what do you think bruce lee would think of....?

Question

...the current mixed martial arts tournaments and their structure. being honest do you think that he could still take them considering the current emphasis on power, strength, ground and pound and of course takedowns and submissions?? i certainly know he would be intrested in MMA today as opposed to traditional asian martial artists and gung fu experts because he loved the live realistic fight.

Answer 1

Being honest I feel Bruce Lee would be intrigued by the MMA sport especially the way it has evolved, and he would take onboard any type of technique that works -- if there was a technique that is!! LOL

In my opinion, Bruce Lee was going the right direction in the first place in the world of effective martial arts. What you have to remember is that Bruce Lee died in 1973 -- 20 years before the birth of UFC. You also have to take into account the Pancrase promotion also, which was slighly before UFC.

When you look at it this way, Bruce Lee may have had a VERY good system by 1993 -- and may have had some good students to represent his style, even for cage matches. It is a possibility of course??

Bruce Lee's art, Jeet Kune Do (JKD) you will find goes along the direction of the MMA style. People mainly saw Bruce as a striker because of what people saw of him in Movies. Remember, Bruce lee gave the audience what they wanted, in real life Bruce Lee took onboard many styles, and practically took the best techniques and mixed them into an effective style of fighting. Bruce Lee also took into account the importance of body conditioning. When you look at it this way, Bruce Lee did change many peoples minds and visions towards Martial Arts.

I am sure that even todays MMA fighters will say that they look up to Bruce Lee, and I am sure fighters in 30 years time will do the same. I can safely say that Frank Shamrock is a big fan of Bruce Lee and he has said so in some interview.

Back to the question, I believe Bruce would have been very interested in MMA matches. I mean, Bruce Lee has a lot of guts in my opinion and he knows that cage matches will of course open the door to WHAT WORKS and what doesnt!!

Bruce would have been in his 50's when the UFC started, and I guess we'll never know if he got to play a role in MMA. he could have ended up a trainer for the Jeet Kune Do? He could have been a commentator for pride of UFC? He could have been a referee? I suppose some may laugh at these assumptions... but at the end of the day, we'll never know..

We also need to address that he may have been against MMA. He may view it as two bullies fighting each other rather than a fight of fight and discipline, for example. As I say, we'll never know for sure. I suppose the best poeple to ask are the ones close to Bruce. His Wife? Chuck Norris? etcetcetc....

Lastly, a realistic UFC is... it still isnt a street fight. UFC still has a referee, and rules --- no biting, gauging, etc. Bruce Lee looks into everything, even the sadistic methods. I am sure Bruce Lee would have addressed this the moment the UFC started!!

At the end of the day, thats my view. I have complete respects for Bruce, and I do believe that many more things would have been addressed if he was still alive today.

All the best!!

Answer 2

Bruce Lee

Answer 3

Bruce lee would likely approve of where martial arts has gone because he advocated sparring full contact.

However a blind chimp with no arms or legs would have a better chance to do well in MMA today than Bruce Lee.
Here is why:

Bruce's training:
People question his actual skill level. All they have is unverified statements by martial artists whose motivation to promote him might be somewhat selfish. HOWEVER, even if we take every claim, every word at its face, bruce was great 30+ years ago. Today martial arts themselves have evolved beyond what he did. He never would have imagined that ground fighting and takedowns would become a factor. If he did helio gracie was alive, so was kimura who defeated him, he never trained with either of them. Wrestling and pancrease was around as well, yet bruce didn't train them. He didn't train groundfighting so bruce would get taken down and submitted very easily.

Bruce's Age:
Bruce lee was almost in his 30's 30 years ago, is it realistic to believe, that no matter how good a fighter he WAS then, that a 60+ year old man can enter the octagon and compete with people less than half his age? Shamrock-Ortiz speaks to that and Shamrock wasn't pushing 60. So does Hughes-Hoyce. Even if alive today, and bruce learned groundfighting he would be too old to compete.

Fantasy fights:
"But what if bruce was alive and learned groundfighting and competed in the UFC or Pride at the age he was at".
REPLY: "What if Dr. Doom was real and he invented a time machine and collected all the dinosaurs so he could unleash them upon the scientologists because xenu was reincarnated as tom cruise and he was threatening the safety of earth, all the while we were bieng watched by a group of intergalactic couch potatoes that get drunk and suck on each other's extremeties".

Fact: Bruce did not live, Even if we take him in his prime, and implant him magically into next year's pride tournament, he will get his *** kicked as his "self" from 30 years ago could not defend against a takedown and once on the ground, all his skill would be nullified and worthless.

Give the man credit for what he did do, not what he might have done if he travelled to the year 3012 and saved the planet from the evil robot king.

Bruce also admits that Muhammad Ali would have kicked his ***.

Answer 4

Bruce was right even 30 to 40 years ago, a great fighter must know all types of styles, boxing, wrestling, takedowns, submissions. If he came back today as a young Bruce Lee, in a real man to man streetfight, he would easily win. All these organizations are close to actual fighting, but some have rules like no elbows, no kicks to the head, no headbutts, no biting, no hair pulling, no eye poking, no kicks to the groin,etc. If Bruce fought a huge guy like a 6 foot 5 guy, 280lbs, it would be easier to just kick him in the groin, and try to bust his kneecap, once the huge guy is down on his knees, give him a fingerjab to the eye, the fight would easily go to Bruce. If you take certain moves away, of course its going to be a lot harder to win if your Bruce Lee's size.

Answer 5

well seeing as there are wieght classes and if he was in top shape I am sure he would do fine. His idea on martial arts was to adapt all the good parts so I am sure he would take up some ground stuff... but not that BJJ stuff... he would stick with traditional JJ from Japan.

Answer 6

Bruce was trying to make a living from martial arts hence his teaching and film making would he be bothering with fights?

Answer 7

Bruce lee was no doubt an exceptional practioner and innovator of his own style, however having watched him spar (on dvd) don't think he'd have lasted with half decent calibre ppl in real combat situation of which you speak. his main assets were front leg and hand, and anybody decent would nullify those and paste that pretty nose of his! Movies are movies!

Answer 8

if bruce tried to enter a pridefc bushido tourny using jeet kune do then i believe he would fail, but bruce bieng bruce i believe he would train with an established camp ie miletich or american/brazilian top team untill he had the neseccery skills to compete,bruce lee train like no other just cause he wanted to improve himself, he was a born champion but in the wrong era its a shame

Answer 9

I think he would approve and be involved as a trainer.

Please keep in mind that MMA events like UFC do not reflect a real life self-defense situation.

Answer 10

bruce lee would have wiped the floor with each and every one of them, no problems he is the best athlete and fighter the world have ever seen.

His body reacted to attacks before his mind had time to control itself and his power and speed are still hard to follow on camera