Читать книгу Jeet Kune Do. The Arsenal of Self-Expression онлайн

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I first met Bruce Lee in 1967 at his school in Los Angeles' Chinatown. Even before our meeting, however, I knew him from television, in his role as Kato on The Green Hornet. Lee's Kato was like a cat—quick, graceful and powerful. His appeal far outshone that of the show's hero. Never had an Asian character been portrayed in Western popular culture like Lee portrayed Kato—tough, cool, confident. It was the beginning of Lee's iconic celebrity as the first Asian superstar. It is easy now to forget how unique Lee was. Martial artists are everywhere in the popular culture today, but forty years ago there was only one: Bruce Lee. Even with Asian stars such as Jet Li, Steven Chow and Jackie Chan, and with incredible advances in special effects, which allow anyone to look physically amazing on film—Bruce Lee remains without peer. His image and style still resonate with compelling effectiveness.

The first time Bruce Lee ever spoke to me, in our second class, it was to demand: "WHO ARE YOU?" There had been a mix-up with my registration. After I explained, we started to talk in Chinese, and found that our similar upbringings had given us things in common. Yet standing next to Lee, there was no similarity between us whatsoever. I was a skinny, reserved young man. I had no martial arts training, but was instead a kind of blank page, which, perhaps, was my biggest asset. Like a "mad scientist" with an experiment, Lee could mold my understanding, and completely shape my experience. The first thing he did was to have me buy weights and start on a regimen to develop physically. Then within a short time, I began private lessons at his home.