Listen to Bruce Lee talk about his approach to Martial Arts, what he calls “Gung Fu.” See him demonstrate moves and engage in training.
“Every Gung Fu man is trying to be soft like water and flexible and adapt itself to its opponent.”
The Origins of Gung Fu
“Gung Fu originated in China. It is the ancestor of Karate and Jujitsu. It’s more of a complete system and its more fluid. By that I mean its more flowing, there is continuity and movement instead of one movement, two movement, and then stop.”
Gung Fu as Water
“Well Gung Fu the best example would be a glass of water. Why? Because water is the softest substance in the world, but yet it can penetrate the hardest rock or anything, granite, you name it. Water also is insubstantial. By that I mean you can not grasp hold of it. You can not punch it and hurt it. So every Gung Fu man is trying to do that to be soft like water and flexible and adapt itself to its opponent.”
Gung Fu v. Karate
“A Karate punch is like a iron bar, Whack! A Gung Fu punch is like an iron chain with an iron ball attached to the end and it go, Wang! And it hurts inside.”
Gung Fu is fast, simple, and uses minimum motion
“In Gung Fu it always involves a very fast motion. Like for instance a guy grabbing your hand. It is not the idea to do so many steps. Step on right on the instep, he’ll let go. This is what we mean by simplicity. Same thing in striking and everything. It has to be based on a very minimum motion so that everything would be directly expressed – hoo – one motion and he is gone. Doing it gracefully, not to go – ahh – yelling and jumping all over him.”
Gung Fu can be practiced alone
“Well Gung Fu can be practiced alone or with a partner. Practicing alone they involve form. Some imitate a crane, a monkey, a praying mantus.”
“They have a tiger that start like a tiger using claws to claw the face. Or the beak of the crane to the eyes move. This is some of the movement involved.”
Resources:
20th Century Fox Screen Test, February 4, 1965. L.A. screen test for a proposed show Charlie Chan’s Number One Son. Bruce Lee talks and demonstrates martial arts. This can be found as a special feature on the excellent documentary, I Am Bruce Lee (TMDB).
I Am Bruce Lee. Excellent Bruce Lee documentary including his family, friends, and training partners. Includes much footage of Bruce Lee talking in interviews. 1h 34m (IMDB).
Nature Investigation music. ViraMiller, Pixaby.com.
Action music. Pondan, Pixaby.com.
AI Narration provided by elevenlabs.io. Bruce Lee quotes read by AI voice over.
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