Bruce Lee - The Legend

Nov 29 2018
Bruce Lee- The Legend 
By Nash
 
Bruce Lee the legend.

Today I was fortunate to visit the Bruce Lee museum in Hong Kong. 

Bruce Lee is my idol. And I must have watched, the movie, Enter the Dragon about 50 times and practiced his signature moves and kicks when I was growing up.

Bruce Lee, inspired people across nationalities, races and religion despite his death at a very young age of 32 years in 1972. It's very easy to see why. In my view, two things made him stand out.

1. Remarkable combination of opposites

Just like the Yin Yang philosophy, which combines strength with calmness, fire with ice, he is truly a remarkable combination of opposite qualities. Inner calm, with outer aggression. Philosopher who could fight. An Occidental Orientalist. Martial artist, who is a movie star. An American who was proud about his Asian Heritage.

2. He redefined many things

Just like Steve jobs, who redefined 3 industries, PC, Mobile, Music industry, Bruce Lee redefined 3 industries in one go.

He redefined what it is to be a proud Asian in a world which was dominated by US-UK military and cultural domination of 60s.

He redefined, classical Chinese Kung Fu and started his own form of Kung Fu.

He redefined, how an Asian can become a superstar and a lead actor in Hollywood. A trend he pioneered which is followed till date by Jackie Chan and Jet Li.


The movie and kungfu industry is never the same again.

He established his own school of martial arts, Jeet Kune Do, labeling it as the simplest and most effective form of martial arts. In fact, he was a severe critic of the established schools of chinese martial arts, which he called a classical mess. Instead he preferred all body free form movement, which he learnt from the original IP MAN, his guru and greatly modified and enhanced it.

He wrote in 1969, his chief aim in life, was to become the highest paid oriental film star and a lead actor in Hollywood. He achieved it in just 3 years in 1971.

Very few has made, such a huge cultural impact, esp in Asia, at such an young age. Very happy to have visited his museum today. Enclosed some pics. Enjoy.


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