New Bruce Lee Social Network Site

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Nokia N96 Bruce Lee limited edition phone

Technology giant Nokia has launched the special edition of ‘Nokia N96’, which has Bruce Lee’s image on the phone, in Hong Kong.

The Nokia N96 Bruce Lee limited edition phone features Bruce Lee’s face, signature on the back panel, and is also comes packed with rare pics of the ace martial artist and actor.

Moreover, the phone also comes packed with several accessories including a Bruce Lee doll and a nunchaku.

Nokia N96, which was recently launched, offers a memory size of 16GB, which can be increased to 24GB with an optional microSD card, permitting users to store hours of media and entertainment on the go.

The dual-side N96, which sports a 5-megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics and dual LED Flash, is a perfect of style and advanced technology and represents a complete new chapter in mobile technology. It is best optimized for superb web and entertainment.

The N96 can store up to 18,000 songs, around 20,000 effigies at 5 mega pixel, upto 60 hours of video or full length movies. With multifunctional media keys and a 2.8” screen, music, movies and games and will be available at the touch of a button.

The phone also packs in turn-by-turn voice navigation with geotagging and N-Gage gaming back up with Ovi to share up images online.

Other amazing features of the phone include built-in 3D stereo speakers, MPEG-4, Windows Media Video and Flash Video. Moreover, it is also compatible with USB 2.0 connection, WLAN and 3G HSDPA support. The phone comes along with a Bluetooth headset and a special wrist- band.

The original Nokia N96 is available at a price of about $840, but this ‘Bruce Lee Edition Nokia N96’ is priced little higher for about $1,300.

Enjoy

Tony Leung is all fight these days as he gets ready for his role as Bruce Lee’s teacher.

HONG Kong actor Tony Leung Chiu Wai may have just gotten married, but instead of basking in newly-wedded bliss, his recent preoccupation has been with fighting.

Tony Leung Chiu Wai

At a press conference with some 300 Chinese and Asia-Pacific media members to launch Montblanc’s latest luxury chronograph watch on Nov 7, the multi-award-winning actor said he has been pulling eight-hour days working out for his role as Bruce Lee’s martial arts teacher.

Grandmaster Yip Man popularised the Wing Chun style of gongfu, and his biopic by director Wong Kar Wai will begin filming next autumn.

Leung, 46, added in Mandarin: “Making an action film requires you to have a certain physique, so I have to at least convince myself that I am a very good fighter.”

Asked why pre-production for the film has dragged on for about six years, the actor, who is Wong’s favourite leading man and firm friend, said: “Each time we wanted to start doing it, I was committed to another role. But now, I’ve stopped taking on new films, turning down some 10 projects. I want to concentrate on this.”Looking dapper in a black leather jacket-and-tie ensemble, he answered previously screened questions posed by an emcee onstage with his usual quiet serenity.

But Hong Kong’s tabloid writers perked up when the actor stated innocuously that he was planning to go on a ski holiday with friends later this year.

Scribes later interpreted this as a sign that his actress wife Carina Lau was not pregnant as previously rumoured.

The self-confessed perfectionist modestly said he does not feel he has made any masterpieces in his career.

However, he does not mind being a producer of or endorsing works by young, emerging talent.

But there is a caveat.

“Being an actor takes a lifetime. You can’t do everything at once,” he said.

Also present at the event was South Korean pop idol Rain, who was dressed in a grey suit and T-shirt, and sporting a sleek red hairdo.

In a separate chat through an interpreter, the lanky singer-actor, 26, told the emcee that he would buy a watch like Montblanc’s latest model to reward himself for working so hard, adding that he spent most of his time attending meetings.

When pressed, he admitted he would also get it for his fiancee – if he has one.

His ideal woman? “I like girls who are kawaii-style (cute in Japanese), innocent and pure.” – The Straits Times, Singapore / Asia News Network

Bruce Lee Museum Opens its doors...

The ancestral hometown of Bruce Lee in southern China has finished building the world's largest memorial museum for the action legend, China News Service reported Tuesday.

Visitors crowd the new Bruce Lee museum that opened in Shunde, Guangdong Province on November 9, 2008. [fsonline.com.cn]

The museum, located in Shunde, Guangdong Province, was inaugurated Sunday by Bruce's sister Phoebe Lee, who traveled from San Francisco for the occasion.

More than 1,000 items related to or used by Bruce Lee are on display, including costumes and photographs. Some letters and poems written by the martial artist are being exhibited for the first time, the report says.

The compound also includes a sculpture park that will feature the world's tallest Bruce Lee statue when the 18.8-meter-tall artwork is finished early next year.

Future meet-ups for Bruce Lee's fans are being planned, with which the museum's director Huang Dechao hopes to create a communication forum for worldwide fans.

There has been a resurgent interest in China over Bruce Lee, who passed away three decades ago, thanks to a new 50-episode drama series "The Legend of Bruce Lee," produced by China Central Television (CCTV). The drama, although controversial for some bloopers found in its scenes, has become the most-watched CCTV drama in history following its initial airing in October.

(CRI November 11, 2008)

"Ip Man" will open on December 19

Hong Kong action movie "Ip Man" will open on December 19 in Chinese theatres for the year-end box office battle.

A poster of "Ip Man" with actor Donnie Yen. [sina.com.cn]

The movie, helmed by director Wilson Yip, is adapted from the story of Ip Man. It retells the life of the grand master of Wing Chun martial arts, known internationally as Bruce Lee's teacher.

Ip Man is played by kung fu star Donnie Yen. He spent nine months learning Wing Chun, Yen told the Dahe Daily.

One of Hong Kong's most popular partnerships, Wong Kar Wai and Tony Leung, will also make a biopic of the kung fu master. Their movie will start filming next summer, a report said.

By Nick Perry

Seattle Times higher-education reporter

Bruce Lee admirers want to build an Eastern-style memorial garden at the University of Washington to commemorate their icon — but whether or not the UW will agree remains in doubt.

A group called The Bruce Lee Project at UW on Monday announced it wants to build a reflective garden in front of the Husky Union Building. The group plans to put the idea before UW Regents at their next meeting, Nov. 20.

At this point, the group's proposal lacks specifics — such as a design, timeline or cost analysis. But the group says it has built a network of hundreds of supporters, including the Bruce Lee family and local business owners.

However, the university has remained ambivalent to the idea of memorializing Lee, one of its most famous former students.

Lee, a martial-arts and movie icon, was born in San Francisco and grew up in Hong Kong. He attended the UW for three years but did not graduate. He died in 1973 at age 32.

"Somebody needs to make a compelling case as to why here and why now," said UW spokesman Norm Arkans. "Why here, as opposed to someplace else in the community?"

Jamil Suleman, a former UW student who last year taught a two-credit course at the UW through the Comparative History of Ideas Department called "CHID 496: Bruce Lee Dedication" argues that UW statues and monuments don't adequately represent contributions from minorities.

"He went to the UW for three years, he met his wife there, and he started teaching," Suleman said. "He kind of dropped out to become Bruce Lee."

Suleman said Lee had a big impact at the UW and in Seattle. He said the university has no problem recognizing other people who didn't graduate or even attend — not the least of whom include George Washington and Bill Gates.

A garden would reflect Lee's Eastern spiritual perspective, Suleman said. It would have an advantage over a statue because people could use the garden to contemplate and experience peacefulness rather than just viewing an object.

"What we are trying to do with this peace garden is have a space that anyone on campus can feel they belong in," he said.

Suleman said he believes the first step is to get the administration to agree to the idea before developing more details. He said he can't imagine the garden would be costly to construct or interfere much with campus life.But the UW may want to know more details first.

"We can't get a read until we see something and vet it," Arkans said. "We need to see what's involved and see what the impact would be to a treasured space."

Celebrity Ducks - Bruce Lee new model.

