What styles did Bruce study?

[Master J]

Its Master J again.

cud someone all the styles bruce Lee studied.
I want t' follow in his footsteps.

Gotta sketch.

[teacher]

I heard he was very good at the Cha-Cha and other types of ball room dancing perhaps you could start there.

Or more usefully find any good school in your area and develop yourself. Times have changed even Bruce might have done some things differently.

[craigwarren]

the documentary said he studies wing chun kung fu and was a boxing champion, he also studied a grappling art but i can't remember. He then deviced his own style, a style with no forms or "jeet kune do".

I hope im right with this.

[TheBorderer]

Craig your right, Jeet Kune Do(which Bruce Lee invented himself, if I remember what documentary last night! :D ), and Wing Chun Kung Fu were mentioned as for any others, im not sure but Wing Chun Kung Fu and Jeet Kune Do for sure, hope that helps.

[aikiMac]

Going from memory here ...

1) wing chun (duh)
2) western boxing (he was an amateur champ in Hong Kong)
3) european fencing
4) muay thai
5) savate

I think these were the big 5, the ones that had the biggest impact on his early development of JKD. He never stopped altering JKD because JKD was never a definable martial art that could be taught. Jun Fan Gung Fu was the martial art that Bruce Lee taught at his schools.

He also studied:
6) ballroom dancing (he was the cha-cha champ in Hong Kong)
7) judo (reportedly he could be beaten easily on the ground, but it was very, very hard to throw him)
8) kali
9) tkd (Jhoon Rhee)
10) tang soo do (Chuck Norris)
11 and 12 and 13) and no doubt he was conversant in some form of karate and some form of jujitsu and some form of kempo.
14) and he read every martial art book that he could find.

Bruce Lee traveled up and down the Western coast. Sport karate was big then, especially in California where Chuck Norris and Ed Parker lived and had schools. Bruce Lee did a famous demonstration at one of Ed Parker's tournaments. Wally Jay was doing his jujitsu at the same time, and kajukenbo was coming to the mainland USA at that time. One has to believe that Bruce was digesting all of the martial arts in Los Angeles, Oakland, and Seatle.

[Andrew Green]

I'd say he studied one style, his own. He looked around to see what everyone else was doing and borrowed anything he though would help him though.

Why would you want to follow in his footsteps though. You are not him. What worked for a 130lbs chinese man 30+ years ago probably is not what will work best for you.

Besides he spent his whole life telling people NOT to do that, I don't think you can follow in his footsteps by doing exactly what he spent his whole life saying you shouldn't do...

[YODA]

It depends what you call "Studied".

He "dabbled" in lots of stuff but only really trained properly in Wing chun.

As for the "Boxing champ" as far as I know he entered an amateur boxing event and won whilst a kid in Hong Kong.

Besides he spent his whole life telling people NOT to do that, I don't think you can follow in his footsteps by doing exactly what he spent his whole life saying you shouldn't do...

Excellent point Andrew - the key I believe in "following in his footsteps" is to study his theories & concepts in order to plough your OWN path. The result would then be yours - not some weak immitation with a "JKD Label" slapped on it - Unfortunately the term JKD sells - it's used more of a marketing tool than a training method these days.

[Sporran]

I know what you mean. One thing I have found with some JKD guys, is that the ones who 'are' JKD, don't call themselves that, for the most part.

That should tell you something.

Some of the best JKD guys I have met, are the ones who have mastery of single systems, and then begin the process of personalising their skill set, rather than the ones who train 9 things at once, only to become average at many things.

Just my opinion. For the most part, a good JKD school is worth its weight in gold. Other ones, well, it ain't gold... :D

[Master J]

I know, i know, i know dat i shud follow my own path, but i'm still young and would like to get a head start in becoming a master by starting out on the same path that Bruce tuk.

I'm olmost a 1st dan in Wado-Ryu, by de way, so i have some gud experience.

[WhiteWizard]

and some really crap grammar :D

[Master J]

hey ,Wimpy Wizard or whatever, dis iz the new age, and i'm on de net. we're not writin essays for high level english or anyting!

[WhiteWizard]

the big smile at the end indicated a joke :)

[Greg-VT]

Yeah well, I can't read bad grammar. It gives me headaches, so quit it. :D

Just because it's a new age is no reason to abandon basic English. I thought we're meant to become more civilised with new ages?

