Bruce Lee - Martial Arts pioneer and/or film star or only the right man in the right place at the right time?

To give this question a fair answer, I will tackle it on three fronts. Firstly I will examine Bruce’s rise as a film star, then I will explore the notion as to whether he pioneered martial arts in the 20th century. Finally, I will examine whether all his efforts and outcomes were down to good fortune.

Was Bruce a movie star? To some people Bruce was a godsend to the world of martial arts. To others he was a problem in the pursuit of maintaining tradition. Notwithstanding from this, the role Bruce played in raising the profile of martial arts to the masses in unquestionable.

It was inevitable that Bruce would become involved in acting when at the age of three months Bruce appeared with his farther in “Golden Gate Girl” albeit as a girl. Before he reached his teens Bruce had completed 20 films based in Asia. The theatrical flare in Bruce’s character also lead him to study dance and at the age of 18 he wins the crown colony cha-cha championships. Growing up in such an environment could only have lead to one real outcome, that of acting.

From the time that Bruce started to train in wing chun (aged 13) acting became less important and martial arts seemed to be the new passion. From the age o 18-24, martial arts were Bruce’s passport to new opportunities, which I will examine later.

In 1964 Bruce attended a martial arts demonstration on invitation from Ed Parker, known as the farther of American karate. Bruce demonstrates his “one inch punch”, 2 finger press-ups and a host of other moves. At the event is Jay Sebring who is looking to cast a part in a new T.V show. Some time later, a friend of Sebring offers Bruce a screen test. In 1965 Bruce signs to appear in the “Green hornet” and in 1966 filming begins.

In my opinion, this is the real turning point Bruce was looking for. Gaining contacts and airtime in the US could not have given Bruce a better platform from which to promote himself. Even though the “Green Hornet” wasn’t the big success in the US that Bruce was looking for, it did left his profile in his homeland.

From 1967-71, Bruce lands bit parts in various films and TV series in the US. However, from reading various materials about Bruce, what he was doing was not fulfilling enough. At this time, Bruce had developed close friendships with Stirling Silliphant and James Coburn. Bruce had many ideas for films and TV programmes that where not coming to the forefront. The three worked together to produce a script for the “silent flute”, which never came to anything much to Bruce’s disappointment.

I would have to say the second major step in Bruce’s acting career came when he went to Hong Kong with Brandon (his son) in 1970. As well as being a major star in Hong Kong because of the “Green Hornet”, Bruce tries to instigate negotiations for a film contract with the Run Run Shaw Company. Although nothing became of the negotiations, Bruce’s intentions are firmly broadcast to the Asian film industry. A year later Bruce returns to Hong Kong where he is approached by Ramond Chow who offers him the lead in a new film called “The Big Boss”, which is then followed by “Game of death” and “The way of the dragon”.

The significance of this time during each of his films is the level of success they grossed and the increasing amount of control Bruce gains during each film. This was characteristic of Bruce and the way he promoted the realism of martial arts, rather then just the dramatised version we are accustomed to today. Bruce’s ideas for fighting in films where to make them as realistic as possible, which again came to the forefront in “Enter the Dragon”.

In Asia Bruce had made it big, people swamped him at the sets and at home. However, he still had a longing to establish himself in Hollywood. In 1973 Bruce’s biggest break came. For the first time US and Hong Kong film crews collaborated for “Enter the dragon”. This I feel is the single most important martial arts movie to be made because it brings together western and eastern fighters and shows the paying public the dynamics of martial arts.

With US backing and the death of Bruce, “Enter the Dragon” became the benchmark for all other martial arts films to follow. Whenever you ask someone to name a martial arts movie, they will almost undoubtedly say, “Enter the Dragon”. Ask people to name a martial arts movie star, and I’m sure they will say Bruce Lee.

Bruce’s desire to bring martial arts to the masses was never more evident when he quoted in 1969.

“I, Bruce Lee, will be the first highest paid oriental superstar in the US. In return, I will give the most exciting performance and render the best of quality in the capacity of an actor.”

