Bruce Lee - Only A Movie Star?

[lucidmist]

For slamming Bruce Lee.

Listen up. If Bruce Lee was "only a movie star", then you guys spouting this nonsense have literally insulted thousands of people taking JKD seriously, people who started JKD as beginners to martial arts, as well as people who have had trained in various forms of martial arts, including muay thai, and added JKD to their training. You have insulted all of these people, and from what? Your one-sided basis because you have your asses on your heads as brains? Have you guys met Bruce Lee? Have you guys fought him? Don't use childish or low remarks like, he's dead and all that crap. The point is, you don't know the man, you don't know anything. I could say I can take you, your daddy and your masters down, but I can't. Cos I don't know who you are, or who they are. They might be able to whoop my ass good. Just as possibly as Bruce can whoop yours. So watch what you claim. Basically, watch your mouth.

So the man used his skills to make it as a movie star. Anything wrong with that? That doesn't render him a false or weak martial artist. If someone's gonna offer you a movie deal where you can make tons of money with your skills and what you know, are you telling me you'll turn it down? And for accepting it, does it make you a lousier martial artist cos you're a, "movie star"? Not only did he become a martial arts star, he became an inspiration to many. Can you ever, in your lifetime, achieve what he had achieved? Tell me how many people you have inspired in your life, besides being a so-called "tough" martial artist.

And being a better fighter can prove what? Learning a better martial art can prove what? That you can own someone? Heck, if that's what martial arts is about, then that's really sad. Whether Bruce was real or was a farce, it really doesn't matter. He had good philosophies, theories, knowledge, techniques, ideals, principles and guts that could possibly surpass all of ours. And at least he knows that it's better to avoid a fight than get into one. That alone is bigger and better than all you braggarts screaming "i'm better" and "i'm gonna kick your ass" because why? Because it speaks of "maturity" and true understanding of what martial arts is about.

[intheshadow]

respond to lucidmist

Very well said. there seems to be an overall lack of repect, honor, and tradition developing in martial arts today. I don't know if due to the over popularity of mma schools that teach nothing but fighting or in general a sad comment on our current society as a whole. We should all dig deeper within ourselves and discover the true nature of martial arts.

[lucidmist]

Thanks...

Hey... thanks...

Yeah, it's sad how things are going now... many just want to be the "toughest" and talk tough, sharing insights on how he or she can beat someone up or which skill is the best for beating people up, while forgetting to share what martial arts is truly about, in essence and practice. The original people who started martial arts started it all for self-defense and defending the weak, not for sport or self-glorification. That's all forgotten. Or even if it isn't forgotten, most of the boards don't mention anything close to it, except things like what's tougher and who can best who, while insulting a multitude or arts and people at the same time.

Thanks again.

[Tom Yum]

There is more to the martial arts than just fighting -- it really boils down to the style that you choose and the reasons why you study the style. You can focus on the 'martial' side, the 'art' side or both.

The sports side allows martial artists to practice their trade within the legal bounds of the law. It can get competitive and there's nothing wrong with seeing whose the better prepaired fighter.

[lucidmist]

yes, definitely nothing wrong with seeing who's the more prepared fighter, and nothing wrong with competing.

but there's definitely something wrong when there's a lack of respect for others or school of martial arts. insults and putdowns, and viewing oneself as high and mighty or better than or above others are totally not what martial arts training teaches students to do, but sadly, many so-called practitioners do that all the time.

[Tom Yum]

but there's definitely something wrong when there's a lack of respect for others or school of martial arts. insults and putdowns, and viewing oneself as high and mighty or better than or above others are totally not what martial arts training teaches students to do, but sadly, many so-called practitioners do that all the time.

This is true.

This isn't just a martial arts thing; its a people thing. Martial artists are people subject to the same behaviors and influences as others.

However, in my personal experience of studying martial arts over a limited span of 12 years, I've found martial artists to be some of the best people to be around in terms of friendship and commitment.