The original creator of the first-ever celebrity rubber ducks of the greatest icons of film, music, athletics and history, is doing their part to bring a little happiness to a tough economy. Thus they are releasing their new Marilyn Monroe and Bruce Lee limited edition rubber ducks just in time for the holidays.
Wearing a pink dress with white gloves, the new Marilyn duck embodies the epitome of elegance in the tub. After all, in any economy, diamonds are still a duck's best friend. Bruce Lee, complete with weaponry, is guaranteed to protect one's tub from any financial turbulence with his classic pose from "Enter the Dragon." CelebriDucks president Craig Wolfe remarked, "In hard times, we need some real heavy-hitters in our bath to lighten things up. To have two such classic icons added to our line really gives people some very cool gifts that anyone can afford."

The company is best known for their line of celebrity ducks including The Wizard of Oz, Elvis Presley, Bill Clinton, Larry the Cable Guy, and KISS, among hundreds of others. The company created a Tropical Parrot, complete with Hawaiian shirt and shades, for The Jimmy Buffet Margaritaville Cafes, and successfully sells their Blues Brothers ducks at all House of Blues venues nationwide. They also recently broke new ground by creating the world's first-ever floating Pink Flamingo, which debuted at The Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas.

CelebriDucks has produced ducks for the NBA, Major League Baseball, the NHL, Collegiate Mascots, and NASCAR. The company has pioneered a whole new collectible and to date their ducks have appeared on numerous TV shows, including The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, CBS Evening Magazine, and Late Night with Conan O'Brien. CelebriDucks were voted one of the top 100 gifts by Entertainment Weekly.

Contact:
Craig Wolfe
415-456-3452
info@celebriducks.com
Get them here

Bruce Lee's Daughter Applauds Chinese TV Series

Bruce Lee's daughter said Friday she's happy that China has embraced her father with a 50-part prime-time TV series on his life - even though the late action star was no fan of communism.

The series currently airing on state broadcaster China Central Television, which portrays the late action star as a nationalist hero, is China's first movie or TV drama on the late actor. When Lee made his name playing characters who defended the Chinese against oppressors in the early 1970s, China was still a closed country.

"Obviously, my father doesn't have a lot of love for communist ideology and believed in a different outlook on life," Shannon Lee told The Associated Press in an interview Friday.

"But what I do think is great is that China is embracing him as a role model. It may not be exactly in the way he would necessarily have viewed it, but at the same time, I think they recognize him as an influence in the world, which I think is great," said Lee, who authorized the TV series.

Lee, who died in 1973, was born in San Francisco but grew up in Hong Kong.

The younger Lee also said she is working with Hong Kong officials to convert her father's former home into an museum.

The two-story house is owned by developer Yu Pang-lin, who has said he is willing to donate the property but wants the Hong Kong government to lead efforts to raise funds for the museum.

Great MP3 of Enter the Dragon

This track is dedicated to the legendary icon and the first International Chinese movie star Bruce Lee. This track came about when I stumbled upon some vocal samples of Bruce Lee a while ago. When I heard these samples, I was immediately inspired to create a track around Bruce Lee's voices. After experimenting with the samples, I was finally able to connect the pieces all together, well in my opinion at least. :) anyway, I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did making it. maybe I'll come up with new versions of this track in the near future!

Download from here

01. POMATIC ft. Bruce Lee - Like Water (Enter The Dragon)


02. POMATIC ft. Bruce Lee - Like Water (Enter The Dragon) [Radio Edit]

all tracks are composed, arranged and produced by POMATIC. contains samples from Bruce Lee's 1973 break through film "Enter The Dragon" and his 1971 "The Lost Interview" footage!
© 2007 POMA Productions. All rights reserved. POMATIC!

New Fans for the Master - Bruce Lee

BRUCE LEE'S compact body is coated with sweat and ripples with muscles; he seems impervious to the razor slashes across his midriff. Glaring from beneath fierce eyebrows at the fool who has chosen to cross him, he tenses those legendary fists before striking out. Scores of villains are no match for him. Lee always prevails.

A sign outside Huangpu park in Shanghai saying "No Dogs or Chinese" causes unbearable anger. His lip curls and the man born in the Hour of the Dragon in the Year of the Dragon tears down the sign and smashes the offending warning into pieces with an overhead kick.

"I am Chinese," he yells as he defeats another would-be oppressor, very often a Japanese or Russian villain.

The Way of the Dragon has never been so popular in China. Bruce Lee is a national hero in kung fu crazy China for the way he embodied Chinese pride and nationalism in his movies, but many in mainland China missed him the first time around in the early 1970s because films like Enter the Dragon and Fists of Fury were banned by Mao as spiritual pollution and rightist sentimentality.

China's state broadcaster China Central Television is setting the record straight this week with the start of a 50-part prime-time series on him, The Legend of Bruce Lee.

It was shot in Lee's ancestral home in Shunde, in southern China's Guangdong province, as well as Macau, the US, Italy and Thailand, and took nine months to make at a cost of 50 million yuan (€5.35 million). It has pride of place in the evening schedule, with two hour-long episodes shown consecutively every night.

Bruce Lee is largely credited with reviving interest in the ancient art of kung fu in Hong Kong, and subsequently China, and the whole country is crazy about martial arts. China wanted to include kung fu in the Olympics in August but was turned down, instead staging a separate kung fu competition.

The quickfire kung fu moves and often surreally dubbed dialogue, combined with Lee's incredible athleticism, transformed the martial arts movie and his films quickly achieved cult status.

In his films he is always called Little Dragon and his association with the powerful dragon symbol is central to his philosophy.

What Lee himself would have thought of his fame in China is hard to say. He was certainly a nationalist, but he was also a Hong Konger. During his heyday the Cultural Revolution was at its height and there were a lot of tensions across the border with Hong Kong. Until Hong Kong was returned to China in 1997, many in the colony had an uneasy relationship with the People's Republic, the antithesis of its free-wheeling capitalism.

His death is a source of some mystery and there were all kinds of rumours. The discovery of cannabis in his blood led to speculation of a drug overdose. Triad crime gangs were rumoured to have poisoned him; another popular theory was that he was simply too fit and his veins burst under the sheer strain. The official version is he died of a brain haemorrhage.

Mainland Chinese only started watching Bruce Lee films in the 1980s, when videos of classic movies like The Chinese Connection became available, but his legend has not ebbed. A theme park, complete with a statue, a memorial hall, conference centre and martial arts academy, is being built in Shunde.

Lee is a resonant figure for the Chinese because he always emphasised power and resolve in the face of adversity, particularly from foreign oppressors. He reserved much of his wrath for the Japanese - post-second World War humiliation was felt even more strongly in the 1970s.

The television series is attracting keen worldwide interest, both in places with a large Chinese diaspora like Malaysia and Singapore, and further afield in the US and Korea. The producers are confident they can sell the series abroad at $100,000 per episode. The website for the show has already received two million hits.

"The previous versions made in Hong Kong and Taiwan were too commercial. We hoped to make a good version," said Zhang Hua, general manager of China Film Television Production Corporation. Lee's daughter, the actress Shannon Lee, has approved the script and is credited as an executive producer.

The series was originally scheduled to be aired before the Olympics, but was postponed because of the mourning period following the Sichuan earthquake.

Expect the Bruce Lee love affair to run and run. The latest news is that China's top director Zhang Yimou, who made Hero and directed the Olympic opening ceremony, has said he is keen to shoot a film version.

© 2008 The Irish Times

SHUNDE, CHINA: The connection....

SHUNDE, CHINA: Shunde’s most famous ‘export’ expat is Bruce Lee, who was born in the hour of the dragon, in the year of the dragon. Although born in the USA and raised in Hong Kong, Bruce Lee is still connected to Shunde. How?

Bruce Lee’s father was born in the village of Jun’An, in the county of Shunde in the Guangdong Province.

