“All My Theory of Gentleness Was Gone”: Bruce Lee Was Once Left ‘Completely Perturbed and Unstable’ After Engaging in Combat

Published 12/12/2022, 7:00 AM EST

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The great Bruce Lee is the trailblazer popularizing martial arts skills. The iconic martial artist is renowned for his quick reactions and entertainment. He was a master in martial arts and could hold day-long philosophical discussions on martial arts. However, once the legend recalled that, in his initial years of training, all his philosophy took a back seat once he got into the fight.

Bruce Lee once gave an interview to the Black Belt Magazine. He provided some insights into his approach toward training. 

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Bruce Lee’s approach changed during fights

Bruce Lee admitted to facing trouble during the fights. He gave four years of dedicated training to master the art of neutralizing an opponent’s aggression. Bruce realized that Kung Fu is not always about hurting the opponent but smoothly countering their moves. He said, “After four years of hard training in the art of gung fu (kung fu), I began to understand and felt the principle of gentleness.” 

via Getty

Bruce further revealed that he couldn’t hold on to the values of gentleness and politeness. His mind automatically shifted to aggressive mode as soon as he engaged in fights. “The moment I engaged in combat with an opponent, my mind was completely perturbed and unstable. Especially after a series of blows and kicks, all my theories of gentleness was gone,” he admitted. Bruce’s dilemma often ended him with serious blows from his opponent, which made things worse for him.

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He admitted that all such theories seemed pleasant to the ears but were very tough to follow. He also added that his desperation for a win escalated after receiving punches from the opponent. “My only thought left was somehow or another I must beat him and win,” he added. 

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The perseverance of Bruce Lee made him a legend

His never-dying spirit and dedication made Bruce Lee stand apart from the crowd. He never gave up and kept working on his temperament to achieve perfection in martial arts. The legend further developed his own set of skills, called Jeet Kune Do. The world recognized his martial art form.

Chinese-American martial arts exponent Bruce Lee (1940 – 1973), in a still from the film ‘Enter The Dragon’, directed by Robert Crouse for Warner Brothers, 1973. (Photo by Fotos International/Archive Photos/Getty Images)

The brilliance of Bruce Lee could be seen in his miraculous performance in various Chinese movies. He revolutionized the Hong Kong film industry and inspired the upcoming generation of legends like Jackie Chan. He ruled his audience’s thoughts and hearts, and his legacy is still intact.

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Written by:

Shivam Sharma

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Shivam Sharma is a US Sports author for EssentiallySports. With a Bachelor's degree in Journalism, he has previously worked as a writer and an anchor for Navbharat Today, penning down and explaining issues around sports, politics, and international relations. He is an admirer of Virat Kohli for the passion that he brings to the field.
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Edited by:

Simar Singh Wadhwa