Interesting Joe Lewis Interview That Exposes Bruce Lee

[adnorwood]

Lewis is serious as a heart attack. He would've killed Bruce Lee. Check the stats..

Let me debunk some of your statements.

1. Earned his black belt in a remarkable seven months as a Marine in Okinawa. The average time span is three to four years.
Earning a black belt has nothing to do with fighting, it's all about form (kata's), that don't make you tough.

2. Won the U.S. National Championships in forms, weapons and fighting with 22 months of his first karate class. Most students are lucky to be brown belts at 22 months. Again, forms and weapons are not combat, just a memorization of movements.
3. Was first World Heavyweight Kickboxing Champion.

4. World Heavyweight Karate Champion. Combined with his kickboxing title, Lewis was the first of only two people to hold world titles in two different fighting sports. I've been involved in martial arts for twenty two years and in the early years (the seventies) there was no full contact, just a point system where you pulled your punches. Full strenght strikes were subject to disqualification.

5. Voted by a poll of peers as the Greatest Karate Fighter in History, not just once but twice! Once in America and once in Europe. Voters included World Champions Chuck Norris, Bill "Superfoot" Wallace and Jeff "DC Bomber" Smith.
Take a look at the places and people you state voted him in, AMERICA AND EUROPE. Who else would vote the caucasian in, it was nothing more than the martial arts world version of the good ole boys.

6. Twice Voted to Black Belt magazine's Hall of Fame as the 1975 Fighter of the Year and the 1986 Co-Instructor of the Year. This is an honored recognition of Joe's transition from fearless fighter to gifted teacher.

7. Recognized as the Father of American Kickboxing.

8. Action star of the silver screen in Jaguar Lives! and Force Five.
I think maybe 100 people saw his movies, I think they grossed about half a million all together. Chuck Norris made a bigger name for himself than Joe Lewis, most people don't even know who he is.

9. Voted to over a dozen Hall of Fames including being the first recipient of the prestigious NAPMA Lifetime Achievement Award.

10. First World Champion to be awarded a 10th Degree Grand Master Ranking.
Black belts such as these are like receiving honorary degrees, you don't really have to do anything for them, they basically come by being around in the game for so long.

In a career spanning three decades, Joe Lewis has won more titles, set more records and instituted more innovations than anyone in the history of Sport Karate. You have to question the titles and the records, kinda like saying you're heavyweight champion of the world in todays boxing world. One champion today could be mentioned in the same breath as champions of the eighties and earlier. Having a title don't mean shit, the question is who did you beat to get the title?

When it comes to teaching people of all ages and levels of experience how to fight in the ring or self-defense, nobody can touch Joe Lewis.

Teaching - I'll give him that much.

 

[bromack1]

Ali could also take the punishment; something I don't believe a guy of Bruce's size could take against a larger opponent.

Yes.... but we don't know if Lee could take a punch from a bigger and stronger opponent like a Joe Lewis. I'm sure Bruce would even agree that he would have a hard time taking a punch from a bigger and much stronger opponent.

But speaking for myself, I would never go "straight" at a bigger fighter. That would be like wearing a huge "bullseye" on your face. One technique would be to fight the guy close up with a lot of side to side movement. A punch must have some extention on it in order to have power behind it. The same applies to a kick.

As I discussed in my fighting with Herschel Walker, my strategy was to basically move around him like a lil "gnat." It gave him a hard time as the only thing he could do in response was to try and "swat" me away. Thanks to my readings by Bruce Lee, I learned that speed can sometimes overcome a bigger and stronger opponent. A person can't hit what he can't see.

Again, its about adaptability.

Does, all this talk mean I think I'm invincible or a badass... Nope... it only means, I don't wanna take a chance on giving the big guy an opportunity to "wind" up his punch or kick to take a swing at me. Sometimes the best way to avoid a persons punch or kick, is to maintain an aggressive offense. Keep the other guy on the defensive.

 

[WU-SHU BOXER]

Physically, Mentally, and Spiritually...LEE was head and shoulders above many, if not all, of the artial artists of his day or since. Lee defied racially stereo-types. What many people do not know is that his first student was an African-American....Jesse GLOVER.

Lee's training methods are still used and admired to this day. His philosophies on the martial arts revolutionized the way people look at martial arts.

Lee used his movies as a vehicle to promote racial equality and honor, but most people just focus on the fighting. Ask anyone, anywhere in the world, who is the 'greatest' martial artist, and the name Bruce LEE is always the first name to be mentioned.

Joe LEWIS did not want to be in LEE's movie, because of the ill notion that Lee was not considered legit in martial arts circles. This was during a time that Ed PARKER's KEMPO Karate was sweeping across the U.S., and LEE was just beginning to introduce 'GUNG-FU' to the U.S. Also, this was still during an era of racial inequality, and Lewis did not want to be seen as being beaten by a man of color. This would have probably given Asians much pride, and white-america could not live with that. Lewis felt that it would have hurt his 'B.S.' reputation. Chuck NORRIS used the role as a vehicle to more movies. LEWIS did three 'B.S.' movies that barely registered a blip on the radar. NORRIS prospered, because he humbled himself, and truley respected and admired LEE. LEWIS is only known in martial arts circles; and LEE, well we all know what happened to him....he became an immortal!!!

