36. BRUCE LEE: There are no limits
BRUCE LEE WEEK: PART 1, PART 3
The story goes like this: In 1964, Bruce Lee had moved to Oakland from Seattle and opened his own martial-arts school named Jun Fan Gung-Fu (Bruce’s Chinese name is Jun Fan). Lee was an expert in Wing Chun, a style of Chinese kung-fu he learnt as a teenager in Hong Kong. He was teaching a modified version of this Wing Chun style to a variety of students – Chinese, Japanese, black, white – whoever wanted to learn was welcome. However, Oakland and nearby San Francisco had a very large and traditional Chinese community who weren’t too pleased that Lee was teaching non-Chinese students. At that time, kung-fu still had an mystical aura surrounding it, and the different schools were very protective of their fighting techniques. They passed down their secrets from generation to generation like a precious family heirloom and always kept it among their own people. So for Lee to be teaching non-Chinese students was a serious offence.
The old guard issued an ultimatum to Lee: stop teaching to non-Chinese or we’ll visit your school and beat the crap out of you. Lee refused. He had been the victim of racism his whole life (he grew up in Japanese-occupied Hong Kong, got teased as a kid for having caucasian heritage and most likely got teased when he moved to America for having Chinese heritage), so he was going to teach whoever the hell he pleased. And that’s where this comic starts: A posse turns up to Lee’s school with their number one fighter, Wong Jack Man, to challenge Lee to a fight.
The duel was a life-changing event for Lee. Although he won, he didn’t beat Wong as quickly or efficiently as he liked. It was messy and over 3 minutes long, with Lee having to run around the school chasing his opponent and bruising his hands from punching the back of Wong’s head. After the fight Lee, out of breath and despondent, faced a harsh reality: he wasn’t in the best shape and Wing Chun was nowhere near a complete fighting system.
This isn’t easy to do for a lot of people, to look at yourself critically and admit that you still have a lot to learn, even if others have already labeled you a ‘master’. But Lee was willing to look as his performance objectively and make the necessary changes.
From then on, Lee took his training to a new level. He began serious aerobic and strength training and also studied different fighting styles. Now when I say ‘took it to a new level’, I mean he was freakin’ OBSESSED. He lived, breathed and probably dreamed about martial arts. Lee was fanatical about training, sometimes to a fault as he seriously injured his back during a workout. He refined his fighting style into a system he named Jeet Kune Do, which translates into The Way of the Intercepting Fist. Lee became something like a martial-arts celebrity in California, with experts in other styles (like Karate champ Chuck Norris) coming to train with him. Over the years he transformed himself from a pretty fit, Wing-Chun expert into an almost super-human, half-human, half-dragon, cyborg fighting machine, capable of incredible demonstrations of speed and strength. All it took was dedication, hard work and having the determination to never stay on a plateau.
– The woman in the comic is Linda Lee Cadwell, Bruce’s devoted wife. It was Linda who worked a steady job during this time to pay the bills that allowed Bruce to concentrate on his martial arts training. And the baby Bruce is shoulder pressing is his son, Brandon, who also died way too young.
– The yin-yang symbol in the final shot is the Jeet Kun Do logo Lee came up with.
– The official Bruce Lee website.
Discussion (130) ¬
Wohoo! Awesome job Gav!
Yes really an awesome job!
🙂
His first punch wasn’t a Wing Chun punch. Just my two cents.
and that’s why he got hit!
these Bruce Lee (and shaolin monk) pencils are my favorite
Inspirational Gav! And don’t listen to that troll, the toon is excellent!
Thanks Alex
Keep the inspiration coming ^_^
Just a general comment to say Congratulations and thanks for sharing. I enjoy not only the “cartoons” but the additional information you provide on the quote and the author. It’s really inspiring, informative and enlightening. Thank you for sharing your passion with us.
Thanks mate, sometimes I find writing the posts harder than drawing the comics!
Another personal favorite, great work Gav!
AWESOME!!!!
It came out a million times better than I hoped it would 😀
Very nice one. Loved the panel saying “There are no limits” and the final panel. The “Eyes only” panels are cool, too, remind me of movie fight scenes . Way to go!
Just watched some videos of his speed and strength. He was a BEAST. I’m really interested in reading more about his philosophy.
Thanks 🙂
You won’t be disappointed Luis
I have been visiting this website regularly ever since I came to know about it. I’d like to say – amazing work! Keep it up. Each and every post is so well thought, so well created. This one’s the best, very inspiring.
Thanks a bunch
I really like your site… when I say really I mean it – for I can spend hours going over the comics while learning new things & get inspired. I think what sets your site apart is the description of the plot. Good work Gavin. You’ll go a loooong way.
Cheers Arin
Informative and inspiring
I love love love receiving these emails. Really brightens my day and the printed art brightens my work station!
