I guess, TanDao has quite an impact on my thinking by showing me the traditional way of Kung-Fu. After investing a heck lot of time in reading about history of Chinese Martial-Arts and the great Martial-Artists of times and doing lots of search and research on Kung-Fu, I came to know that Bruce Lee’s thoughts were actually rooted in traditional Chinese arts. He did learn from a genius (Yip Man) who was master of a traditional art Wing-Chun. As per my thinking, Bruce Lee could never possess the ability (both philosophical and physical) to create an art ike JKD if he could have trained under a poorer master. It was the imprint of a genuis master who created the Bruce Lee. So, in fact, Bruce Lee’s JKD, actually mirrors the masterty of ancient Chiense Kung-Fu thought. He did not invent but discovered the art which can only be discovered if one has mastered the classical way of Kung-Fu, which required a good master’s hand. Yip Man once said: It is difficult for a good master to find a good student but it is more difficult for a good student to find a good master. I think Bruce Lee really got lucky in this regard.
The people who will disagree with me should read about both Huo Yuanjia and Yip Man. Though it may look pointless (but it is not), I really doubt if Bruce Lee could ever defeat a man like Huo Yuanjia. If Huo Yuanjia can die undefeated and Bruce Lee have died undefeated, it only means, the truth of combat lies neitehr in JKD not in Mizongyi but in the the way of the Martial-Artist (The Dao, as Chinese people call it). Hence, I think JKD was not an invention in this regard, all of the Bruce Lee’s fans and lovers miss this part (even I did), Bruce Lee discovered something which was already there, ignored by general practitioners , only understood by a very few who accepted the pain (both physical and psychological) while on their path to the tower of wisodm. Hence I can say that its the path that leads to the Tower of Wisom that is important, it is that path that creates a great Martial-Artist, its not the JKD or the drunken style or the karate, its the Path, the way of the Martial-Arts that one needs to explore. Bruce Lee, Huo Yuanjia and all other great Martial-Artists share one thing in common: their belief and Martial-Arts was the expression of that belief. Was Bruce Lee a great Martial-Artist , undoubtly yes, did he invent JKD .. no, he discovered it.
Copyright © 2008 Arnuld Uttre, #331/type-2/sector-1, Naya Nangal, Distt. – Ropar, Punjab (INDIA) – 140126
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greetings, brother Arnuld Uttre. Bruce lee IS a unique martial artist above and beyond the abilities of Yip Man and Wing Chun. Was it Yip Man and Wing Chun that made Bruce lee famous or was it the other way around. Prior to Bruce Lee, Yip Man was just one of one hundred traditional kung-fu instructors in Hong Kong and before that, from the small martial art town of Fusan, South China. But, because of Bruce’s amazing personal physical and philosophical abilities, Bruce was able to use Wing Chun as an initial foundation. However, upon practice in the US, he learned that it was very limited and immobile. He added the speed and mobility of western boxing as well as the dynamic kicking of Taekwondo and developed JKD. The more he practiced in America, the more he added judo, escrima, and other arts that were not bound in rote memory. Spontaneity, speed, direct attack, and conditioned responses were the key. Sorry, brother, Yip Man’s Wing Chun did not teach that or there would be so many Wing Chun champions today! “The art of fighting without memorizing……”
Comment by ron quan, los angeles, USA — May 27, 2009 @ 11:51 am
> Yip Man was just one of one hundred traditional kung-fu instructors in
> Hong Kong and before that, from the small martial art town of Fusan,
> South China.
If Bruce Lee got trapped in a World War ( like Yip Man) and all he could get was 4 potatoes a day to eat, do you think he could have the pyscial energy required to practice Kung Fu ?
Comment by arnuld — May 27, 2009 @ 12:35 pm