Bruce Lee
李小龍
Born
1940-11-27, San Francisco
Died
1973-07-20, Kowloon
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-chuensports_martial_artsTaijiquan ProbableProbableLee Hoi-chuen practiced Taijiquan for decades and was Bruce Lee's first martial arts teacher, introducing him to Tai Chi as a childThe evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
1 source expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkLee Hoi-chuen practiced Taijiquan for decades and was Bruce Lee's first martial arts teacher, introducing him to Tai Chi as a child -
Ip Mansports_martial_artsWing Chun ConfirmedConfirmedExtensively documented relationship; Bruce Lee studied Wing Chun under Ip Man from 1953 to 1958 in Hong KongThe evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.(1953–1958)
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
2 sources expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkExtensively documented relationship; Bruce Lee studied Wing Chun under Ip Man from 1953 to 1958 in Hong Kong -
Wong Shun-leungsports_martial_artsWing Chun ProbableProbableWong Shun-leung was Ip Man's senior student and acted as Bruce Lee's primary instructor (sihing) in Wing Chun; confirmed by Maeda (2022)The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.(1953–1958)
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
1 source expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkWong Shun-leung was Ip Man's senior student and acted as Bruce Lee's primary instructor (sihing) in Wing Chun; confirmed by Maeda (2022) -
Edward Musssports_martial_artsBoxing ConfirmedConfirmedBrother 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 articleThe evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.location_onSt. Francis Xavier's College badge (1956–1958)
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
2 sources expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkBrother 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“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.”
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Gene LeBellsports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō PossiblePossibleOne magazine profile has him brought to train in karate and judo with LeBell; whether LeBell taught him is not stated.Some evidence points to the claim, but it is thin, indirect, or in unresolved conflict with other evidence.
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
1 source expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkOne magazine profile has him brought to train in karate and judo with LeBell; whether LeBell taught him is not stated.
Lineage
- Wing Chun Wong Shun-leungIp Man Chan Wah-shunLeung JanWong Wah-bo · 5 generations
Students (9)
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Ted Wongsports_martial_artsJeet Kune Do ProbableProbableSingle source.The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
1 source expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkSingle source.“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.”
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Taky Kimurasports_martial_artsJeet Kune Do ConfirmedConfirmedDocumented as one of Bruce Lee's top students and certified instructor in Jun Fan Gung Fu personally certified by Bruce LeeThe evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.(1959–1973)
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
2 sources expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkDocumented as one of Bruce Lee's top students and certified instructor in Jun Fan Gung Fu personally certified by Bruce Lee -
Richard Bustillosports_martial_artsJeet Kune Do ProbableProbableSingle source.The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
1 source expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkSingle source.“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.”
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Larry Hartsellsports_martial_artsJeet Kune Do ProbableProbableSingle source.The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
1 source expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkSingle source.“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.”
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Jesse Gloversports_martial_artsJeet Kune Do ConfirmedConfirmedExtensively documented as Bruce Lee's first student, meeting in 1959 in Seattle; Glover's own memoir confirms thisThe evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.(1959–1963)
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
2 sources expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkExtensively documented as Bruce Lee's first student, meeting in 1959 in Seattle; Glover's own memoir confirms this -
Jerry Poteetsports_martial_artsJeet Kune Do ProbableProbableSingle source.The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
1 source expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkSingle source.“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.”
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James Yimm Leesports_martial_artsJeet Kune Do ConfirmedConfirmedIndependent sources state it; the sources also describe him as Bruce's senior, mentor and partner.The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
4 sources expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkIndependent 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)”
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Dan Inosantosports_martial_artsJeet Kune Do ConfirmedConfirmedExtensively documented as Bruce Lee's student and assistant instructor at the Los Angeles Jun Fan Gung Fu InstituteThe evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.(1964–1973)
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
2 sources expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkExtensively documented as Bruce Lee's student and assistant instructor at the Los Angeles Jun Fan Gung Fu Institute -
Chuck Norrissports_martial_artsJeet Kune Do ConfirmedConfirmedNorris 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 sourcesThe evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.(1967–1972)
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
2 sources expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkNorris 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
Sources
visibilityFirst-hand
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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