“How Could I Close My Door on Him?”: Master Ip Welcomed Bruce Lee Delightedly After He Passed a Stringent Test in 1953

Published 12/19/2022, 10:53 AM EST

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The world of martial arts may progress, but it will never forget Bruce Lee. Considered to be the godfather of MMA, Lee passed away at a young age but is still a fan favorite for all generations. Lee had an impact on MMA like no other martial artist.

In the Netflix series, The Legend of Bruce Lee, episode 3, Bruce Lee finally becomes the disciple of Ip Man. Master Ip was a popular and honored martial arts trainer back then. Training Kung Fu under him was like a dream come true for Lee.

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How much did Bruce Lee go through?

Getting to train under Master Ip was no easy feat and Lee had a hard time just becoming a student of his. Although Master Ip had other plans for Lee, of which he was unaware.

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“I’ve seen you son before. I saw the movie you and your son were in. That was years ago. I saw your son fighting with a security guard at the movie theater. He was about seven or eight, then. A child of seven or eight, dared to fight with a burly guy like that. Such a mischievous boy. Not just that. He’s also got a reputation. I know why he wants to learn Kung Fu. Okay. Come in, please. He’s run all the way from King’s Park. How could I close my door on him?” Master Ip can be seen saying in the Netflix series.

According to the series, Master Ip had seen Lee fighting for justice at a movie theater when he was just seven or eight years old. He was also astonished to see how a kid his size fought a large man. Lee’s reputation also allowed master Ip to abandon any doubt about him and take him as his disciple. Watching him run all the way from King’s Park to his doorstep sealed the deal. There was no way for him to decline Lee’s dedication.

Why Kung Fu?

Bruce Lee’s father didn’t belong to a rich family, and with all the money he made with his hard work, he put Lee into a private school. However, Lee showed no interest in studies because he only loved Kung Fu and nothing else.

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Lee failed his semesters, which dissatisfied and concerned his father. So he put Lee under the guidance of Ip Man, and the rest is history. Bruce Lee wasn’t happy with Ip Man making him go through the basics at first as he believed he had already mastered those skills, but all the training led to the growth of a unique martial art. Later on, Lee founded his own style, which came to be known as Jeet Kune Do.

WATCH THIS STORY – Bruce Lee: Top Five Moves Of The Legend You Need To Know

What do you think of Ip Man’s selection process? Let us know in the comment section.

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Written by:

Rahul Goutam Hoom

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Rahul Goutam Hoom is a US Sports writer for EssentiallySports. He is currently pursuing his Master's in Mass Communication and Journalism from Birla Global University. Rahul does photography and gaming during his leisure hours and likes to watch anime.
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Edited by:

Anupama Ghosh