Your work is Excellent!! I swear I post every new sketch on my Facebook wall. Huge Bruce Lee fan BTW.
Cheers
beautifull work!
every single drawing hits me.
I can’t wait for a hardcover with all your drawaings.
thanks
Can you add a random button? These are really inspirational.
Your enthusiasm for Bruce Lee translates well into the comics and into your explanation – I feel that I really missed out on something. Gotta go and watch some of his movies.
And the first panel is brilliant, with the mix of students and the menacing silhouettes.
Rear naked choke technique needs some work ha ha! Great site! Hope to see printable or downloadable copies soon and willing to pay. You produce these pretty fast – don’t burn out!
Lovin the panel with the face + five fists. It’s got ‘i’m gonna kick your ass’ written all over it. And awesome lats at the end too.
That was Bruce’s favourite attack, the ‘straight blast’
Thanks Gavin. Needless to say you just made my day 🙂
An event as contested, with as little hard evidence as this should at least deserve an airing of the other side’s position.
Hi! Been reading your comics for some time, but this one has definately became my favourite, and made me to finally write to you 🙂
I was never a big fan of Bruce Lee, I always thought of him as the asian guy, who kicks ass in his movies, but that’s all… and now you made me read a bit about him, and… well, I definately misjudged him, to say the least 🙂
Thank you for these great comics, I love reading them all over and over again, they are true pieces of art, and inspiration, something that is quite rare nowadays.
Keep up the great work!
Oliver (17) from Hungary
Beautiful, glad I made you do more research on him
I’d like to see a print of this one! 😀
i posted this comic on 9gag and now it has gone to trending page…you will get a few more visitors than usual today
http://9gag.com/gag/3922308
Awesome thanks a lot!
THIS IS AWESOME!!! I WOULD LOVE TO SEE MORE!
Jun Fan… June Fan… Summer Rays… The Sun… Jesus…. Horus… Positive beings…. all universal law…
Nice work and well picked quote from a man I admired.
One thing though, he was the one who did the challenging.
And there were also two accounts of the story, the other one being a little more believable.
True – this story was retold by Linda Lee and has become almost a myth I imagine. Obviously Wong Jack Man has recalled it differently.
Printed it and have it in my place of work, let me know if you have it for sale printed, I’ll buy it.
Your idea is so great I might end up proposing you to work together for making a spanish version of it (my native language)
Thanks for everything
Awesome, incredible work Gav, these are damn good. p.s. I got the link to your blog from the blambot newsletter that arrived today, seems you’ve got fans all over the place 🙂
As a Jeet Kune Do instructor… i really compliment you on the Bruce Lee cartoons. I would like to hang up your artwork in our dojo. Can we arrange this?
Best regards,
Robin Vader
The Netherlands
Hi Gav,
This one is definitely my most favourite Cartoon. I would definitely like to be able to purchase this as an inspiriational poster.. It’s quite large though. I look forward to seeing how you will make this into a print.
You rock, keep it up.
Gavin, the attention to detail in each of these posts is amazing. Do you still have a day job or did you quit that to make these comics?
I quit my job to work on this site full time.
Dude, your work inspires me, it makes me feel more alive, glad i found your site, thanks!
Awesome comic!!
as mentioned, i love the information you put after you comics… keep up the good work ! All the best !
I love how much effort you put in your info,its always rich with new informations to explore. 😀
Gavin… You do the man great honour. I pondered over each panel and re-read them all several times. I will share this with some of my friends.
hello. And a very fine piece of artwork you have there.Thank u for the art and the message.
Hello sir.
Since I was a young, I always looked up to Bruce Lee. He is the reason that I discovered Martial arts, which has become an integral part of my life. I want to thank you from the bottom of my soul, for making this fine piece of art. Many places don’t get the entire quote out, something that I think make this piece so Beautiful. I will be ordering a copy of this soon, If you have it for sale. Thank you again sir, it means a lot to me that you did just a fantastic job with this.
Nice! 🙂
Thanks for inspiring us in a creative way! 🙂
What a great story!
I came across zenpencils recently and what can I say, it was love at first sight. Thank you Gavin for such beautiful art. A lot of your work here resonates with my life and I try to draw inspiration from your work. Keep going.
This’ll only take a minute of your time.
Your website is very helpful; It often provides simple – yet powerful – comfort for those of us who suffer from stress.
Aside from the rhetorical content, your work as an illustrator is very clean and inspirational.
Thank you dearly.
Please keep up the good work.
Amazing motivation from this comic. Excuse me while I go squat.
Reminds me of http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1kzMfRJGhE
Very cool.
Lee is one of my heroes. One of the few public figures I’ve seen who’s worth looking up to and emulating.
I think a lot of people who just know of him from his movies don’t realize what a great thinker he was. (And if I recall correctly, he actually got a degree in philosophy.)
