Bruce Lee: The Original Mixed Martial Artist, And He's Coming Back
By: Chad Edward Posted On: February 17, 2010 at 2:02am
Contrary to popular belief, the story of modern mixed martial arts doesn’t begin with UFC 1 in Denver in 1993 or with the Gracie family of Brazil. Though of course the Gracies deserve a prominent place in the history of MMA, their intention was never for fighters to begin training across styles. Quite the opposite! Their intention was to prove that Gracie Jiu-Jitsu was the most dominant style of martial arts, a traditional and now seemingly archaic notion about dominance of a single fighting art. Sport MMA is an unintentional by-product of their goal.
No, UFC 1 created the most prominent forum ever for martial arts styles to mix, but the philosophical underpinnings of MMA began in the San Francisco Bay area in 1965 by an ingenious martial arts pioneer: Bruce Lee, known in his native China as Jun Fan.
Lee’s daughter, Shannon, spoke exclusively about her father’s contribution to mixed martial arts and her efforts to assert his legacy within the sport.
Mrs. Lee recounted the story that lead Bruce to the epiphany on which modern MMA is founded. The story is now legendary, but rarely told in context of the history of mixed martial arts.
Lee was already challenging traditional notions by 1965. He was a practitioner of Wing Chung kung fu under Master Yip Man in Hong Kong and had been teaching the art since 1959 after expatriating to the United States. Lee was calling his style Jun Fan Gung Fu, but it was essentially his approach to Wing Chun. After opening his school in Oakland, his teaching of non-Chinese began to cause controversy among other Chinese martial artists in the San Francisco Bay area. Lee defended his spreading of Wing Chun and a duel was arranged between Lee and a fighter fielded to defend the art’s tradition of Chinese exclusivity.
The fight was to be no holds barred. If Lee won, he could continue to teach Jun Fan Gung Fu to anyone he desired. If he lost, he’d close his school and quit teaching to non-Chinese.
The duel wasn’t televised on pay per view and no documentation exists but a few first-hand accounts, including Lee’s own, his wife Linda’s, and his opponent Wong Jack Man’s (which, notably, differs dramatically from Bruce and Linda’s).
Shannon Lee told Fighters.com the version told by her parents. The fight lasted three minutes and, after absorbing strikes from Lee during the first minute, Man began to literally run from Lee. But, Lee desired a conclusive victory and chased Man, beating him into verbal submission.
But, Lee felt the fight should’ve ended quicker. He was disappointed with his physical conditioning and the limitations of his traditional Wing Chun martial art. This was a key turning point in the history of mixed martial arts, a philosophical evolution from traditional to modern, the way fighters think and train today.
After the fight, Lee had an image created of a burial mound with a tombstone to symbolize his death as a traditional martial artist and his rebirth as the first modern mixed martial artist, though of course the term “mixed martial artist” would’ve been unknown to Lee.
Lee went on to inspire generations of Westerners to train martial arts through his cinematic work and even developed an entirely original fighting style based on his epiphany he called Jeet Kune Do. It was his writing and research in cross-training traditional styles with a focus on practicality and emphasis on physical conditioning leading him to create Jeet Kune Do that is truely the foundation of MMA as we know it today.
Shannon Lee doesn’t consider Jeet Kune Do a linear precursor to MMA, but a style all it’s own. However, she does encourage Fighters.com’s tenth-ranked welterweight “Killa B” Ben Saunders (8-1-2) to talk about his foundation in Jeet Kune Do and it’s influence on him as a professional mixed martial artist. Through her LeeWay Media Group she produced “How Bruce Lee Changed the World” for the History Channel last year, which included commentary by Saunders, Fighters.com and UFC middleweight champion “Spider” Anderson Silva (25-4), tenth-ranked heavyweight “Natural” Randy Couture (18-10), and UFC President Dana White. The documentary is available to rent on NetFlix.
Mrs. Lee also told Fighters.com that she plans to make her father’s place in MMA history more apparent over the next year through her production company, licensing company, and the non-profit Bruce Lee Foundation.
