Bruce Lee's Genius

[Justthefacts]

I was thinking this evening about Bruce Lee's return to the United States in 1959. We're talking about an 18 year old kid who was learning the language and adjusting to a new culture. When I was 18 years old, I was just starting college, trying to get laid on the weekends, boxing at the local gym, playing small forward on the basketball team, and wondering if my car would hold up in the winter months. The moment that an 18 year old Bruce Lee met Jesse Glover, however, he began to demonstrate why he was decades ahead of his time.

1) Many of Bruce Lee's Seattle Era students were 200 plus pounds, so rather than act like a young/stubborn martial artist, he compensated by modifying his beloved Wing Chun.

2) His modifications included the inclusion of the backfist into his fighting method, early experimentations into the concept of interception, and the formulation of Snake Step footwork.

3) Embracing what he called the Fistic Law which basically advocates a singular action to every reaction. In other words, it doesn't matter what your opponent does, your singular technique will neutralize whatever he throws at you.

4) Firing the lead hand before trapping with the rear hand as opposed to the simultaneous hit and trap.

5) Using the principle of non-intention when striking and hitting.

All of this was formulated years before JKD was coined. His genius is sometimes overlooked, but returning to his years in Seattle is a reminder of why he was special.

[fenwick99]

I agree with your main points, but I think Inosanto and his students
like Vunak, Richardson, Paulson, Dog Bros., and Cruse have advanced the art in a positive direction. The possibility of an integraterd defense art, including
punching, kicking, submission, the clinch, mount/guard, stick fighting, knife fighting, unarmed defense v. weapons/multiple attackers, and combat handgunning now exists. Young people should complete the new art and forget about dumb politics and arguments over theory.

Now that Bruce's original students are retiring or passing on, and Bruce himself has been dead for more than 35 years, it is time for young experts to complete the art. That is worth more than all of the fights in these silly magazines about OJKD versus JKDC. Bruce is dead, and it is up to anyone inspired by him (even taekwondo guys who like Bruce!) to honor his memory by progressing toward perfection in combat.

[FierySquidFace]

Both of these posts have valid and excellent posts. I don't think anyone can deny Lee's contributions to Martial Art, and that without them, modern Martial Art would look very different. It's too bad he didn't have more time here with us. If he were alive today, again Martial Art would look very different I think.