History of Bruce Lee
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Now read 'Who are the Bruce & Brandon Lee Association?'....
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| Through his work in the medium of film alone, Bruce Lee had
a phenomenal impact on Eastern and Western culture. He revolutionized the Hong Kong film
industry and his dynamic screen presence established a Western interest in the martial
arts/action film genre. His films spearheaded the chop socky boom of the 70's, raising
public awareness, acceptance and interest in the practice of martial arts. Consumer
interest was so high It launched a new generation of martial art publications, training
equipment, retail outlets and martial arts schools. Public interest in and demand for
Bruce Lee's kung fu films has ensured their constant presence, from their original
theatrical release, re- release and television broadcast, to their availability In a
continually growing number of popular consumer formats, from Super 8mm, video, laser discs
and beyond. Twenty years on, Bruce Lee hasn't been forgotten, he is still recognized
worldwide as the star of Enter the Dragon. There is however a more profound side to Bruce
Lee, a side often overshadowed by his achievements on film, but nonetheless worthy of
acknowledgement and perpetuation. Not only an actor but also an accomplished martial
artist, Bruce Lee was able to bring to the silver screen the mental, spiritual, emotional
and physical intensity he'd cultivated in the practice of his art. When given free rein or
when taking control (in writing, producing, directing, choreographing and performing), he
was able to imbue the characters he portrayed with a credible and incredible degree of
passion, Purpose, Poetic potency, w insight and integrity. On run screen he appeared
invincible, indestructible. Circumstances? Hell, he made the circumstances. To an impressionable and perhaps escapist audience seeking sanctuary in the cinema, his performance was captivating, exhilarating, inspirational and liberating. Travelling Eastward from Hong Kong and America it didn't take long for Britain to catch Bruce Lee fever. By 1974, following the release of Enter the Dragon, Britain led the way, having established an officially sanctioned fan club and its own Bruce Lee magazine - Kung Fu Monthly. Non-commercial in nature the first fan club was run on a voluntary basis by Rhona McVay and a group of friends, who despite an overwhelming workload managed to organise memorial services for the fans in London, and produce three issues of its own fanzine. A fan club highlight was in February 1975 when the club liaison with Linda Lee's U.K. publisher (star books) to organize a book signing and meeting with the fans. Linda Lee's visit was covered by national television and the national and martial arts press. By 1976, having met with unprecedented success, Kung Fu Monthly had become a national and international rallying point for Lee aficionados across the globe. Unfortunately the official fan club had not fared so well and was forced to announce its imminent closure (in Issue 15 of KFM". Stepping into the breech Pam Hadden took the fan club reins and under the auspices of KFM launched the Bruce Lee (secret) Society. Under her leadership and with her tenacious raring commitment to the society members, Bruce Lee fandom entered a Golden Age. By 1977 the society had a 1,000 plus membership, 1978 saw the release of Game Of Death and May 1979 saw Britain's first Bruce Lee convention (organized by Pam and KFM. Inspired by, and hot on the heels of the May convention, came S.I.P's September convention. Nineteen-eighty saw S.I.P outshine its mentor with its June 14th convention whose guests Included Grace Lee, Robert Lee, Dan Inosanto and Norman Borine (World of Bruce Lee). 1981 saw the end of the convention era and the launch of Giko's Bruce Lee Collectors Club. All good things come to an end, and KFM's Bruce Lee Society ended with issue 30 in December 1983, this was shortly followed in 1984 with the end of KFM. Several members of the Bruce Lee Society and contributors to KFM did not give up their interest, and managed to find other outlets. A.J.S. met with Pam Hadden to discuss the Society and effectively managed it with Giko's Bruce Lee Collectors Club. The mid- eighties onward became the 'JKD Clan' seminar era. G.R.went on to photograph and publicise the growing number of clan seminars, KFM cub reporter B.L would go on to become editor of Combat magazine, later moving on to lmpact magazine. In 1987 having re-met A.J.S at one of Dan Inosanto's seminars In London. A.J.S and G.R along with web site author, W.J would transform the BLCC Newsletter (which ran to 24 issues) into BLAM (The Bruce Association Magazine). |
The Bruce and Brandon Lee Association Is a voluntary
organization, run by three male coordinators with one unifying bond, the promotion and
continuation of the legacy of Bruce Lee. The three-man team, A.J.S, G.R. and W.J, each
offer the association his own unique blend of expertise, giving the trinity a firm
foundation from which to launch the various projects. All three began their interest in
Bruce Lee in the early 70's, giving a combined total of over sixty years experience. A.J.S
serves as the main point of contact for the Association and is the voice to the public,
