The Many Talents of Bruce Lee

An actor, screenwriter, philosopher, martial arts instructor, film producer, film director, and founder of the Jeet Kune Do martial arts, that was Bruce lee. He was one of the most prominent figures of martial arts of the 20^th century. Lee died due to cerebral edema, an excess accretion of water of the brain. After his death, he became an icon to martial arts and left a legacy.

As a martial artist, Lee developed a new type of kung-fu called Jeet Kune Do. It is a mixture of different martial art styles; straight, clear-cut, non traditional movements. It is an open hand scheme. Jeet Kune Do is referred “a style without a style” and is unlike traditional martial arts. It does not have a scheme or pattern.

Before Lee’s death he shot several movies, wrote books and even received awards and honors. The Big Boss or Fists of Fury was Lee’s first big film. He played the role of Cheng Chao-an, a skilled martial artist but also naïve. Initially the role of Chen Chao-an was supposed to be James Tien’s. However, Lee’s powerful performance had overshadowed Tien. The success of the film had paved a way for Lee to become a huge star across Asia.

One example of Lee’s published books is Chinese Gung-Fu: The Philosophical Art of Self Defense. This was Lee’s first major book which described his philosophy on martial arts and his perspectives. It also describes Lee’s style of gung-fu.

After Lee’s death, another book of his was published, called Tao Jeet Kune Do. It was a book that tackled Lee’s philosophy on martial arts and his opinions. It was a compilation of notes Lee wrote after he injured his back and left him inactive for six months. This was the “core writings” that developed into the text of Tao of Jeet Kune Do

Lee was named one of the 100 Most Influential People of the Century by TIME Magazine. He was one of the greatest idols and icons during the 20^th century for demonstrating personal improvement and physical fitness. One amazing feats of his was catching grains of rice in mid-air with just a pair of chopsticks.

Bruce Lee had a huge impact in Hong Kong that a statue of him was built at the Avenue of Stars, Hong Kong.

On the year 1973, Lee’s cerebral edema kicked in. On the tenth of May, Lee collapsed. He suffered from spasms and headaches. After rushing him to the hospital, doctors diagnosed him with cerebral edema. They reduced the swelling with mannitol, an organic compound used as an osmotic diuretic agent. 

On the twentieth of June 1973, Lee complained about his headache. He was given Equagesic, a pain killer. He, then, went to lie down for a short nap. When he did not show up for dinner Raymond Chow, a producer, went to Lee’s apartment but could not wake up the actor.

The autopsy reports claimed that his brain had considerably swollen due to cerebral edema. The size of his brain had a 13% increase.