Martial Arts Icon Would Have Been 72 Today
He has been called the "King of Kung-Fu", the "Little Dragon", and the "Chinese Superman", and there is no doubt that Bruce Lee's remarkable impact is still resonating in the world of film and martial arts. From the shores of America to Zimbabwe, people continue to not only watch his films and replicate his moves, but register in martial arts academies in the hope of becoming the next Bruce Lee.
Millions remember Lee as a gifted student of Grandmaster Yip Man, a devotee of the Wing Chun system, and the founder of Jeet Kune Do. However, it is equally important to remember that Lee was not embraced by the masses, including the Hollywood community, when he first set foot on American soil because he was Chinese. Additionally, members of the Chinese martial arts community turned their backs on Lee after he opened a school in Seattle, Washington, and refused to heed commands to stop teaching "Chinese secrets" to Americans, who were considered "foreigners".
Bruce Lee battled racism on a number of levels, but he never lost sight of his goals or stopped believing that we are all the same regardless of skin color. As a former student, I salute Bruce Lee's monumental contribution to martial arts. As a Black man that has battled racism on a number of levels, I salute Bruce Lee's compassion and love for those who were not of Chinese origin.
Happy Birthday in heaven, Sifu Lee. The mark you've left on the world will continue to be as powerful as your legendary fists of fury.
This commentary is from the heart and.....from "The G-Man".
Video uploaded to YouTube by meatpuppet76 on May 3, 2007
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