Bruce Lee – The Fighter

Born on November 27, 1940, in the ‘Year of the Dragon’, Lee Hoi-chuen aka Bruce Lee is one of the most legendary and exemplary figures in the Martial Arts arena. His influence as a Martial Artist and a Pop culture icon has gained momentum across decades.

Early Life

A natural in front of the camera, Lee appeared in roughly 20 films as a child actor. He also studied dance, winning Hong Kong’s cha-cha competition. As a teenager, Lee got himself mixed up with the wrong crowd and ended up joining a street gang. After Lee was involved in several street fights, his parents decided that he needed to be trained in the martial arts to be able to defend himself. Lee’s first introduction to martial arts was through his father, from whom he learned the fundamentals of Wu-style t’ai chi ch’uan. In 1953, he began to hone his passion into a discipline, studying kung fu (referred to as “gung fu” in Cantonese) under the tutelage of Master Yip Man. By the end of the decade, Lee moved to the U.S. to live with family friends outside Seattle, Washington, initially taking up work as a dance instructor. Lee finished high school in Edison, Washington, and subsequently enrolled at the University of Washington. It was at the University that he met his future wife Linda Emery, a fellow student, whom he married in 1964.

Jun Fan Gung Fu

In 1959, Lee began teaching martial arts in the United States and called it as Jun Fan Gung Fu (Bruce Lee’s Kung Fu), his approach to Wing Chun. Lee’s initial students were his friends, starting with Judo practitioner Jesse Glover, who continued to teach some of Lee’s early techniques. Taky Kimura became Lee’s first Assistant Instructor and continued to teach his art and philosophy after Lee’s death. Lee opened his first martial arts school in Seattle and named it as the Lee Jun Fan Gung Fu Institute.

Long Beach International Karate Championships

At the invitation of Ed Parker, an American Martial Artist, Lee appeared in the 1964 Long Beach International Karate Championships and performed repetitions of two-finger push-ups (using the thumb and the index finger of one hand) with feet at approximately a shoulder-width apart. In the same Long Beach event he also performed the “One inch punch.” Lee stood upright, his right foot forward with knees bent slightly, in front of a standing, stationary partner. Lee’s right arm was partly extended and his right fist approximately one inch (2.5 cm) away from the partner’s chest. Without retracting his right arm, Lee then forcibly delivered the punch to his partner while largely maintaining his posture, sending the partner backwards and falling into a chair said to be placed behind the partner to prevent injury, though his partner’s momentum soon caused him to fall to the floor. His volunteer was Bob Baker of Stockton, California. “I told Bruce not to do this type of demonstration again”, Baker recalled. “When he punched me that last time, I had to stay home from work because the pain in my chest was unbearable”.

It was also at this very event when Lee first met Taekwondo master, Jhoon Goo Rhee. The two developed a friendship and Rhee taught Lee the side kick in detail, and Lee taught Rhee the “non-telegraphic” punch.

Fight History

In 1964, Lee saw his most controversial and well known match, that of Lee vs Wong Jack Man, a student of Ma Kin Fung and a master of T’ai chi ch’uan, Xingyiquan, and Northern Shaolin. There was a lot at stake here. The Chinese community did not approve of Lee teaching the arts to those outside the Chinese heritage. The outcome of this fight was to be that if Lee lost, he would shut down his school but if he won, he would be free to teach anybody who was willing to learn. Lee’s wife, Linda Lee Caldwell stated,

“The fight ensued, іt wаѕ а no-holds-barred fight, іt tооk thrее minutes. Bruce gоt thіѕ guy dоwn tо thе ground аnd ѕаіd ‘do уоu give up?’ аnd thе man ѕаіd hе gave up.”

Lee had another such rough encounter when a Man broke into his home to challenge him. Lee’s friend, Herb Jackson stated,

“Onе time оnе fellow gоt оvеr thаt wall, gоt іntо hіѕ yard аnd challenged hіm аnd hе ѕауѕ ‘how good аrе you?’ And Bruce wаѕ poppin mad. Hе [Bruce] ѕауѕ ‘he gеtѕ thе idea, thіѕ guy, tо соmе аnd invade mу home, mу оwn private home, invade іt аnd challenge me.’ Hе ѕаіd hе gоt ѕо mad thаt hе gave thе hardest kick hе еvеr gave аnуоnе іn hіѕ life.”