Therefore, I don’t feel that it was an accident that Bruce sought stardom; neither do I feel that what he did on screen was pointless. Children today aspire to emulate what he did in his films. Internet sights, film fairs and bookstores donate vast amounts of time and space to his film career. After “Enter the Dragon”, his 3 previous films were re-released grossing millions of dollars in Asia and in the US.

100’s of look-alike Bruce Lee’s tried to make martial arts films (Bruce Li & Bruce Le). Only really can Jackie Chan lay claim to appealing to the martial arts market with his own style of stunts and action. Recently, Jean Claude and Steven Seagal have made an impact on the film industry, but I still remain steadfast that without Bruce’s explosive fighting style and action sequences, these aspiring actors would have nothing from which to make a judgement from.

As to whether Bruce was a pioneer of Martial arts, again I would have to say, “YES”. Although the modern day movie star has once again promoted martial arts, the Hollywood element does over dramatising what you see. Reading an interview entitled “Training with the Dragon” Ted Wong states:

“I think Bruce would be pleased with martial arts today. A lot of people are applying his philosophies and principles to what they study”

This seems to be the case now with most new martial arts clubs in the world. Rather than offering one specific style, instructors are seeing the benefits of “cross training”. Previously, students’ would take Karate class and a Judo class and then try and merge the two elements together, which would probably result in a complete mess. However, a whole new host of clubs now exist taking Bruce’s principles and delivering them as one.

When Bruce started training at the age of 13 with Yip Man, the beginnings of JKD started to evolve. The aspiration to learn and develop, train hard and apply what he was learning to real situations emerged. You could also argue that because he wasn’t particularly welcome by Yip Man’s other students’, that this motivated him more to become better than them.

I would also put down his street fighting career as an aid to the development of JKD. He would often apply the techniques of Wing Chun to his fights, but they did not always work, therefore he would look for more effective ways of dealing with the problem.

1959-61 sees a significant step in the move towards the development of JKD. When Bruce moves to Seattle, he stars to teach Gung Fu in back yards and city parks. He continues to do so when he enrols at the University of Washington. It is here where I feel another major development takes place. When Bruce arrives in the US he notices the difference in size and height of western people. Knowing that traditional arts would be ineffective against these bigger opponents, Bruce begins to look at how he would deal with them. Elements of speed, single movements, footwork and combining style became a focal point of research. It wasn’t until some years later (1965) that the concept of JKD was born. The idea is to include all style of arts so that all eventualities could be dealt with. Bruce would only take what was useful from each art and break it down to its simplest form.

He states:

“JKD was really intended as a means of self discovery or enlightenment.”

People would get caught up with the notion of learning what Bruce was teaching, not learning what was good for them.

“When you go with a particular style, you’re expressing that style, you are not expressing yourself”
Bruce Lee

Ted Wong says that: “The way Bruce taught and trained was always individualised. He would gear the training to work for you.” I think for a while, the reputation he made for himself from his 3 classes, his demonstrations and his TV work attracted people to him. Seeing a small Asian man doing one-finger press-ups and the one-inch punch was all a bit mysterious for some people. I would imagine that his infuriated him at times because they didn’t understand what it was all about.

Another major reason as to why I feel Bruce was a pioneer of martial arts came through in his films. Traditional martial arts films had men leaping 50ft in the air and throwing 20 punches before they hit he ground again. Bruce took this as ridiculous and applied realism to his work.

I believe this destroyed a lot of the myths of martial arts for the man on the street. Bruce was showing that you didn’t have to break bricks with your toes to be considered a tough fighter or a good martial artist.

“Boards don’t hit back”
Bruce Lee, Enter the Dragon

It seem s bizarre too suggest this, however, when Bruce injured his sacral nerve in 1970, he did the martial arts world a favour by getting injured. Whilst recovering in hospital Bruce starts to compose “The Tao of Jeet Kune Do”. Although Bruce would express that the principle of JKD was that there was “No Way”, it still needs to be documented.

