I met Bruce Lee for the
first time during the filming of the television show The Green Hornet, on
which he played a butler. He was a nice fellow. The stunt coordinator
hired me, and I worked on quite a few episodes. During that time, I was
able to get to know Bruce a little bit, and we even worked out together.
He was the best martial artist of his time.
Bruce and I had a bond with the
martial arts, and we would get together frequently. We worked out about 10
to 12 times at his place in Los Angeles' Chinatown and at my place. When I
went to his place, he showed me what he did, and I showed him what I did.
Although he seemed to love the finishing holds of grappling, it just
wasn't commercially attractive at the time. Actually. it was because of my
grappling and tumbling background that I was hired to do the television
show-because I could take falls for Bruce.
Bruce is more famous now than
he was when he was alive. He was an entertaining fellow who was very
knowledgeable and very good at what he did. People may wonder just how
good a martial artist Bruce Lee was. Well, as I said earlier. he was the
best of his time. Also, many of his former students are doing very well
today. That's a sign that he was a good martial artist and that he was
able to make his students into good martial artists.
Bruce developed and performed
his own style of kung fu. and a lot of the traditional guys didn't like it
because it broke from Chinese tradition. I know what that is like because
I had the same trouble when I tried to improve different martial arts by
changing things for the better. I believe that anytime you can have an
open mind and learn something new, then add It to Your repertoire, it's a
good thing. It will only make You and your students more knowledgeable.
At first Bruce was not
particularly receptive to the grappling art that I practiced, but he
eventually warmed up to it somewhat. I thought that was great. I've always
been a big believer in crosstraining, and I've practiced most of the major
martial arts, as well as boxing and wrestling. I believe that a person who
is involved with the martial arts should know as Much as he can about all
styles. The martial artists that I disagree with are the ones that know
only their art ' they don't know anything about other styles and they
don't like anything else.
As I said, Bruce started out
with sort of a negative opinion of grappling. but after we worked out. he
demonstrated that he had an open mind when he acknowledged how practical
it was for certain things; in certain situations". Some of the techniques
I shared with him were leg locks, arm locks, hold downs and judo throws.
Bruce and I didn't
agree on everything. For example. I've always been a believer in bobbing
and weaving to avoid an opponent's punches - instead of blocking with your
hands. Bruce's theory was to block a punch and then, strike back with your
open hand or fist. My point of view was that it You can avoid absorbing
blows in a match or a fight. - and then come in with offensive moves,
You'll live a lot longer.
Although no one in the martial
arts community today seems to have the same charisma that Bruce had, there
are many great martial artists Out there teaching and competing. This
statement is not intended to take anything away from Bruce. He was a
leader and trendsetter. I wish he were still with us today.
About the Author. Gene LeBell is a stuntman, former American
Athletic Union judo champion, professional wrestler and world-renowned
grappling instructor.