Another episode involved an extra during the filming of ‘Enter the Dragon’. The extra was yelling that Bruce was not a martial artist but only a movie star. He also claimed that Bruce wasn’t a very good fighter. Bruce asked the man to come off the wall on which he sat. His challenger was a good martial artist; fast, big and strong. Bob Wall, USPK Karate Champion, states:

“Thіѕ kid wаѕ good. Hе wаѕ strong аnd fast, аnd hе wаѕ rеаllу trуіng tо punch Bruce’s brains in. But Bruceјuѕt methodically tооk hіm apart. Bruce kерt moving ѕо well, thіѕ kid couldn’t touch him…then аll оf а sudden, Bruce gоt hіm аnd rammed hіѕ ass wіth thе wall аnd swept hіm up, proceeding tо drop hіm аnd plant hіѕ knee іntо hіѕ opponent’s chest, locked hіѕ arm оut straight, аnd nailed hіm іn thе face repeatedly”.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            In 1967, Lee appeared in the Long Beach International Karate Championships and performed various demonstrations, including the famous “unstoppable punch” against USKA world Karate champion Vic Moore. Lee allegedly told Moore that he was going to throw a straight punch to the face, and all he had to do was to try to block it. Lee took several steps back and asked if Moore was ready. When Moore nodded in affirmation, Lee glided towards him until he was within striking range. He then threw a straight punch directly at Moore’s face, and stopped before impact. In eight attempts, Moore failed to block any of the punches.

Jeet Kune Do

After filming one season of ‘The Green Hornet’, Lee found himself out of work and the controversial match with Wong Jack Man changed Lee’s philosophy about Martial Arts. Lee concluded that the fight had lasted too long and that he had failed to live up to his potential using his Wing Chun techniques. He took the view that traditional martial arts techniques were too rigid and formalistic to be practical in scenarios of chaotic street fighting. Lee decided to develop a system with an emphasis on “practicality, flexibility, speed, and efficiency”. He started to use different methods of training such as weight training for strength, running for endurance, stretching for flexibility, and many others which he constantly adapted, including fencing and basic boxing techniques.

Lee emphasised what he called “the style of no style”. This consisted of getting rid of the formalised approach which Lee claimed was indicative of traditional styles. In other words, what worked stayed and what didn’t went. Lee felt the system he now called Jun Fan Gung Fu was also too restrictive, and eventually evolved into a philosophy and martial art he would come to call Jeet Kune Do or the Way of the Intercepting Fist. Lee’s JKD is a martial art with no rules that is practiced like a combative sport with real impact (full contact) and live training. This approach was very revolutionary during the time of its creation and is still quite rare in contrast to the many classical martial arts schools of today.

Lee’s Fitness Regimen

At 173 cm (5 ft 8 in) and 64 kg (141 lb), Lee was renowned for his physical fitness and vigor, achieved by using a dedicated fitness regimen to become as strong as possible. After his match with Wong Jack Man in 1965, Lee changed his approach toward martial arts training. Lee felt that many martial artists of his time did not spend enough time on physical conditioning. Lee included all elements of total fitness—muscular strength, muscular endurance, cardiovascular endurance, and flexibility. He used traditional bodybuilding techniques to build some muscle mass, not overdone that could decrease speed or flexibility. At the same time in balance, Lee was careful to admonish that mental and spiritual preparation are fundamental to the success of physical training in martial arts skills. In Tao of Jeet Kune Do he wrote,

‘’Training is one of the most neglected phases of athletics. Too much time is given to the development of skill and too little to the development of the individual for participation. … JKD, ultimately is not a matter of petty techniques but of highly developed spirituality and physique.’’

Death and Legacy

Bruce Lee died a premature death on July 23, 1973 at the mere age of 32. Various theories and controversies surrounded the circumstances of his death, however the Doctors ruled it out as “death by misadventure“; a result of an allergic reaction to pain killers. The movie, Enter the Dragon, was released post his death and established Lee’s status as a film icon, breaking major box office records. Lee’s legacy helped pave the way for broader depictions of Asian Americans in western cinema and produced a whole new breed of action hero such as Chuck Norris, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Steven Seagal and Jackie Chan. Bruce Lee was named by Time Magazine as one of the 100 most influential people of the 20th century. Lee’s charismatic personality, radical approach, toned physique, speed and power have brought a revolution in the realm of mixed martial arts and even in death, he continues to inspire many.

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Health Benefits of Kick-Boxing

Kickboxing is a group of martial arts and stand-up combat sports based on kicking and punching, historically developed from Karate, Muay Thai and Western boxing. Kickboxing is a comparatively new way of getting both the strength and endurance benefits of a long gym session and the body toning of a run. Burning 800 calories in just 60 minutes and using an array of different punches and kicks, it has all the characteristics of an intensive exercise. Initially considered only as a combative sport, for teaching one the necessary skills to fight, Kickboxing today is rapidly becoming a sought after fitness regime with valued health benefits.

