somehow jeet kune do movies starring jeet kune do followers
came to a halt.
Do you think Lee would have wanted his followers to
continue on his cinematic quest?
Bruce Lee became internationally famous from his cinematic
quest. His movies, we could say, were “jeet kune do movies.”
In each and every one, he was teaching us jeet kune do.
However, almost 50 years later, the lineage of jeet kune do–
themed movies has come to a standstill. But I do think that
he would have wanted his followers to follow in his footsteps.
How would you define a jeet kune do movie?
Any motion picture that has jeet kune do contents that are
acted, produced or directed by an actual jeet kune do
practitioner.
Would you agree that Lee’s contributions paved the way
for other martial arts films to enter the market?
Yes. Those who were able to take advantage of the opportu-
nity included Chuck Norris and Jackie Chan. Both individuals
attained stardom as non-jeet kune do practitioners. In addi-
tion, his movies created an exploitation opportunity for oth-
ers to imitate his persona for the sake of the box office and
not his true art. Other martial arts–themed movies followed,
[some with] classical practitioners promoting their kung fu
movies, taekwondo movies, wushu movies, kickboxing mov-
ies and MMA movies — everything but the original jeet kune
do movies. While others today are pushing for Ip Man 4, we
are hardly talking about Bruce Lee II, the sequel.
Would Lee have encouraged others, including his stu-
dents, to act in or to produce, for example, the Ip Man
movies over his jeet kune do movies?
Let me answer your question this way: Would Bruce Lee
want his followers to learn the traditional martial arts, or
would he want his followers to advance in the art of jeet kune
do or to learn to honestly express themselves? To me, the
answer is obvious. But whatever you think the answer is,
and although he left no will, it was evident that Bruce Lee did
indeed want his followers to participate in his movies, in both
supporting roles as well as being martial fighters. This was
evident in his final movie The Game of Death.I heard that you are about to launch the first of a series
of jeet kune do movies. Would you care to elaborate?
In August 2019, the movie Gung Fu, JKD & MMA shall pre-
miere in Los Angeles. [It’s] a feature film with the storyline
of three martial artists coming together in a so-called “triple
crown meeting” to discuss, share and demonstrate their
own unique styles, techniques and fighting philosophies.
But their conflict keeps escalating until the fight of no return.
While the film is not in the league of Avengers: Endgame
with a $356 million budget, it is a movie produced by and
starring jeet kune do followers. Our mission is simple: to
continue to propel jeet kune do forward and to continue with
its cinematic quest.Why did you decide to take this martial art to another
level at this point in history?
In any given tradition, there are extraordinary creators
who have started something and had to give it up, and
Bruce was no exception. But the sad part was how much
he would have achieved and contributed to the martial
arts and to mankind. As a follower, it would be my duty
to honor him, even [though] this is not an idea that some
of the practitioners would share. As I just mentioned, jeet
kune do movies actually paved the way for other mar-
tial arts to move ahead. What about jeet kune do itself?
Surely, that should not be left behind. As Bruce Lee, my
sigung, used to say, “Knowing is not enough; one must
apply. Willing is not enough; one must do.” We are honor-
ing him by doing.Do you think this is going to make an impact in Holly-
wood or on the world stage?
I am optimistic, and my answer is yes. But how much
remains to be seen. I want to quote you an ancient proverb
and I think it is also a modern Chinese saying: “A journey
of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” This is that
single step.
— Michael ConnorAUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019 § BLACKBELTMAG.COM 11