The Lee ancestral home is now a museum dedicated to the famous film career of Bruce Lee. There is a street named after Bruce Lee in Shunde. That’s about it.
Lee was born in San Francisco and only ever held US citizenship, even though his parents went to Hong Kong when Lee was three months old. Lee was educated in Hong Kong schools but at the age of 18 Lee was sent back to live in the USA by his father after beating someone up in a fight.

Bruce Lee fans will make the pilgrimage to his ancestral home in Shunde however. And for visitors to the Shunde expo, it would make an interesting sightseeing opportunity.

New advert with Bruce Lee

Using dead stars for commercials is legal, with companies paying royalties to rights holders.

In the past it was considered a taboo to publicly talk about the dead. No more. An increasing number of businesses are turning to deceased icons to help sell their products.

Putting aside questions of political-correctness when using dead people in ads, the so-called ‘deceased (star) marketing’ is proving itself to be a successful marketing strategy.

It is definitely an unusual penchant for Confucianism-originated Korea, where those who have passed away are considered sacred and should be left alone.

Satisfied with the results of using the late comedian, Hungkuk has now ‘cast’ the legendary Bruce Lee in its newest commercials, which started airing September 19.

The new advertisement features Lee from one of his movies. Between fight scenes, editing and subtitles make it seem as if Lee is actually promoting the product and its inexpensiveness.

The advertisements are legal, with the companies paying royalties to rights holders, most of whom are children and family of the deceased.
Timeless popularity and familiarity — which sometimes invokes nostalgia — make late celebrities a popular object for advertising companies, experts said.

By using friendly figures from the past, the nostalgia felt by the viewers often leads to favourable sentiment and raises brand recognition.
Some observers, however, caution that using famous idols in commercials may prompt a negative image of the companies, especially among long-time fans.

What do you think? Is this right or wrong?

TV show in China Bruce Lee

Was Bruce Lee scared of cockroaches? Did losing a bout frustrate him? How did he die?

The Legend of Bruce Lee (Li Xiaolong Chuanqi), a 50-episode TV series airing on CCTV-1's prime time slot from Oct 12, attempts to show the human face of the iconic kungfu master.


Hong Kong actor Chan Kwok Kwan plays the iconic kungfu master in The Legend of Bruce Lee. File photo

As the first ever film or TV series on Lee by a Chinese mainland crew, the series traces his life from his teenage years to his move to America, his film career and sudden death at the age of 32.

The dazzling kungfu scenes, says director Li Wenqi, are only part of the drama, while the stories of Lee as an ordinary human being are what differentiate the show from numerous other biopics of the martial artist.

It may be hard to believe that Lee was afraid of a cockroach but the series reveals this to be true. To overcome his fear, Lee is believed to have killed some cockroaches and strung them together as a necklace.

The series also tells of the love affair between Lee and his wife Linda. Lee is shown as a funny and tender boyfriend, and later a loving husband and father. Lee's early experiences of washing dishes in restaurants and clearing garbage in a hospital have been retained in the final version, after the exchange of scores of letters between the director and Lee's daughter Shannon.

On Lee's controversial death, the version in the series is that he died of overwork and the abuse of stimulants. This accords with the most enduring rumor since Lee's sudden death in 1973. Some, however, believe excessive physical training triggered Lee's death.

Taiwan actress Betty Ting's house is known as the place where Lee collapsed before he died, but out of consideration for his fans, director Li has changed the location to a pub opened by Ting.

Unlike most other films or TV series on Lee, the show has plenty of scenes showing Lee losing bouts to his opponents.

"Most people only know a Bruce Lee who was a super hero, someone who always won," says Hong Kong actor Chan Kwok Kwan who plays the icon. "But few understand that behind the glorious moments was also a vulnerable man."

Chan's resemblance to Lee is what bagged him this role. His best-known roles to date are as a gang member in Stephen Chow's Kungfu Hustle and as a goalkeeper in Shaolin Soccer. As a huge fan of Lee himself, Chow also chose Chan because of his similarly slender body and thick eyebrows.

Chan says he was attracted not only to Lee's kungfu accomplishments, but his strong desire to create his own kungfu style and his courage in the face of frustrations.

The series was completed over nine months with shooting on the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Macao, as well as in the US, Italy, Thailand and Canada. Actors from more than 30 countries were involved.

According to Chan, the shooting went smoothly and on the rare occasion when there was trouble, the name Bruce Lee was enough to rally support from the locals.

Various new films on Lee are also in the pipeline.

Hong Kong director Stanley Kwan is preparing a film on Lee and his son Brandon. Another Hong Kong director Fruit Chan is searching for a teenage Lee for a new project of his own. Even Lee's mentor Yip Man has emerged as a popular subject. Two Hong Kong directors Wong Kar-wai and Wilson Yip had a minor dispute earlier this year because they both wanted to shoot a film about the master's master and even used the same title.

Liverpool Event

A fan in Liverpool is in the process of attempting to organise a screening of Big Boss and Fist of Fury at a venue in Merseyside. I ask all UK fans if they would be willing to support such an event as I would need to sell approx 200 tickets @ £3 ech to cover the cost of venue hire. I am trying to get this for November 29th to coincide with Bruce's birthday (27th). If you GENUINELY would like to attend such an event please email me at shukocarl79@aol.com.

Please contact Carl direct.

Kato The Movie

Hong Kong actor-director Stephen Chow is to make his Hollywood directorial debut with the film adaptation of comicdom's Green Hornet, according to the Hollywood Reporter. The Kung Fu Hustle star is also taking on the role of Kato, played by the legendary Bruce Lee in the 1960s TV series, alongside Seth Rogen as the masked crime-fighter. Rogen, who has reportedly slimmed down for the role, has written the screenplay with his Superbad partner Evan Goldberg. "I'm excited to be taking on The Green Hornet - obviously I've been a huge fan of the show since I was a kid," Chow said. "The idea of stepping into Bruce Lee's shoes as Kato is both humbling and thrilling, and to get the chance to direct the project as my American movie debut is simply a dream come true." The Green Hornet is due to hit cinemas in June 2010.

Farewell to a Dear Friend, Mentor and Martial Artist

Farewell to a Dear Friend, Mentor and Martial Artist On Wednesday, the 06th of August 2008, a friend, mentor, teacher, brother and ... Hon. Sigung, DeWelle F. (Skip) Ellsworth, Jr. passed away peacefully in his home on the Island of Cebu, the Philippines. Skip Ellsworth was one of Sijo Bruce Lee’s first students in Seattle, Washington from 1959-1963, however, he remained in constant contact with Sijo Lee until his death. Skip was a true and great friend to many who had the pleasure to know him and will be missed by us all. However, he leaves behind a great legacy through his innovative teachings in log home building techniques, his personal writings on all subjects near and dear to him, his authorised writings about Sijo Bruce Lee by Paul Bax, his wonderful six-children, and the unselfish vision he had to develop a fund for the specific purpose of saving lives of the poor children in the Philippines, through providing financial assistance for immediate medical care and attention.
This fund is presently known as the “Alfonso Fund”, but with permission from Mr. Alfonso through Skip’s widow, Belle, I’ve requested that the fund’s name be changed to the, “Skip Ellsworth Memorial Fund", so that he may forever be remembered.
May he rest in peace with the knowledge that his memory will live on through his vision, and legacies. Below is an excerpt from Skip’s favourite poem by T.S. Elliot. As mentioned to me, this is how Skip felt when people would at times approach him to talk about Sijo Bruce Lee. ÖTime for you and time for me, And time yet for a hundred indecisions, And for a hundred visions and revisions, Before the taking of a toast and tea. In the room the people come and go Talking of Michelangelo (Bruce Lee). In Deep Respect Dr. C. Gigante MacBaine, Mr. Bernd Hoehle & Martial Arts Association - International ( www.MAA I.com).

