Bruce Lee’s Influence in my Life

Bruce Lee was a great martial artist, bodybuilder with functional strength, actor and philosopher that changed the world.  Lee has influence some of the greatest martial artist, boxers, MMA fighters, bodybuilders, athletes and even actors, through his acting, martial arts and his muscular body. Almost 38 years since Bruce Lee passed away he continues to influence lives. Bruce Lee is the most recognized martial artist in the world. Lee was a martial artist that changed the martial arts world by developing his own fighting system Jeet Kune Do (JKD).  Dana White the president of the UFC says that Bruce Lee was the grandfather of the UFC and mixed martial arts.  JKD has been said to be the original MMA , incorporating over 26 martial arts. Yet, most people know Bruce for his movies that changed action movies forever.

I was first influenced by Bruce Lee as a child in elementary school in the 60’s. I use to play fight with my friends, cousins and brother saying we were Kato of the Green Hornet. Bruce Lee played the part of Kato in the TV series. The Green Hornet sparked my interest and later my love for the martial arts. I begged my parents for years to do martial arts. By the time I was in Junior High School I finally started studying Judo. A short time after the Hong Kong chop sokey kung fu cinema invaded America with kung fu movies. Then all of a sudden Bruce Lee entered the scene with “Fist of Fury.”

By the time that the Bruce Lee movies came to America I was studying karate. In most of Lee’s movie he defeated the Japanese judokas and karate experts. As a short and shy, skinny kid who wanted to be built and strong I was also influenced by lee’s physique. In all of his movies his shirt was ripped off or he would take off his shirt flexing his ripped body. He fought shirtless wearing his black kung fu pants, while he beat the white pajama looking uniformed karate and judo expert. As a teenager I wanted to be like Lee.  I wanted to move and do the kung fu moves, have a muscular body and wear those black kung fu pants.

While in high school living in Miami Springs I was riding a bus in Hialeah when to my surprise I notice some people in kung fu uniforms doing kung fu. The following week I joined the school. Within a few months the school closed. In my senior year of high school I pursuit my other passion bodybuilding which was also influenced by Lee. From 1976 to 1985 my passion was bodybuilding. After injuring my shoulder I went into a journey of finding a martial art that I would enjoy like Hung Gar kung fu. I tried Tae Kwon Do and different styles of traditional karate. Finally I ran into my old kung fu instructor. Just like in the kung fu movies I begged him to teach me. He began teaching me and opened a school. I earned my black sash and started to teach kung fu and fitness kickboxing. With time I became a disciple of the Grand Master of the system and he promoted me to Master.  Believing in Lee’s quote "Absorb what is useful, Discard what is not, Add what is uniquely your own" I got certified in Haganah Israeli self defense and Muay Thai Kickboxing. I also crossed trained in boxing and grappling. Just like Lee did and today MMA fighters I began functional training, kettlebells, Battling Ropes, Indian clubs, sand bags.

I was influence by Lee to first start martial arts, study kung fu, begin bodybuilding, and become a martial artist for life. It was my natural progression to learn and become a JKD instructor in Paul Vunak’s Progressive Fighting System, Contemporary JKD. Today at 54 years old I’m a JKD instructor, muscular and still wear those black kung fu pants. Thank you, Bruce Lee for leading the way and continuing to influence my life.  I would also like to thank my teachers Sifu Singh and Sifu Vunak for passing Lee’s art and wisdom to me.

 

 

Comments

[John@Jeet kune Do Training]

Bruce Lee’s influence is still being felt today. With the recent success of competitions like the UFC, martial artists around the world are finally beginning to understand Lee’s philosophy of complete training. A fight is not static, nor is it bound by rules and traditions.