Perspective on Bruce Lee

Theorizing Bruce Lee: For thoughtful martial artists.

We’ve been writing about Bruce Lee in some of our posts. I came across a very well written article, “Theorizing Bruce Lee” by Paul Bowman on Bruce Lee’s JKD. Lee was a popularizer, innovator and is now an international icon. Yet so much written about him is distorted and shallow – though well intentioned. For those interested in a more scholarly and objective perspective on Lee’s modern martial art, Jeet Kune Do, which became the forerunner of Ultimate Fighting and Mixed Martial Arts, I encourage you to read this refreshing and thoughtful essay. It is an intelligent and insightful examination of Lee’s contribution devoid of “hero worship” and the tendency to over mythologize Lee and his JKD.

The author examines Lee’s synthesis of Daoist thought and Western scientific approach, to deeper levels than commonly expounded. He brings to light that Lee never did complete a classical system and many of his criticisms of classical martial arts were inaccurate. It also recognizes Lee’s use of Mao Tse Tung’s military quotations (“Absorb what is useful. Reject what is useless. And add what is your own.” ) and other deep thinkers quotes that have been wrongly attributed to him by editors who published his posthumous writings. Many of Lee’s quotes, gleaned from his notes and not referenced, were popular Chinese aphorisms and common philosophical quotes as well as provocative thought’s by writers like Krishnamurti, Suzuki, Gibran, etc. Just as Lee would probably find it upsetting if others attribute his Jeet Kune Do theories to another contemporary martial artist, say Chuck Norris, it is important to give credit where credit is due with regards to intellectual ideas as well as martial arts techniques.

Of course, none of this is meant to detract from Lee’s historic impact on martial arts, which is universally recognized. But just as we today wonder about who was the real Bodhidharma, or Miyamoto Musahashi or Elvis Presley, for that matter, this type of writing is vital. The necessity of distinguishing between fact and myth, to probe deeper than the popular history, is for the Evolving Martial Artist, who inspired by Bruce Lee, seeks the truth behind conventional dogma and unexamined thoughts – even those of the master.

Read Bowman’s article:
http://theorizingbrucelee.blogspot.com/2008/12/jeet-kune-do-in-theory.html

Lawrence Tan

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