From Peer in Norway

It is with sadness that Peer in Norway I got the message from David Tadman that Bruce Lee’s older brother Peter Lee has passed away:

“Robert Lee, Phoebe Lee and Agnes Lee wanted to thank everyone for their support of their brother Bruce Lee and at this time of deep sadness, they would ask if all the Bruce Lee fans on this forum and around the world will say a prayer for their brother Peter who just passed away yesterday. They want everyone to know that Bruce loved Peter and at times they were in competition with one another, Bruce-always looked up-to him.”

Walk On...

Peer, Norway

The modest two-floor house where the Enter the Dragon star spent the last few months of his life in 1973 is currently a "love hotel", where rooms can be rented by the hour to amorous couples.

Outside the Romance Hotel, in the northern district of Kowloon Tong, there is no sign to indicate that one of Hong Kong's most famous actors ever owned the 5,000 sq ft house.

Inside, a warren of thin corridors is decorated with aged posters of semi-naked women. The small rooms are decorated with a small sink and brown bedcovers.

The building is now the battleground between Bruce Lee fans, a billionaire Chinese property tycoon, and the Hong Kong government.

Yu Panglin, an 86-year-old hotelier based in Shenzen, said he bought the house 30 years ago for 850,000 HK dollars (£60,000). Today he claims it is worth 100 million HK dollars.

After the enormous earthquake in Sichuan in May, Mr Yu announced his intention to sell the building, together with three surrounding plots. He said he would donate some of the money he raised to the rebuilding of Sichuan.

The Hong Kong Bruce Lee Club quickly intervened to stop him. A page on Facebook, the social networking site, was set up to marshal opposition to the plan and to turn the house into a museum.

Lee's widow, Linda Lee Caldwell, and daughter Shannon, have reportedly agreed to donate personal items to a new museum. A Bruce Lee museum is also in construction at Shunde in mainland China, where Mr Lee was originally from, but never lived.

Wong Yiukeung, the chairman of the fan club, said that while the island is happy to profit from Mr Lee's boost to tourism, little effort had been made to commemorate him. "Lots of tourists want to visit the house. I have to tell them to get a partner of the opposite sex in order to get in," he said.

Even Robert Lee, the younger brother of the film star, stepped into the fray. "My family finds it regretful that the Hong Kong government has not done much for my brother. I urge them to buy the residence and convert it into a museum," he wrote in a letter to Donald Tsang, the chief administrator of Hong Kong. The government, however, quickly ruled out spending public money on the building.

However, the protests have had an effect on Mr Yu. After failing to sell it, or swap it for government property elsewhere, he magnanimously agreed to donate the building, saying that it was "priceless in the sense that this is the last property with links to Bruce Lee in Hong Kong".

He told the South China Morning Post that Mr Lee had been instrumental in changing attitudes to China in the West: "Our weak national image only changed after his movies were shown to western audiences."

However, he said he would only allow the house to be turned into a museum if the government allows him to hugely expand the site into a 30,000 sq ft retail outlet.

His idea has not met with enthusiasm. "The building is a residence of a simple style without unique architectural claims. Houses like this are very common," said the Antiquities and Monuments Office. It added that expanding the site would destroy the cultural value of the house.

The deadlock has exasperated the fans. "We just have to wait now for the government to make up its mind," said Mr Wong. As a result, the 35th anniversary of Mr Lee's death went unmarked in Hong Kong, except for a small display in Mr Wong's tiny shop.

Bruce Lee Clothes

A firm in China has come up with a range of Bruce Lee Clothes. Check them out.... http://shop34388944.taobao.com

News from Seattle USA

The Bruce Lee Action Museum would occupy a city block, soar three stories and cost up to $50 million to build.

Lee's surviving family members want to see the contemporary structure honoring the late action hero built in Seattle, his home from 1959 to 1964. His widow and daughter visited Seattle this weekend and unveiled the project plans on Friday during a private reception at the Seattle Art Museum.

The family commemorated the 35th anniversary of Lee's death, as well as the release of his film "Enter the Dragon." Lee died July 20, 1973 at the age of 32. He is buried at Lake View Cemetery.

The museum -- which Lee's family also refers to as BLAM -- would incorporate sleek architectural lines and focus on the themes of community, research, philosophy, action, scholarship, education and foundation.

"It's a great dream of ours," daughter Shannon Lee said at the reception. "We think of this project as a living thing."

The family is working with Carson Architects, a Marina del Rey, Calif. firm, on the project, which would include two outdoor plazas, a meditation room, a library and a 250-seat theater.

A wall near the entrance would have his image sandblasted in a mirror. A large yin-and-yang design would sit in a courtyard. And bamboo would wrap around most of the building.

"It's supposed to be what Bruce Lee was about," Thomas Carson, the firm's principal said. "Shannon and her mom really want it here."

Shannon Lee added: "Movement is a central part of the design."

The family spent the weekend searching for possible sites in Seattle to build the museum. They have been discussing the project with Carson over the past four to five years.

"It seemed like a natural progression," Shannon Lee said, explaining the museum's origins.

The Lee family and supporters said they would need to raise significant funds to achieve their goal.

Carson said the family intends to talk with Seattle officials about their plans for the project and that the museum would also be used to house the Bruce Lee Foundation, a cafe and a conference room.

Above the large rectangular entrance, visitors would see an image of Lee kicking in the air. His philosophical sayings would be inside on walls.
A Chinese lion dance team performed for Shannon Lee and her mother, Linda Lee Cadwell.

Lee was born in San Francisco and lived in Hong Kong with his family. He moved to Seattle after family friends, Ping and Ruby Chow, said he could work at their restaurant.

In Seattle, he met his first student, trained in Chinatown and studied philosophy at the University of Washington.

He also met Linda Emery, who took classes with him and became his wife. Their first date was at the Space Needle restaurant. The two were married on Aug. 17, 1964 at the Seattle Congregational Church.

"Bruce Lee: Legends of the Dragon Vol. 2"

Tao Publishing Ltd are please to announced: Volume 2 of the continuing series Legends of the Dragon by Steve Kerridge will be launching at the Bruce Lee's 35th Memorial event in Seattle on the 18-20th July 2008 ! There will be a book signing opportunity with Linda Lee Cadwell, Shannon Lee and Steve Kerridge ! Advance copies will be flown just for the event and general UK release will be late August

"Bruce Lee: Legends of the Dragon Vol. 2" is a much bigger book than volume one: A total of 340 pages ! Dim: 210x210mm !

Available in paperback and limited hardback.

"Bruce Lee: Legends of the Dragon Vol. 2" Paperback - ISBN: 978-0-9557920-2-1 - £25.00
"Bruce Lee: Legends of the Dragon Vol. 2" Limited Hardback - ISBN: 978-0-9557920-3-8 - £35.00

As you can see, the price of book 2 has increased by 15%, this is reflected by the increase of 25% in number of pages!

You can secure your copy now, and be the first to recieve the books upon its arrival.

The paperback version of "Bruce Lee: Legends of the Dragon Vol. 2" will be available in all good book stores.

For further information of the Bruce Lee Seattle event: www.bruceleefoundation.com
For further information of the book series: www.taopublishing.co.uk
To secure your copy of "Bruce Lee: Legends of the Dragon Vol. 2" Limited Hardback: www.taosport.co.uk

35 years on....

Remembering Bruce Lee in Hong Kong

Sunday marked the 35th anniversary of the death of martial-arts film legend Bruce Lee at the young age of 32. But it was hard to find any trace of a tribute at his old residence in Hong Kong, which has been converted to a rooms-by-the-hour love motel. For Lee’s devoted fans (site mostly in Chinese), there has been little hope of converting the Kowloon Tong site into a shrine befitting the kung fu icon—one the most recognizable Chinese people of the 20th century. Until now.

Bruce Lee’s former home at 41 Cumberland Road in Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, is now a love motel, but may someday become a museum honoring the martial arts icon.

