Posted on 08 October 2012.
Growing up Bruce Lee was and still is the greatest and most influential martial artist, well for me anyways. He was there before Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Steven Seagal and Jean-Claude Van Damme. In a way, it is a real shame that many of today’s generation of action film fans have never seen Bruce Lee in action, he may be the greatest martial arts action hero of all time. His martial arts on film may not have been the fanciest or full of amazing stunts like those of let’s say Jackie Chan’s or Jet Li’s but because of his on screen ferocity and charisma turned his small stature into a giant presence. Even more important has been the impact on martial arts that Bruce Lee continues to have to this day, over 30 years since his passing.
Bruce Lee always considered himself a martial artist first and an actor second. As a martial artist, he was always pushing the so called “limits” and though it went against his philosophy but was necessary for the purpose of sharing his ideas with others he developed his own style of martial arts he called jeet kune do. His martial arts incorporated the most practical techniques from various combative disciplines as he moved away from the traditional practices just for the sake of “tradition”. His martial arts abilities were real and respected by many of his peers, prominent martial artists like Jhoon Rhee, Chuck Norris, Ed Parker and Joe Lewis. He was inducted into the Black Belt Hall of Fame twice, once while he was alive and the other after his death. These are honors that no other martial arts action hero has achieved. The Martial arts industry has been made better by the legend Bruce Lee.
Source:
http://www.mindbodyarchitecture.com/2012/10/08/my-greatest-martial-arts-action-hero-bruce-lee/