I'm a religious person, whom is far from perfect in practice, but I've had more friends stick to me who label themselves as 'martial artists' than those who label themselves solely as 'religious'.

I know and believe that my Lord is with me at all times and has protected me, but when the poop hits the fan, friends and acquaintances whom are martial artists or warriors are the ones whom stick around, while most of those who call themselves religious are nowhere to be found...

Martial arts itself is somewhat of an equalizer; it doesn't matter what your image is, how much money you make, where you came from or whom your parents were. I've seen a 14 year old teen make a larger, well-respected corporate executive tap; I've seen men hold stances, perform precision movements and break things that men half their age would never consider -- if anything, confidence in martial artists is built largely on what they can do.

Martial artists, whether they focus their studies on the 'martial' or 'art' are a one of a kind people, Lucidmist. They aren't perfect people but they make some damn good friends.

[lucidmist]

all kinds of people around.

yup, it's true, in any circle, any industry, there're all kinds of people. definitely, i've got very good friends who are martial artists. we stand up for one another, but that doesn't mean we do not have conflicting views when it comes to respecting other styles or people. even if someday, everyone's gonna group together and stand against me and the ones who agree with me advocating that we should all have mutual respect, i will still make my stand. what difference then, are such people, if just because they can beat someone up, they assume they're better, or in a "better" style? that is not much different from a school bully. the bully mentality is always "i'm better than you" or "what i have or know is better than you". i'm not perfect either, but we all are not. so it's just a healthy argument where some people are putting down some styles and some masters, and i'm just saying every style has its pros and cons, and every master has his pros and cons. there is no style totally better than another, and no "supreme ultimate master".

if we say that this style is better than that, or that people like Bruce Lee are hoaxes, what is it based on? competitions? even IF there ever was a competition where two different people are trained under totally similar conditions, and achieve the same weight, height, power and knowledge of techniques, i'd still say it wouldn't be the judge of which style is better.

but of course, these are all my opinions, and to each his/her own. we all have a different aim. but the purpose of having etiquettes in any style, even muay thai, like bowing to one another, even in a fight competition between two styles, is a sign of mutual respect, taught to any martial arts practitioner from day 1. being humble is also stressed first and foremost in any style. to have all these drilled during training, yet forgotten the moment class is over, is simply sad. and even then, you don't need a martial arts class to understand that in life, it's better to stay humble than assume oneself is better than others.

you can say who are better friends to you than who and so on so forth. but i never said who wouldn't make a better friend. i'm talking about mutual respect for fellow martial artists and styles.

[lucidmist]

all kinds of people around.

also, religious people and martial artists are built on a totally different mentality. that's why we have people like yourself, a religious person who practises martial arts and will combine your martial spirit to stand up for people in need, whereas purely religious people have been mentally grounded that violence is just wrong. maybe it's better for them to be scared and call the cops than get into the mix, and maybe they're setting better examples as people by not stooping to violence. i don't know. but whatever it is, i have good friends who are martial artists and who are not martial artists. however, for me, even if someone or a group of people were to attack me, the first thing i'd ask is for all my friends, however good they are at fighting, to leave, because i simply do not wish to implicate good friends. knowing they'll back me up is of course, a very good thing.

anyway, like i said, it isn't about who's a better friend. it's about mutual respect and being humble.

[jubaji]

Ah, Mr. "Listen up" and "watch your mouth" is here too!

and talking about respect no less! That's funny!

[lucidmist]

my curt words were in reaction to people insulting styles and masters. styles that my friends and i and our teachers were related to, that our teachers have put in so much effort to build and shape. when you insult the styles, you're inadvertently insulting everyone trained in them. some of the insults were truly biased and based on no true knowledge of the systems. and it wasn't just words like, "that style is weak". more like "only old fogeys do that" or "that's a useless pile of trash" and worse stuff. my words may be curt, but nowhere as harsh as those, or even half as harsh as words like you yourself use at every other post. but for whatever it is, if my words were harsh and people like you can't handle it, i've already apologized previously for reacting the way i did.

whereas you, spouting insults at every post and forum, for what? proving you can finally "win" something over the internet cos you lose at everything else in real life? go look at all of your own posts, everything contains an insult after insult. you need a shrink, boy. even my son's above your immaturity.

stop being a crybaby. we get it!

