🥋🔥 Bruce Lee — The Martial Artist I See Myself In 🔥🥋

People often ask me who inspires my martial arts philosophy.

Who pushed me to think differently.

Who gave me the courage to build my own system instead of staying trapped in tradition.

The answer is simple:

Bruce Lee.

Not because he was perfect.

Not because he was unbeatable.

But because, in so many ways,

I see myself in him.

The way he thought.

The way he questioned tradition.

The way he refused to accept “because that’s how it’s always been done.”

The way he innovated at an age where others told him he was “too young.”

His philosophy mirrors my own journey — almost exactly.

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🔥 1. His views on tradition match how I think

Bruce Lee openly criticised traditional martial arts when they became rigid, repetitive, and unrealistic.

He said:

• styles become prisons

• techniques become dead if not adapted

• fixed systems limit growth

• real combat is fluid, not choreographed

That’s the exact reason I built Jissenkō Ryū.

Not to disrespect Wado.

Not to disrespect tradition.

But to evolve it — the same way Bruce evolved Wing Chun into Jeet Kune Do.

He believed principles matter more than patterns.

So do I.

He believed kata without understanding is meaningless.

So do I.

He believed martial arts must adapt to the modern world.

So do I.

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🔥 2. His innovation started young — just like mine

Bruce Lee was in his early 20s when he:

• broke away from the system he grew up in

• developed his own philosophy

• restructured techniques

• challenged older instructors

• taught people twice his age

• created a completely new way of thinking

He was criticised brutally for it.

He was told:

“You’re too young.”

“You haven’t earned the right.”

“You should stay in your lane.”

“You’re disrespecting tradition.”

The exact same things I’m hearing now.

And just like him, I’m not doing this for ego.

I’m doing it because martial arts must grow.

Because self-defence today is not the same as self-defence in 1930.

Because violence has changed — and Karate MUST change with it.

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🔥 3. His mentality mirrors mine almost perfectly

Bruce Lee believed:

🔥 training should be realistic

🔥 systems should evolve

🔥 individuality matters

🔥 pressure testing is essential

🔥 outdated rules hold people back

🔥 martial arts should serve the practitioner, not trap them

When I read his writings, I feel like he’s speaking my thoughts out loud.

It’s the same mindset behind:

• my pressure drills

• my normal-clothes self-defence hour

• Court of Conflict

• March of the Dan

• my criminology and psychology focus

• the clay lesson philosophy

• adaptive kata and personal bunkai

• my Dan rank logic

• my belief that skill > time served

I didn’t copy him.

I discovered these truths myself through experience, training, research, and reality.

But when I learned about his philosophy, I realised we arrived at the same conclusion.

And that’s why I see myself in him.

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🔥 4. He was attacked for breaking the rules — just like I am

Bruce Lee wasn’t criticised because he was wrong.

He was criticised because he was DIFFERENT.

Tradition hates evolution.

Comfort hates innovation.

People cling to the past because they fear change.

Bruce Lee stepped outside the “allowed box” — and critics had a meltdown.

Today, those same critics worship him.

Now it’s my turn to stand in that same storm.

I’ve had people say:

“You’re too young to be a founder.”

“You shouldn’t be 6th Dan at 21.”

“You’re breaking tradition.”

“You’re changing too much.”

“You’re moving too fast.”

They said the exact same things to Bruce Lee.

And just like him, I’m not doing this to please anyone.

I’m doing it because it’s RIGHT.

Because martial arts must evolve.

Because time served does not equal skill.

Because rank should represent ability, knowledge, and contribution.

Because adults don’t need manufactured waiting periods to “learn patience.”

Because self-defence today requires modern thinking — not blind repetition from 70 years ago.

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🥋💜 Bruce Lee didn’t just inspire me — he reflected me.

The way he thought.

The way he questioned.

The way he innovated young.

The way he upset the traditionalists.

The way he prioritised truth over tradition.

The way he believed individuality creates better fighters.

The way he broke the mould the world tried to trap him in.

I see myself in all of that.

Not because I’m claiming to be Bruce Lee — I’m not.

But because I’m walking a similar path:

🔥 creating a new system

🔥 challenging old limitations

🔥 evolving techniques

🔥 integrating modern knowledge

🔥 building something honest

🔥 refusing to be boxed in

People judged Bruce when he was alive.

Then they called him a legend when he was gone.

If he was here today, he would understand exactly why I founded Jissenkō Ryū — because he did the same thing.

And that is why he will always be my greatest inspiration.

— Sensei Liam Musiak 🥋🔥