The Passion of the Fist

Trend (trend): a common direction of movement. A course set into action.

Many Americans seem to thrive on the latest trends.

This may mainly be because our society consists of so many followers and so few good leaders.

Perhaps a majority of the population lacks the creativity to set a precedence and is resigned to follow common trends by example instead of attempting to lead the way in a new direction?

There seems to be an infinite amount of appealing but often disposable types of trends popping into public awareness or fanaticism on a weekly basis.

A select group commonly known as trendsetters seems to create a large amount of them.

These trendsetters may sometimes be referred to as true pioneers when their foresight and efforts are able to effect actual change.

Positive changes that enhance aspects in specific areas of interest may soon become the norm. When widespread change becomes so acceptable it often becomes a common trend.

One of the first such trend in martial arts to gain some stateside public interest occurred shortly after WWII when Judo was introduced to American soldiers from Japan.

Judo eventually became a popular form of self-defense and sport in the 1950’s in the USA.

This soon cascaded into the western world’s awareness of Karate, Chinese Kung Fu and other previously unknown eastern arts throughout the 1960’s & 70’s.

Each recognized as becoming somewhat of a trend in it’s own right over time.

Korean Tae Kwon Do became a very marketable trend in the late 1980’s shortly after it officially became an Olympic sport. Soon there seemed to be a TKD Dojang on almost every street corner!

Even Tae Bo turned into an enormously successful martial arts exercise trend during the mid 1990’s and continues to be popular to this day.

Televised Kickboxing, UFC events and the study of ground fighting have also become martial arts trends in America within the last decade.

One of the downfalls is that a trend may eventually stagnate further evolution and stifle a certain amount of individual creativity. However, without trends we would have no way of knowing this!

At the start of all such popular trends there has to be a particular catalyst to set in motion a desired move-ment towards change into public awareness, which sets a new precedence.

Catalyst (kat’l-ist) One that precipitates a process or event that leads to changes.

Bruce Lee was a major catalyst!

I can think of no one who effected more widespread change in the public’s definition of martial arts than he did throughout the 1970’s.

Most Americans knew nothing about martial arts before discovering Bruce Lee. He is the original martial arts icon.

Through his groundbreaking films, books & examples, his legacy seems to have single-handedly changed the entire world’s perspective on martial arts! Bruce Lee was a true pioneer.

His amazing abilities and fantastic on-screen charisma still astounds martial arts enthusiasts all around the world to this day!

Although we’ve seen many great artists in the last few decades, there has been no greater catalyst to have effected so much change in martial arts ever since.

After Bruce suddenly passed away in 1973 at the young age of 32, there have been many others who have tried with some success.

American Chuck Norris, a former student of Bruce’s, soon began filming a long string of martial arts flicks that met with moderate success in the late 1970’s. None had the impact of a Lee film.

Norris did later find a hit with his “Missing in Action” films in the 1980’s and later with his very popular television series, “Walker-Texas Ranger".

Actor David Carradine helped make the “Kung Fu” television series a success in the 1970’s even though he had no real prior martial arts experience. Carradine played a fugitive Shaolin Temple priest in search of his brother in America. This choice role was originally designed for Bruce Lee.

During the 1980’s there seemed to be a bit of a lull when it comes to pioneering martial arts films. It seemed the well of originality was running dry until a new trend of action filmmaking began.

Artists like Jean Claude Van Damme and Steven Seagal then appeared to make a mark on the genre. They seemed to dominate the American martial arts film industry until the early 1990’s.

It was then that the next successful Asian actor became a martial arts film hero in the United States.

When Newline Cinema released Hong Kong action superstar Jackie Chan’s “Rumble in the Bronx” in the United States it became a hit!

It was soon followed by a fairly successful series of newly redubbed & edited Chan releases being geared specifically to introduce his style of martial arts film making to American audiences.

Finding delight in his infectious charm & irresistible humor, Chan has since made dozens of high profile action movies, which have propelled him into American consciousness.

Around the world Jackie Chan is arguably the most successful action film superstar of all time. A true catalyst that has changed the way martial arts movies are filmed forever!

Transcend (tran-send): To rise above & surpass. To exist above normal human limits.

While there have been several noteworthy action film stars and an even greater number of highly capable individuals to emerge on the scene in the last few decades, none have so effectively changed the American publics view towards martial arts with as much impact as Bruce Lee.

Lee was a unique individual who, through extreme hard work and an unmatched devotion to his own personal goals, was somehow able to force himself to transcend beyond the normal physical & mental limits of most human beings.

As a pioneer of self-defense & key proponent of overall fitness awareness, his ingenuity has forever changed the way most practitioners approach martial arts training.

His lasting film work will continue to inspire new generations of up & coming martial artists as well as action film fans all around the world.

Only the rarest of personalities and talents are ever able to reach out and affect so many people on a worldwide basis in such a short amount of time. Such success stories are usually reserved for the most unique type of individuals.

Bruce Lee was such an individual.

Evolution (ev-e-loo’shen): a gradual process, which leads to, changes.

There have been many changes in the perception of martial arts in America & the rest of the world since the late Bruce Lee emerged on to the scene during the 1960’s & 70’s.

Those few individuals who were fortunate enough to have known him personally or train directly under him may agree that Bruce would have been delighted to see how his enormous contribution to the martial arts have continued to evolve & be developed throughout the years.

It would be safe to say that Lee was indeed the primary catalyst when it comes to promoting a then mostly unknown eastern art form & unique personal philosophy. He might be relieved to know that all his efforts have had a lasting impact on all who’ve attempted to follow his lead.

With the modern world of today able to communicate internationally & share personal knowledge or experiences in mere moments via the Internet, the evolutionary learning process has accelerated martial arts training information beyond previous boundaries.

As the evolution of martial arts continues, no one knows where it will eventually lead?

Who knows…one day we may even be able to take private lessons with a virtual Bruce Lee!

IT’S UP TO US TO KEEP THE PASSION GROWING!