I am Bruce Lee (2012)


The last recommendation about the documentary Kungfu Quest was viewed way more than the rest of the posts, so I thought I'd recommend another one. Here is the docu "I am Bruce Lee". Although I am not a huge fan of Bruce Lee (personally), martial artists around the world should be so grateful for what he has done for the community. He is the one that made Chinese martial art so popular, who's done so much for the mixed martial art scene, had a huge impact on fitness and was able to teach some ancient philosophy along the way. In I am Bruce Lee you'll learn how it all happened. A must-see for every martial art practitioner.


What is fun about this documentary is that you hear other people tell how they experienced Bruce Lee personally or his influence and how that affected their lives. And although everything seems exaggerated and is still a true story I think. You may have heard most of the stories already, maybe not. But it's still cool to see what he did in a time when Chinese movie characters were always played by caucasians and when Asians were concidered some sort of low-life in America. You'll hear his widdow Linda, his daughter Shannon, Ed O'Neill (aka al bundy, who had a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu btw), Taboo (from the Black Eyed Peas), Kobe Bryant (the basketballer), and many more.

You can check it out here: http://viooz.co/movies/11644-i-am-bruce-lee-2011.html


Food for thought:
Now the reason why I am not a huge fan of Bruce Lee is not because I didn't like his movies, or don't appreciate what he's done for so many scenes. It is because of his lifestyle. Most of us know the interview where he quotes the Dao De Jing (the one most famous book of Taoism) and tells about how water can flow and crash. How it is able to change into any form or shape while being shapeless and formless. This change is one of the most important aspects of the Dao De Jing. It isn't called the book of changes for nothing right? And while Bruce always talked about change he was only able to apply it in combat, whereas the Dao was never intented (for as far as I know) to apply in combat. It was ment to be a guideline for life, and to become immortal. And did he? 

He died when he was only 33 years old. And while many still discuss the cause of his death, the reason is meanly because he asked to much of his body. Trained to much, got in to many fights. So his life wasn't long at all and to have him as an example for life seems strange to me. Nobody wants to die so young. And to see all these images with wise Bruce Lee quotes about how you should live, seem so fake. He was the one that told: "It is good if you understand the theory, but can you put it into practice?". Whereas I think that is the one thing that he wasn't able to do. 

For example, you have a teacher who's telling you to do this and this and that, but isn't able to do it himself. Does the teacher truely understand what he is talking about, or is he just copying what his teacher told him? And does that make him a good or a bad teacher? Think about it, he might be able to teach you some things which makes him a good teacher, but if his words are empty you might as well have read a book. The teacher just provided the words, but it is you who taught yourself the meaning (if you were able to put it into practice). 
Did you now?
Wasn't this all that Bruce did?
But on the other hand, in some way, he did became immortal. I mean, it is already 40(!!) years ago he passed away and people around the globe still know him. That has to count for something. 

Still, in my opinion, a martial artist learns how to fight, but only to understand and appreciate life and values that above all. So, while he's done so much for kungfu, he'll never be a true example for me. For an example is someone who you want to become, not just someone who points you in the right direction. I am thankful though that he did that for tons of people.

This is my opinion. Feel free to leave a comment and discuss yours =D (in English or Dutch)






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