Shannon said she’s had talks with the major MMA apparel companies over the years to license Bruce Lee’s image and market it to MMA fans, but that nothing substantial or, she thought, worthy of her father’s legacy had come about until recently. In the next year she told Fighters.com that MMA fans will have to opportunity to honor Bruce Lee’s connection to the sport with apparel that’ll be designed and marketed for them.
And, this is at an opportune time for the sport and Bruce Lee’s legacy. Mrs. Lee told Fighters.com that the People’s Republic of China has been promoting Bruce Lee as a model Chinese, including commissioning a 50-part documentary on Lee for CCTV produced by Mrs. Lee’s production company. There are also talks of converting Bruce Lee’s childhood home in Hong Kong – now a by-the-hour hotel, Shannon laughed – into a Bruce Lee Museum. This is all while in-roads are being made for MMA in China. The Beijing-based Art of War FC has been staging MMA events in China since 2005. And, the UFC recently signed an agreement with Sohu.com to stream UFC events live to its 2 billion Chinese users. Associating PRC-condoned Bruce Lee with MMA in China can only grow both the sport and the legacy of Bruce Lee.
And, as far as Fighters.com is concerned, it’s about time Bruce Lee be given his proper place in the history of modern mixed martial arts. He was thirty years ahead of his time in the way he thought about reality fighting, but also his passion, charm, and grace is a model for the sport.
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Comments
1. I READ THAT BRUCE GAVE A DEMONSTRATION ON TV IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC AROUND I THINK 1970; DOES THIS FOOTAGE STILL EXIST?
2. DID BRUCE EVER VISIT SOUTH KOREA AND JAPAN?
Thanks
D.B.
I love Bruce Lee and his Videos. He was the best fighter at his time, not only for his courage but also the creativity and originality of his martial arts.
Great Article! Bruce Lee was certainly a great innovator.
Bruce Lee would have done so well in mma today. he would’ve dominated…even the bigger fighters, cause he was lightning fast, talented and was amazingly strong for his size. He would’ve given guys like Couture a run for their money.
@DANNY B.
am not sure of this
soy fans de bruce lee toda mi vida
desearia comunicarme con un experto del jeet kune do
All props to Bruce Lee. But the original mix martial art is Kajukenbo; founded in 1947.
Bruce will always be “King” in the Martial Arts World. His legacy will live on forever! He will always be a driving force in my life.
From his unfinished movie ‘The Game of Death’ Bruce Lee, fighting his way up the pagoda, inspired the birth of today’s video games on martial arts.
He was truly way ahead of his time …
There is no doubt that Bruce was the truth. Not only did he speak it, he lived it. Nobody has taken it to the level of Bruce yet! He was so real and ahead of his time. Can’t nobody touch his legacy!
bruce lee has been the person who inspired me so much, very much in MARTIAL ARTS..now that i’ve been certified as a JEET KUNE DO instructor by NORTH CAROLINA GROUP JEET KUNE DO STREET FIGHTING SYSTEM,, i’ve been working hard to promote and spread JEET KUNE DO here in my country THE PHILIPPINES..i’m doing this for BRUCE LEE…jkd is very rare in my country and now that i have the right to do so i will spread this art of bruce lee to every FILIPINOS here in my country..we are very hungry in bruce lee’s jkd…
Thank you for posting this.
Hello Our Family, To Me Jeet Kune Do was created to find the cause of our ignorance. A Journey of Self Discovery. To Discover The Real Self the True Self, The Inner self. What I have experienced is that We are Spiritual Beings and that We are still sleeping! When we wake up We Will know for sure that only Ignorant People hit and hurt each other!
JKD has always been about interception in a reality fight with broken rhythms where you have a split second to react hitting the closest target with the closest weapon as fast as you can. We can make it all flowery and thats all nice, but the reality was that true JKD is streetfighting. With mention that it has found its way into law enforcement and military applications because of its effectivness. Its only a matter of time that some will finally figure out how to apply it in the cage. especially when we start using the most basic and effective tool in jkd arsonal that 95% of the people overlook. Using your power hand (or foot) forward not behind, this is crucial for interception, are we getting it?