;)

so ah yea der u go it aint dat ard izit??????? mabi we shud pravide writin classes wit MA den we could read bout stuff 2 an den write azwell den we az MAist mite get betta public an legal responses den wat thugs get aii??????? MAist may not den be viewed as em afta an incident on da street aaii?????????????????????????????????

:)

Normal writing is not "high level english" What is it that you call what your doing? Plain English? Normal English? Low level English? Why would have today's communication standards dropped in the new age? It's more like going backwards. Fancy a Kangaroo? An Emu? They my be able to help you, where your schooling failed.

:D

It's a joke folks, I'm not serious.

Sorry Master J, It's not you I'm talking about, just generally, but your quotes came in handy, tah. Where's Andy's Rant Thread?!?


Back on topic. Bruce only formally trained in Wing Chun. Although, he followed-up on alot of other styles. Sometimes/mainly by reading, friends and contacts. This is all been said above. So I don't know why I'm repeating. It's bed time me thinks.

It's too late, time to hit the sack.

Soz bout da rant

[Master J]

ok sorry wizard guy, and Ving tsun, i've onlybeen joined here a day.

[wayofthedragon]

Originally posted by Master J
I know, i know, i know dat i shud follow my own path, but i'm still young and would like to get a head start in becoming a master by starting out on the same path that Bruce tuk.

I'm olmost a 1st dan in Wado-Ryu, by de way, so i have some gud experience.

The truth is.....you can't get a head start in becoming a master by starting out on the same path that Bruce took. The same path does not work for every one, therefore what worked for bruce may not work for you.....so you already have good knowledge in wado-ryu. Thats a great start right there. Now don't just stay there. Branch out, but take it easy. It's not hard to learn if you have devotion and a strong focused mind.....May I suggest that you also try jeet kune do, maybe some wing chun, and brazilian jujitsu. You don't have to master every style you train in....but it's good to get a well ballenced diet (concerning martial arts, not food:D ) This will help.

[YODA]

I've said this many times - I don't want to "Master" anything! Mastery implies perfection - what then?

[Marku]

Bruce lee called him self a Student master, a master thats still learning. or something like that.

[YODA]

I'd rather stay a student.

Just as well as it happens LOL!

[Greg-VT]

Originally posted by Master J
ok sorry wizard guy, and Ving tsun, i've onlybeen joined here a day.

Hey man don't worry about it, I'm just being a pain. Just fooling around ;D.

How long you been at MAP for? Welcome.

[Greg-VT]

Originally posted by YODA
I'd rather stay a student.

Just as well as it happens LOL!

You don't think the term 'Master' provides motivation for some people?

[Andy Murray]

Originally posted by Ving Tsun
You don't think the term 'Master' provides motivation for some people?

It could be I suppose.

That'd be sad though.

Be the student eternal.

[Andrew Green]

Anyone motivated by a term is basically a write off...

[Greg-VT]

Why?

That's almost like saying "Anyone motivated by a quote is basically a write off"

Would you agree with that, Andrew?

[Andrew Green]

Training with the goal of being called "master" is not going to ever make you anything I would consider a master. If your main motivation to do something is to feed your ego, you have missed the point of doing it.

Perhaps you could give an example of a quote that would motivate a person in the same way?

[Cain]

I don't care if you can perfect your techniques, but you have my respect if you actually maintain it ;)

Perfection is possible, maintaining it is another thing ;)

|Cain|

[thiaboxr2]

No offense but I dont think perfection is ever possible. Just because you can constantly keep improving yourself and your techniques. Many people thought of Bruce Lee as a master when He never claimed to be one. He constantly kept improving his JKD for himself. Adding more drills, exercises and techniques to make it more effective. And yet he never mastered JKD.

[Greg-VT]

Originally posted by Andrew Green
Training with the goal of being called "master" is not going to ever make you anything I would consider a master. If your main motivation to do something is to feed your ego, you have missed the point of doing it.

Perhaps you could give an example of a quote that would motivate a person in the same way?

Not with a goal, with a motivation.

Chase the sun... You won't reach it, but I'm sure you'll get the journey of a lifetime.

If someone has 'master' as a motivation. Then they need not become their motivation, just to follow it.

No, I can't provide a quote off the top of my head, but I'm sure there is one somewhere in the 'Motivational Quotes' threads.

-grego