The concept of JKD was that no one style of martial arts had all the answers. He incorporated these and other forms into his own martial art that he called Jeet Kune Do (JKD), which directly translates to “the way of the intercepting fist” in Cantonese.Įven Randy Couture, a UFC Champion, said a huge part of his wrestling techniques came from Jeet Kune Do. Over the years, Bruce Lee learned many styles of fighting such as boxing, fencing, and the art of Wing Chun, which he studied under the direction of Ip Man. He also referenced that if you ask any fighter out there who their inspiration was for joining the sport, pretty much everyone will list Bruce Lee among their idols.įormer UFC Lightweight Champion Anthony Pettis agreed saying he’s the reason why most guys become a part of martial arts. UFC President Dana White once said that Bruce Lee was "the father of mixed martial arts." Lee followed this mindset of adapting to surroundings throughout his entire life and has since impacted millions who try to follow his example. You put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. You put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle. Now you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. “Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless - like water. Fighters Learned to Adapt by Watching Bruce LeeĪmong his most famous quotes, Bruce Lee once said. You’ll quickly find more than just one or two people who think so. Is Bruce Lee the greatest martial artist of all time? He was also a wise philosopher saying many things regarding the sport of martial arts that people still recognize today.Īlthough he is seen as the most influential martial artist in history, one question remains that some try to argue regarding his abilities and skills in a real fighting situation:
From his famous action movies to his unique martial art of Jeet Kune Do, the legend of Bruce Lee has held strong.Īnd while many may think Bruce Lee was little more than a Hollywood actor, his greatest achievements extended far beyond the big screen. It is widely accepted by fighters and other people around the world that Bruce Lee was the most influential martial artist of all time.