@The last dragon
sorry i meant to ask you if you taught Mixed Maritial Arts
THANKS TO EVERYBODY READING AND POSTING ….CAN NEVER GET ENOUGH ON JKD AND SHIFU BRUCE
Bruce doesn’t believe in systems ,methods or styles so what is there to teach? He found the cause of his ignorance! The Art Of Fighting Without Fighting! He had a Spiritual Awakening in his Meditation knowing we are One Spirit.
i have read a lot of magizes about how jkd has become a stlye.after reading about bruce lee that was the furtherest thing from his mind.to call jkd a stlye is not to understand what mr.lee was all about.now i recently read how jkd has changed.jkd will always b in change.b like water,altimtely the ideal of pure jkd is to have no stlye.i also teach fighting the the name that i give my teaching is concept fighting.there r so many ways to defend yourself the question is can u move like bruce r you fast slow what r your weakness n strengths.not all of us r the same to b a good artis is to get better evertime you fight.make changes if need to.b like water.
I believe he is the best of the best of all time; no comparison, and real martial artist; If, today been the same year he would be; he will be the king of all champion of champion with all size combat; I believe and research he is about 160 lbs with strong physical and well built museculars and he quote ” I can beat anyone in the world”. Bruce Lee is the king of all martial artist.
Bruce Lee,….Best of The Best !!! The King of The Dragon Fighter !!!
Bruce Lee Vs. Brock Lesnar. Where’d Brock go? Through the mat or through the sky? Ha Ha Ha. Sorry Fedor, Lee will kick your ass too. You know I actually read a forum where Lee and B.J. Penn fought and actually tapped him!HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAAAHAAAAAAAA!!!!!!
Bruce Lee’s’ epitaph reads: “In memory of a once fluid man crammed and distorted by the classical mess”I always loved his philosophy on living the life as a TRUE Martial Artist. By the way I LOVE the picture you used.It is a defining moment for MMA 20 years ahead of its time.
LI JUN FAN el gran maestro . gracias ,sin ti muchos de nosotros no estariamos en el tao ….
@Nene
check your resources 5 style ending in ryu were tought okinowa in the early 1800
bruce lee was the best if it wernt for him people would not aspire to do martial arts. if bruce was alive now he would dominate fighting competitions around the world. for those critics who say that hes not good or not as good as jakie chan (though he’s also a good fighter for the drunken art) lets see you be as good as him lets see if u can get to his level of fighting he mastered the southern style then developed his own style from that point so that means he’s
above master level
did anyone knows the real cause of bruce lee death??
@vivek
Cerebral Edema or swelling of the brain.
i heard bruce lee died cause got hard effect to his body after he fight with one master name meor abdul rahman.they fight at one VIP room in Hong Kong airport.the true or not in this story is still under finding..
@wan
You heard wrong !
To bruce,brandon lee,Thankyou so much for all ur memories,hard work in the filming business. U both will always be in our hearts,mind,spirits.We love,miss u both alot,will always remember u both by ur fans,family,loveones that really appreciate u both alot. rest in peace now,1 thess 4:13-18 until we all meet,see u both again.ur fan, robert john taylor
The “underpinnings” as this article calls them, of MMA go back several thousand years at least, to ancient Greece and the event called pankration in the olympic games. To claim anything else is ridiculous.
Will,Will,Will Instead of chastising the author of this article of his ignorance of this fact.School him proper and thank him for his passion.Sounds like he merely forgot to mention this fact and tell him also that in 393 A.D. that Pankration, along with gladitorial combat and ALL pagan festivals were abolished by Emperor Theodisius I.So……………….
AFTER 393 A.D. BRUCE LEE picked up where the Greeks left off !!! Happy NOW!
@Alan Blast You left out dozens of others in the meantime, all of whom eschewed fixed patterns in conflict. Bokuden, Musashi, Machiavelli, Von Clausewitz, Patton, Gracie, etc. etc. There is virtually NOTHING new in Lee’s works or philosophies except the fact that through film and fame he was able to link the average martial artist to otherwise cloistered concepts of historical significance. For that he deserves credit but, they weren’t HIS concepts. Try reading the works or studying the history of some of the above. You’ll find Lee’s “innovations” are little more than the wise orthodoxy of winning warriors throughout history. NOW I’M HAPPY!
