Bruce Lee

Bruce Lee (Google images)

Who was Bruce Lee? An inspiring martial artist, actor, director, and cha cha dancer, Lee was a hero to martial arts and to many other people. During his life time, Bruce had shown courage, determination, perseverance, and true strength. Bruce created a wave of martial arts in America and showed strong Chinese pride. Without him, our nation and film industry would be different.

Bruce Lee was a practitioner of Wing Chun, iconic actor and director of famous Kung Fu movies. He was born in Chinatown, San Francisco, California, while his parents were on an opera tour. Three months after his birth, his parents moved back to Hong Kong. There he was raised until his late teens. At 18 Bruce moved back to America. He arrived with $100 in his wallet, and he received his high school diploma. After that, he moved in with Yimm Lee (no relation to family, just a good friend) in Oakland. Together, they founded the second Jun Fan martial arts studio. But, Yimm's main contribution to Bruce was that he introduced him to Ed Parker, the organizer of the Long Beach International Karate Championships. It was there that Bruce Lee was discovered by Hollywood, and how he would change the film industry.

Bruce Lee's philosophy (photobucket)

Before Bruce Lee, Asians in movies often plaid villains, like Fu Man Chu. But Bruce plaid roles like the Green Hornet's sidekick. Bruce got into the film industry by surprising producers with his lightning fast moves. Bruce displayed Chinese pride in his films, both in the U.S. and China. He became an iconic hero among the Chinese for his patriotism. The film that sparked the surge of martial arts in America was "Enter the Dragon", which, to date, has grossed over $200 million world wide. Before Bruce, martial arts was only taught to Asians. But Bruce taught all races, making martial arts part of America. Bruce Lee had an amazing philosophy. Some of his most memorable quotes include:

"Be formless... shapeless, like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle; it becomes the bottle. You put it into a teapot; it becomes the teapot. Water can flow, or it can crash. Be water, my friend..."

"All kind of knowledge, eventually becomes self knowledge"

"Use only that which works, and take it from any place you can find it."

"Do not deny the classical approach, simply as a reaction, or you will have created another pattern and trapped yourself there."

"A quick temper will make a fool of you soon enough."

"Always be yourself, express yourself, have faith in yourself, do not go out and look for a successful personality and duplicate it."

"It's not the daily increase but daily decrease. Hack away at the unessential."

If it weren't for my youth pastor, I never would have heard of Bruce Lee, or watched his biography for that matter. But I did watch his biography, and I learned about all the amazing things he did, and how he sparked Chinese martial arts in America. But he also inspired many other artists as well, and his character is seen by many as a role model. His philosophy is applied in multiple areas. Bruce Lee's courage and perseverance make him a true hero, and one that has inspired and motivation for me.

So who was Bruce Lee? More than an actor, martial artist and director, Bruce was a true hero. His brave and strong character remained true till the end. Without Bruce Lee, America would be different. Chuck Norris wouldn't be famous. Music artists and filmmakers wouldn't be known. Bruce Lee was an inspiring hero, and one I hope will not be forgotten.