Bruce Lee: Yet Another Commentary

Let me start off by saying that I am a fan of Bruce Lee. I grew up in the seventies and watched a lot of martial arts movies that featured Bruce and all of his clones (Bruce Li, Bruce Lei, Dragon Li, and so on.) I have dog-eared the "Tao Of Jeet Kune Do", and seen "Enter The Dragon" at least three times. I've seen "Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story" five or six times and visit the Jeet Kune Do web sites whenever I get the chance. I have taken some of the advise that he offers in the Tao as part of my training, and had even at one point used some of his stances in my stage show when I was rapping.

However, I do NOT believe Bruce Lee was some sort of demi-god NOR do I think that he was the greatest fighter of the 20th century. Let's face it, he had a few major flaws in his outlook on the martial arts which I think were based on the fact that HE had a lot of natural talent, so he may have felt that some aspects of traditional training were unnecessary. I am sure that were he alive and in his prime, he could kick MY butt. I'd be willing to bet that there are people around who are better fighters than he is, albeit, very FEW. I still would only be but so afraid if I met him in a real fight because in a real fight, I can always hit him over the head with the nearest object if I really feel like I'm in for a heavy defeat. My "ghetto style" allows for dirty fighting. I would also have the size and weight advantage, so IF I got lucky, I may be able to stun him with one good shot and escape before he shook it off. Yet and still, even I would not be foolish enough to step into a ring with someone of his ability unless I can get paid over a million dollars just for showing up!

Where Bruce Was Wrong

Bruce Lee was wrong when he said that forms are a waste of time. Forms are VERY important. Lee felt that the "hidden moves pacify the unknowledgeable martial artist", that they are like "colored leaves" that young children see as "gold". That simply is not true. The problem is that a lot of teachers don't know what the movements in the the forms MEAN. The forms contain a lot of grappling motions, joint locks, and pressure point strikes that are arranged in a logical sequence in order for them to be learned by the body. Of course no one can apply them EXACTLY as they are presented in the form, but one can learn the principles. It is just like a musician learning to play scales: the scales teach certain basic concepts and patterns that are found in real music. No one expects a person to play a scale note for note when performing or improvising. Yet, learning the scales provide a basis for self-expression that makes sense given the context of a particular type of song. The same applies to fighting.

Bruce Lee was not completely accurate in his criticism of classical styles. He felt that the classical approach had outlived it's usefulness, that the stances were too cumbersome, and that "nobody moves like that in a real fight!" He was WRONG. One problem is that some of those stances are expected to be TRANSITORY. They are meant to someone move to a more stable position, and the practitioner is expected to still be light on his or her feet. Contrary to what Mr. Lee said, some of those stances, like the horse stance, actually DO work, provided they are used at the right time and place. I've had the forward stance work ON me, and the horse stance work FOR me. I've seen the horse stance and the fugal stance work on SOMEONE ELSE. I saw a classical, upper rising block used as a deflection and an arm-press simultaneously against an opponent who was twice the defender's size and half the defender's age in a REAL FIGHT. I have used the hip-throw from Judo on people. I saw a clip on "Real TV" where a gang member nailed a guy with a flying front kick. I also saw another clip where a guy pulled of a roundhouse kick to the HEAD. I know that these techniques work. You just have to know HOW they work and WHEN to use them. In other words, Bruce Lee's problem was that his interpretation of classical techniques was too literal. I'm sure that he is not the only martial artist that has made this mistake. I know that I have.

Bruce was wrong to have not fought in any contests of notible record. If he were on record for defeating a lot of people, a lot of his critics would have no choice but to shut up.

Where Bruce Was Right

Bruce Lee was RIGHT more than he was wrong.

