Stop worshipping Bruce

[swisscom]

Hmmm, well I dont know a whole lot about Bruce Lee, nor do I know a lot about JKD. But as far as I know, he basically took the best concepts from every martial art, and made his own? I think thats what it is. Well anyway... you all hate on him for getting too much undeserved attention. What if a doctor studied every possible way of healing a body, and then noticed some things work better than others, so he became one of the greatest doctors in the world. Any doctor would respect the fact that this one man has studied every possible way of healing. So, in retrospect, shouldnt every fighter at least respect what Bruce Lee has accomplished, I respect the fact that he devoted his life to martial arts, and that he was probably the greatest fighter on Earth. You guys shouldnt hate on him if you're actually interested in fighting either. Otherwise your just being an ignorant prick. Until you are willing to do what he did, shut the hell up, kthxbye.

[47MartialMan]

My opinion is as follow:

Bruce Lee was way ahead of his time in terms of the reality of the Martial Arts (of waht's real and what's useless crap.) If he were to fight great fighters of today, how would he fare? He would've gotten his ass whupped. But we need to rationalize that had he know about MMA then what we now know about the reality of martial arts, he would've been a great fighter even by today's standard. Let's say if at his physical peak, we can bring him back and train in a combination of standup and ground, he could be one of the best, if not the best in his weight class and maybe more.

So what I am saying is that No, he should not be worshiped, but yes, he should be respected as one of the pioneers of martial arts in the west and he was way ahead of his time. Just ask, how many of us, or who we know, can say that he/she is way ahead of his/her time right now?

come on...how ca anyone truely state that bruce would have got wupped from anyone per se' surely, there will alwyas be someone better....but bruce died on a throne to which no one could physically toppel...

[SimonM]

Hmmm, well I dont know a whole lot about Bruce Lee, nor do I know a lot about JKD. But as far as I know, he basically took the best concepts from every martial art, and made his own?



he was probably the greatest fighter on Earth.

No actually he didn't; he took some concepts from Wing Chun, added in Boxing footwork, northern kicks and some Judo and said: Voila - JKD. As my Sifu said: he just did what Kung Fu masters had been doing in China for centuries anyway, he just did it in the spotlight.

He also was probably not the greatest fighter on Earth. Wong Jack Man probably would have beat him if he had agreed to a remtch, Chan Tai San would have eaten him for breakfast and that's just two off of the top of my head.

Bruce Lee was a decent martial artist and a very entertaining actor but he was no more the world's greatest fighter than Jet Li. In fact Jet holds more titles and records than Bruce.

[47MartialMan]

Bruce Lee was a decent martial artist and a very entertaining actor but he was no more the world's greatest fighter than Jet Li. In fact Jet holds more titles and records than Bruce.

Jet Li holds what titles?

[SimonM]

Jet Li holds what titles?

Chinese National Wushu Championship: Childrens Division once, Adult Division four times, quit competition after that and entered the movie business soon after. To this day no single person has won as many Chinese National Wushu Championships.

To the best of my recollection Bruce held no official competition record and had a legacy of questionable challenge matches (such as Wong Jack Man) I admit I could be wrong.

[MatthewAlphonso]

... He also was probably not the greatest fighter on Earth. Wong Jack Man probably would have beat him if he had agreed to a remtch, Chan Tai San would have eaten him for breakfast and that's just two off of the top of my head.

Not to mention, Pai Mei, he would just kill him after ripping out an eye.

But anyway, the Wong Jack Man/Bruce Lee fight actually ended in a draw and they agreed not to discuss it publicly. Lee took this and used it to his advantage and said that he had beat an unnamed challenger.

Furthermore, the fight was NOT over whether or not Lee could teach whites, Man, and other Chinese, had been teaching whites for years before Lee even arrived on the scene.