I am a child of the 60's/70's who grew up in DC, and when the 'Green Hornet' was on tv, we focused our attention on 'KATO'....not the white guy in the green suit and coat. Some older brothers living in DC, and reading this thread, may be familiar with the 'Martial Arts Classic' that used to be held at the DC Armory in 1970/1971, LEE attended with many other Grand Masters like Jhoon RHEE, NORRIS, etc., LEE did a few demonstrations and was spectacular. I got an autographed picture of LEE...still wish I had it today.

The ony reason LEWIS made movies was to capitalize on the trend that LEE popularized in this country. LEE's movies were educational/philosophical and great. LEWIS' movies were complete garbage!!! Just check any 'true' martial arts enthusiat's movie collection.

 

[Tazirai]

The title of your post is mis-leading...it does not expose Bruce Lee,it is merely one man's opinion.

truer Words...

The worst thing somebody can do is defame a person who can't defend themselves. In a streetfight bruce would whip much ass. he didnt fight by sports rules. he fought by REAL World rules. I got interested in the Art because of people like Bruce and Chuck. This dude can't defame that memory for me.
PERIOD. it's his opinion.

 

[WU-SHU BOXER]

Ali could also take the punishment; something I don't believe a guy of Bruce's size could take against a larger opponent.

The 'better' question is this...What man would want to allow himself to be punished at the hands of a larger/stronger opponent, just for the sake of seeing if he can take it? That is like saying that I would let Mike TYSON punch me repeatedly, without defending myself or moving, just to see if I can withstand his blows, or waiting for my opportunity to strike him back. The only person who takes joy in something like this is a 'SADIST'.

The philosophy of LEE's JKD was to avoid unnecessary contact which only sought to prolong the engagement, and do only what was required, practical, economic, and useful to terminate the threat with extreme prejudice as quickly as possible. The longer the engagement went...the greater likelihood that you would be defeated.

 

[pantha266]

If you get the proper knowledge from the right sources then yes books and tapes can be very informative. I haven't practiced a lick of JKD, but I'm informed enough to know how a side kick works, how a straight blast works, what being like water means, etc. There is a philosophical knowledge behind every art that must be understood before one can truly understand what they're practicing. My interest lies more in that philosophical knowledge more so than the mechanical.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but you have been addressing the mechanics of the art by speculating Bruce Lee's effectiveness in a fighting situation. Maybe I'M confused.

 

[Luckyinny]

even if he was better than bruce, he still is a hater. you cant say anything bad about bruce. he is mad because he wants to keep his secret about bruce whoopin that ass.

 

[WU-SHU BOXER]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but you have been addressing the mechanics of the art by speculating Bruce Lee's effectiveness in a fighting situation. Maybe I'M confused.

Pantha...Mastermind2002's attempt to compare the mechanics of JKD (LEE) versus Kenpo Karate/Western Kick-Boxing (LEWIS) is like trying to compare the mechanics of a Ferrari to a Hyundai.

Seriously...Books and Tapes CAN be helpful in attempting to get a greater understandiing of a subject matter. But to paraphrase LEE..."The best way to understand combat, and your reaction to it...is to engage in 'Actual' combat" Only then can you know how your body/mind will respond when tested. It's like 'studying' sky-diving tapes and books... without you actually jumping from the plane, how will you truly understand/appreciate the experience?

Mastermind...If your interests lies more with the philosophy aspects, can I suggest that instead of trying to understand the philosophy of JKD, you would be better served by attempting to understand LEE himself. That way, you can get into his head and gain insights into his philosophy and rationale...this is referred to as GOING TO THE SOURCE. I respect where you were going with this, but to truly understand the dynamics of a side-kick, you have to employ it in multiple, and under multiple, circumstances...only then will you see that your action/reaction is different; thus helping you to better understand the concepts of 'Adaptability' and 'Fluidity' for example.

Seek out a series of books by author John LITTLE. He is the only person allowed access to LEE's personal library and documents. This set is extremely insightful, as it contains a ton of LEE's personal writingsand thoughts. The 'Tao of JKD' is like a much compacted version of the LITTLE set.

 

[Kazoo]

Bruce Lee was a tremendous martial artist ,innovator ..... a true Superstar

but he wasnt unbeatable .... he lost to Judo Gene Lebell WHICH IS WHY Bruce incorprated Judo /Grappling into Jeet Kun Do

Bruce wasnt the best "FIGHTER" that ever lived ...but he is the BIGGEST
Martial Arts STAR of our time


with the way martial arts has evolved ...I doubt if Joe Lewis could be has dominate today ...remember he dominated a realitively new art in this country

 

[cbm_redux]

man this dude must be a comic book!

Paraphrasing Jim Kelly "Cracker, you come straight out of a comic book... with that preposterous Evil Knievel gi."

 

[Damn Right]

If you're not willing to step inside the ring with that hatin azz, stars-and-stripes whack-azz karate suit wearin muh fukka then shut the fuck up.

what does the fact that he can prolly whip MY azz have to do with that whack-azzed suit? AND i'd STILL be clownin his jealous azz for hatin on bruce lee while he was whoopin my azz in the ring!

 

[NiggaHate]

I agree^^^, and "Stop hating on the south!!!!"

U KNOW WHAT... U COOL THAN A MOFO AND I WILL STOP HATIN ON THE SOUF (MUSICALLY)! JUST TELL YA BOYS TO PICK UP A DICTIONARY!

SPEAKING OF WHICH... IS THAT YOUR SOUND SYSTEM IN UR AVATAR?!?!?
U STACKIN HARD THERE ESPECIALLY IF THATS JUST ONE SIDE!