?A Slow-Motion Nightmare?: 220-Pound Champion Boxer?s Demonstration Against Bruce Lee Turned Into an Embarrassment Once

Hollywood majorly witnessed the sheer strength and will of martial arts legend Bruce Lee when he began filming for his hit movies. However, his combat prowess had made itself visible even before he became a household name. Beginning his professional life as an instructor, Lee garnered a lot of attention due to his take on the fighting style.

According to the memoirs?Bruce Lee: A Life, the star once found a student amidst a bunch of troublemakers in a similar situation. Many would underestimate Lee due to his looks and the way he carried himself, but all hell would break loose once he stepped into the arena. Here’s what happened when Lee found himself in a fight with a 220-lb boxer.

Bruce Lee gave a fitting reply to the ‘baddest dude’ in the audience

On the occasion of Asian Culture Appreciation Day at Edison Tech, Bruce Lee was called in to demonstrate some of his Kung Fu tricks. While about 40 students were present at the venue, they slowly began snickering at the legend when his tricks didn’t seem as impressive. Lee was annoyed and decided to give the students a taste of what the practices felt like.

One of these students was James DeMile. The 20-year-old delinquent boxing champion who was out on probation had been smirking at Lee’s demonstration. “You look like you can fight” exclaimed the legend as he invited the 220-pound boxer on stage. And that’s when the real show began.

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Lee declared that he would be showing off his skills in a specialized martial arts form called Wing Chun. DeMile was stunned when the smaller-looking Lee brushed past every single punch, he threw his way, effortlessly. The entire demonstration ended when Lee tied the boxer’s arms into a knot and made fun of him. In the memoirs, DeMile recalled, “I was as helpless as if I was in some giant roll of flypaper. It was like a slow-motion nightmare.” Unlike James, Lee’s students have always held him up to a respectable standard, and one of them was Jesse Glover.

Teaching didn’t need boundaries

At a time when racism was prevalent, Jesse Glover, an African American, dreamed of learning martial arts. After several requests and rejections, due to discrimination against his race, the young lad finally came across Bruce Lee and got his hopes up.

Not only did Lee agree to teach Glover but he also grew closer to him over the years. When the martial arts legend tragically passed away, Glover recalled how he broke down and cried at his teacher’s funeral. Having had the star’s brotherly affection over him for a long time, his life and legacy left a deep impression on the martial arts student.

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