The Rise and Fall of Bruce Lee

Summary

The fascinating journey of Bruce Lee takes us from his early days growing up in Hong Kong, through his struggles and triumphs as an Asian actor in America, to his lasting legacy in the world of martial arts and film. Despite facing numerous obstacles, Bruce’s determination and unique vision for progressive martial arts helped him break through racial barriers and become a cultural icon. His story is one of resilience, innovation, and an enduring impact that extends beyond his untimely passing.

Highlights

• Bruce Lee grew up in the energetic world of Hong Kong cinema and Cantonese Opera 🎭.
• He faced racial challenges both in martial arts and Hollywood, yet remained resilient 💪.
• Bruce Lee's fight with Wong Jack Man was pivotal in his development of a new martial arts philosophy 🥊.
• Lee’s belief in 'being like water' became a symbol of adaptability and strength 🌊.
• Despite barriers, Bruce taught martial arts to famous Hollywood actors, expanding his influence 🌐.

Key Takeaways

• Bruce Lee revolutionized martial arts in cinema, bringing his unique style and philosophy to global audiences 🌍.
• Despite facing racial barriers in Hollywood, Bruce Lee persevered to become a superstar 🎥.
• His fight with Wong Jack Man was a turning point, spurring him to cultivate a new martial arts philosophy 🥋.
• Lee's influential concept, 'Be like water,' conveyed flexibility and adaptability 💧.
• Bruce Lee worked with Hollywood stars, teaching them martial arts, while pursuing his film dreams 🌟.

Overview

Bruce Lee’s journey is truly captivating, starting from his roots in Hong Kong cinema, where he was practically raised on movie sets and opera stages. This vibrant environment fueled his natural charisma and talent, but it was the tough streets of Hong Kong that pushed him towards martial arts. Lee’s dedication to Wing Chun marked the beginning of a path that would eventually transform the martial arts world forever.

Facing strict racial barriers, Bruce Lee’s transition to the United States was filled with challenges and groundbreaking victories. His charisma and martial artistry quickly caught Hollywood’s eye, propelling him from teaching martial arts to starring in films. However, despite these achievements, he encountered prejudice that slowed his rise, yet his resolve and talent saw him celebrated both domestically and abroad.

Sadly, Bruce Lee's life was punctuated by his sudden passing just as his film ‘Enter the Dragon’ was set to premiere. Yet, his influence endures, seen in his philosophy ‘be like water,’ emphasizing flexibility and resilience. His legacy is carried on not just through films and martial arts, but also through the cultural ripples he created, inspiring countless individuals worldwide.

