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Bruce studied a variety of martial arts for conceptual similarities in kinetics, whether or not he was taught by high ranking individuals in the filipino arts is a healthy but yet pointless inquiry. His functional analysis of the human mechanism and the applied physics was the core of every segmentation he studied. The unifying factor being the hand controls the weapon, (for weapons), the body can express its attributes with a scientific efficiency, but conceptual frameworks applied within a dynamic setting influence the subconscious reflex progressively, regressively and static. It is my opinion that bruce wouldn't of cared if the filipino instructor had a great title, fancy certificate or 9 black belts. He was searching for a way to reflect his own efficiency through the mediums of practicality.Comment
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That story may well be true, I hadn't heard it before and I read it with interest. I know Mr Lee was exposed to Silat at some stage, so what you have heard may be right.
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