6 Martial Art Styles Bruce Lee Used In Movies (& Where To Spot Them)
2023/12/26

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Bruce Lee is renowned as a martial arts movie icon, with his childhood training in Wing Chun under Ip Man serving as the foundation for his success. As an adult, Lee showcased his skills in movies and television, starting with his breakthrough role as Kato on The Green Hornet. He went on to star in numerous kung fu hits in Hong Kong before his untimely death before the release of Enter the Dragon.

What set Lee apart was his extensive knowledge of different martial arts forms. He believed that no single martial art was superior in combat effectiveness, so he researched various styles and created his own fighting philosophy called Jeet Kune Do.

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This philosophy emphasized fluidity and adaptability, which is reflected in the diverse fight scenes in his movies.

Wing Chun, Lee's base art, played a significant role in his fighting style. Known for its trapping and in-fighting techniques, Wing Chun's chain-punching is a notable feature of the art. Lee showcased Wing Chun in his fights with O'Hara in Enter the Dragon and Chuck Norris in The Way of the Dragon.

Lee also drew inspiration from various forms of kung fu, such as Choy Li Fut and Northern Shaolin. Choy Li Fut impressed Lee with its effectiveness in fighting multiple opponents, and certain arm strikes and kicking techniques resembled those found in this style.

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Lee incorporated elements of Choy Li Fut and Northern Shaolin into his fights in movies like Enter the Dragon and Fist of Fury, incorporating both short and long-range strikes from different Chinese martial arts.

Lee's friendships with Jhoon Rhee and Chuck Norris led to him incorporating kicking techniques from Tae Kwon Do into his own style. His signature sidekick, seen in movies like Enter the Dragon, draws from traditional Tae Kwon Do.

Considered a pioneer in MMA, Lee integrated grappling techniques from Jiu Jitsu into his fight scenes. In Enter the Dragon, he used a neck crank and armbar against Sammo Hung.

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Lee's unfinished movie, Game of Death, showcased his extensive use of Jiu Jitsu chokes and submissions against Ji Han-jae and Kareem Abdul Jabbar.

Lee's friendship with "Judo" Gene Lebell introduced him to Judo, and he implemented throwing techniques from the style in Jeet Kune Do. His fights with Sammo Hung and Ji Han-jae in Enter the Dragon and Game of Death featured Judo throws as counters to their attacks.

Lee considered Western boxing a crucial component of his fighting style. His boxing-style punches and stance were prominent in his fight with Chuck Norris in The Way of the Dragon, where he adopted a boxing approach to defeat his opponent.

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Aside from unarmed combat, Lee showcased his skills with weapons. He used a bo staff and a pair of Kali sticks in Enter the Dragon's cave fight scene, but his true signature weapon was the nunchaku. Despite initially disliking it, Lee mastered the nunchaku and popularized it worldwide through his fight scenes.

In summary, Bruce Lee's success as a martial arts movie icon stemmed from his deep knowledge of various martial arts forms. His fights reflected his philosophy of adaptability, incorporating techniques and weapons from Wing Chun, various forms of kung fu, Tae Kwon Do, Jiu Jitsu, Judo, boxing, and nunchaku. Lee's legacy continues to inspire martial artists around the world.

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