@ 4:05, Bruce sidekicks 5 dangling boards.
If you’ve seen Bruce Lee’s one-inch punch and side kick in action, you probably can’t believe how such a small man like him could generate so much power from such a short distance, right?
After you see him demonstrating his most famous punch and kick on a Hong Kong TV show in 1969, you probably will be even more impressed?
@ 4:06, photo of the 5 dangling boards and Bruce.
NDoraku December 1 2015 wrote:Fight History by Date
1958:
In the tournament consisted of twelve schools the three time champion British boxer Gary Elms was defeated by Lee by way of knockout in the third round in the 1958 Hong Kong Inter-School amateur Boxing Championships by using Wing Chun traps and high/low-level straight punches. Hawkings Cheung, his fellow Wing Chun street fighter, witnessed the event.[1][2][3]
←Before facing Elms in the finals, Lee defeated Yuen Shen, Lo Lieh, and Huang Yang, all by way of knock out in the first round[4].
Lee knocked-out Chung Pu, a Choy Li Fut fighter, in the roof tops of Hong Kong in a 1958 Full-Contact match. The match was refereed by Wong Shun Leung.[5][6][7]
1959:
During Lee's initial training as a youth, he was as a member of the "Tigers of Junction Street," and was involved in numerous gang-related street fights. "In one of his last encounters, while removing his jacket the fellow he was squaring off against sucker punched him and blackened his eye. Bruce flew into a rage and went after him, knocked the fellow out, broke his tooth, broke his arm. The police were involved."[8] The incident took place on a Hong Kong rooftop at 10 P.M. on Wednesday, April 29, 1959.[9]
1960:
In Seattle, Lee back-fisted and broke a man's nose after Lee saw him harassing a Chinese girl. Lee was taking a walk. This fight was witnessed by James DeMile in 1960. [10]
1962:
Lee knocked out Uechi,a Japanese black belt, in 11 seconds in a 1962 Full-Contact match in Seattle[11]. It was refereed by Jesse Glover[12]. The incident took place in Seattle at a YMCA handball court.[13] Taki Kamura says the battle lasted 10 seconds in contrary to Harts statement.[14]
Ed Hart states "The karate man arrived in his gi (uniform), complete with black belt, while Bruce showed up in his street clothes and simply took off his shoes. The fight lasted exactly 11 seconds--I know because I was the time keeper—and Bruce had hit the guy something like 15 times and kicked him once. I thought he'd killed him."[15]
The fight ended by Bruce knocking Uechi the length of the gymnasium[16]
1964:
In Oakland California in 1964 at China Town the Chinese community issued an ultimatum to Bruce's dojo to stop teaching non-Chinese[17]. Refusing to be told what to do or to discriminate who is allowed to learn Lee had been challenged to a combat match with their top fighter Wong Jack Man [18]. The formidable Wong Jack Man had mastery of Xingyiquan, Northern Shaolin, and Tai Chi Chuan while being a direct student of Grand Master Ma Kin Fung[19]. The arrangement was that if Bruce lost he would have to shut down his school, if he won then Bruce would be free to teach Caucasians or anyone else[20]. Wong stated that he requested to fight Lee after Lee issued an open challenge during one of Lee's demonstrations at a Chinatown theater[21]. However, contrary to this claimed motive is the signed formal letter manifested by Dan Chan with signatures by the martial art community, including Chan and Wong, as a petitioned document by the community does not correspond to the motive of responding to an open challenge.
"That paper had all the names of the sifu from Chinatown, but they don't scare me." — Bruce Lee[22]
Wong and witness William Chen stated that the fight lasted an unusually long 20-25 minutes[23]. Individuals known to have witnessed the match included Cadwell, James Lee (Bruce Lee's associate, no relation) and William Chen, a teacher of Tai Chi Chuan. According to Bruce, Linda, and James Lee, the fight lasted 3 minutes with a decisive victory for Bruce. "The fight ensued, it was a no holds barred fight, it took three minutes. Bruce got this guy down to the ground and said 'do you give up?' and the man said he gave up." — Linda Lee Cadwell[24]
Reportedly, Wong Jack Man published his own account of the battle in the Chinese Pacific Weekly, a Chinese-language newspaper in San Francisco, which contained another challenge to Lee for a public rematch[25] Lee had no reciprocation to Wong's article nor were there any further public announcements by either, but Lee had continued to teach Caucasians.