Hey, Gav, I just want to congratulate you not only for the drawings that are truly fantastic, but by the remarkable quotes you choose to illustrate. I also admire greatly the homage yo pay to the people you choose. The respect and love you show in the passages you write below each strip goes to show all the research and care you put into your work.
I just wan to thankk you for sharing such fantastic works of art with us mortals!!
Hey, Gav, I just want to congratulate you not only for the drawings that are truly fantastic, but by the remarkable quotes you choose to illustrate. I also admire greatly the homage yo pay to the people you choose. The respect and love you show in the passages you write below each strip goes to show all the research and care you put into your work.
I just wan to thank you for sharing such fantastic works of art with us mortals!!
Dude, your work inspires me, it makes me feel more alive, glad i found your site, thanks!
Hey Gavin, i’ve been following your work since a few weeks: it’s awesome! every time i can i talk about your comics with some of my friends. I even wrote a little review in my blog.
This one about Bruce Lee cheered me up in hard times. I ccame back to read it again, and now i want to watch at least one of his movies.
Keep Drawing Gavin! you’re a hero for those who doesn’t know what to do with their lives 🙂
Great cartoon!
It must be pointed out though that the story about Lee being threatened because he was teaching students that weren’t Asian is more than likely not true. It’s an urban fiction.
For the truth, check out the book (available on Amazon) called ‘Showdown in Oakland: The Story Behind the Wong Jack Man – Bruce Lee Fight’ by Rick Wing (a student of Wong’s).
He interviews the people who were actually there and who actually saw the fight and gives the circumstances around it. He even includes clippings from Asian newspapers (translated for English readers) that talk about the story.
What really happened is that Bruce Lee was at the Sun Sing theatre dancing the cha-cha with a partner onstage, followed by a martial arts demonstration he gave. According to witnesses, he was supposed to hit a volunteer (with a pad over his chest0 and knock him backwards. Only, it didn’t work the first time (for some reason) and people laughed. Lee got angry and issued a challenge from the stage –
“Lee, flustered and angry, quickly reacted and made comments to the audience suggesting that if someone felt they could do better, they’d be welcome to come up onto the stage and try. He then said that he was better than any martial artist in San Francisco, and would welcome the challenge of anyone who could prove him wrong. If anyone needed to be shown his skill, they could come to his studio and see for themselves.
Wing, Rick (2014-01-11). Showdown in Oakland: The Story Behind the Wong Jack Man – Bruce Lee Fight (Kindle Locations 838-841). . Kindle Edition. ”
So, some people from the community thought they ought to take him up on his challenge and it was decided that Wong Jack Man would be the one to fight. It was supposed to be “an exchange of skills” or something like that, and not an angry bout. Jack Man was about the same age as Lee at that time – a young man (there are photographs of him in the book) and quite a reserved man.
Anyhow, they arranged it with Lee, went to his studio and the match took place. By the accounts of those there, it was largely a draw, and Wong was the one who got the only meaningful punch in to the left side of Lee’s neck. Wong also had told his friends that he wouldn’t use his kicks at all during the fight, and stood by his word.
The match has been blown up into something it wasn’t and (as I said) had nothing to do with the teaching of students (foreign or otherwise). Also, there was not a clear winner.
But yes, after the match Lee started training more as he thought the match went on for too long etc.
I say all this as a fan of Lee, but I also think the truth should be out there.
Exceptionally its satisfying a decent work by him and that i discovered a trustworthy encourage by his/her expansive minutia and figures.
Keep the inspiration coming ^_^
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Happy 75th birthday Bruce Lee! Lee made a big impact on my life too, as he did in yours. I wrote a post about how he changed my life, maybe your readers will enjoy it:
http://startingmind.com/2015/bruce-lee-life-lessons/
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Your site is awesome. Glad you did this one, it led me to the video.
That’s just cool Neil himself loved your work! Congrats!
You’ve inspired me to do my own quote day. Not comic style, more painterly/sketchy single frame. Hope to post soon. Thanks.
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Wrinkles should merely indicate where the smiles have been.
What can be more glorious than the final line. A man must always exceed his level. So very true.
Thank you Gavin for your “BRUCE LEE: There are no limits” comic post
http://vuelosdelalma.blogspot.com/2013/11/kampung-inggris-pare-kediri.html
The day the soldiers stop bringing you their problems is the day you stopped leading them. They have either lost confidence that you can help them or concluded that you do not care. Either case is a failure of leadership. Colin Powell
Consensus: the process of abandoning all beliefs, principles, values, and policies in search of something in which no one believes, but to which no one objects; the process of avoiding the very issues that have to be solved, merely because you cannot get agreement on the way ahead. What great cause would have been fought and won under the banner: ‘I stand for consensus?’ Margaret Thatcher
I learn a lot via his quote. It makes me stronger and sustainable
This is really Motivational ,To do big things you really don’t have to wait for Muscular body.
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