[SimonM]

But anyway, the Wong Jack Man/Bruce Lee fight actually ended in a draw and they agreed not to discuss it publicly. Lee took this and used it to his advantage and said that he had beat an unnamed challenger.

True. But here are two less-known points about that fight:

1: WJM claimed that his best weapon were his kicks. Through the course of the fight, because he was attempting to discredit Bruce Lee's Wing Chun (this was before JKD) he chose to restrict himself from using kicks.

2: When Bruce Lee claimed to beat an unnamed challenger shortly after the fight with WJM he was called on it. WJM posted an open invitation to a rematch in local newspapers and Bruce Lee never replied. They never fought again.

So I tend to think that both Lee and Wong were aware that Wong would be the likely victor of a second match including kicking techniques.

This is part of the reason I can't watch "Dragon: the Bruce Lee Story" without laughing.

[fenwick99]

re

Talk to Jesse Glover and James DeMile if you wish to know what really happened in Lee vs. Wong. Also, if Lee could hold his own with guys like Wong Shung Leung of WC and Master Mark of Southern Mantis, why would you think that some Iron Buddha expert ( wong jak man) would stand evewn the slightest chance against Bruce?
I will no longer visit this or any forum. Too much thought without knowledge.

Too much talk without wisdom.

[EGstudent]

I believe that anybody who "worships" Bruce Lee does not understand the meaning of JKD. Bruce Lee was the "finger pointing to the moon" he was showing the way to JKD.
"Don't keep your eyes on the finger or else you'll miss all the heavenly glory."

[BeingAtOne]

This thread never ends its almost the same stuff over and over again just drop it your not going to change eachothers minds and your driving me nuts and i think almost everyone lese here aswell.

[kosmo yagkoto]

I think that Bruce was a great martial artist but I think just people in general over-rate Bruce. I once asked people around at my school who would win in a no holds barred fight between Bruce Lee and Mike Tyson( in his prime). Every single person said Bruce Lee except me. But Bruce was good at what he did, even though there is no way that he would have beat down Mike Tyson.

[Onaga]

well lizard, i support you 100% about how Bruce Lee shouldn't be worshipped but at least the don't make it a religeon like some people(i read somewhere that people are using "theForce" as a religeon). Or do they......

*waves hand in a meaningfull manner* you read nothing... move along....

anyway, I agree with this, he should not be worshipped, the man had flaws, allthough a very intelligent martial artist, and he developed a lot if ideas that caused controversy in the classical martial arts, he was still just a human being, he had flaws just like the rest of us.

Worshipped? no way

Respected for what he brought to the martial arts? DEFFINATELY

[Sensei Saki]

Not many people express themselves that way.Did you see the movement?I'm glad we agree. You and your this he should not be worshipped the man had flaws allthough a very intelligent martial artist and he developed a lot if ideas that caused controversy in the classical martial arts he was still just a human being he had flaws just like the rest of us.
Try to determine if this is a person or a computer responding.Are you serious?
Try to determine if this is a person or a computer responding.
Try saying that with more or less context.

[robertlee]

Im finding in todays youth. Several have not heard of Bruce. And Jeet kune Do Is being practiced by more people Today. It may be popular. But not where Bruce was ever worshiped. Some uneducated people to his art. Will over rate it and him. But people who train and go on understand there needs and see Bruce more as for what he did and what he helped expose to there learning.

[fenwick99]

well

not to worship the man: but could he REALLY...
1. punch at .05 speed
2. punch at 760 psi
3. lock out 125 lb. in the front
4. thrust his fingers thru a full tin coke can
or
5. kick a 300 lb. bag horizontal from a dead standstill or
6. snatch a 135 lb. dumbell (equal to his own wght.)?
I am twice lee's size and I have never come close to, or seen anyone at any bodyweight lock out f*****g 125.
so, are these exaggerations,or are they true?
ps- Jesse Glover saw Bruce the day after the WJM fight. He was willing to confirm Linda's story at one pt. don't know about now.