Fights Without Date / Anecdotal / Speculative
In a bout Lee had against a Taekwon do practitioner, martial artist Steve Golden a Kenpo black belt for seven years at the time states,
"It was frightening to see how easy it was for Bruce. The Tae Kwon Do black belt mentioned that he knew Bruce had good hands, so Bruce said he would only use his feet. They went pretty hard, and the guy really tried to kick Bruce. Every time the guy kicked, Bruce got just barely out of range, and just as the guy’s foot came down, Bruce held his kick up to the guy’s face—a roundhouse kick right up to the guy’s nose or a side kick up to the guy’s temple. This guy was putting everything he had into getting Bruce, and Bruce was barely putting out any effort. If it was for real, it would have lasted until the first kick."[26]
Richard Bustillo is certified as a law enforcement defensive tactics instructor and certified with the Olympic Training Center as a coach and official with USA Boxing, and a Kru in Muay Thai.[27] Bustillo, who is professed in Judo, Boxing, Wrestling, Karate, and his native Hawaiian Kajukenbo systems, is an inductee into the ‘World Martial Arts Hall of Fame’ and had eventually became a student of Lees and describes the following incident while Lee was present at a training session at I.M.B academy, Torrance, California:[28]
“While a few of us were training, a guy asked Bruce if he actually thought he could stop his attack if he were to charge at Bruce with his knife. Well, Bruce told this guy to come at him with the blade, so the guy did. It was so fast when Bruce kicked the knife right out of the guys hand, before he could take more than two steps, that we were all left amazed by it…but, perhaps not as much as the guy who no longer held that knife.”[29]
Lee's eventual celebrity put him in the path of a number of men who sought to make a name for themselves by causing a confrontation with Lee. A challenger had invaded Lee's private home in Hong Kong by trespassing into the backyard to incite Lee in combat. Lee finished the challenger violently with a kick, infuriated over the home invasion. Describing the incident, Herb Jackson states,
"One time one fellow got over that wall, got into his yard and challenged him and he says 'how good are you?' And Bruce was poppin mad. He [Bruce] says 'he gets the idea, this guy, to come and invade my home, my own private home, invade it and challenge me.' He said he got so mad that he gave the hardest kick he ever gave anyone in his life."[30]
Bob Wall, USPK karate champion and co-star in "Enter the Dragon", recalled one encounter that transpired after a film extra kept taunting Lee. The extra yelled that Lee was "a movie star, not a martial artist," that he "wasn't much of a fighter." Lee answered his taunts by asking him to jump down from the wall he was sitting on. Wall described Lee's opponent as "a gang-banger type of guy from Hong Kong," a "damned good martial artist," and observed that he was fast, strong, and bigger than Bruce.[31]
"This kid was good. He was strong and fast, and he was really trying to punch Bruce's brains in. But Bruce just methodically took him apart.[32] Bruce kept moving so well, this kid couldn't touch him...then all of a sudden, Bruce got him and rammed his ass with the wall and swept him up, proceeding to drop him and plant his knee into his opponent's chest, locked his arm out straight, and nailed him in the face repeatedly." — Bob Wall[33]
List of documented Bruce Lee street fights with source provided
1) In 1960, Bruce Lee and the late Skip Ellsworth fought two opponents in a pool hall.
2) In 1960, Bruce Lee and Ellsworth fought two opponents in a parking lot.
3) In 1960, Bruce Lee and Ellsworth fought three opponents outside a movie theater.
Source: Skip Ellsworth's website
4) In 1962, Bruce Lee fought a Japanese challenger named Uechi at a local YMCA. The fight took place on a handball court, Sifu Jesse Glover was the referee, and the late Ed Hart was the timekeeper. Bruce straight-blasted the challenger into a wall and front kicked him in the face as he was slumping to the floor.
Source: Print and videotaped interviews with Jesse Glover and Ed Hart (both on Youtube)
5) The late Ronald Kealoha and his friend, George Santos, witnessed Bruce knock out a challenger inside a boxing ring at the Seattle National Guard Armory. According to Kealoha, the challenger ended up in the hospital.
Source: Black Belt magazine article on Kealoha
6) During a visit to Hong Kong in 1963, Doug Palmer witnessed Bruce side kick a challenger in the knee to quickly end the fight.
Source: Fighting Spirit (book)
7) Bruce Lee's much publicized 1964 fight with Wong Jack Man in Oakland.
Source: Pick a source, any source, LOL.
8) Bruce Lee toyed with a "huge truck driver" in a road rage incident which occurred in Los Angeles. Sifu Dan Inosanto was a passenger in the car that Bruce was driving.
Source: Youtube clip of Paul Vunak recounting what Dan Inosanto told him about his Sifu's street fighting exploits.
9) Bruce Lee ended a fight with one of Vic Damone's security staff with a side kick to the jaw.
Source: The Incomparable Fighter (book)
10) Bob Wall witnessed Bruce demolish an extra on the set of Enter the Dragon.
Source: Print and videotaped interviews with Bob Wall / Curse of the Dragon (Documentary 1993)
11) Chaplin Chang witnessed a separate fight between Bruce and an extra on the set of Enter the Dragon. Bruce broke the extra's ribs with a side kick.
Source: The Making of Enter the Dragon (book)
12) A challenger climbed over a wall on Bruce Lee's property in Hong Kong. Bruce told the late Herb Jackson that he was "popping mad" and that he ended the fight with a side kick to the intruder's chest.