Lee’s two-story home was to be sold this month for as much as $13 million to benefit victims of the Sichuan earthquake, but owner/philanthropist Yu Pang-lin, responding to appeals from Lee’s fans, decided instead to donate the property to the city so it can be turned into a museum. Under Hong Kong law, the government would need to approve Yu’s proposal. It won’t be easy; Yu wants to expand the roughly 5,000-square-foot site to add a 25,000-square-foot building, complete with library, cinema and martial arts center. So far, town planning and antiquities boards have told local media that the ambitious plan may not meet standards required for such a project.

Still, fans are hoping that the city where the San Francisco-born action star made his biggest mark will offer something more informative than the eight-foot-two-inch bronze statue on the harbor that was unveiled in 2005. While a memorial service was held on Sunday in Seattle, where Lee is buried, memorials are popping up around the world, with many wondering when Hong Kong will unveil its own museum.

Lee’s ancestral village in Guangdong province, Shunde, converted his family’s old home into a museum and named a street after him in 2002, despite a slim connection to Lee himself. But Shunde certainly has more of connection than another notable tribute, a statue in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina. That statue, which isn’t meant to honor Lee himself as much as “the very idea of justice” he represented, was dedicated Nov. 26, 2005—the day before Lee’s birthday and a day before Hong Kong’s statue dedication.

In the meantime, Bruce Lee fans in Hong Kong can check out the exhibition of photos and memorabilia organized by the Hong Kong-based Bruce Lee Club through July 28 at Innocentre, 72 Tat Chee Avenue, a few blocks away from Lee’s old home in Kowloon Tong.”

New Site to try out and vote on....

There is a new website to invite the public to vote for their Top 5 films (albums and books) in an evolving poll to find the Greatest Albums etc of all time – www.pollthepeople.com . The site was borne out of frustration at the number of TV and press polls based on very little research or the opinions of a few journalists. The site founded by Glenn Cooper previously the Head of Digital @ Island Records UK for 6 years who left his role to focus on this venture with his wife Kirsty Cooper who has over 10 years music marketing and PR experience.

They already have had over 3,700 people sign up and vote in the first month from over 100 different countries and we are already working on a TV show format and a “Poll The People top rated” retail sticker initiative. In addition they have had features in The Times and The Guardian as well as trade press so we have had a great start. The early visitors to the site have been very pop biased and it’s important to us that we reach out to fans of all great films and actors so the poll becomes truly definitive.

Drop by and vote for your favourite!

Bruce Lee's home sold to help quake victims

The former Hong Kong home of kung fu legend Bruce Lee is to be sold to raise money for China's earthquake relief effort, a news report said today.

The two-storey house in the city's exclusive Kowloon Tong residential district, where Lee spent his final years before his death in 1973, is expected to fetch around $US13 million ($A13.51 million).

Its owner is Yu Panglin who bought the house for $US108,000 ($A112,266.11) in the 1960s and was landlord to the star of Enter The Dragon and Fists Of Fury when Lee lived there with his wife Linda Lee-Cadwell.

Lee affectionately named the house Crane's Nest, and was living there when he died mysteriously at the peak of his stardom at the home of an actress friend in another part of Kowloon Tong. He was 32.

Until five years ago the house was used as a "love hotel" where couples rented rooms at hourly rates, much to the disappointment of Bruce Lee fan club members who wanted it turned into a museum and shrine to their hero.

Yu, an 86-year-old philanthropist, is selling the house along with four other Hong Kong properties to raise money towards victims of the devastating earthquake in Sichuan province, the South China Morning Post reported.

Hong Kong people have already donated over $HK1 billion ($A133.06 million)) towards the disaster relief effort with tycoon Li Ka-shing, the city's richest man, giving a solo donation of almost $US4 million ($A4.16 million).

Broadway awaits Bruce Lee musical....

History just might repeat itself.

Two decades ago, Cameron Mackintosh and company searched the world over for a girl who would play Kim in Miss Saigon, only to end up finding in the Philippines not just the Kim in the person of Lea Salonga but the other actors in the musical which turned out to be a megahit not just at the Royale Drury Lane in London’s West End where it opened in 1989 but in other parts of the world.

Don’t look now but a Filipino martial artist who sings just might bag the role in the Bruce Lee musical to be mounted in 2010.

"Who knows?," said Funfare’s Big Apple correspondent Edmund Silvestre (news editor of the New York-based The Filipino Reporter) who filed the following exclusive:

Asian actors in Broadway, Filipinos especially, are exhilarated over the recent announcement by Elephant Eye Theatrical of the staging of Bruce Lee: Journey to the West, a new musical slated for New York sometime during the 2010-11season.

It’s not often that Broadway produces musicals or plays that utilize many Asian talents. Most of the time, you’ll be lucky to find one or two Asians in the cast.

Musicals like Miss Saigon, South Pacific or Flower Drum Song that employ mostly Asian performers come once in a blue moon. That’s why the coming of the Bruce Lee musical will give Asian talents another chance to shine on stage.

And like in Miss Saigon and Flower Drum Song, Filipino actors "known for their generic Asian features and amazing singing and acting prowess" could also dominate the Bruce Lee cast. The likes of Paolo Montalban or Jose Llana may not land the title role but they can definitely grab a major role, ditto with the likes of Pinay Broadway stars Joan Almedilla, Rona Figueroa, Leila Florentino or maybe even Broadway royalty Lea Salonga.

There’s no casting yet for the role of Bruce Lee who died in 1973 at the age of 32, but it’s certain that the show will be directed by Bartlett Sher who is winning acclaim this season for his direction of the Lincoln Center Theatre revival of South Pacific.

Bruce Lee: Journey to the West will be based on the book by David Henry Hwang, author of M. Butterfly, and a score by David Yazbeck who wrote the music and lyrics for The Full Monty and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. The choreography will be by Dou Dou Huang, artistic director of the Shanghai Song and Dance Ensemble.

Besides martial arts, the musical will feature Chinese opera, pop music and more as it traces Lee’s journey to film stardom.

It is interesting to note that the search for Miss Saigon prompted producers to travel across the world to find their Kim, a Vietnamese young mother, only to find her in Manila in the person of Lea Salonga and her understudy, Monique Wilson, so it’s not impossible that this could happen again — you know, Filipino talents in Chinese roles. I’m sure a lot of Filipino and Asian actors in New York will audition. Of course, aside from having those abs and muscles and "Ramon Zamora" looks, the candidate must also know how to sing while doing the flying kick or fighting with his chako.

Bruce is generally considered to be the most famous martial artist of the last century. His physical dexterity and mastery of martial arts propelled him to cinematic fame. He starred in only five feature films but his impact on society is regarded as having sparked interest in Chinese martial arts in the US.

Bruce is the father of Jun Fan Gung Fu, a martial art he developed. Jun Fan Gung Fu means "Bruce Lee’s Way of the Intercepting Fist." Jun Fan Gung Fu heavily borrows from a myriad of martial arts styles and is meant to be a dynamic form allowing room for the student to adapt to their particular fighting style. This form of martial art is still being taught today.

While Bruce’s death is shrouded in controversy and conspiracy theories, his legacy is beyond dispute. Millions of fans have enjoyed his films, life and teachings. Bruce introduced the world to a new genre of action films and sparked widespread interest in martial arts among hundreds of thousands of young people.

Bruce Lee Foundation Poster magazine

The first ever Bruce Lee Foundation Poster magazine. Officially endorsed by Concord Moon LP, this has been created by David Tadman and Steve Kerridge and was unveiled at the SENI event. This is a limited edition of 1000.

Just order your copy at Tao Sport Ltd. in London, U.K. !



Price GB£4.99 plus postage from England, Europe.

Broadway musical about Bruce Lee

Planning is underway for a Broadway musical about the life of martial arts legend Bruce Lee.

Theatre production company Elephant Eye Theatrical announced that "Bruce Lee: Journey to the West " is targeted for the 2010-2011 Broadway season.

