bruce was well ahead of his time, even by todays standards
2007-01-15 02:38:37 · 32 answers · asked by junfan 1 in Sports ➔ Martial Arts
the greatest martial artist ever probably lived a long long time ago.. back when people had nothing to do but practice martial arts 24-7..
2007-01-15 02:52:54 · answer #1 · answered by Byakuya 7 · 5⤊ 1⤋
Bruce Lee was a great martial artist. But I would not say the greatest. No doubt there were several monks in the past who had amazing martial arts skills. I believe that there have been and are several great martial artists that we do not know about!
Bruce Lee was still really awesome!
2007-01-16 08:36:19 · answer #2 · answered by Chocolat 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That is a very difficult and controversial question to answer though I am still a fan of Bruce Lee after all these years
I'll not go into a history lesson or paste anything from wikipedia as so many people do.
But you could arguemently chose (the founder)of several of the main martial arts in existence today and still have a plausible reply I'm guessing.
So really it can never truly be decided as its subjective!!
Hope this helps
2007-01-15 08:53:28 · answer #3 · answered by Zenlife07 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Albert einstien was the greatest martial artist ever.
Martial arts comes from the root word, The Arts of Mars (translated). mars bieng the god of war. Martial Arts original and true meaning refers to any tactic used in combat.
Regardless of how great one can think bruce lee is, he is simply unable to bring the same destructive Martial force as an A-bomb or an assault rifle or even a derringer.
As far as non firearm martial artists. Well I hardly see bruce lee defeating musashi or george silver in a duel.
You want to base your assumptions on myth and legend (like most of you are doing because there is NO fight footage aside from that unimpressive sparring video of bruce lee) and fiction. Any character from Romance of the Three Kingdoms would kill bruce lee 3x over (not to mention that the characters did exist, thier actions are at best- exxagerated to be polite) while still sleeping.
2007-01-15 07:24:57 · answer #4 · answered by bluto blutarsky2 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Mixed martial arts or ultimate fighting did not exist prior to Bruce Lee. And it's a doubt that conventional fighters back in the '60s would have consented to a fight with rules exceeding their usual boundaries. In 2004, UFC president Dana White credited Bruce Lee as the "father of mixed martial arts".
As to if Bruce Lee was ever the greatest? No one can say.
2007-01-15 05:36:30 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
Bruce Lee was very enigmatic and brought the martial arts to a whole new level of popularity . There have been many to do great things though . I personally think that Adriano Emperado was one of the greats , perhaps not the greatest but that is all based on ones own perspective .
Peace
2007-01-15 03:11:47 · answer #6 · answered by Ray H 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
No. While it is worthwhile that he taught his styles to westerners, he did sell out and become an actor. That removed all credibility from him at least in my eyes.
Also, I know of one who definitely could rate as the greatest martial artist to have drawn breath.
Miyamoto Musashi, sometimes known as the Kensai or the Sword Saint. This man is known as the world's greatest swordsman, and definitely one of history's greatest martial artists if not the very finest. He devised the Two Skies, or Two Swords school of fighting, he was an accomplished artist, poet and philosopher. And beforeh e died, he left a trace of his teachings: The Book of Five Rings, one of the most respected treatise on martial arts and philosophy in the world.
He too taught his style to many others, and his duels and way of thinking are still studied today, almost 350 years after his death.
2007-01-15 11:55:05 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
That question is really impossible to answer for two reasons:
1) How many countless martial artists does the western world not even know about becasue they existed long before the west was aware of the existence of such fighting styles.
2) It's impossible to compare living/dead or even post-retirement/at the peak of one's career. It's like saying "Who was a better basketball player; Michael Jordan or Wilt Chamberlain?" The game had changed too much for anyone to really say without a doubt.
2007-01-15 03:15:11 · answer #8 · answered by 기백 화이팅!!! 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Bruce Lee was one of the best martial artist.There are so many martial artist in the world,that it's impossible to determind who is the best.The best martial artist in the world is probably in a Shaolin Temple in China,learning how to crack walls with one finger.I don't think he plans to become the world's greatest martial artist,he just wants to learn the secret of Kung Fu.
2007-01-15 14:28:52 · answer #9 · answered by WWE Champ 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Bruce Lee , because his movies opened the western world eyes to many variations in martial arts, that is why martial arts is so popular in its many styles, in so many cuntries throughout the globe! there is also, Yip Mann Bruce's mentor, teacher, and a great many on screen stars also emerged.Jet Li, jakie chan, tony lao or Van Dam, So Bruce gets my vote.p.s he also had in impact on several Hollywood tough guy stars,respect to all the unknown martial artists out there,the real ones.!!
2007-01-15 03:18:29 · answer #10 · answered by ? 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