@Will
Wow you actually gave Bruce Lee credit for SOMETHING!I suppose the inventions that Bruce Lee developed and used on a daily basis has no merit to you as well.While I appreciate your intellect and appreciate you waxing eloquently about all the other combat intellects(I could name more and I’ve read them all) I have one question.
Why all the Bruce Lee hate? Now do your best NOT to sound pompous!
@Alan Blast My hate is not for Lee but for those who would make him out to be something he wasn’t. His significance as someone who brought martial arts and extant martial philosophy to the popular forefront and inspired millions is legitimate and important. But, to make him out to be some godlike, unbeatable fighter or a genius philosophical or technical innovator, is to ignore his actual contribution to the world. People managed to do the same thing to a wonderful rabbi a couple thousand years ago and now his best teachings are ignored in favor of spurious bullshit! What people have made of Bruce Lee … I’m convinced he’d hate it. Inventions? I’m honestly curious, what inventions?
Touche’ and nice Jesus tie-in. For I feel the same. And I meant innovations of which I am sure you are aware of. Anyone who is reading this is sure to get an education. Kudos Will
Greetings, my father is Ramon Smith, former tae kwon do/full contact fighter. I’d like to know whether you have any information, footage, or pictures of the demonstration Bruce Lee did on the Dominican Republic in the early 1970′s. In that exhibition, my father allegedly kicked Master Lee’s face, and he stopped the exhibition to congratulate him. I’m writing my Dad’s bio, and would appreciate it if you could add some data on this subject. Thanks in advance.
Bruce Lees’ protege’ Guro Dan Inosanto or his widow Linda Lee Cadwell would probably have all your information. I’m sure your father was a great martial artist.However,Mr. Lee NEVER went to your country OR met your father.So, your face kicking story is laughable at best.Have a nice day.
I disagree with the premise of this article. Yes, Bruce Lee was a prominent figure in the creation of what we today know as modern mixed martial arts. However, MMA has existed in different cultures, at different times, under different names.
Vale Tudo was around in Brazil even before the Gracies, but the Gracie’s art of BJJ took Vale Tudo competition to a new level. There are many other instances of MMA-like styles, but that would take all day to explain.
The point is, Bruce is a contributor to what we know as ‘MMA,’ but he is not the starting point of MMA.
Kajukenbo obviously predates Lee’s foray into martial arts but anything that could be called “mixed martial arts” goes back AT LEAST as far as ancient Greece and their pankration. @Nene
Exceptionally well said. I wasn’t aware that Brazilian Vale Tudo predated the Gracies. Can you document that? I’d be very interested, thanks. @VinRokk
Mr.Blast, I do understand that you may find my story laughable. It would be, of course, if it weren’t true. However, When I wrote this message, I was not seeking veracity on the information I have shared with you, nor confirmation from any source, but merely extra information on an event which, were you at least remotely involved in the martial arts world, you certainly would handle. I invite you to go to my facebook and check on the pictures. Or, if you’d rather, pass by Mr.Marcos Willamo’s, it could satisfy your curiosity.
Please, if anyone can provide me with further information on this event, I’d greatly appreciate it.
Lee’s contributions to martial arts we primarily philosophy refinement of technique and conditioning. He may have been a good teacher of martial arts, but when did he ever prove it in the ring?
Any ring, any where?
3 people on the planet claim to witness a match but no video available for the movie star?
Bruce is certainly a legend, but as a symbolic icon, not someone who could be the best in an actual fight.
if it wasnt for bruce lee there wouldnt have been main stream martial arts.
he brought martial arts to the attention to the western world and popularised it.
he inspired everyone and continues to even in death.
if it wasnt for bruce lee there wouldnt be the mma world that we have today. it doesnt mater who inovated it.
