Bruce Lee Kicking Style

Hello,

I was just wondering what style Bruce Lee's kicking techniques are derrived from? I know the hand techniques are from Wing Chun - but WC only emphasises low quicks. I just what style the high (show off! ) kicks come from?

I had a quick search on the forum but didn't find anything? If there has been another thread on this already if you could point me in the right direction I would be grateful.

ta

 

If you want to learn high "show off" kicks, TKD would be the best. In terms of Bruce Lee he trained in many arts so probably had some ideas from TKD but think that he did some training in some type of Northern Chineese MA that did more flamboyant kicks, perhaps wushu.

EDIT: things he learnt in northern-style were a praying mantis form and one called jeet kune, 'quick fist'. I don't know if these have any kicking.

 

he did mantis,chang quan,and tum tui

 

In his proper style (i.e. not what he used in his movies) he only really used low kicks. I know he used Muay Thai kicks as well.

 

According to Jesse Glover (his first student), Bruce Lee first became interested in high kicks after seeing a demonstration by Hidetaka Nishiyama at a tournament. He probably picked up kicking info wherever he could after that. Some of the drawings in the kicking section of "The Tao of Jeet Kune Do" were taken from "Secret Fighting Arts of the World" by John F. Gilbey (aka Robert W. Smith) and "Asian Fighting Arts" by Robert W. Smith and Donn Draeger. The latter book is (I believe) currently published under the title "Comprehensive Asian Fighting Arts".
Hope this helps.

 

towrds the end lee practiced mostly these 3 lead leg kicks: hook (roundhouse), side, and front.

 

he was tauht how to kick by Chuck Norris I believe, I remember reading an interview with Norris where he said Lee had no idea how to kick before he started making movies. No idea if thats true or not, since the only other person who could verify that is brown bread.

 

Bruce Lee's friendship with Jhoon Rhee was also a major factor.

 

I beleive it was Tae Kwon Do.

 

i saw that interview too he said lee only kicked below the waist because he thought high kicks were useless then chuck helped him learn some high kicks that probably wasn't the extent of his training but it was (according to chuck) the beggining of him using high kicks

 

at least one kick he has taken from Hoy Lay Fut, Jessie Glover said in an interview.... some of his hand Techniques were to ofrom Mantis (Backfist I guess) and a few other styles

 

Hoy Lay Fut indeed!!!!!

Bruce was good friends with CLF guys, particular the Buk Sing guys (some of his best friends).

I can find a picture of him demonstrating a Sao Choy in Seattle if you guys want.

 

He was also good friends with John Rhee, a huge TKD name worldwide