Chapters

• 00:00 - 01:00: Introduction to Bruce Lee The chapter introduces Bruce Lee, beginning with a direct camera address where he states his name and origin. Despite being of Asian descent, Bruce positioned himself as a significant figure in America, striving to become a star unlike anyone else. His determination is underscored by quotes from people who knew him and his iconic lines from his career. The narrative suggests a deeper, more profound personality beneath his public persona.
• 01:00 - 03:00: Early Life in Hong Kong The chapter titled 'Early Life in Hong Kong' begins by depicting the birth of a significant personality in 1940 during the hour and year of the dragon, marking an auspicious beginning in Chinese culture. The individual, who would later become globally influential, was born into a milieu rich in ancient philosophies and traditions. The narrative hints at the remarkable journey from a troublesome youth to an iconic figure whose image is highly revered, drawing a parallel with cultural icons like those in Star Wars. The chapter sets the stage for exploring the early challenges and influences that shaped this person's life from their origins amidst the vibrant backdrop of Hong Kong's artistic and philosophical heritage.
• 03:00 - 05:00: Journey to America The chapter 'Journey to America' delves into the early life of the actor who was immersed in the culture and environment of Hong Kong cinema and Cantonese Opera from a young age. As a result, he was seen as a natural talent. His upbringing on the streets of Hong Kong was pivotal in his decision to learn martial arts. An incident involving a group of university students who assaulted him after school marked the start of his journey in mastering the Chinese martial art Wing Chun.
• 05:00 - 08:00: Teaching and Personal Life in America In his early teenage years, Bruce Lee engaged in street fighting against rival martial art styles, often on rooftops. Despite being an avid fighter, he was not a diligent student academically. Bruce's passion for martial arts faced a challenge when it was discovered by the Wing Chun community that he was not entirely of Chinese descent. Due to an established rule against teaching non-pure Chinese individuals, Bruce was removed from formal classes. However, committed to his martial arts journey, Bruce continued to receive private lessons clandestinely.
• 08:00 - 11:00: Challenges and Triumphs in Hollywood In the chapter 'Challenges and Triumphs in Hollywood,' the story unfolds around Bruce's problematic behavior of getting into fights, causing concerns for his parents and leading to police intervention. Despite conversations with the police, Bruce's penchant for fighting persists, prompting his parents to send him to America with $100 as a measure to encourage education and deter further trouble. The decision marks a pivotal moment, illustrating both the challenges faced by Bruce's family and the initial steps towards his journey and eventual success in Hollywood.
• 11:00 - 15:00: Return to Hong Kong and Success The chapter titled "Return to Hong Kong and Success" reflects a deeply emotional moment between the narrator and someone named Robert as they prepare for a departure. The narrator recalls a surprising display of affection from his father, an old-fashioned man who rarely hugs anyone, as he embraces Robert. This unexpected show of emotion highlights the deep love and connection between them. Additionally, it is mentioned that Bruce studied philosophy.
• 15:00 - 18:00: Iconic Films and Hollywood Breakthrough The chapter titled 'Iconic Films and Hollywood Breakthrough' discusses an individual's journey of balancing education and work, while also pursuing his passion for teaching Wing Chan. The story highlights the teacher's open-minded approach to teaching, emphasizing the importance of character over racial barriers. It also narrates a memorable moment when Linda, a student, experienced a gentle demonstration by the teacher, which led to an invitation to dinner at the Space Needle.
• 18:00 - 20:00: Bruce Lee's Philosophy Bruce and his partner used to watch films together, one of which was 'Breakfast at Tiffany's'. Bruce felt ashamed of the representation of Asian culture in Mickey Rooney's portrayal in the film. His decision to marry a Caucasian person reflected his views on America.

