Rare Clip of Bruce Lee's Speed & Power

[Liberty]

Man, the guy was fast. And the simplicity of his power... The clip is from a disaster relief fund drive Lee appeared on in Hong Kong... say, which is it "Jeet Koon Doh" (Bruce Lee's own pronunciation) "Jeet Cun Doh" (Inosanto's) or this narrator's - "Jeet Koon Doo" - LOL!

YouTube Video

[fire cobra]

Originally Posted by Liberty

Man, the guy was fast. And the simplicity of his power... The clip is from a disaster relief fund drive Lee appeared on in Hong Kong... say, which is it "Jeet Koon Doh" (Bruce Lee's own pronunciation) "Jeet Cun Doh" (Inosanto's) or this narrator's - "Jeet Koon Doo" - LOL!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MROXof3dnR8

Awesome Liberty thanks.

[Mike Brewer]

Good find, as usual.

The narrator is completely full of shit with that line about "Bruce Lee didn't want it filmed." As you pointed out, Lib, that show was televised nationally in Hong Kong and it's been all over magazines and newspapers ever since.

It's a cool video. I just always wonder why people have to screw with stuff like that by trying to make it something it isn't. Why couldn't the narrator just show it for what it was?

If you can get past the music, here's another good one:

YouTube Video

Check out the freakish speed of that kick at about 3:26 or so!

He does it again at around 4:28. Blistering speed. Makes me sick.

5:05.

Picks up the pace a little at 5:50 or so.

After that, though, it's a lot of rehashing clips. Still fun to watch.

[Liberty]

Originally Posted by Mike Brewer

Good find, as usual.

The narrator is completely full of shit with that line about "Bruce Lee didn't want it filmed." As you pointed out, Lib, that show was televised nationally in Hong Kong and it's been all over magazines and newspapers ever since.

It's a cool video. I just always wonder why people have to screw with stuff like that by trying to make it something it isn't. Why couldn't the narrator just show it for what it was?

If you can get past the music, here's another good one:

YouTube - Bruce Lee 23 - Demonstration in Long Beach (Vinícius S.A.)

Check out the freakish speed of that kick at about 3:26 or so!

He does it again at around 4:28. Blistering speed. Makes me sick.

5:05.

Picks up the pace a little at 5:50 or so.

After that, though, it's a lot of rehashing clips. Still fun to watch.

Back at cha - Nuthugger


A couple things: The clip says 1969 but both Bruce and Taky are as stiff as boards, and their feet are glued to the floor. It may have been 64, judging from their Seattle period uniforms. And unlike the 2nd clip on there which was 67' (JKD) Lee and Taky are much more fluid. By the way, did you notice the antsy Kali guy sitting between Lee and Taky in the first clip? Say, was that Aaron Banks sitting on the floor in that first clip (helps me to place events/historical dvelopment of Lee's JKD)

Here's another (in Madison Square Garden):

YouTube Video

Anyway, thanks for humoring me.

[Mike Brewer]

Don't forget, man - I was weaned on Bruce Lee movies and my very first exposure to martial arts proper was via Dan Inosanto's book "Jeet Kune Do: The Art and Philosophy of Bruce Lee." That was 26, 27 years ago...

I was a true, bona fide Bruce Lee worshipper when I was a kid. I even had that idiotic movie "No Retreat, No Surrender" on video. I managed to outgrow that by the time I was 16 and started boxing with Olympians, though. The mysticism was shattered.

I love watching Bruce Lee footage. I just can't shake all the moronic hero-worship images of my own childhood is all. Makes me itchy...

[Wolfeye589]

very nice finds, gentlemen. On the second vid, I blinked and missed the kick at 3:26. Truly incredible.

This brings a question I've always wondered. What are good training techniques for increasing speed for punches/kicks? I know Bruce's technique of staying relaxed (muscle viscocity, braking speed, etc.), but I'm looking for some training exercises, if anyone knows of some.

I was thinking explosive exercises, but curious to what everyone has to say about it.

[Britt]

I can't see the kick at 3:26. It's so fast I literally don't think I can see it. It's like his leg disappears for a split second.

[Liberty]

Originally Posted by Wolfeye589

very nice finds, gentlemen. On the second vid, I blinked and missed the kick at 3:26. Truly incredible.

This brings a question I've always wondered. What are good training techniques for increasing speed for punches/kicks? I know Bruce's technique of staying relaxed (muscle viscocity, braking speed, etc.), but I'm looking for some training exercises, if anyone knows of some.

I was thinking explosive exercises, but curious to what everyone has to say about it.

Wow - there are so many types of speed/speed training you could write a pretty good-sized book on the subject. You have perceptual speed - the ability to read an opponent's decision to strike.

Another type, and there are others, is initiation speed - the time it takes for a decision to strike to travel from your mind to your execution of a technique.

