Vagabond
04-19-2010, 11:59
So recently on my Honeymoon I went to Vancouver on a road trip and came back down to California through Seattle. I had the privilege of visiting Bruce Lee and Brandon Lee's Grave.
Many people left flowers, coins (as I did), but one person left a note. "Thank you for all you have done, let your immortal soul inspire me to inspire others". To me this was touching, a bit odd that they had almost deified Bruce Lee, but still it showed how much of an impact he made, especially to this person. The visit somehow changed me, nothing big, it just put some thoughts in my head.
I have read many of Bruce Lee's books, most importantly "Art of Expressing the Human body" and "The Tao of Jeet Kune Do". I have gathered the picture that Bruce Lee was a very educated man, as a study in philosophy helps one to fine tune their argumentative abilities, and hash out their own beliefs. He was also a very adventurous man, he tested many methods of fitness, attack, nutrition, etc. He was also described by many as having a limitless amount of energy.
Bruce Lee changed the face of martial arts. He helped to not only make it popular to study martial arts, but I am certain now that many of us would not either be interested or able to practice martial arts if he had not done what he had done. That is something I think we as martial artists should all make as a personal goal. I am sure most of us already work hard to spread the martial arts, hopefully for the right reasons.
Like it or not Bruce Lee also made mixing martial arts popular. I personally think he had mastered one art, and he had an uncanny ability to learn things physically, which allowed him quick mastery. He studied arts, and dropped what was unnecessary, very popular in MMA/UFC. This difference between him and the public face of MMA is, that Bruce Lee also had a respect for tradition, he just knew it had a time and place, neither of which was on the streets.
Bruce Lee spent most of his time consumed with explaining the martial arts, helping to translate an eastern philosophy and way of life, into a "quick bit" of information that a western philosophy could understand. As a result he had a better understanding of himself, his art, and where he was.
I think it was this great combination of attributes Bruce Lee not only had, but he developed and created for himself, that allowed him to be who he was, and do what he did. We can train better (cross training), fight smarter (Multiple Arts), and think deeper, all because one made not only did his best to put it all together, but because he never grew tired. The martial arts gave him health and clarity. He had so much energy to give, and the ability to harness it. I now feel a bit more focused on what I want to do as a martial artist. Mastery of one art is a good think, but you should be experienced in others, just as with a personal belief you should understand and experience other points of view, not just the same. I also feel a lot more grateful for what he did, and if anyone gets the chance to visit his grave I highly recommend it. It is beautiful.
Many people left flowers, coins (as I did), but one person left a note. "Thank you for all you have done, let your immortal soul inspire me to inspire others". To me this was touching, a bit odd that they had almost deified Bruce Lee, but still it showed how much of an impact he made, especially to this person. The visit somehow changed me, nothing big, it just put some thoughts in my head.
I have read many of Bruce Lee's books, most importantly "Art of Expressing the Human body" and "The Tao of Jeet Kune Do". I have gathered the picture that Bruce Lee was a very educated man, as a study in philosophy helps one to fine tune their argumentative abilities, and hash out their own beliefs. He was also a very adventurous man, he tested many methods of fitness, attack, nutrition, etc. He was also described by many as having a limitless amount of energy.
Bruce Lee changed the face of martial arts. He helped to not only make it popular to study martial arts, but I am certain now that many of us would not either be interested or able to practice martial arts if he had not done what he had done. That is something I think we as martial artists should all make as a personal goal. I am sure most of us already work hard to spread the martial arts, hopefully for the right reasons.
Like it or not Bruce Lee also made mixing martial arts popular. I personally think he had mastered one art, and he had an uncanny ability to learn things physically, which allowed him quick mastery. He studied arts, and dropped what was unnecessary, very popular in MMA/UFC. This difference between him and the public face of MMA is, that Bruce Lee also had a respect for tradition, he just knew it had a time and place, neither of which was on the streets.
Bruce Lee spent most of his time consumed with explaining the martial arts, helping to translate an eastern philosophy and way of life, into a "quick bit" of information that a western philosophy could understand. As a result he had a better understanding of himself, his art, and where he was.
I think it was this great combination of attributes Bruce Lee not only had, but he developed and created for himself, that allowed him to be who he was, and do what he did. We can train better (cross training), fight smarter (Multiple Arts), and think deeper, all because one made not only did his best to put it all together, but because he never grew tired. The martial arts gave him health and clarity. He had so much energy to give, and the ability to harness it. I now feel a bit more focused on what I want to do as a martial artist. Mastery of one art is a good think, but you should be experienced in others, just as with a personal belief you should understand and experience other points of view, not just the same. I also feel a lot more grateful for what he did, and if anyone gets the chance to visit his grave I highly recommend it. It is beautiful.