My martial arts and my ideals When I was growing up martial arts taught one hard work, determination, respect, and ones true self strength. I learned numerous techniques and styles and even created my own. I started multiple schools and demonstrated at national tournaments. For example I demonstrated chi sao techniques at my first International Karate Tournament, which is where I showed the power of my one-inch punch and actually where I got my first American job as an actor. Yet teaching at my schools was the most rewarding thing. I loved being an instructor and treated my students like clan. In Oakland and Los Angeles I taught my style called Jett Kune Do, also known as “The Way of the Intercepting Fist.” Yet not only is the teaching of the style important, but the lessons behind it. These lessons include confidence in one’s own power and drive and to realize the blessing of being a human and finding one’s self. These ideals can be represented by three of my sayings from when my body walked this world naturally. I shall say my quotes, but it is your job to find their true meaning, for no one’s ideas are wrong. Each person’s ideas are pure.
· “Be like water making its way through cracks. Do not be assertive, but adjust to the object, and you shall find a way around or through it. If nothing within you stays rigid, outward things will disclose themselves. Empty your mind, be formless. Shapeless, like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle and it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now, water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.” · “Adapt what is useful, reject what is useless, and add what is specifically your own.” · “Man, the living creature, the creating individual, is always more important than any established style or system.” After I passed, is was even said, “Lee felt that anything which substituted the ways or beliefs of others in the place of teaching you how to cultivate your own was a step in the wrong direction. For this reason, Lee was opposed to the doctrines–or rather the dogmas–of organized religion.” That is an accurate description of my ideals. |
today's martial arts
It seems that martial arts in today’s age are much different than when I was living. When I taught and learned martial arts it was for finding one's self and to help others find this as well. Seeing today's methods and martial arts styles is a painful and saddening thing to witness.
When I taught in the United States, I taught others fighting skills, but more importantly I taught them about one's own worth and I treated my pupils as clan. I taught my style of Jett Kune Do and demonstrated my skills such as Kenpo and chi sao techniques at Karate Tournaments. Now I see Martial Arts being taught poorly or not being taught at all. Teachers just teach in order to get money or because they have no other job to cover their own expenses, and this method in turn is in the expense of their pupils. If only I had more time to continue my teachings. The most dishonoring of the Martial Arts is the fighting style, or should I say show, of MMA, or Mixed Martial Arts. As I stated before the importance of teaching and learning Martial Arts is to find one's self and to find one's inner strengths in order to continue to a successful and happy life. this "Martial Arts" style is just men and women fighting and beating up one another for other human's entertainment. The films that I was in had fighting scenes, but they were not real. This entertainment is real, and is a disgrace to Martial Arts. |