Bruce Lee was a giant in the world of martial arts. So much so, he even developed his own form of combat known as Jeet Kune Do, which is often considered to be an inspiration for the development of Mixed Martial Arts as we know them today.

Even though Bruce Lee was a gifted martial artist, he still knew the limits of his strength and was wise enough to use this strength accordingly.

Bruce Lee knew his own limits

Lee had a muscular physique that was a testament to years of training and the discipline that comes from practicing martial arts. But even he could not do everything.

When asked in an interview once, “Can you break five or six pieces of wood with your hand or your foot?”, Lee laughingly replied, “I’ll probably break my hand and foot.” Modest as ever, Lee?was not arrogant about his skills.

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Lee also opened a martial arts studio in Hollywood for actors such as James Garner and Steve McQueen and many others. For him, teaching martial arts had a much deeper meaning. “When I teach it, all type of knowledge ultimately means self-knowledge. They are not coming to me to learn how to defend themselves or to do in somebody. Rather, they want to learn to express themselves through some movement, be it anger, be it determination, or whatsoever”, said Lee.

The importance of Martial Arts for Lee

Martial arts was not just a sport or art that Lee practiced. For him, it gave meaning to his life.

He said once, “Martial art has a very very deep meaning as far as my life is concerned because as an actor, as a martial artist, as a human being, all these I have learned from martial arts.”

Lee’s practice of martial arts was ingrained in philosophical ideas. It was based on “simplicity, directness, and personal freedom.”?

It is not surprising that Lee credited everything he was and everything he became to martial arts. As far as history goes, one cannot think about martial arts without thinking of the name ‘Bruce Lee’.

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