Asian Geographic

Bruce Lee

Be water, my friend

- Bruce Lee Text

a revered martial artist, an insightful philosophe­r, and a famous filmmaker and actor, Bruce Lee became a pop culture icon, listed by Time as one of the most influentia­l people of the 20th century.

Born on November 27, 1940 in San Francisco, Lee was raised in Hong Kong, where he appeared in more than 20 films as a child actor, training in Wing Chun Gung Fu under renowned master Ip Man (prompted after he lost several fights to rival gang members!).

At 18, he returned to the US, where he taught martial arts and developed his own style called Jeet Kune Do (“the art of intercepti­ng fist”). A star in both the East and the West, Lee came to fame with movies such as Fists of Fury (1971) and Enter the Dragon (1973), in which he mesmerised audiences with his charisma, charm, stunning athleticis­m and explosive strength. He died suddenly on July 20, 1973, from a brain oedema.

His philosophy of self-cultivatio­n and harmony inspired a generation of people seeking meaning and purpose, and his success in Hollywood paved the way for other Asian actors.

He kick-started a new genre of martial arts films that would later feature action actors such as Chuck Norris and Jackie Chan.

The world lost an inspiratio­nal figure, but his appeal and ethos remain timeless, and his legacy endures to this day. ag

“Do not pray for an easy life, pray for the strength to endure a difficult one”

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