History channel: How Bruce Lee Changed The World

[everything]

Trailer for this History channel movie:

[ashe]

looks cool but i'm still waiting for the fighting arts of borneo doc.

[gosao]

when's this supposed to air?

[Andy_S]

Bruce Lee was "greatest film star ever" and influenced popular culture "more than anyone"?

This looks like a hyperbole-free zone...

[everything]

lol apparently all hyperbole but still looks interesting. airs tonight at 8, at least on US east coast

[Steve James]

Yeah, it's hyperbole. It's hard to say whether Bruce Lee's career caused anything to change or was coincidental to the change, itself. A lot depends on what we consider the influence of China and Chinese culture on American popular culture, first, and political culture, second. I.e., the opening up of China was related to the growing popularity of Chinese culture here in the States which was influenced by shows like "Kung Fu" which was thought up by Bruce Lee --because he wanted to change the way Chinese were depicted in popular culture.

Then there's his influence on martial arts. Japanese arts were all over the media in the 60s. Chinese arts were relatively unknown, unless you happened to be fortunate enough to live near a Chinatown in a major city. Lee introduced gongfu to most Americans. But, it was his perspective on martial arts that influenced (arguably) most martial arts later. Full contact sparring and competitions had always existed, but they became much more public because of Lee's philosophy. Because of his position in the media, his philosophy and persona were revered to the point of semi-worship. But, the idea of cross-training, eliminating unnecessary components of training and impractical techniques, and mixing elements from various martial arts became the mantra for many martial artists who had previously been "classical".

Lee will always be unique because he brought together those two elements simultaneously. There was probably no one else at the time who could have done it. But, the time was ripe for it, too. People were looking outward at other cultures, in general, not because of Bruce Lee.

[Chris Fleming]

Changed the world alright. Can't practice outdoors without someone going waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh! at you.

Just kidding.

[yusuf]

..changed the world ok.. now anyone who trains, takes shit loads of drugs, shags like a maniac and makes it past 32 is entitled to say..

'fuck bruce lee, his shit was fake'

not me of course.. I am monogamous, drug free and never train