Martial Secrets: Bruce Lee


Tell Bruce Lee Not All is Lost

Filed Under: Blog, Bruce Lee by Kris Wilder — 5 Comments
January 9, 2011

There is just a large metaphorical canyon in today’s world. This canyon has a rapid laden river, craggy canyon walls, poisonous snakes, carnivores of all sizes and strong winds that separate the sides.

On one side of the above described canyon are the folks that are declaring their infirmities, and finding their power via a codification.

On the other side of this canyon are a different species of person, yeah I use the word species because they are not the same. These people have crossed the canyon and are pushing onward.

There are many that have pushed on to the other side of the canyon. And several have passed though the door of my dojo. I have one guy that comes into the dojo that can’t eat solid food, oh and he has MS, I like this guy a lot, and his demeanor bellies the struggles that he goes through, he has a steadiness that I am not sure under the same situation, I could muster.

I have another student that has cerebral palsy, another needs special hearing aides, he is six. And then still another that is legally blind without his glasses.

And one of my students, was killed by his disease. He would sleep during the day so he could save his energy for class. He did this until his liver actually disintegrated, falling apart inside his own body and bleeding him to death.

These folks, are examples for us, and they stupefy me.

Did you know:

  • Ludwig van Beethoven was deaf

  • Thomas Edison, Albert Einstein, Woodrow Wilson (U.S. President), all where Dyslexic

  • Stephen Hawking, is addled by Lou Gehrig’s Disease

  • John F. Kennedy had Addison’s Disease, an adrenal insufficiency

  • Sir Winston Churchill, Clara Barton, and Carly Simon, all stutters

  • Homer, the Greek Poet, he was blind

Some people just blow me away, with the way they can will the disparate aspects of their lives into one cohesive focus… and I am fortunate, and blessed, to come into contact with them.

So go tell Bruce Lee that not all is lost. However he needs to know there are two types of people in the world. One group stands on the canyon edge looking at the insurmountable obstacles that block their path. The others have crossed and are pushing on to their future.

Oh, and did you know that one of Bruce Lee’s legs was shorter then the other? And it didn’t stop him.

Did you know we all have one leg shorter than the other?

It is all in how you measure, how you choose to see yourself in the world.


And now for the kicker…

The picture used in the installment of, “The Striking Post” is of the knees of a guy that rode his bike to the dojo and joined the Judo class, at fifty-nine years of age.

Hey Bruce, not all is lost!

Permalink

Tell Bruce Lee it happened…

Filed Under: Blog, Bruce Lee, disability by Kris Wilder — 3 Comments
January 4, 2011

I recall that Bruce Lee said something of the sense that he didn’t want to live to be an old man.

Now I paraphrase what he said, the quote is not perfect, but I am more interested in the idea of what he meant than the exact words.

The point of Lee’s comment was that he didn’t want to live a diminished life. I think Lee was saying that he wanted to live life on his terms and not be a burden or to be dependent on others. Now we can discuss what he meant by his comment, parse out the nuance, or change the context but just bear with me now and let us take it for what it looks like on the surface. Because taking what Lee said at face value brings us to the question of, “When it happened?”

When did the zeitgeist of our culture change from, “Can do!” and ready for risk to, “I am owed (insert something here)?” When did people decide that it was better to live a much longer, yet unchallenged life? When did people decide that there is no need to get up and get it done.

I have an acquaintance that I am required to come into contact with often. This man announces, and I mean he doesn’t work it into the conversation, he announces he is, “On disability.” in every conversation. This is not just one man either. It is as if people are seeking distinct classifications via their diminished capacities – and they are rewarded.

So here is Bruce Lee saying that he doesn’t want to be a burden. Lee wanted to live life on his terms verses an whole strata of our society who seek a sense of themselves and a trivial bounty, from the powers that be, for actually eking out an existence of a demised life.

Stay tuned folks, next – “Tell Bruce Lee Not All Is Lost.”

Permalink