Theatre magazine Playbill says Bruce Lee will be directed by Bartlett Sher, who received a Tony Award nominee for South Pacific. The music and lyrics will be written by David Yazbe, who wrote the music for The Full Monty, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.

Elephant Eye said the musical will tell the story of "the martial arts legend's difficult road to success, as figures from Chinese mythology follow his quest and The Monkey King, a beloved warrior god, becomes his heavenly ally".

HONG KONG — News

HONG KONG — News reports say Bruce Lee's former home in Hong Kong is being sold to raise money for earthquake relief efforts in China.

The Souch China Morning Post reports philanthropist Yu Pang-lin plans to sell five residential properties in the Kowloon Tong district, including Lee's former home, with the proceeds going to quake relief.

The report says the plot has an estimated worth of US$13 million.

Yu was not immediately available for comment.

BRUCE LEE FOUNDATION NEWS JULY 18-20th

BRUCE LEE FOUNDATION NEWS
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON JULY 18 – 20, 2008

Hello Friends of the Bruce Lee Foundation!

We know you have been waiting for the info on the Seattle event. Well, here it is!

We are very excited to officially open registration for Seattle.

As you know, this summer marks the 35th anniversary for Enter the Dragon as well as the passing of Bruce Lee. We at the Bruce Lee Foundation have put together our most elaborate event yet to commemorate these important occasions.

Where: Seattle Art Museum and Lakeview Cemetery
When: July 18 – 20, 2008
What: Join us for Seminars, a 35th Anniversary Bruce Lee Exhibit, screenings of Enter the Dragon, the first ever JKD Instructor Summit, a Graveside Memorial and Celebration Banquet, an Exclusive Limited Entry Preview Night, and much, much more!

Registration Information:

To register for the event, contact Tammy at info@bruceleefoundation.org or send your name and contact info with your payment and which events you are registering for to:

Bruce Lee Foundation
Seattle 35th Anniversary Celebration
11693 San Vicente Blvd
Suite 918
Los Angeles, CA 90049

Mailed registrations will not be accepted after Monday, July 14, 2008.

Events and Pricing:

All events except the graveside memorial and the lunch on Sunday take place at the Seattle Museum of Art!!

Exclusive, Limited Entry Preview Night – Friday, July 18, 2008

An Exclusive First Look Tour of the Bruce Lee Exhibit with Linda and Shannon and other contributors.
A Private Screening of Enter the Dragon with Q &As and Bonus Footage.
Unveiling of the Plans for the Bruce Lee Museum

Wine and Appetizers
Special Guests

$125.00
Limit 100 participants

*Full schedule of activities not yet confirmed. Confirmed schedule to follow shortly.

Seminars and Demos Only – Friday, July 18, 2008 and Saturday, July 19, 2008

Both Friday and Saturday: $100.00 per participant
Friday Only: $40.00 per participant
Saturday Only: $80.00 per participant

*schedule and instructor / demonstrator list to follow shortly

Discounts available for groups of ten or more when purchasing both Friday and Saturday.

Screening of Enter the Dragon – Saturday Evening, July 19, 2008

$10.00 per ticket
Limit 250 seats

Graveside Memorial and Luncheon – Sunday, July 20, 2008

Graveside Memorial – FREE

Transportation from Seattle Art Museum to Lakeview Cemetery to Restaurant back to Cemetery $20.00 per person

Celebration Luncheon

Traditional Chinese lunch, special guests, speakers, raffle prizes and more

New Hong Kong Restaurant
900 S Jackson Street

$50.00 per person

Instructor Summit on Sunday morning - July 20, 2008

Community meeting with JKD Instructors to discuss the future of JKD, how to work together, licensing and other issues, and more

FREE

Bruce Lee Exhibit - Friday, July 18 – 20, 2008

Open to the Public

FREE

All Inclusive Package for All Events - July 18–20, 2008

Includes all seminars and demos, Saturday screening of Enter the Dragon, transportation to the memorial and luncheon, Celebration Luncheon, one raffle ticket, and a free tee shirt

*excludes Friday preview night

$160.00 per person

Specific seminar and events schedule and accommodations information to follow next week but don’t wait! Reserve your spot now! This promises to be a very special event and we hope you will join us!

Discounts available for groups of ten or more – or for any questions or concerns contact Tammy at info@bruceleefoundation.org

All profits go to support the Bruce Lee Foundation’s general operating budget and special programs and events. Thank you for your support!

In the spirit of Jeet Kune Do!

The Bruce Lee Foundation
www.bruceleefoundation.org

Bruce Lee goes digital in Japan

Asian media giant Star Group has sealed a distribution deal with Japanese online content provider Tsutaya Discas to distribute 20 movies from Star's Fortune Star library via the internet in Japan.

The titles include two of Bruce Lee’s kung-fu classics, Fist of Fury and Way of the Dragon,plus Jackie Chan’s Project A series and the popular A Chinese Ghost Story series.

From today, movie buffs in Japan will be able to watch their favourite Hong Kong classic movies online via Tsutaya Disca's download-to-rent and download-to-own services.

“This agreement marks the first time that our Fortune Star titles will be distributed online in Japan. We look forward to the opportunity of distributing our library to a wider audience globally," said Yvonne Chuang, VP of programme syndication and distribution at Star.

Yip Man Biopics 2009

With Tony Leung and Donnie Yen both portraying famous Wing Chun master Yip Man in upcoming biopics and the recent U.S. DVD release of Universe’s highly successful 2007 WING CHUN TV series starring Yuen Biao and Nicholas Tse, the fighting art that gave Bruce Lee his foundation is enjoying a resurgence of popularity.


Donnie Yen in a sneak peak at a promo shot for Wilson Yip’s biopic of Wing Chun Grandmaster YIP MAN, coming in 2009.

Of late, I have been furiously working my way through all 40 episodes of WING CHUN (YONG CHUN, 葉問傳) an excellent martial arts TV drama that premiered last summer. In it, kung fu actor Yuen Biao stars as Leung Jan, the sixth student in direct succession to Wing Chun’s founder, a Shaolin nun named Ng Man. For Yuen, it is a return to a role he first portrayed in Sammo Hung’s kung fu classic THE PRODIGAL SON (1981).

One of the series’ central themes is the slow evolution of conservative martial tradition in a rapidly changing world. Those familiar with the legendary history of Wing Chun know that it was once a closed art passed on to only a very few select students. In the TV series, the initial reasoning for this secrecy is that Ng Man, a survivor of the Manchu purge of China’s southern Shaolin Temple, feared that the Qing government might use the knowledge of confiscated Shaolin kung fu manuals against practitioners. Ng began to develop Wing Chun to counter other Shaolin techniques in the event that future generations might have to battle government forces trained in Shaolin kung fu. She passed this new art on to a female student, Yim Wing-chun, and it was further developed to counter the superior strength of male attackers, a more plausible explanation for its development.


Yuen Biao in WING CHUN (2007).

As Leung Jan, Yuen Biao is wary about who to name as his successor, in part because of his determination to follow tradition and have only one student as instructed by his teacher Wong Wah-bo (Sammo Hung). Yet all around him, China is undergoing great change. The Qing government has passed away and modernization is encroaching on old traditions. To give the story some added dramatic muscle, Jan is at odds with his son Bik (Nicholas Tse) and initially refuses to teach him for fear that the art will be misused, He instead takes on another student, Chan Wah-shun. In real life, Chan would eventually have a few more students, none more famous than Yip Man, the man who first taught the art openly and who has become the subject of Wilson Yip and Donnie Yen’s latest collaboration.

In YIP MAN, a production of Mandarin Films, Donnie Yen portrays the title character while Sammo Hung provides action direction and Yip Man’s son acts as consultant. Hung has been Wing Chun’s most famous advocate in the filmmaking arena ever since he set about directing a pair of Wing Chun films beginning with WARRIORS TWO in 1978 and ending with THE PRODIGAL SON. Although originally a student of Chinese opera, Hung was a huge fan of Bruce Lee and had become fascinated with Lee’s foundation in Wing Chun. Among Yip Man’s many students was Lee, who went on to defy Chinese kung fu traditions entirely and openly teach foreigners.