Bruce Lee was right about the importance he placed on physical fitness. Although I admit he may have been a little overzealous in his training methods, I must admit that the aspect of being in shape is overlooked in a lot of schools. I've seen too many students who get winded easily and don't have enough upper body strength. I've seen too many martial artists whose flexibility is lacking, or who need to lose weight (myself included). I know that we are told that technique is the most important thing. That may be true. But, that does not mean that technique is the only thing that is imporant. My strength, flexibility, speed, and endurance have enabled me to hang with people with superior technique when sparring because my body has the ability to yield to blows that I know would have injured or maimed other people. If two people of equal skill are matched, the stronger person will defeat the weaker person. Besides, it will take YEARS before you get to the point where your technique is so strong that you don't need to rely on strength. Until then, wouldn't it be nice to be able to survive a 30 second fight without feeling like your lungs are about to explode? Besides, if you want that superior skill, you are going to have to expend a lot of effort PHYSICALLY to attain it. Yes, I think this is true even for those of you who practice an internal martial art. In the short run, ALL arts are external, and in the long run, ALL arts are INTERNAL.

Bruce Lee was right when he stressed the importance of studying boxing. The bob, weave, slip, hook, and jab have saved me more times than I care to remember. In addition, the average streetfighter knows some boxing, so it would behoove anyone who is learning self defense to get a grasp on what is considered common knowledge. A combination of eastern and western hand technique is hard to beat. In addition, boxing teaches you how to fight up close and how to take a punch. Practically every martial arts school I have been to adds in some boxing to their repetoire. A pair of fast hands is hard to beat.

Bruce Lee was also one of the first people to go public about mixing styles. I know a lot of us have been sold the bill of goods that the style we happen to be studying is the best, but the truth of the matter is THERE IS NO BEST STYLE. Since each style has it's strength and weaknesses, the key is to study a few different styles so that you become a well rounded fighter. I have heard this mentioned in a old WuTang Kung Fu flick! You better believe that if, for instance, a man claims to be a master of TangSooDo, he has also studied some boxing, Taekwondo, Judo, Yudo (Korean Judo) and/or Jujitsu. The masters have been studying different styles for years; Bruce Lee just let the rest of us know about it. If I may quote a Wing Chung master I once talked to, he stated that "Bruce Lee was doing Wing Chung. Even his Jeet Kune Do was Wing Chung. Wing Chung masters have been studying different styles for YEARS." The Ultimate Fighting Championship and other contests of mixed styles probably would not have come into being had Bruce Lee not blown the lid on cross-training. I think that people began fragmenting the different styles based on one reason--the Almighty Dollar: if you want to make money off of students, you may want to convince them that they can learn all they need to know from YOU.

Bruce Lee was also right when he stress the importance of knowing yourself in a fight. The most important work that you will do is to get to know what you can and cannot do in a confrontation. How else are you going to improve if you don't know yourself? How else are you going to learn how to fight if you don't eventually involve yourself with a live opponent? Punching, kicking and grappling the air is nice, but the air does not hit back. Sparring is an important part of training. It may not be the ONLY part of training, but it is important. I would submit to you that I think that NO ASPECT OF TRAINING SHOULD BE NEGLECTED.

Why I Think Some People Want to Discredit Bruce Lee

I think that many people want to discredit Bruce Lee out of arrogance and envy.

There is a bread of intellectual that happens to think that ANYTHING or ANYONE who is revered by the masses is inferior to something or someone worshipped by the Few. This elitism rears its head from time to time in the martial arts. Since Jeet Kune Do is not considered a traditional martial art, I am sure that a lot of classical teachers see it as lacking structure, and therefore, meaningless. They forget that Bruce Lee said in the "Tao of Jeet Kune Do" that no one should "reject the classical approach completely, or you will only end up creating another box and trapping yourself there." Mr. Lee was big on training without becoming narrowminded.

I also think that some people are jealous of his noteriety. They know that no matter how good they become, they will never reach the level of legend that he did. Although these people may be strong in their art, I submit to you that they are weak in their sense of security.

Conclusion

Why I may disagree with some of the ideas that Bruce Lee, I still say that the JeetKuneDo philosophy is sound. I will continue to read from his book as long as I am a martial artist, even if I am learning more of the "fancy mess" that he calls katas. Like it or not, he shook the martial arts world at its foundation. I still don't think that a lot of the narrowminded people out there will ever hear his message. Too bad. They will just have to be content to get floored the next time they are hit with an unorthodox technique.

The Creative Brother,