The Icon: Bruce Lee
Sunday 19 August 2007 - Filed under thinking
I was checking out a book on Bruce Lee’s martial arts legacy the other day and just couldn’t help but reflect and be inspired by the man. Although he died at a young age, he pursued martial arts with an intensity that couldn’t be matched by even serious masters at a young age.
He was the classic “warrior-philosopher” in the tradition of Miyamoto Musashi of the modern day and a rock star in the tradition of Jimi Hendrix or Jim Morrison, leaving a considerable legacy of promise and unfinished perfection. The pictures of him told an amazing story of the man, a body ripped to shreds; eyes that were painfully shy, intense, and expressive at the same time; physical fitness to utter perfection: one-thumb push-ups, impossible balance moves, and quickness.
He could be fierce as a tiger when striking an opponent while eerily cool and calm while absorbing an attack. His fighting form spoke volumes of a person obsessed with martial arts. Martial artists, bodybuilders, and athletes from all walks of life have felt his legacy. The abomination that is current Hollywood action flicks try to carry the torch with wire-action, stop-motion cameras, 360 degree panning, computer graphics, and other technological enhancements. Still, the more you chase Bruce Lee, the more you appreciate that he will never be surpassed or even replaced. His legacy is his.
I walked away from the book with lots of inspiration. I want to take physical fitness more seriously and also strive for something with more intensity, to make something mine and to leave it as a legacy.
Inspired in part by (I blatantly used the same video linked here): Paying Respects to Bruce Lee—The Original Mixed Martial Artist | dmiessler.com
2007-08-19 » baron
20 August 2007 @ 2:55 am
Bruce Lee is a legend!!!
It seemed to me that he was a man that always gave 100%.
I think man’s greatest weakness is himself!!
20 August 2007 @ 6:13 pm
Yeah, when someone gives 100% it really shows through. But he always has a calm about him too so that’s what makes him cool
21 August 2007 @ 2:48 am
Excellent write-up, my fondest memories are sitting with my grandfather and watching Bruce Lee’s movies. I have always found him, and my grandfather, very inspirational.
21 August 2007 @ 6:19 pm
Thanks for the comment. I listened to some of your tracks, you’re one talented rapper!
3 September 2007 @ 8:38 pm
His movies are absolutely great, I still remembered watching them over and over again with my friends when we were still at school