“I’m Pissed Off”: Bruce Lee Nearly Quit Kung Fu Training Due to Bizarre ‘Horse Stance’ in 1953

Published 12/17/2022, 2:30 PM EST

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via Imago

In the world of martial arts, Bruce Lee is an unforgettable figure. The contributions he made during his time are still visible in modern martial arts. Interestingly, his training days weren’t the way he planned them to be. During his early days, he didn’t like the way his master Ip Man taught him the way.

In episode 3 of the Netflix series ‘The Legend of Bruce Lee’, it is shown that Lee is fed up with his master. He demands real Kung Fu training, but his master Ip Man wants him to practice the basics first, which he already knows.

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Bruce Lee dissatisfied with his master

Bruce Lee complained about his master to his father first, saying that he just let him do one stance the whole day. His father didn’t listen to him, as Ip Man was an honorable martial arts trainer.

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“Can you ask Master Ip to teach me something useful? I don’t want to waste my time. Vacation is already over. I want to learn it. I just don’t want to waste my time,” Lee confronted. He requested his father take action against his master. It looks like the legend was bored with the way Ip Man taught him. He wanted to learn new things. He also wanted to advance in Kung Fu rather than practice one stance the whole day. Although he hated it, he had to go back to train with his master. And again, his master handed him over to practice the horse stance.

“It’s not that I don’t want to see you. I’m just so anxious. I’m pissed off. About Master Ip. Ever since he became my teacher, he’s only let me do Horse Stance and lift poles. I’ve already learned these basic skills. I don’t even know what he thinks,” Lee talked to his dance partner about his master. Ip Man’s training just pisses him off. Bruce Lee was just not able to understand his master. Only to realize that whatever Ip Man taught Lee would lead him to become not only a good martial artist, but the best in the world.

All the things that lead him to become the best

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The training that Ip Man gave Bruce Lee wasn’t normal. He did see Lee’s dedication to martial arts. He also wanted him to teach him a different way than others, as only Lee could go through it.

All the training made Lee the best in the world. Later, Bruce Lee founded the hybrid martial arts form Jeet Kune Do. It is also called “The Way of the Intercepting Fist” and it was the way of martial arts without fighting. Lee referred to it as the formless form or the art of fighting out fighting. Lee’s way of doing martial arts was different than others. While most MMA fighters today practice offense over defense, Bruce Lee did the opposite. The horse stance, which was taught by Ip Man, provides self-defense using both offensive and defensive techniques simultaneously.

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WATCH THIS STORY – Relive the iconic on-screen fights of the GOAT Bruce Lee from his movie collection

What do you think of Ip Man’s way of training? Was it fair enough to make Bruce Lee learn the hard way? 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:

Pritam Priyedarshi