Also known as
Lee Jun-fan · 李振藩 · Li Zhenfan
Description
Bruce Lee (1940–1973) was a Hong Kong and American martial artist, actor, and
filmmaker. He founded Jeet Kune Do, a hybrid martial arts philosophy drawn from
his training in Wing Chun, boxing, and other disciplines. He is credited with
popularizing Chinese martial arts films globally and is regarded as one of the
most influential martial artists in cinema history.
Teachers (5)
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Lee Hoi-chuen
sports_martial_artsTaijiquan
Probable
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
1 source
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Lee Hoi-chuen practiced Taijiquan for decades and was Bruce Lee's first
martial arts teacher, introducing him to Tai Chi as a child
“Lee's first introduction to martial arts was through his father, from whom
he learned the fundamentals of Wu-style tai chi.”
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Ip Man
sports_martial_artsWing Chun
Confirmed
(1953–1958)
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
2 sources
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Extensively documented relationship; Bruce Lee studied Wing Chun under Ip Man
from 1953 to 1958 in Hong Kong
“Lee's early martial arts experience included Wing Chun (trained under Ip
Man)”
“Lee's teacher, Grandmaster Ip Man, received complaints from Lee's
classmates about teaching someone (viz. Lee) of mixed ethnicity”
— Jennings (2019) - Bruce Lee and the Invention of
Jeet Kune Dolink
history
info
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Wong Shun-leung
sports_martial_artsWing Chun
Probable
(1953–1958)
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
1 source
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Wong Shun-leung was Ip Man's senior student and acted as Bruce Lee's
primary instructor (sihing) in Wing Chun; confirmed by Maeda (2022)
“Although Wong Shun Leung was only six years older than Bruce Lee, he was
considerably more advanced in Wing Chun. Both were students of Yip Man, but Lee
took most of his direct instruction from sihing Wong.”
— Maeda (2022) - Like Water: A Cultural History of
Bruce Leelink
info
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Edward Muss
sports_martial_artsBoxing
Confirmed
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
2 sources
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Brother Edward Muss was boxing coach at St. Francis Xavier's College;
trained Lee for the Hong Kong schools boxing tournament which he won in 1958;
confirmed by multiple independent sources including school records and a
detailed biographical article
“He was mentored by Brother Edward Muss, F.M.S., a Bavarian-born teacher and
coach of the school boxing team”
“At St. Xavier’s College (a high school) in Kowloon, Hong Kong, Lee got caught
by Brother Edward Muss (1913-1975) fighting in the toilet, according to the
school. Rather, than reporting Lee to get him kicked out of the school, the
Catholic brother thought Lee had the right spirit for his boxing club.”
— Carnes (2024) - Hero for our Year of the Dragon:
Bruce Leelink
history
info
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Gene LeBell
sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō
Possible
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
1 source
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One magazine profile has him brought to train in karate and judo with LeBell;
whether LeBell taught him is not stated.
“Bob Wall, a former world professional karate champion and a friend of
LeBell's, used to bring martial arts stars Chuck Norris and Bruce Lee to
train in karate and judo with LeBell.”
— Jacobs, Mark. (1995-04-03). Tough Guys Wear Pink:
In Any Color, Judo Master and Film Stuntman Gene LeBell Is One Hard Hombre
link
history
info
Students (9)
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person
Ted Wong
sports_martial_artsJeet Kune Do
Probable
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
1 source
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“Inosanto (along with Richard Bustillo and Larry Hartsell) differs from other
students of Bruce Lee (such as Taky Kimura, James Lee, Jerry Poteet, and Ted
Wong), who have tried instead to preserve the “original form” of Jeet Kune Do.”
— Green, Thomas A.; Svinth, Joseph R.. (2010).
Martial Arts of the World: An Encyclopedia of History and Innovation
info
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Taky Kimura
sports_martial_artsJeet Kune Do
Confirmed
(1959–1973)
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
2 sources
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Documented as one of Bruce Lee's top students and certified instructor in
Jun Fan Gung Fu personally certified by Bruce Lee
“an American martial artist who is famous as being one of Bruce Lee's top
students and closest friends - and a certified instructor in Jun Fan Gung Fu,
personally certified by Bruce Lee himself.”
visibilityFirst-hand
alt_routeIndirect
“Leaving his Seattle school in the hands of Taky Kimura”
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person
Richard Bustillo
sports_martial_artsJeet Kune Do
Probable
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
1 source
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“Inosanto (along with Richard Bustillo and Larry Hartsell) differs from other
students of Bruce Lee (such as Taky Kimura, James Lee, Jerry Poteet, and Ted
Wong), who have tried instead to preserve the “original form” of Jeet Kune Do.”
— Green, Thomas A.; Svinth, Joseph R.. (2010).
