“The joke in China is kung fu is a way to trick thirteen-year-old boys into meditating. Bruce had started his martial arts path as a punk. From this instant forward, he would speak and think more and more like a Taoist monk. This internal dichotomy and conflict between his punkish personality and monkish insights would define his adult life.”
Bruce Lee: A Life by Matthew Polly
I just finished reading this autobiography of Bruce Lee by Matthew Polly, and I would recommend it to anyone remotely interested in Bruce or the martial arts, or in an inspirational story, for that matter. It sounds like Bruce Lee was hated or loved by those who knew him (mostly the latter, it seems), but no matter which side you fell, it’s impossible to argue with his tremendous work ethic and accomplishments.
“Bruce rekindled a feeling of pride and literally brought his countrymen to their feet screaming and cheering in hundreds of theaters. They suddenly felt better about themselves and could take another day with a little less pain and prejudice. […] “He was a self-centered asshole,” says Mark Chow. “One thing the guy’s done, though, is that nobody takes lunch money away from Chinese kids anymore because they assume they won’t fight back.””
I shared the excellent “lost” interview with him before, but, until this point, most of what I knew about him was just myth and legend. I had never watched any of his movies (I should’ve). I thought he died on the set of a movie like his son Brandon (he didn’t). I didn’t know Jackie Chan started out working as a stuntman with Bruce. And I didn’t realize just how deserved he was for being the baddest martial artist that ever lived.
Also, as if he wanted me to love him more, Bruce Lee was a big-time fan of running.
““Jogging is not only a form of exercise to me,” Bruce said. “It is also a form of relaxation. It is my own hour every morning when I can be alone with my thoughts.””
I’ve since gone down a Bruce Lee rabbit hole watching clips of his performances, especially the movie he made right before he died, Enter the Dragon. The scene below is mind-blowing, even by today’s standards. He was just so fast.
RIP Bruce!
Comments welcome!