I agree that Bruce Lee was the father of mixed martial arts. I also believe that he (Bruce Lee) being an American- the thought of mixed martial arts is an American thought and invention. This is what defines America taking whoever or whatever works and using it to make it the best it can be. That’s the history of us Americans. The people, thoughts, ideas, music, food, and culture is a blend of everybody and everything. Proud to be an American!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OK, every educated martial artist agrees that Pankration is the starting point in martial arts history. But, that’s really ancient history. Bruce Lee was indeed a great martial artist and a great innovator too. In fact, to say that his contribution to martial arts derives solely from his movies and fame, it shows (more than anything else) a lack of basic education regarding his entire life work. Of course, nobody could actually prove that Bruce Lee or anybody else was the best fighter in his time (or of all times). That’s an utopia and a really childish way of thinking. One thing can be proved though, that’s Bruce’s own (cross)training weekly program. Anyone can search and find the relevant published documents. In 1966, the methods he used in his training had little to do with any other way of training in any martial art at that time, but one could easily find a lot of similarities with today’s mixed martial arts (cross)training. Bruce Lee was ambitious, but also a true pioneer of modern martial arts, as he was very dedicated to his own research and development as a complete fighter and athlete, probably more than anyone else at his time..
@DANNY B. unfortunately, many of bruce lee’s works have not been published, including demostration videos and stuff such as lee’s side kick to kick 300 pound bags up the ceiling…….
@DANNY B.
I contacted once Mr. Ellis Perez, a former martial artist and reporter who interviewed Bruce Lee in Dominican Republic. He indicated that the interview video was lost. Relating to other videos about his demonstrations, I have forgotten to ask a friend of mine who was one of the very few with video camera at the time if he recorded the famous demonstration in which a piece of board broke a light (I was in the audience and enjoyed the show.)
Lee’s demonstration in the Teatro Agua-Luz was reported in the Dominican media (‘Listin Diario’ and “El Caribe’), regrettably it was not as exciting as expected (wood board got wet before the demonstration) and there is no indication of any recording being saved.
@Alan Blast
Your answer is not correct. Bruce Lee visited Dominican Republic with Mr. Rhee. I saw him there and shared demonstration floor with Mr. Lee. Do not discredit people without doing proper research first.
Bruce lee is father of MMA absolutely and surely! he is symbol of mixed martial art
Nonsense! The pattern for modern MMA goes back as far as ancient Greece and modern MMA can be traced quite specifically to Brazil and the UFC. Bruce Lee had NOTHING WHATEVER to do with it. @Behrouz jami
@Will
you’re not reading the article, instead you’re being closed minded and ignorant…
Bruce Lee made MMA and basically all martial arts mainstream with the general public, he was the first modern guy to introduce mixtures of all martial arts to the world. I don’t see any old ancient dead Greek guys spreading MMA around the world. Regardless of who invented it, he made it known, a task in itself.
Bruce Lee’s legacy will live on forever, regardless of the opinions that people form of him (myself included). I don’t personally think that Bruce was the “founder” of MMA, but he did bring mainstream exposure of the Martial Arts to the world, especially the West. That can’t be denied, his accomplishments speak for themselves. That being said, I feel that MMA as we now know it, can be traced back to the Greeks (Pancrase), obviously Brazil and Helio Gracie, and many other countries (Sambo from Russia, Muay Thai, etc.). Many cultures brought something to the table in terms of developing present-day MMA. But Bruce Lee, without a doubt (along with Dan Inosanto), are very much respected and credited with giving the Arts the exposure that they now enjoy.
Now there’s a statement I can agree with. Well said.@zach
Actually helio gracie WAS the first true mixed martial artist earning a redbelt in bjj and a 6th degree blackbelt in judo, and was one of the best instructors until his death in 2009 an age 95
@Tom I’ve read the article and it’s quite demonstrably incorrect. Open your own mind.
@merf Even Helio didn’t agree with you.
@Santiago B. Tejada
Hello, Mr.Tejada. Thanks for your response. I invite you, as well as the rest of the people in the forum, to visit my blog ramonsmithkarate.blogspot.com to see some interesting pictures of master Lee, Howard Jackson, among others…and to read a brief biography of my father, Ramon Smith.