[Tom Yum]

what difference then, are such people, if just because they can beat someone up, they assume they're better, or in a "better" style? that is not much different from a school bully. the bully mentality is always "i'm better than you" or "what i have or know is better than you".

I disagree.

Remember there's martial and art in the martial arts. People debate alot about the martial aspect, because its important to them. They want to be able to defend themselves or protect others. Add to it the competitive arena. Being able to compete among styles is a good thing, lucidmist.

Competition between styles is good because it benefits the martial side of the art and reflects on the stylists attributes, the style's strengths/weaknesses and the stylists ability to demonstrate his/her art at its best. Competition is like a research lab for stylists to see how these things come together, with the result being a victory, loss and alot of questions to be answered.

In the competitive arena there are those who demonstrate good sportsmanship and those who don't. For example, I'd say Randy Couture demonstrates excellent sportsmanship; I'd say that a fighter like Tank Abbot does not. Whether or not someone demonstrates good sportsmanship is no reason to discard the idea of competition.

[jubaji]

people have insulted taiji, and i trained in that plus others, and have friends trained in them.

If you have a problem with that then you need to respond to those specific comments rather than thinking you'll 'lay down the law' and make a fool of yourself right off the bat. In other words, calm the **** down and address specifics rather than busting in and telling everyone to "watch their mouths"



Oh, and btw

[lucidmist]

to jubaji, you're not worth my time. besides, looking at all your other posts, you basically have no idea what you're talking about, and you've never once addressed ANYTHING specifically, but throw insults. i did comment based on what the insults were, and my words were curt but nowhere near as harsh as your words, ANYWHERE in this forum. you've done it throughout. anyway, i really have no wish to have such a mindless argument. i've apologized, when even my words were nowhere near as bad as your insults everywhere else in the forum. you just want to pick trouble over the internet, that's fine. whatever i say, wrong or right, you'd still pick on it. look, truth is, you'd be happy to know i won't be arguing back much more.

to Tom Yum, thanks for all the constructive feedback. yes, competition is good. i've never disputed that. just that many winners, not all, upon winning, do not reflect or display the martial class of humility or respect for your opponents. they stamp on the opposite style, insult the practitioner. i have never insulted an opponent even when he's down. even the close friends that learn what little stuff i know from me, i'd tell them never to put down your opponent and his style or master just so he can go back to train in contempt, with vengeance as a mentality or motivation. that's just breeding the wrong example and mindset of how a true martial artists or winner should be.

ah, but of course if the opponent's someone from the streets who stoops to anything, hurting friends and family, then that's a different story. even though people may tell me i should be forgiving, it's hard to hold back. i'm just lucky, despite not being very strong or healthy, i'm still alive because such people are always around. but luck will always run out, especially if a person keeps thinking "i'm the best! i'm the best!". i choose to stay away from trouble, because it's math, sooner or later, someone else is gonna win. all martial artists should realize that.

i'm no master, or teacher. just someone who's faced too many real situations to know that even though you may walk out one after another scrap as the "winner", you go home more worried each time because you never know who's waiting around the corner for you, or who's gonna target your friends or family just because you have scorned or cause him insult. it's better to show more respect to others than give them reason to seek revenge someday.

[jubaji]

Bruce wants you to calm the **** down

to jubaji, you're not worth my time.

Well, apparently I am since you keep responding, jizzstache. You want to jump in here and 'lay down the law,' or you want to respond to individual posts with individual comments?

[lucidmist]

i respond because you have twisted my words, when your own words everywhere else were much worse than mine. don't worry chuckles, you can be happy you're the so-called "winner".