Bruce Lee

Bruce Lee is the greatest martial artist to ever grace the sliver screen. When he moved, he reminded one more of a tank than a man. His balance was unbreakable and his kicks were as fast as lightning. Before he gained fame for his kung fu, however, Bruce entered and won many dance competitions. His trademark quick movement wasn't only good on the streets, it was also good for winning girls' hearts on the dance floor. But what he was really known for was his kicks, not his twirls. Bruce Lee started studying Wing Chun Kung Fu when he was thirteen. After being beaten up by a street gang in Hong Kong, he vowed never to let it happen again. He perfected his technique in numerous street fights and competitions. Then, at the age of eighteen, Bruce entered the 1958 Boxing Championships and defeated the three-year champion. Perhaps because of his numerous street fights and trouble with the police, his father sent Bruce back to the United States, where he was born.

Bruce was one of the first people to teach kung fu to non-Chinese. This didn't make him very popular in Chinatown, however. In fact, after opening a school in Oakland, Bruce was challenged by a leading kung fu practitioner. They agreed that if Wong Jack Man won the fight, Bruce would have to close down his school or stop teaching Caucasians kung fu. But if Bruce were to win, Jack would stop teaching altogether. In the fight, Bruce started pounding Jack within seconds, while Jack tried to escape. Bruce dragged him back into the ring and beat him ruthlessly. Bruce Lee felt, however, that it took him too long to beat Jack. He considered it a disgrace. After this fight, Bruce decided to re-examine his own technique. So Bruce invented Jeet Kune Do. Bruce's martial art combines fighting techniques from American boxing, Thai kickboxing, Japanese karate, and of course Wing Chun. To this day, his martial art remains in a class of its own.