question for Bruce Lee detractors

[fenwick99]

If I had an HG Wells type of time machine, and I could send you back to
1968 California, when Bruce Lee was arguably at his physical peak, would you get in BL's face, tell him he is a joke, and challenge him to a street fight?
well. wouldya? I asked the same question of people who were all over Royce Gracie for getting destroyed by Matt Hughes,
would you call Royce "joyce" to his face? Probably not.

[jubaji]

What percieved offense leads you to even post such a silly hypothetical? Has anyone been 'bashing' the late Mr. Lee? If you consider viewing the man and his life realistically and not through the lens of fantastical fanboydom as some great offense, then I can see why you would be upset but that's your problem, not his or ours.

[DickHardman]

i heard bruce lee got into smoking mairjuana after he became a celebrity, so if i were to go back into time and managed to find bruce lee somewhere on the streets of SF, i wouldnt get in his face, i would roll a fat joint and offer to smoke it with him.

[aseepish]

Hmmmm... 1968... California...

Risk life and limb with the Summer of Love just around the corner?

[DickHardman]

Hmmmm... 1968... California...

Risk life and limb with the Summer of Love just around the corner?

thats what im sayin, imagine how crazy SF must have been during that time!!!!

[jubaji]

i heard bruce lee got into smoking mairjuana after he became a celebrity, so if i were to go back into time and managed to find bruce lee somewhere on the streets of SF, i wouldnt get in his face, i would roll a fat joint and offer to smoke it with him.

Of course EVERYTHING has to be about Cheech's addiction...

[kingoftheforest]

BL's theories

I would love to discuss Bruce Lee's theories on internal arts as well as fighting. Enter the Dragon wasn't so much a movie at the begging as it was Bruce's philosophies on fighting. I would love to buy him some lunch and talk for a few hours on what he thought about Kung-Fu

[Ghost]

If I had an HG Wells type of time machine, and I could send you back to
1968 California, when Bruce Lee was arguably at his physical peak, would you get in BL's face, tell him he is a joke, and challenge him to a street fight?
well. wouldya? I asked the same question of people who were all over Royce Gracie for getting destroyed by Matt Hughes,
would you call Royce "joyce" to his face? Probably not.

yeah personally i would if i was close enough in geographical sense in fact i think i certainly would.
easy to say that on the internet but i would all the same.

i like his ideas on martial arts and largely agree with them.
Ive seen the videos of him training and im very far from convinced of his own ability. however, in his time he was reasonable.I wouldnt tell him he is a joke, because i dont beleive he was, i think he had good ideas and knew how to market himself and his ideas.

[Ghost]

why wouldnt they, what would be so bad about a sparring session with bruce lee if he were alive, id be up for it.
I personally dont get why everyone is so up his ass, i like his ideas, ive seen his videos of him training and in his time it was reasonable but by todays standards its not happening.

its easy to dismiss everyone as internet warriors but it doesnt mean thats true or they wouldnt genuinely fight them. labelling others internet warriors just makes it impossible to say anything other than yeah hes great.

[Ghost]

I just don't have much resect for people who'd walk up to someone and challenge them to a fight just because of who they are. You're talking about a respectful sparring match. I'd be all over that. The thread is about people who talk smack and act like Bruce was nobody.

Big difference.

oh ok, no i mean a sparring match, i wouldnt fight anyone for no good reason.

[Guest]

I personally dont get why everyone is so up his ass, i like his ideas, ive seen his videos of him training and in his time it was reasonable but by todays standards its not happening.

Ghost, neither of us knew Bruce Lee so I'm not saying either one of us is right or wrong, because we weren’t there. If you've seen his tapes and you aren't that impressed then fair enough, you say it how you see it.

We all know how much Guro Dan credits Bruce Lee in his DVDs and Seminars, and I know that the cynical amongst us say he does that because it furthers his reputation as the heir of JKD. From knowing the man I disagree, but each to their own. However, if I may I just want to share with you a conversation that always comes to the front of my mind when anyone discusses the abilities of Bruce Lee:

In November 2004 I had the pleasure of being out to dinner in Edinburgh with Guro Inosanto, Erik Paulson, Rick Young and my good friend Terry Barnett. In the middle of dinner, totally off topic and with no prompting at all, Mr Inosanto expressed his personal opinions on Bruce Lee. Guro said that since Mr Lee’s death in 1973 he has had the opportunity to learn from, train with, and teach the very best in the world. In his opinion, verbatim from his mouth with no audience other than close friends, he still holds Bruce Lee up as the most phenomenally gifted martial artist he has ever seen. Think about the company that includes over the last 35 years, and draw your own conclusions.

I believe that Mr Lee was truly exceptional, and time machine or no time machine, the only thing I would offer the man is my respect.

[mano012sg]

I am really interested to see this forum. one becoz...there are people who 'bash' bruce's image and doubt his abilities. just look at all the 'vs' forums...here or elsewhere.

Personally I don't know Bruce Lee. and neither do the people who 'web-bash' him. and there are guys on the forums who as part of their explainations...say they learnt or have seen those close to them learning lot of martial arts.

And the WIERDEST thing I find...is the way they argue...shows only an interest in whacking bags and winning trophies...or the ecternal side of the art. Others are god damn one-sided. All these after having claimed to have learn martial arts [tkd, or kung fu or even wing chun or qigong]. Man it looks impressive...but the way you argue...smacks of incomplete knowledge. What the hell are they arguing about?

[mano012sg]

Now to answer the question. If you had asked him now...if he were alive...he'd ignore you or ask you a question to shut you up. In other words, winning without fighting using 'tongue-fu' or if he was more advanced...would react with you...flow with you...and merely give you the creeps with his confidence. That's the power of martial art, ki and that is what you get when you see your top leaders in front of you. Its the same.

If you's asked him in 1968...he would have just ignored you about a few times...or just knocked you out. Why? At that time...he was hunting for bit roles and wasn't the most patient person. When you are an ambitious person...the instinct is to get rid of irritants. So either knock you out...or he would have trapped your moves....and inflicted such pain till you were immobilised and begged him that he was effective.

Even back in 1964...when he was pretty ok with his life...Wong Jack Man had a similar experience, which I beleive will be subtler than for the future guy who questions him. Why don't you go and ask him?

[fire cobra]

Wtf?????..