Techniques, training methods, attacks and defence methods were recorded. A lot of his thought and philosophies were also included in the hope that people would understand the meaning of JKD. This again was another contributing factor to the way he pioneered martial arts.

I think the main influencing factor for me as to why he pioneered martial arts was his outlook and opinions of other martial arts. Traditional martial arts like Gung Fu and Karate would never be “interlinked”. Teachers would be very loyal to their art and would only teach students’ from their home country. Very few western students’ would receive favourable treatment in Asian martial arts clubs. Bruce dismissed attempts by other teachers in the US when they opposed his teaching style and teaching none Asian students’. In my opinion, a brave move yet something that epitomises the man and what JKD is all about. So not only was he pioneering a new martial art, it was more so a new way of thinking.

The final part of this essay doesn’t really need a great deal of contemplation. The right man in the right place at the right time can be applied to anyone and any situation. Nobody would say the Beatles were a lucky group or that Elvis was manufactured like so many boy bands are today. So why suggest that what Bruce achieved and what he left behind was in any way lucky.

Nobody forced him to train in martial arts; nobody coaxed him into developing his own methods and ways of thinking. I do believe in fate and making your own luck, and that’s what I feel is applicable to Bruce.

Going backwards and forwards from the US and Hong Kong did serve a purpose in his life, but its what you make of it when you get there. Studying at the university and teaching at the same time highlights an ambition to succeed. Working hard to open 3 clubs in the US demonstrates his business intentions and a means of bring his philosophies to the masses. And instigating his own TV and film career was no accident.

The only certain thing you can say about Bruce when it comes to being the right man in the right place at the right time, was the fact that he was born into an acting family. But again so have many other current film stars: Michael Douglas, Jamie Lee Curtis and Peter Fonda to name but a few. Certain qualities, traits and mannerisms would have been passed down to Bruce by his mother and farther and growing up around actors and actresses could have been responsible for Bruce’s performances in his films. Although Bruce didn’t have to go into acting and he didn’t have to take up dancing, but he did, and it paid off for him.

When Bruce died in July 1973, great speculation erupted as to the cause of his death. Some people said he was cursed, some said he was killed by triads, others said he was killed by a Dim Mak (Death touch) The only thing that can be said for certain is that the coroner recorded death by cerebral edema (swelling of the brain).

Over 25000 people attended Bruce’s ceremony in Hong Kong and in Seattle Bruce is buried at Lake view cemetery USA. Even in death, Bruce brings out the stars, Steve McQueen and Lames Coburn act as pallbearers along with Dan Inosanto and Robert Lee. Many people still visit his graveside today to pay their respects and to say that they have touched his gravestone.

I suppose the saddest thing of all is that he achieved worldwide fame for “Enter the Dragon” after he died. The film became a cult and so did Bruce. I can remember growing up playing Kung Fu fighting in the playground and at home simply because of “Enter the Dragon”. Every young boy would make the chicken sound when fighting and performing kicks that would cause more damage to themselves than anyone else. There is no doubt in my mind that Bruce had an impact on western martial arts. At some point or another martial arts students’ would make some kind of reference to Bruce when training or generally talking to each other.

The impact that JKD has created, especially after his death, has generated a new wave of martial artists. People are more open to learning new styles and “Cross Training”. People are less reluctant to reject new ways of thinking and teaching martial arts. But most important of all is that there are people who are willing to carry on the legacy of Bruce Lee.

To become a genuine movie star doesn’t happen over night. To develop a new form of martial arts with challenging philosophies is no co-incidence, and to inspire people to learn develop and find themselves is an incredible gift. Not many martial artists have created a stir in the world quite like Bruce and not many more will.

So, in conclusion, I would have to say Yes, he was a movie star, especially in Asia. Yes he did pioneer martial arts, and No, it wasn’t all down to luck. How could anyone be classed as lucky and die aged 33. I think his name will be linked with martial arts for many decades to come.