Both can be trained through focused sparring - with a focus on improving those skills specifically. You might want to let your partner know, or not.

Regarding explosiveness, one thing I also incorporate in my own training is to try to remain as loose and alert as possible. This, combined with the above, especially with nice and alive footwork greatly contributes to your ability to explode with more "blast" into your technique. And, believe it or not, just thinking about it in a certain way also improves speed. For example, thinking about pouncing on someone at the moment they so much as breathe their next breath, sets off/gives impulses a work out which, over time, results in neural pathway formation leading to greater speed (I'm sure I did not do this last description justice, by the way).

Good question! Hope it generates a ton of experiences/methods we can all improve from!

[Liberty]

Originally Posted by Mike Brewer

Don't forget, man - I was weaned on Bruce Lee movies and my very first exposure to martial arts proper was via Dan Inosanto's book "Jeet Kune Do: The Art and Philosophy of Bruce Lee." That was 26, 27 years ago...

I was a true, bona fide Bruce Lee worshipper when I was a kid. I even had that idiotic movie "No Retreat, No Surrender" on video. I managed to outgrow that by the time I was 16 and started boxing with Olympians, though. The mysticism was shattered.

I love watching Bruce Lee footage. I just can't shake all the moronic hero-worship images of my own childhood is all. Makes me itchy...

Come to think of it, Mike, and I know you'll appreciate where I'm coming from with this, but one reason I've never seen myself as simply a Bruce Lee nuthugger is my fascination with how he got himself to those astounding levels of abilities. For me, that is the greater value in these types of Lee clips. So, it's nice these two clips are on this thread - the JKD discussion thread, where we can perhaps explore that issue. You up for it? Anyone else?

[Tant01]

Originally Posted by Liberty

Come to think of it, Mike, and I know you'll appreciate where I'm coming from with this, but one reason I've never seen myself as simply a Bruce Lee nuthugger is my fascination with how he got himself to those astounding levels of abilities. For me, that is the greater value in these types of Lee clips. So, it's nice these two clips are on this thread - the JKD discussion thread, where we can perhaps explore that issue. You up for it? Anyone else?

I'm sure I bit off more than I can chew but I'll take ya on...

The clips are great, nothing like watching old movies of a dead guy doing his thing.

I like BL just fine but see him more as the guy I'd like to spar with. I'm not all up in his ass like some folks around here (were) LOL

Seriously. The kicks are fast. His punching is fast... whoop? That only means you should hit him first (or TRY) Sure, his kicks and punches pack a whollop but C'mon?

That snappy fast crap will only sting for a while. get in on the guy and take him to the ground. If the man had any weakness to his game at all it was probably grappling.

Fast is great, wouldn't see it coming if he was standing right in front of you but wouldn't it be GREAT to actually fight a guy like that?

I can almost feel my arm around his skinny little neck....

[Liberty]

Originally Posted by Tant01

I'm sure I bit off more than I can chew but I'll take ya on...

The clips are great, nothing like watching old movies of a dead guy doing his thing.

I like BL just fine but see him more as the guy I'd like to spar with. I'm not all up in his ass like some folks around here (were) LOL

Seriously. The kicks are fast. His punching is fast... whoop? That only means you should hit him first (or TRY) Sure, his kicks and punches pack a whollop but C'mon?

That snappy fast crap will only sting for a while. get in on the guy and take him to the ground. If the man had any weakness to his game at all it was probably grappling.

Fast is great, wouldn't see it coming if he was standing right in front of you but wouldn't it be GREAT to actually fight a guy like that?

I can almost feel my arm around his skinny little neck....

Perhaps, you missed my point - it was not about either idolizing, sparring with or bashing a dead guy but about exploring training methods towards his type of skills. Anything else is just a waste of time, we both know that. I'm not sure if you were just trying to be a closed minded smart ass about it, but if so - and that's on you to clear up - you're on your own. I've been their myself. But I'm beginning to realize that other than a serious exploration of possible training methods anything else is to me just as bad as nuthugging the man and.... just a waste of time. That said, believe me, I'm sure I'll contradict some of this at some point. So, no offense taken, nor meant. Or to quote you

On second thought, were you trying to set me up for this?

YouTube - Kung Fu Gorilla FIght - Bruce lee the invincible

Thanks Tom!

[Tant01]

Originally Posted by Liberty >>> [B

Perhaps, you missed my point [/b]- it was ... about exploring training methods towards his type of skills. Anything else is just a waste of time, we both know that. ...
On second thought, were you trying to set me up for this?

YouTube - Kung Fu Gorilla FIght - Bruce lee the invincible

Eh, wouldn't be the first time...

As far as training methods go you're talking to a guy that practiced osoto gari on small trees. Personally I have little to offer unless you want to race the jaws of a steel trap?

LOL