The Rise and Fall of Bruce Lee Transcription

• 00:00 - 00:30 just look right into the camera lens right here and tell us your name your age and where you were born my last name is Lee Bruce Lee where do you come from America was not ready for an Asian hero I never met anybody in my life ever that I felt wanted to be a star more than Bruce you have offended my family and you have offended a sholing temple but he was underneath a very deep person rooted in
• 00:30 - 01:00 philosophies that went back thousands of years so how does this skinny delinquent end up with his face haded on thousands of people Star Wars no disrespect and Bru Lee hit the [ __ ] Silver Screen [ __ ] everything [Music] yeah 1940 a child is born on the hour and year of the dragon to a Chinese Opera
• 01:00 - 01:30 actor he literally grew up on the set of the Hong Kong Cinema and the backstage of the Cantonese Opera they all said that he was a natural growing up on the streets of Hong Kong is what sent Bruce to get an education in martial arts there was a group of U students classmates that didn't quite like him so one day when he walked out of school they just jumped him and beat the heck out of M Bruce began studying the Chinese martial art Wing Chun under
• 01:30 - 02:00 itman at 13 years old he'd fight against rival martial art styles on rooftops Bruce I think he would describe himself as grown up street fighting he was not a real good and serious student in school in Hong Kong but his love for fighting was under threat when it was revealed to Wing Chun members he was not purely Chinese there was a long-standing rule in the Chinese martial arts world to not teach foreigners so itman removes Bruce from class but hasim taught discretely in private sessions away from everyone
• 02:00 - 02:30 else by a senior student meanwhile Bruce's parents only grew more concerned about his love for fighting and then the police I remember it was a detective or somebody talked to my mom say hey either your son stop what he's doing or we'll have to arrest him because you know we can't let him just go out there and pick fights all day long you know can't do that unable to stop him from fighting his parents sent him to America along with a $100 to study and stay out of trouble I was I remember I was about
• 02:30 - 03:00 to go to sleep and he came by my bedside and and he was telling me that hey Robert I'll be leaving tomorrow and the emotion was very very deep inside you know and that love between us I I could feel it then my father was a very old fashion man okay he never hugs anybody nobody you know my father actually went over and hugged him and that really took us all by surprise you know Bruce studied philosophy at
• 03:00 - 03:30 University by day and worked at a restaurant by night but he had much more valuable skills to offer so began teaching Wing Chan he didn't have any barriers of of color or anything like that he said if your heart is right he said I'm going to teach you joining one of his classes was Linda was demonstrating on me and he threw me down to the ground gently of course so as he was showing the others how to do this he said to me quietly would you like to go to the space needle for dinner and I
• 03:30 - 04:00 said all of us go to the Space Needle and he said no just you we were dating we did go to a lot of films and one of them was Breakfast at Tiffany's Mickey Rooney just looked ridiculous Bruce was just ashamed that his Asian culture would be represented that way the fact that Bruce chose to marry a Caucasian person was an expression of how he felt about America already
• 04:00 - 04:30 brucewood showcases martial arts at karate tournaments this is where it demonstrate two finger push-ups his 1-in punch that was his dream was to teach martial arts to bring the beauty of his martial arts Chinese Gung Fu to the American people and to the world not everyone took a liking to Bruce perhaps because he issued an open challenge in which he claimed to be able to defeat any martial artist in San Francisco often time
• 04:30 - 05:00 people come up and say hey RS are you really that good I said well if I tell you I'm good probably you will say I'm boasting but if I tell you I'm no good you know one lies he receives a challenge from Wong Jackman and he said uh you're to close your school down because we don't want you teaching non-chinese and Bruce Lee only let me says I'll teach anybody who I want to teach so what he' come in he said well if you beat me then you can teach
• 05:00 - 05:30 non-chinese but if I beat you you got to close your school down I think the fight lasted 3 minutes so long john turned around start running from one door to the other I think he ran around two or three times he stumbled and Bruce got on top of him and was getting ready to lay him out and he yelled in Chinese could speak English I give up I give up Bruce was so desponded so disappointed in his performance and actually this was a real turning point
• 05:30 - 06:00 anoid he didn't win in seconds he begins refining his approach to martial arts he believed that he could take the best of many different kinds of fighting a piece here and a piece there from boxing wrestling martial arts all sorts of different physical activity that incorporated into a single philosophy 1965 Brandon Le is born he had a very very you know Keen sense of of love for his son and and he used to always brag and say he's the only only blond haired
• 06:00 - 06:30 blueeyed CH in the world but less than a week later his father passes away back in Hong Kong he was crying you know was crying real hard because at that point he knew that even though his father had sent him you know to the United States with only $100 in his pocket it was good for him after the funeral Bruce trains even harder and while he's out his wife receives a phone call at that 1964 long be
• 06:30 - 07:00 tournament there was someone in the audience by the name of J Sebring hairdresser to the stars in Hollywood Jay saw my father give this exhibition and he was really really impressed this was his ticket into Hollywood just look right into the camera lens right here and tell us your name your age and where you were born the first role was in the TV series the green horn the thing that impressed me about him then is as always was his intensity we were 50 50 partners and he
• 07:00 - 07:30 understood that despite this Bruce was paid considerably less than the rest of the crew we had to slow up his action because we found in the test that he was moving too fast for the speed of the Motion Picture film people may not realize he could have been faster than he was unfortunately the show was overshadowed by the success of [Music] another and I heard this