Donnie Yen and Sammo Hung

It is unusual these days for Yen to turn over action direction to someone else. Like cooks in the kitchen, action directors accustomed to calling the shots during action sequences do not always mix well. Such was the case for the shooting of DRUNKEN MASTER 2 when Lau Kar-leung walked off the production, according to rumor, after having a dispute with Jackie Chan over the finale. However, Hung and Yen apparently struck an amicable working relationship during the shooting of KILL ZONE (aka SPL) when Yen was in charge. As his work in THE PRODIGAL SON and the WING CHUN TV series show, it’s undeniable that Sammo is the right man for the job and Donnie’s performance will undoubtedly benefit from it.

Wilson Yip’s YIP MAN began production in March and is expected to wrap in June. Based on his previous work with Yen, it’s more than likely that his film will be more action-oriented than another Yip Man biopic still in development by filmmaker Wong Kar-wai. Tony Leung, a talented dramatic actor not known for fighting roles has long been attached to play the title role and reportedly has being undergoing Wing Chun training in preparation. In comparing the two films, Wong recently told Chinese media that his film would focus more on a dramatic love story, an element the filmmaker is quite familiar with.


Wing Chun Grandmaster Yip Man pictured with his most famous student Bruce Lee.

Not a whole lot is known about the real Yip Man in the West apart from his public life. He was born October 1st, 1893 in Foshan as Ki Man and began his training in Wing Chun at the age of 13, largely under the tutelage of Chan Wah-shun’s student Ng Chung-sok. After Chan’s death, he also trained under Leung Bik (played by Nicholas Tse in WING CHUN). He attended school in Hong Kong and later became a police officer in Foshan. While there, he informally taught co-workers, friends and relatives. During the Japanese occupation Yip was approached to train Japanese soldiers but refused. In 1949, Yip fled Communist China (no doubt a sensitive issue that both films will try to sidestep) and settled in Hong Kong where he opened his first martial arts school. It was during this time that a young Bruce Lee received three years of training under Yip. In 1967, he and several students established the Hong Kong Ving Tsun Athletic Association. Yip Man died in 1972 from throat cancer.

A report on Wilson Yip’s film at Wenweipo.com suggests that YIP MAN will be another international prestige picture, like FEARLESS, that promotes wushu, or Chinese martial arts and celebrates Chinese patriotism and pride. The timing is right considering the wave of nationalism that has been spreading worldwide in the wake of pro-Tibet protests that have appeared ahead of the Beijing Olympics.

Few martial arts movies have been made that prominently display Wing Chun kung fu. Yuen Wo-ping’s 1994 film WING CHUN, starring Michelle Yeoh, is a fun yet poor representation that favors stock wire-fu action. Chang Cheh and action director Lau Kar-leung added Wing Chun elements to SHAOLIN MARTIAL ARTS (1974) and SHAOLIN TEMPLE (1976). In the latter film, Ti Lung displays his real-life Wing Chun skills, something he would briefly do again years later in Daniel Lee’s STAR RUNNER (2003). Sammo Hung’s WARRIORS TWO and THE PRODIGAL SON were the first serious attempts to depict the real-life Wing Chun heroes and focus squarely on their fighting style.


Leung Kar-yan, Casanova Wong and Sammo Hung in WARRIORS TWO (1978)

In WARRIORS TWO, Leung Kar-yan portrays an elder Leung Jan and Casanova Wong is his pupil Chan Wah-shun, also known as Moneychanger (or Cashier) Wah. Sammo Hung plays another disciple of Jan named Fei Chun.

In revisiting the Wing Chun legend three years later, Hung created a prequel of sorts by casting his old opera schoolmate Yuen Biao as a younger Leung Jan learning Wing Chun for the first time from Leung Yee-tai (Lam Ying-ching), as well as Leung’s master Wong Wah-bo (Sammo Hung).

DESCENDENT OF WING CHUN (1978) was a lesser independent production starring Melvin Wong as Leung Jan and Norman Chu as his student Chan Wah-shun.

Yuen Biao eventually reprised the role of Leung Jan in two different TV series, REAL KUNG FU (2005) for TVB and WING CHUN (2007) for Universe.

In a recent blog on the same topic, Bey Logan mentions an abandoned Yip Man project that would have cast Donnie Yen as Bruce Lee and Stephen Chow as his master, Yip Man. Thankfully it never came to be. Lee was a child when he studied under Yip and although Chow has some Wing Chun training under his belt, I couldn’t see him in such a heavy roll. The focus on this part of Lee’s life would have been interesting but not with that casting.

As far as I know, Wilson Yip’s YIP MAN, scheduled for release in 2009, will be the first movie to detail the life of this Wing Chun master. If Wong Kai-wai’s version which Sammo Hung is rumored to be involved with also gets made, we could end up with an excellent contrasting perspective from two distinct Hong Kong directors on one of the greatest kung fu practitioners of the 20th century.

For further reading see:

Yip Man is no more a legend (Wu-Jing.org)
http://www.wu-jing.org/happenings/archives/369-Yip-Man-is-No-More-A-Legend;-Production-Begins-in-March.html

My Uncle Grandmaster Yip Man (Lo Man Kam Wing Chun)
http://www.lomankamwingchun.com/grandmaster-yip-man.html

The Wing Chun Connection: How Yim Man’s art adds impact to kung fu cinema (Bey Logan’s Blog)
http://www.dragondynasty.com/blog/show/82

Seni Show recap

WHEN students from Phoenix Karate Schools and the AMA section of East Coast Karate travelled to London on Sunday for the Seni 08 competition at the Excel, they did not realise how big the event was going to be.

Hundreds of competitors took part in many styles of martial arts over two days with thousands of people attending.

James Allan and Brittany Pipe were entered in the kata sections. James performed a respectable Chung Mu and took third place. Brittany, competing in only her second competition, missed out on a trophy by 0.1 of a point.

Competing in the kumite were James Allan, Dominic Cutter, Philippa Cutter, Frasier Thompson, Latia Suen, Hannah Wheeler-Smith, Charlotte Fisher, Lewis Saunders, Sigourney Nixon and Kallem Howard.

Dominic and Latia were knocked out in the quarter-finals of their individual sections, but teamed up with Frasier and Kallem to take third place in the mixed team event, losing to the eventual winners.

A magnificent day was topped when the wife and daughter of the late and great Bruce Lee arrived to sign autographs and meet the audience. Linda and Shannon Lee spent several hours signing autographs for the enormous crowd that queued patiently to see them.

Among the lucky ones to meet both Linda and Shannon was instructor Vivianne Trorey 2nd Dan who said: “It was a great honour, they are such wonderful people, and they signed a photograph for me and spoke of Bruce with affection.”

Seni Show steps up the pace.....

THIS YEAR marks the 35th anniversary of the death of legendary martial artist Bruce Lee.

But the memory of 'The Little Dragon' will burn brighter than ever at top combat sports exhibition Seni '08.

The world's leading martial arts expo will showcase a unique Bruce Lee Zone when the exhibition starts at London's Excel Arena on April 26.

It will feature the first Bruce Lee Museum as its centrepiece and personal appearances by some of the people closest to the great man - his widow Linda Lee Caldwell, his daughter Shannon and Richard Bustillo - a personal student of the martial arts great.

When ‘Enter the Dragon’ became a Hollywood blockbuster, the action film genre changed forever and that was largely down to the diminutive Chinese actor.

Despite being small in stature, Lee was big in attitude, and was able to spin, jump and kick his way through villains with lightning speed, balletic grace and an array of martial arts moves the like of which the West had never seen before.