Improves Stamina, Agility and Coordination

Kickboxing is a phenomenal cardio-intensive full body workout and an excellent way to tone the entire body. Kickboxing requires the use of all the muscle groups associated with the upper and lower body, including the core area. The legs become more toned and defined through the kicks and jumping movements. The core and torso area of the body is conditioned through the requirements to rotate, bend and support all movements and sequences that are performed. The back, shoulders and arms are conditioned through the movements that require punching and blocking. This type of a total-body approach works out the body fairly uniformly and produces a well-rounded set of results. The sheer amount of these movements has numerous benefits, ranging from increased flexibility to growths in strength endurance, making other activities easier to perform and injuries from muscle strains and falls less likely.

As a result, it may also help to combat the loss of agility either due to inactivity or ageing. Throughout classes, the experienced Instructors guide class members through stages such as stretching and working the punch bag. Stretching is an important component of a kickboxing routine. This requirement leads to an improvement in muscle, ligament and tendon flexibility, and not only decreases the risk of pulled or strained muscles, but improves blood and oxygen flow as well. The ability to react quickly to instructions and situations enables participants to rapidly improve coordination and reflexes, leaving one feeling sharper than ever.

Kickboxing is beneficial if one is looking to burn those extra calories. A 150 pound person practicing kickboxing for 30 minutes per session can expect to burn between 325 and 450 calories. In many cases, this amount of calories will comprise around one-quarter of that person’s daily caloric intake. Simply put, Kickboxing burns a ton of calories anywhere from 800 to 1000 in an hour. The constant movement and use of our entire body makes it one of the top calorie torchers. This being the case, kickboxing is a highly effective addition to almost anyone’s weight loss program.

Aerobic Effect

Individuals can achieve a very intense aerobic effect through the practice of kickboxing. It works all of the major muscle groups of the body, increases the heart rate and the oxygen intake requirements, thus making it an incredible choice in conditioning the entire cardiovascular system. The large number and diverse combination of muscle groups worked together in kickboxing produces a high caloric expenditure value.

Reduces Stress and Frustration

Kickboxing has splendid physical benefits but one must not overlook the effects it has on the mental well-being of the individuals. Like all forms of exercise, kickboxing releases endorphins into the blood that helps in De-stressing and boosting one’s mood. The act of hitting a punch bag is also a brilliant medium of removing any frustration that may have built up over time, allowing us to be feel reinvigorated by the sessions.

Increases Determination and Self-Confidence

Kickboxing has the potential to give our self-confidence a huge boost, knowing that if the situation does ever arise, we would know the correct self-defence techniques and will have the nerve to use them right. Like Karate, self-discipline has permeated into kickboxing and is acquired by participants throughout sessions. Subsequently, these classes have been known to develop an individual’s inner strength and determination significantly.

Kickboxing is a very intense, vigorous exercise type, so one will need to plan on bringing a high level of motivation and intensity to each workout. In addition, kickboxing offers a large variety of movements and sequences that many individuals find fun and engaging. Kickboxing is a combination of boxing, martial arts and aerobics, and encompasses a large variety of exercise types so the chances of getting bored are slim.

It must be noted that kickboxing weight loss programs incorporate movements from boxing, martial arts and aerobics. Some examples of the types of movements one can expect to perform are punches, kicks and jumps, practiced in a series of sequences and drills, and in some cases on a punching bag.

However, Kickboxing fitness and weight loss programs tend to be a bit more advanced than some other exercise types, so it might not be the best choice for those who have physical limitations or are significantly out-of-shape. Kickboxing is a very vigorous activity and can be frustrating for those who do not have a good range of motion or a fair level of cardiovascular endurance.

However, by continually challenging our body to perform movements that are increasingly difficult, true gains in our overall level of conditioning and fitness are achieved in a relatively short period of time. For individuals that enjoy a fairly aggressive exercise routine that will continually challenge their overall fitness level, improve their coordination and balance, strengthen their cardiovascular system and tone their entire body, a kickboxing exercise program is worth considering.

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Magnificent Mary

“Never buy gold, simply earn it” – Mary Kom

Born into a poor family of landless agricultural labourers in Manipur, Mangte Chungneijang Mary Kom was no ordinary girl. From living in a mud & thatch hut to winning five world Championships in a row, like Borg or Federer at Wimbledon, Mary Kom’s journey as a Boxing sensation is both arduous and inspiring.

