Enough About Bruce Lee

[Great Sage]

Can we put an end to this Bruce Lee nonsense...? The guy's dead for crying out loud. Obviously he's a pinoneer in the martial arts and people love him for that... No harm done. I'm not sure what's worse, people trying to discredit him or worship him?

Bruce is probably rolling over in his grave at all the turmoil he's caused...

[Lizard]

It's the revolution!

[Akuma Kage]

Ever heard of Emin Boztepe? I often wonder who is faster at chain punching. It would have been interesting to see.

[Akuma Kage]

Come to think of it, I realize that the whole reason so many people worship or scorn Bruce Lee is because he paved the way for combining martial arts systems and saying " It's whatever works for you." So many people believe now that by adding a dash of this and a pinch of that, they can have what is known as " The ultimate martial art " and profit from it. I honestly think that it's ricockulous that so many people worship him. I mean, it's nice and all to remember the one who pioneered through the turmoil so that others could benefit in the future, but people should stick more to the idea that it's what will work best for themselves. I guess it's kinda like the A-Team; no one really remembers all the interesting weapons and vehicles they constructed---they just remember that while they were doing it, Mr. T would say, " I pity the fool...", and revere him for his catchy cleverness.

[sercuerdas]

emin is badass, a well trained well conditioned wc fighter.

i believe the whole bruce thing is "the older i get the better i was " thing. he has been dead for so long the legend grows, and it's easy to say anything now because there is no way to prove it.

i'm as tried of it as anyone else, it's gotten really old.

[Szczepankiewicz]

Ahhh Bollocks! I never get tired of hearing about Bruce Lee or bashing Taekwondo!

To disregard either is to challenge the very foundations of internet debate!

You should be ashamed to even think about it!

Blasphemers!!!!!

[RobertG]

Originally posted by Akuma Kage
Come to think of it, I realize that the whole reason so many people worship or scorn Bruce Lee is because he paved the way for combining martial arts systems and saying " It's whatever works for you."

Really Bruce was not the first to combine systems. That has really been going on for a long, long time. In modern times, especially so--both Judo and Shotokan Karate were fusions of many different systems. In the case of Judo, Kano actually ditched the stuff that didn't work or was inefficient. Guy's like Donn Draeger were studying dozens and dozens arts before Bruce thought of it. Most of the modern Silat systems are in fact hybrids of numerous, often quite different, Silat systems. The same goes for some FMA's. This sort of thing was going on all the time. Certainly a lot of hard headed traditionalists were stuck in the my single art is the best mode and thanks to Bruce's popularity as a movie star he was able to popularize cross-training. But its always gone on.

[BB Wolf]

Originally posted by RobertG


Really Bruce was not the first to combine systems. That has really been going on for a long, long time. In modern times, especially so--both Judo and Shotokan Karate were fusions of many different systems. In the case of Judo, Kano actually ditched the stuff that didn't work or was inefficient. Guy's like Donn Draeger were studying dozens and dozens arts before Bruce thought of it. Most of the modern Silat systems are in fact hybrids of numerous, often quite different, Silat systems. The same goes for some FMA's. This sort of thing was going on all the time. Certainly a lot of hard headed traditionalists were stuck in the my single art is the best mode and thanks to Bruce's popularity as a movie star he was able to popularize cross-training. But its always gone on.

Don't forget Kajukenbo. It was created in the 40's in Hawaii.

[RobertG]

Thanks BB Wolf. I did overlook Kajukenbo. After you mentioned that I looked up the history of Kajukenbo. At least 12 arts went into it and covering all ranges of combat (from the ground to weapons). It sounds as about ideal a way to go about evolving an art--a bunch of black belts from different styles training together in a rough part of Hawaii. Some of their ideas pretty much parallel JKD ideas (as far as students learning to express themselves through their art and not fit themselves to a set mold).

[Half-Asleep]

Bruce lee was a great martial artist. I believe all martial artists can learn something from him as he was very good. I don't think it is good to focus to much on what he did or u are ignoring what he sed. But i believe there is a time and a place for bruce lee's philosophies to come into play.

[Lizard]

Yes half asleep but you also do nimpo and beleive that aikido is good for self defense, I won't mention the horse/high kick argument.... D'oh!

[Szczepankiewicz]

If Lizard has a point you may be in trouble. He can spot a stupid post miles away in the dark.

He is the undisputed master of silliness.

[BB Wolf]

Originally posted by RobertG
Thanks BB Wolf. I did overlook Kajukenbo. After you mentioned that I looked up the history of Kajukenbo. At least 12 arts went into it and covering all ranges of combat (from the ground to weapons). It sounds as about ideal a way to go about evolving an art--a bunch of black belts from different styles training together in a rough part of Hawaii. Some of their ideas pretty much parallel JKD ideas (as far as students learning to express themselves through their art and not fit themselves to a set mold).

I could be wrong but I do believe that Bruce Lee did a little training with Charles Gaylord, one of the Kajukenbo guys who brought it to the mainland. I know they knew each other through the martial arts circuit. I spent a number of years studying Kajukenbo with a guy from the Gaylord line. It's (especially among its more progesssive elements) an effective combatives art that is still evolving and adapting to the needs of a self defense oriented martial artist .

[RobertG]

Originally posted by Lizard
Yes half asleep but you also do nimpo and beleive that aikido is good for self defense, I won't mention the horse/high kick argument.... D'oh!

Lizard you ruckus maker you! And I was going to lay off of him about the ninjitsu.

[Lizard]

Haha you can't hurt me, I'm descended from the GayLord line!