Martial Arts of the World: An Encyclopedia of History and Innovation
info
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person
Larry Hartsell
sports_martial_artsJeet Kune Do
Probable
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
1 source
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“Inosanto (along with Richard Bustillo and Larry Hartsell) differs from other
students of Bruce Lee (such as Taky Kimura, James Lee, Jerry Poteet, and Ted
Wong), who have tried instead to preserve the “original form” of Jeet Kune Do.”
— Green, Thomas A.; Svinth, Joseph R.. (2010).
Martial Arts of the World: An Encyclopedia of History and Innovation
info
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Jesse Glover
sports_martial_artsJeet Kune Do
Confirmed
(1959–1963)
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
2 sources
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Extensively documented as Bruce Lee's first student, meeting in 1959 in
Seattle; Glover's own memoir confirms this
“He was Bruce Lee's first student. He met Lee in 1959, as they both attended
Edison Technical College”
“It is understandable that when Jesse Glover approached Bruce about becoming his
first student, Bruce began by teaching Glover Wing Chun.”
— Maeda (2022) - Like Water: A Cultural History of
Bruce Leelink
info
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person
Jerry Poteet
sports_martial_artsJeet Kune Do
Probable
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
1 source
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“Inosanto (along with Richard Bustillo and Larry Hartsell) differs from other
students of Bruce Lee (such as Taky Kimura, James Lee, Jerry Poteet, and Ted
Wong), who have tried instead to preserve the “original form” of Jeet Kune Do.”
— Green, Thomas A.; Svinth, Joseph R.. (2010).
Martial Arts of the World: An Encyclopedia of History and Innovation
info
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James Yimm Lee
sports_martial_artsJeet Kune Do
Confirmed
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
4 sources
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fact_check
Independent sources state it; the sources also describe him as Bruce's
senior, mentor and partner.
“differs from other students of Bruce Lee (such as Taky Kimura, James Lee, Jerry
Poteet, and Ted Wong)”
— Green, Thomas A.; Svinth, Joseph R.. (2010).
Martial Arts of the World: An Encyclopedia of History and Innovation
info
“Although he was 20 years older than Bruce Lee, the open-minded James Yimm Lee
decided to train with him and absorb what this talented young practitioner had
to offer.”
— Meet James Yimm Lee: "The Man Who Helped Make
Bruce Lee a Successlink
history
info
“And he was one of only three students Bruce Lee certified as instructors in his
system.”
— Meet James Yimm Lee: "The Man Who Helped Make
Bruce Lee a Successlink
history
info
alt_routeIndirect
“James Lee is known for being a mentor, teacher and friend of Bruce Lee”
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Dan Inosanto
sports_martial_artsJeet Kune Do
Confirmed
(1964–1973)
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
2 sources
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Extensively documented as Bruce Lee's student and assistant instructor at
the Los Angeles Jun Fan Gung Fu Institute
“He was one of three people who were appointed to teach at one of the three Jun
Fan Gung Fu institutes under Bruce Lee”
“Most known as Bruce Lee's training partner, confidante, and the most highly
ranked by Lee in his own personal art of Jeet Kune Do”
— Gold, Josh; Inosanto, Dan. (2021-04-21). Dan
Inosanto: On Bruce Lee and Aikido. Aikido Journal
link
history
info
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Chuck Norris
sports_martial_artsJeet Kune Do
Confirmed
(1967–1972)
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
2 sources
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Norris met Bruce Lee in 1967 and they trained together twice weekly for 3-4
hours; Lee taught Norris kung fu, Norris taught Lee tae kwon do kicks;
documented in multiple sources
“Norris met Bruce Lee [...] and the two developed a friendship as well as a
training and working relationship.”
“Lee invited Norris to work out in his backyard, where they trained twice a week
for three or four hours at a time. They exchanged techniques, with Lee showing
Norris kung fu moves and Norris teaching Lee tae kwon do kicks.”
— Maeda (2022) - Like Water: A Cultural History of
Bruce Leelink
info
Identifiers
https://martial.is/entity/01KYD5XMNMNAG3CPC17GKACPW0
Cite and reuse
CC BY-SA 4.0expand_more
Plain text
Muñoz, Frederico (YEAR_PLACEHOLDER). Bruce Lee. In Martialis: Martial Arts
Lineage Database. https://martial.is/entity/01KYD5XMNMNAG3CPC17GKACPW0 - CC
BY-SA 4.0. Accessed ACCESSED_DATE_PLACEHOLDER.
BibTeX
@incollection{martialis_01KYD5XMNMNAG3CPC17GKACPW0, author = {Muñoz, Frederico},
title = {Bruce Lee}, booktitle = {Martialis: Martial Arts Lineage Database},
year = {YEAR_PLACEHOLDER}, url =
{https://martial.is/entity/01KYD5XMNMNAG3CPC17GKACPW0}, urldate =
{ACCESSED_DATE_PLACEHOLDER}, note = {CC BY-SA 4.0} }
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