| Bruce Lee was a Chinese American martial artist | | | | arts films. His talent shifted the focus from martial |
| and actor who is widely regarded as one of the | | | | arts director to martial arts actor. Since 1973, the |
| most influential martial artists of the 20th century. | | | | year Bruce Lee died and his famous motion |
| Bruce Lee blazed across movie screens with | | | | picture Enter the Dragon was released, movies |
| charisma and lightning speed, introducing martial | | | | have been the single most influential factor behind |
| arts to mainstream America and changing the | | | | the growing popularity of martial arts. |
| way Asian American men were portrayed in films. | | | | In death Bruce Lee became legendary. Today, he |
| Using his background in dance, Ti Chi and Gung Fu | | | | is not a simple movie star. It can be said that he |
| (commonly called Kung Fu), he broke down the | | | | is a hero to the people to this very day. |
| rigid structures of traditional martial arts and | | | | Continuing to this day, his legendary skills are |
| added philosophy, western boxing, and fencing to | | | | often seen on TV, in movies, and in dramas. |
| craft Jeet Kune Do, a style that concentrated on | | | | Many actors and films emulate his style, and the |
| "practicality, flexibility, speed and efficiency". | | | | style in itself is always easily recognizable. In |
| Speculation and controversy surrounded Lee's | | | | bookstores, his new biography is being sold. What |
| untimely death as it did for most of his career. He | | | | made him a hero were not only his Kung Fu skills, |
| frequently faced opposition and criticism for his | | | | but also the historical background that his works |
| unconventional style of martial arts -often being | | | | represented. He often played a character fighting |
| challenged to duels and even rumored to being | | | | against the Japanese or White society, therefore |
| targeted by the Triad, a powerful Chinese gang. | | | | triumphing the Chinese people over their enemies. |
| Bruce Lee lives on as one of the most influential | | | | Lee's cinematic success spawned a global industry |
| martial artists of the 20th century and a Chinese | | | | of the martial arts, and schools opened and |
| American icon. | | | | flourished worldwide. During the 1970s more |
| As an exceptional martial artist, Lee's ability to | | | | students took up the study of martial arts than |
| synthesize various national martial techniques | | | | at any time before or since. |
| sparked a new trend in unarmed combat martial | | | | |