Martial art, like any art, is an expression of the human being. Some expressions have flavor, some are logical (perhaps under certain required situations), but most martial arts are the mere performing of a sort of mechanical repetition of a fixed pattern.
This is most unhealthy because to live is to express and to express you have to create. Creation is never merely repetition. Remember well my friend that all styles are man-made and man is always more important than any style. Style concludes. Man grows.
So martial art is ultimately an athletic expression of the dynamic human body. More important yet is the person who is there expressing his own soul. Yes, martial art is an unfolding of what one is—his anger, his fears—and yet under all these natural human tendencies (which we all experience, after all) a “quality” martial artist can—in the midst of all these commotions—still be himself.
And it is not a question of winning or losing but it is a question of being what is at that moment and being wholeheartedly involved with that particular moment and doing one’s best. The consequence is left to whatever will happen.
Therefore to be a martial artist also means to be an artist of life. Since life is an ever-going process, one should flow in this process and to discover, to actualize, and to expand oneself.
—Bruce Lee
Part 1
COMMENTARIES ON THE MARTIAL WAY
REFLECTIONS ON COMBAT
Martial art—a definition
Martial art includes all the combative arts like karate, judo, Chinese gung fu or Chinese boxing, aikido, Korean karate—I could go on and on and on. But it’s a combative form of fighting. I mean, some of them became sport, but some of them are still not. I mean, some of them use, for instance, kicking to the groin, jabbing fingers into eyes, and things like that.
An animal jumps at every sound . . . a leaf responds to every push of air . . . but an enlightened man in combat moves only when he chooses—only when necessary—actually, the movement before it is necessary. He is not tensed but ready, he is never set but flexible.
I am known as a teacher and a notoriously expensive one at that. For when my time is demanded of me, my learners pay for their worth. Time means a lot to me because you see I am also a learner and am often lost in the joy of forever developing.
Unfortunately, now in boxing people are only allowed to punch. In judo, people are only allowed to throw. I do not despise these kinds of martial arts. What I mean is, we now find rigid forms which create differences among clans. And the world of martial art is shattered as a result.
The other weakness is, when clans are formed, the people of a clan will hold their kind of martial art as the only truth, and do not dare to reform or improve it. Thus they are confined in their own tiny world. Their students become machines which imitate martial art forms.
As a matter of fact, they each have their strong points and weak points. They all need self-evaluation and improvement. They are too narrow-minded. They can only see their strong points, but not their weak points and other’s strong points. A man confined in thought and scope will not be able to speak freely. Therefore, if he wants to seek for truth, he should not be confined by the dead forms.
The successful martial artist
The successful martial artist will be one who is able to:
1. Possess fluid speed—tenseness tightens and slows reaction time.
2. Possess confidence-plus—at all times.
3. Sock it—everything there, as soon as the opening is there.
4. Puzzle the opponent—never do the same thing twice. Whenever the opponent gets set to hit, move. Each combatant has his own gears (speed, etc.).
Qualities
1. Natural instinctive primitiveness
2. The technique should be a natural blending with stillness and sudden (as well as violent) destructiveness.
A quality martial artist is always ready for any move and trains oneself invincible.
A little learning is a dangerous thing.
Don’t ever telegraph your move—that’s just common sense in martial art.
Timing! A good martial artist keeps his eyes open.
When the opponent advances, one intercepts!
Anger blinds!
Controlled balance of speed of changing of both firing posture and delivery with speed and power!
Talking tactics
Pretend inferiority and encourage his arrogance (technique of deception—action—once or twice—down!). Arrogance corrupts.
If you are among those who are unable to understand the dangers inherent in combat then, like them, you also are either unsure or simply unable to understand the advantageous ways of fighting.
All martial art is simply an honest expression of one’s body—with a lot of deception in between.
Retaliation to a bluff
I never met a conceited man whom I did not find inwardly embarrassed.
The ultimate in disposing one’s skill is to be without ascertainable shape. Not only that emptiness can never be confined, but also the fact that gentleness cannot be snapped—action—and the most penetrating weapons cannot pry in nor can the wise lay plans against you.
A man with a weapon is the one at a disadvantage
The man who pulls a knife on you is at a disadvantage. He will clearly lose the fight. The reason is very simple. Psychologically, he only has one weapon. His thinking is therefore limited to the use of that single weapon. You, on the other hand, are thinking about all your weapons: your hands, elbows, knees, feet, head. You’re thinking 360 degrees around him. Maybe you’re considering some form of escape, like running. He’s only got a lousy knife. Now he might throw it at you. Let him. You still have a chance to avoid it, block it, or he may miss you. You’ve got all the advantages when you think about it.
Against a man with a club
He’s holding something with two hands. I mean, what’s he going to do: swing, thrust, jab? He’s got a problem. What’s he going to do with his feet? He’ll be off-balance if he holds the staff and tries to kick you. That’s his disadvantage.