• 07:30 - 08:00 yeah scream bang Wham and you could hear the progression of him Bruce I found out later leaving the Sound Stage and I said to my standing I said what in the hell is all that for he said that package is where you're going over and being guest stars on Batman and you get into a fight with him and you both lose Bert Ward had let everybody know that that he could wipe
• 08:00 - 08:30 Ko's butt that he was this big karate expert and he knew a lot more about it then Bruce did I said hey I'm with Bruce he sat down and he stared at ber I tell you I think Bert wet his pants I really do the word was out that he did buly guacamole they finally talked him out of it that Mr Mr Lee was not going to hurt you but Bruce just intimidate the heck out of him and
• 08:30 - 09:00 he I don't think he ever lived that down it was agreed the fight would end in a draw and the Green Hornet would be cancelled now in need of money Bruce would teach famous Hollywood actors such as Steve McQueen James Coburn Sharon Tate and kareim Abdul Jabar but Bruce had much greater ambitions he once told me I can educate
• 09:00 - 09:30 people faster through film than I can by writing a book or opening a 100 schools here in America and in 1969 Shannon Lee was born uh Shannon just had Bruce around her little finger daddy's little girl it was like an angel had come to live at our house when Shannon was born with greater responsibilities and children looking up to him he writes down his definite chief aim to become the highest paid Oriental
• 09:30 - 10:00 superstar in the United States He trains harder improves his acting and finally auditions for the perfect role a TV series called Kung Fu about a Chinese immigrant and Kung Fu expert going on a journey in the American Wild West he was rejected an executive at the network actually said who wants to see a 5' 6 in Chinese actor and that was a painful thing to do to Bruce so Kung Fu which which was written for Bruce uh the people at the
• 10:00 - 10:30 studio decided that uh America was not ready for an Asian hero they never apparently considered him at all for the lead because in their words he was too Chinese looking what happened was they ended up giving the role to a Caucasian actor David kerine who they tried to make up to look half Chinese unfortunately uh such thing does exist in this world you see like they think that business why it's a risk and I don't blame them and I don't blame I mean in the same way is like in Hong
• 10:30 - 11:00 Kong if a foreigner come and be and became a star if I were the the man with the money I probably would have my own worry of whether or not the acceptance would be there rejected from Hollywood Bruce returns to Hong Kong to which he receives an unexpected welcome you couldn't walk down the street without being mobbed the way that uh Tom Cruz I guess today might be mobbed if he walked down on the street his approached by Hong Kong producer Raymond Chow for lowbudget film opportunities were not open to him
• 11:00 - 11:30 in Hollywood and so he went you might say out the side door to Hong Kong where he began to make films after working hard on his first martial arts film Bruce attends a premier screening with his wife Hong Kong movie goers are renowned for being very vocal and they have even been known to like cut the seats with a knife or something if they didn't like the movie we're sitting there the crowd is
• 11:30 - 12:00 hushed and he thinks for a second he thinks oh my God they hate it until everybody broke out into thunderous Applause to say It was a commercial success is an understatement so Bruce gets to work on his next film this time with a higher budget better acting and more fight scenes but it was his next film where things really took
• 12:00 - 12:30 off by the time we were doing way of the Dragon Warner Brothers had realized that there was more to Bruce Lee than they'd originally imagined he approaches a world champion martial arst he says Chuck I've done two movies in Hong Kong and they're very successful I want to do a movie now with a fight scene that everyone will remember and I want to do it in the Coliseum in Rome Bruce stars in one of the most iconic martial arts films and
• 12:30 - 13:00 he was only just getting started how do you like that in Game of Death he brings his ex- student kareim Abdul Jabar and films the first few fight scenes and this is where he gets a phone call from Hollywood Mr Lee I've come to speak to you about a tournament of martial arts Enter the Dragon is to be a high budget Hollywood Blockbuster entry the dragon was not just another film for Bruce it wasn't just oh this is the next project this was the dream of his lifetime any
• 13:00 - 13:30 time in the film that is a little bit philosophical that is something that Bruce put into the script it is like a finger pointing away to the Moon don't concentrate on the finger or you will miss all that Heavenly glory on May 10th 1973 Le collapsis while working on the final touches event of dragon and is
• 13:30 - 14:00 rushed to hospital strangely the doctors find nothing wrong you said you know what the doctors tell me I got a body of an 18yearold you know I say wow I'm impressed you know two months later looking forward to the release of his first major Hollywood film Bruce visits Betty tinge who he intends to make a film with he complains about a headache and is given the painkiller EIP before going to lie down when Betty and Raymond are unable to
• 14:00 - 14:30 wake him up for dinner an ambulance is called I rushed to the hospital and uh Bruce was unconscious and they didn't know what was wrong I couldn't say is he dead I said is he alive and they they shook their heads said no [Music]
• 14:30 - 15:00 [Music]
• 15:00 - 15:30 ultimately martial art means honestly expressing yourself I mean it it is easy for me to put on a show and be cocky but to express oneself honestly not lying to
• 15:30 - 16:00 oneself that my friend is very hard to do you still think of yourself Chinese or do you ever think of yourself as North American you know what I want to think of myself as a human being because I mean I don't want it sounds like you know as confusious say but under the sky under the heaven man there is but one family it just so happened man that people want to
• 16:00 - 16:30 food oh don't hit [Applause] [Music] Back It produced a new generation of people who were not direct Disciples of Rous Le these were not people trained by Bruce Lee but they're people who Ripple
• 16:30 - 17:00 out from Bruce [Music] Lee I said empty your mind be formless shapeless like water now you put water into a cup it becomes the cup you put water into a bottle it becomes the bottle you put in the teapot it becomes the teapot
• 17:00 - 17:30 now water can flow or it can crash be water my friend