Lee's ‘Gung-Fu’ style became a global phenomena and by the time ‘Enter the Dragon’ was released, he was already an iconic figure.

His untimely death at the age of 32 immortalised him in pop culture alongside such names as Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe and James Dean, and his art of Jeet Kune Do is taught in dojo’s and gyms across the World.

The Bruce Lee Museum will be at the heart of Seni '08 and will feature 35 unique items and 35 unique photos celebrating the life and times of the legendary ‘Little Dragon’

Alongside the museum there will be an hour long Q&A where the panel will be discussing all things Bruce Lee from his Jeet Kune Do, to his personal training regime, philosophy and of course his film career.

TAKY KIMURA THE SEATTLE YEARS COMING SOON...

A new book by Taky Kimura is in the offing by all accounts, should be worth waiting for.

Ebay goodies....

This is how you do it.....

The master of all master's......Bruce Lee.....

The Legend lives on.....

Bruce Lee - information and facts

Bruce Lee felt that many martial artists of his day did not spend enough time on physical conditioning. Bruce included all elements of total fitness, muscular strength, muscular endurance, cardiovascular endurance, and flexibility. He tried traditional bodybuilding techniques to build bulky muscles or mass. In his book The Tao of Jeet Kune Do, he wrote "Training is one of the most neglected phases of athletics. Too much time is given to the development of skill and too little to the development of the individual for participation." "JKD, ultimately is not a matter of petty techniques but of highly developed spirituality and physique".

The weight training program that Lee used during a stay in Hong Kong in 1965 at only 24 years old placed heavy emphasis on his arms. At that time he could perform bicep curls at a weight of 70 to 80 lbs for three sets of eight repetitions, along with other forms of exercises, such as squats, push-ups, reverse curls, concentration curls, French presses, and both wrist curls and reverse wrist curls. The repetitions he performed were 6 to 12 reps (at the time). While this method of training targeted his fast and slow twitch muscles, it later resulted in weight gain or muscle mass, placing Bruce a little over 165 lbs. Bruce Lee was documented as having well over 2,500 books in his own personal library, and eventually concluded that "A stronger muscle, is a bigger muscle". However, Bruce forever experimented with his training routines to maximize his physical abilities. He employed many different routines and exercises, which effectively served his training and bodybuilding purposes.

Lee believed that the abdominal muscles were one of the most important muscle groups for a martial artist, since virtually every movement requires some degree of abdominal work. Perhaps more importantly, the "abs" are like a shell, protecting the ribs and vital organs.
He trained from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., including stomach, flexibility, and running, and from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. he would weight train and cyce. A typical exercise for Lee would be to run a distance of two to six miles in 15 to 45 minutes, in which he would vary speed in 3-5 minute intervals. Lee would then ride his stationary bicycle for 30-45 minutes at full speed immediately after running. Next, Lee would do some skipping rope for 800 jumps non-stop.

Nutrition
According to Linda Lee, soon after he moved to the United States, Bruce Lee started to take nutrition seriously and developed an interest in health foods, high-protein drinks and vitamin and mineral supplements. Bruce later realized that in order to achieve a high-performance body, you could not fuel it with a diet of junk food. With the wrong fuel, your body's performance would become sluggish or sloppy. Lee's diet included protein drinks; he always tried to consume one or two daily.

Linda recalls Bruce's waist fluctuated between 26 and 28 inches. "He also drank his own juice concoctions made from vegetables and fruits, apples, celery, carrots and so on, prepared in an electric blender". He consumed large amount of green vegetables, fruits, and fresh milk everyday. Bruce always preferred to eat Chinese or other Asian food because he loved the variety that it had.


Philosophy
Although Bruce Lee is best known as a martial artist and actor, Lee majored in philosophy at the University of Washington. Lee's books on martial arts and fighting philosophy are well-known both for their philosophical assertions both inside and outside of martial arts circles. His philosophy often mirrored his fighting beliefs, though he was quick to claim that his martial arts were solely a metaphor for such teachings. His influences include Taoism and Buddhism.
The following are some of Bruce Lee's quotes that reflect his fighting

philosophy.
"If I tell you I'm good, you would probably think I'm boasting. If I tell you I'm no good, you know I'm lying."

"Fighting is not something sought after, yet it is something that seeks you."

"Be formless... shapeless, like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle; it becomes the bottle. You put it into a teapot; it becomes the teapot. Water can flow, and it can crash. Be like water, my friend..."

"Use only that which works, and take it from any place you can find it."

"The more relaxed the muscles are, the more energy can flow through the body. Using muscular tensions to try to 'do' the punch or attempting to use brute force to knock someone over will only work to opposite effect."

"Mere technical knowledge is only the beginning of Kung Fu. To master it, one must enter into the spirit of it."

"There are lots of guys around the world that are lazy. They have big fat guts. They talk about chi power and things they can do, but don't believe it."

"I'm not a master. I'm a student-master, meaning that I have the knowledge of a master and the expertise of a master, but I'm still learning. So I'm a student-master. I don't believe in the word 'master.' I consider the master as such when they close the casket."

"Do not deny the classical approach, simply as a reaction, or you will have created another pattern and trapped yourself there."

"Jeet Kune Do: it's just a name; don't fuss over it. There's no such thing as a style if you understand the roots of combat."

"Unfortunately, now in boxing people are only allowed to punch. In Judo, people are only allowed to throw. I do not despise these kinds of martial arts. What I mean is, we now find rigid forms which create differences among clans, and the world of martial art is shattered as a result."

"I think the high state of martial art, in application, must have no absolute form. And, to tackle pattern A with pattern B may not be absolutely correct."

"True observation begins when one is devoid of set patterns."

"The other weakness is, when clans are formed, the people of a clan will hold their kind of martial art as the only truth and do not dare to reform or improve it. Thus they are confined in their own tiny little world. Their students become machines which imitate martial art forms."

"Some people are tall; some are short. Some are stout; some are slim. There are various different kinds of people. If all of them learn the same martial art form, then who does it fit?"

"Ultimately, martial art means honestly expressing yourself. It is easy for me to put on a show and be cocky so I can show you some really fancy movement. But to express oneself honestly, not lying to oneself, and to express myself honestly enough; that my friend is very hard to do."

"Using no way as way; Having no limitation as limitation."


Death by "misadventure"

On July 20, 1973, Lee was in Hong Kong, due to have dinner with former James Bond star George Lazenby, with whom he intended to make a film. According to Lee's wife Linda, Lee met producer Raymond Chow at 2 p.m. at home to discuss the making of the movie Game of Death. They worked until 4 p.m. and then drove together to the home of Lee's colleague Betty Ting Pei, a Taiwanese actress who was to have a leading role in the film. The three went over the script at her home, and then Chow left to attend a dinner meeting.

A short time later, Lee complained of a headache, and Ting Pei gave him an analgesic. At around 7:30 p.m., he laid down for a nap. After Lee did not turn up for dinner, Chow came to the apartment but could not wake Lee up. A doctor was summoned, who spent ten minutes attempting to revive him before sending him by ambulance to Queen Elizabeth Hospital. However, Lee was dead by the time he reached the hospital. There was no visible external injury; however, his brain had swollen considerably, from 1,400 to 1,575 grams (a 13% increase). Lee was thirty-two years old. On October 15, 2005, Chow stated in an interview that Lee was allergic to Equagesic. When the doctors announced Bruce Lee's death officially, it was coined as "Death by Misadventure."
Another theory is that he died from an allergic reaction to marijuana, which he was consuming at the time in hashish form.This is controversial, but it is confirmed that the coroner did find traces of the substance during his autopsy.
However, the exact details of Lee's death are controversial. Bruce Lee's iconic status and unusual death at a young age led many people to develop many theories about his death. Such theories about his death included murder involving the triads, a curse on Lee and his family, etc. The theory of the curse carried over to Lee's son Brandon Lee, also an actor, who died 20 years after his father in a bizarre accident while filming The Crow.