It was in 1998 with the success of Dingko Singh, an Indian boxer from Manipur, in the Asian Games that first kindled passion in Mary Kom towards boxing and catapulted her to enhance her skills and become a professional boxer. She approached Ibomcha Singh, the head coach at the Sports Authority of India centre to teach her boxing. Ibomcha Singh recounts her being so small and young that he turned her away at first. However, at the end of the day, he found her waiting for him at the gate. In the ring, her attitude struck him as “do or die”. In 2000, she began her training under M Narjit Singh, Manipur State Boxing Coach. As Mary Kom belonged to a conservative family, seeking approval from her folks to pursue a career in boxing was not going to be an easy task. Therefore, she kept her interest towards boxing under wraps from her family. It was only after Mary Kom won the Manipur State Boxing championship in 2000 that her family found out about her stint into boxing. In an interview with the Deccan Herald in 2004, Mary Kom said,

“I still remember I was castigated by my father who said with a battered and bruised face, I should not expect to get married. He was furious that I took to boxing – a taboo for women – and he did not have the slightest idea about it. But my passion for the sport had got the better of me and I thank my cousins who coaxed and cajoled my father into eventually giving his nod. I’m happy that I did not let anybody down”

Mary Kom won a Silver at her first AIBA World Women’s Boxing Championship 2001 held in Scranton, USA,  after losing to Hulya Sahin of Turkey by 13-5 in the 48-kg round. The next year, she struck gold at the second AIBA World Women’s Senior Boxing Championship, 2002 held in Antalya, Turkey, winning the 45-kg division by defeating Svetlana Miroshnichenko of Ukraine in the semi-final and Jang Song-Ae of North Korea in the finals. Her once-skeptical father accompanied his trail-blazing daughter to the ceremony in which she was honored with the prestigious Arjuna award for her achievement in boxing, making her the first Indian woman ever to receive this award. She successfully defended her 46-kg world title at the third AIBA Women’s World Championships 2005 held in Podolsk, Russia. She won the final by a 28-13 score over Jong Ok of North Korea, who had reached the finals with a 22-20 decision over Gretchen Abaniel of the Philippines. On 23 November 2006 at the AIBA World Championships held in Talkatora Indoor Stadium, New Delhi, Mary kom again won the 46-kg division – this time with a 22-7 decision over her Venus Box Cup final opponent Steluta Duta of Romania. Mary kom kept the Romanian on the defensive for most of the bout, then celebrated her win with a demonstration of Manipuri folk dance in the ring.

Owing to her pregnancy and the subsequent delivery through a C section, Mary Kom took some time off from boxing. Despite the stress of motherhood and physical weakness, she made her return in the 2008 Asian Women’s Boxing Championship where she clinched a silver medal, followed by a fourth successive gold medal at the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championship held in China. Mary Kom won her fifth consecutive gold at the 2010 AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championship held in Barbados.

Mary Kom scripted history by winning the bronze medal in the 51 Kg weight category at the 2012 Olympics held in London, making her the first Indian woman boxer to have achieved such a victory.

For her contribution towards boxing, Mary Kom has been bestowed with the Arjuna Award (2003), Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award (2009), Padma Shree (2006) and she also holds the distinction of being the first amateur athlete to win a Padma Bhushan Award in 2013.

Speaking about her time as a woman boxer in India, Mary Kom has said,

“To be a successful boxer one must also have a strong heart. Some women are physically strong but fail when it comes to having a strong heart. One also must have the zeal and the right fighting spirit. We work harder than men and are determined to fight with all our strength to make our nation proud. God has given me the talent and it’s only because of sheer grit and hard work that I have made it so far.”

Mary Kom released her autobiography, Unbreakable, in late 2013, co-authored by Dina Serto and published by Harper Collins. In 2014, Priyanka Chopra played the role of Mary Kom in a film named and based on the Boxer’s journey. In 2015, Mary Kom became the first amateur boxer to surpass several professional athletes in India in terms of earnings, endorsements and awards.

Mary’s greatest support has been her husband Onler who is also her mentor, motivator and manager; the Man behind the Woman. Often women find it extremely difficult to leave behind their domestic responsibilities in order to fulfil their career goals but Onlar has stood by Mary’s side in every step of the way and has never let the stigmas of the orthodox society prevent Mary from pursuing her dreams.

Mary Kom can rightly be hailed as an inspiration for women all around the world. She has successfully broken all the taboos that society puts on a woman by not letting marriage or motherhood become an excuse to give up on her ambitions. When talking about criticisms, Mary once remarked,

“Many doubted my ability to win a gold in South Korea. There is a mindset that a woman, after becoming a mother, cannot rise to great heights in sports. I think I have proved the mindset wrong.”

Happy International Women’s Day from the Team at Fitness Fight Club

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