Source: Videotaped interview with Herb Jackson.
--------------------------------------…
From Skip Ellsworth"s (one of Bruce Lee's original students) website. Can search for it on google.
MY WITNESSING REAL-LIFE CONFRONTATIONS:
When Bruce and I went into an “all black” pool hall near 23rd and Madison, there was an incident involving some black guys.
When Bruce and I drove a truck to Montana (for Canus Services, Inc) to pick up some freight, and we stopped at a “cowboy-honky-tonk-tavern-restaurant” for dinner, there was an incident involving some cowboys that were hanging out under a mercury-light in the parking lot.
When Bruce and I were leaving the Kokusai Movie Theater one night, in the “International District” in Seattle, there was an incident involving three black dudes. The list goes on…
One must remember that we were only 18 to 23 (?) years old when these types of things were happening; AND we were exploring; AND we were often in places where a white guy was not welcome; AND we were often in places where a Chinese guy might be harassed; AND Bruce generally walked in a very “cocky” way that would always attract attention; AND we were often in places where challenges are common between guys of that age; AND finally, we knew that Bruce could end any physical confrontation within three or four seconds.
To describe any of the brief fights that Bruce had back in those days would serve no meaningful purpose here. In my opinion, it should suffice to say that Bruce Lee was the best fighter that ever lived. Whoops… maybe I should say that Bruce was only “one of” the best fighters who ever lived – so I don’t offend anyone.
In 1958 the Master Lee fought in the Honk Kong boxing championships. He knocked out Gary Elmes in three rounds using some rather vicious Ving Tsun trapping maneuvers.
In 1959, now involved with the 'Tigers of Junction Street,' Bruce was going to fight in one of the infamous 'rooftop' matches Hong Kung was famous for. He was sucker punched, received a black eye, and became so angry he broke his attacker's arm.
In 1962 Bruce fought a Karate black belt named 'Uechi' in the Pacific Northwest.
Street Fights and Beimo (19 fights, 18 Wins, 1 Losses, 0 Draws)
Date / Opponent / Location / Result
1954 / Street gang member / Hong Kong, Street Fight / L (after beating Lee started Wing Chun training)
1958 / Chung Pu, Choy Li Fut stylist / Hong Kong, Beimo Match / W KO Round 2 (Referee: Wong Shun Leung)
1959 / Kung Fu stylist / Hong Kong, Beimo Match / W (got sucker punched, knocked out opponent, broke arm and toot. Source: John Little)
1960 / Unknown / Seattle, Street Fight / W (knockout with backfist. Source: Witness James DeMile)
1960 / Two opponents in a pool hall (alongside Skipp Ellsworth) / Seattle, Street Fight / W (source: Skipp Ellsworth)
1960 / Two opponents in a parking lot (alongside Skipp Ellsworth) / Seattle, Street Fight / W (source: Skipp Ellsworth)
1960 / Three opponents outside a movie theater (alsongside Skipp Ellsworth) / Seattle, Street Fight / W (source: Skipp Ellsworth)
1962 / Uechi / Seattle, Street Fight / W (KO after 11 seconds; Jesse Glover referee, Ed Hart timekeeper)
1959-1962 / Unknown / Seattle National Guard Armory Boxing ring, Street Fight / W (witness: Ronald Kealoha, George Santos)
1963 / Kung Fu Fighter / Hong Kong, Street Fight / W (sidekick to the knee. Source: Witness Doug Palmer)
1964 / Wong Jack Man / Oakland, Street Fight / W after 3 Minutes (source: Linda Lee, James Yimm Lee)
1966-1970 / Truck Driver / Los Angeles, Street Fight / W (source: Dan Inosanto, Paul Vunak)
1966-1970 / Security Guard of Vic Damone / Los Angeles, Street Fight / W (sidekick to the jaw, source: "Incomparable Fighter" Book)
1971 / Muay Thai Coach / Pak Chong, Thailand, Set of "The Big Boss" / W (source: Tony Liu, Bey Logan)
1973 / Kung Fu stylist / Hong Kong, Set of "Enter the Dragon" / W (smashed face with punches, knee to chest. Source: Bob Wall, Bolo Yeung)
1973 / Kung Fu stylist / Hong Kong, Set of "Enter the Dragon" / W (kick toot out. Source: Bey Logan, Madalena Chan)
1973 / Kung Fu stylist / Hong Kong, Set of "Enter the Dragon" / W (broke rip with chest kick. Source: Chaplin Chan)
1973 / Kung Fu stylist / Hong Kong, Set of "Enter the Dragon" / W (knocked opponent down with straight punches. Source: Fred Weintraub)
1973 / Kung Fu stylist / Hong Kong, at Lee´s home / W (sidekick to the chest. Source: Herb Jackson)