and for any other organizations or companies that may need to contact the association. In the late 1970's and early 1980's A.J.S made a series of trips to locations around the world, each with a particular connection to Bruce Lee; these were Rome, Seattle, Hong Kong, and Los Angeles. The insights A.J.S. gained from meeting friends of Bruce Lee in the environment, in which they lived and worked with him, have helped to focus and maintain A.J.S.'s commitment throughout the intervening ears. A.J.S. accepted the mantle of the Bruce Lee Society from the late Pamela Hadden in the mid 1980's. Hoping to maintain Bruce Lee's legacy in the public eye with the 'Bruce Lee Collectors Club', which emerged from the 'ashes' of the 'Bruce Lee Society', a pre cursor of the present association. Pamela Hadden was a lady who truly believed in the value of the Bruce Lee legacy. She cared deeply for his fans, and was much loved and is greatly missed. Her courage has proved a tremendous inspiration to A.J.S., G.R.,and W.J.The seminars and conventions (where AJS, met GR and WJ in 1979) served as a 'rallying' point for people of like minds, interested in preserving and celebrating Bruce Lee!s legacy. Despite the 'lean' budgets that constrain the association, they have hosted five successful conventions/seminars, located In Leeds and Bradford, West Yorkshire. The association flew in from the United States students from Bruce Lee's Los Angeles Chinatown school, Ted Wong In 1993, and Dan Lee in 1995. Second team member, G.R. made a series of trips to Los Angeles in the early 1980's. GR met with many of the 'first' and 'second' generation students, who were active at that time. GR has a burgeoning interest in photography and is the association's official photographer. With nine out of every ten pictures of JKD clan members, that appear in magazines in the U.K. Originating from GR's camera. He may be found at seminars and conventions that deal with Bruce Lee, Brandon Lee or JKD. GR is the association's researcher/ historian and in-house expert of Bruce Lee's philosophy, this profile often leaves him the unsung hero of the team. Final team member is W.J. the association journalist, and Bruce Lee researcher/historian and main interviewer. He is co-organiser of the conven tions, editing and compiling the agendas. His access to an almost unequalled archive of Bruce and Brandon Lee research material, provided in part by the association, enables him to filter the tidal wave of information that emerges on Bruce Lee annually. This archive allows the association to produce material that's balanced and unbiased, yet unfettered by commercial constraints, while remaining both interesting and factual without being sensational or exploitative. W.J began writing material about Bruce Lee for the American fan magazine Fangraphic, in the early 1970s. His friendship with the late Pamela Hadden of the Bruce Lee Society led him to meet Kung Fu Monthly magazine editor Bruce Sawford. "AKA" - Jenny Lee. Sawford granted W.J his own titled Bruce Lee around The World. Following W.J's departure from KFM in the early 1980s none other than impact editor B.L, began a successful career by taking over his column. The association has made many achievements, but paramount among these is the sheer volumes of work which GR and WJ have produced, concerning Bruce and Brandon Lee. The lmpact Special concerning The Crow, was included as a 'LOT' item at a 1995 Superior Galleries auction in the United States, proving the popularity of the association's output around the globe. No other association or publication on the planet, is believed to have provided such comprehensive coverage of the career of Brandon Lee. Uniquely the association presented the world's only (in 1995) Brandon Lee film festival, at Pictureville, part of the celebrated'Museum of Cinema and Television'in Bradford, England. In the summer of 1992, AJS was the prime mover in arranging and co- interviewing the various celebrities involved in the Bruce Lee - Martial Arts Master video documentary project, GR researched much of the information while WJ was responsible for providing script and other post-production assistance. However without AJS's sheer determination and organizational liaison skills, it is unlikely the project would have been quite as successful for all concerned. Often projects of that caliber, coupled with the various supplements produced by the association have been guilty of 'spreading the team thin'. The association pledges (despite full time jobs and family commitments) from this point to produce regular newsletters. Fresh Information regarding these can be found every month in Martial Arts Illustrated. The association intends to launch several exciting projects in the coming months. They are keen to promote the career of Shannon Lee Keasler, daughter of Bruce Lee. They hope the quality and integrity of their contribution to the continuation of the Lee legacy will gain acceptance amongst those closest to that legacy, who may be unaware of the association's endeavours on their behalf. Throughout the last nine years, the team has endeavoured sometimes with, and sometime without, 'prevailing wind and tide', to keep the faith. Thus fulfilling a promise the association made to Brandon Lee in October 1992, to share the legacy of his father Bruce Lee, and give something back to his fans. The team, in its position as the primary source of information regarding Bruce and Brandon Lee In the United Kingdom, has enjoyed the very fortunate pleasure of meeting and often interviewing many of Bruce Lee's family and friends. They would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of them for their gracious attention. Following no particular order they are... Bruce Lee's family members... Linda Lee Cadwell, Brandon Lee, Shannon Lee Keasler, Gracie Oi Yue Lee, Robert Lee First and Second Generation JKD students... Taky Kimura, Daniel Inosanto, Richard Bustillo, Larry Hartsell, Jeey Poteet, Daniel Lee, Ted Wong, Bob Bremmer, Herb Jackson, Roy Hollingsworth, Tim Tackett, Chris Sato, Chris Kent, Cassimore Magda, Ted Lucay Lucay, Del Pollard. Bruce Lee's School teacher... Brother Henry Bruce Lee's acting colleagues/friends.. James Coburn, Jackie Chan, John Saxon, Bob Baker, Jim Kelly, Bolo Yueng, Paul Heller, Gene Le Bell, Van Williams, Wanda Wagner, Ted Thomas, Jon T. Benn, Russell Cawthorne, Anders Nelson, Barbra Anderson, Joel Rogosin, Peter Mark Richard. |