Bruce Lee: Letters of the Dragon. Bruce Lee
of the Jun Fan Gung Fu Institute is the symbol of Yin and Yang in which the Yin & Yang (black [passive] & white [active]) are two interlocking halves of one WHOLE, each containing within its confines the qualities of its complementaries (not opposite!). Instead of [being] mutually exclusive, they are mutually dependent and are a function each of the other.
When I say “the heat makes me perspire,” the heat and perspiring are just “one” process as they are co-existent and one could not exist but for the other. Just as an object needs a subject, the person in attack is not taking an independent position but is acting as an assistant. After all, you need your opponent to complete the other half of a whole.
Thus gentleness/firmness is one inseparable force of one unceasing interplay of movement. If a person riding a bicycle wishes to go somewhere, he cannot pump on both the pedals at the same time or not pump on them at all. In order to move forward he has to pump on one pedal and release the other. So the movement of going forward requires this “oneness” of pumping and releasing, and vice versa, each being the cause of the other.
This “oneness” is just a basic idea in the symbol. Then there is moderation without going to either extreme, the wonder of the ordinary....In general, however, the idea is that—if gung fu is extraordinary, it is because of the fact that it is nothing at all special—it is simply the direct expression of one’s feeling with the minimum of lines and energy. The closer to the true Way, the less wastage of expression there is.
Please pardon my incoherence and poor penmanship.
Bruce Lee
To William Cheung, Hughes, A.C.T., Australia3
Posted from Oakland, California, on October 30, 1964, at 9:00 PM
October 30, 1964
Dear William,
Our correspondence has always been like this: a mountain stream—it meets and parts. Anyway, I’m writing again after not too long an absence, considering the previous length of time.
It has been a year since I’m back from Hong Kong,4 and as you have noticed on this letter cover that I’ve moved from Seattle to Oakland, California. It has been a few months now that I’m here and things are coming along pretty good. At the present time, I’m taking courses from the University of California. By the way, I’ll be getting a degree in philosophy.
Actually how are you getting along? I’ve met a few fellows while I was back in Hong Kong and according to the different reports I’ve heard I really don’t know what to think. Also, I saw the twin brothers (one of them) while walking along the Hong Kong street. Are they back to Australia? I heard they are rather obnoxious. Hawkins Cheung is in Hong Kong now.
Nowadays I indulge myself in reading and gung fu practice. I’m staying with a fellow who is also a nut in the Chinese art (this guy is really practicing—he can break a bottom brick without breaking the first one),5 and together we practice two hours a day.
We have a nice gym built in the garage and my wooden dummy is set up. My partner has also built two other different dummies that prove to be of much use to Wing Chun form and method. We are in the process of completing some protective equipment for actual sparring without pulling punches.
Hope to hear from you soon,
Bruce
To William Cheung, Hughes, A.C.T., Australia
Posted from Oakland, California, on November 22, 1964, at 9:00 AM
Nov. 21, 1964
Dear William,
Your letter is kind of stressing doubt on our friendship. I don’t wish to write to have you think that I’m writing for Gung Fu information—I’m writing merely because I want to write to you. Please do not stress on the need (as you mentioned in your letter) on my part for your opinion. Of course you helped me while we were in Hong Kong and I’m grateful, but please write to me as a friend, not as one who has all the answers, which I’m sure no one has. These are facts I’m putting down and am not trying to be disagreeable.
Things are getting pretty good here in Calif. and if I have not told you that I’m married, well, I am—she is a real nice girl and is a straight ‘A’. student. We have been married for a year something now. In fact, we are going to have a baby soon.
Just as an object needs a subject, the person in attack is not taking an independent position but is acting as an assistant. ... You need your opponent to complete the other half of a whole. . . . Thus gentleness/firmness is one inseparable force of one unceasing interplay of movement.
The book you read is a basic book I’ve written somewhere in 19636 and I’m in the process of completing a much [more] thorough book on the Tao of Gung Fu.7 It will be the size of Nishiyama’s book [Karate: The Art of Empty Hand] if you’ve seen it. This book will contain my insight during these past five years, I’ve worked hard for it.
My wife and I are planning to take a trip to Hong Kong next year, that is if I can make it. It will be nice if you can go too. I bet it would be difficult to get off a government job for a few months. If you can make it over to the States do let me know ahead of time, I’m sure we can put you up in my house.
Truly yours,
Bruce
1965
To Taky Kimura
The following announcement card was posted on February 1, 1965, the day that Brandon Bruce Lee was born.
February 1, 1965
Our Baby’s here.
Name: Brandon B. Lee
Date: Feb. 1, 1965
Weight: Eight lbs., eleven oz.
Parents: Mr. & Mrs. Bruce Lee
A big healthy boy of course!
Brandon Bruce Lee—July 1965
To Taky Kimura
February 1965
Taky,
When I mailed my letter today, I received your letter. Thank you for the income tax form and what not. You know, if you were a Chinaman I would think you are trying to be funny by ending the letter, “Your See Hing” [Your Senior], Taky. . . .8
Well, I guess I wouldn’t be in Life magazine yet because they want to concentrate first on “Batman.” You better take damn good care of yourself and don’t move too much yet, and let Chris take care of the class. You have to push... to help push gung fu in Seattle.
[The martial artist you mentioned] is no sweat as he doesn’t even understand what is rhythm (timing) & distance, which is the core of all martial art. Of course simplicity is a necessary component, too. When he does open the class, I do not think he will be a threat as I know you have better basic requirements, though he is “blown up” with so-called muscles, [they are] not efficient ones, unfortunately.
I’ll see to it that the dummy will be on the way, even if I have to send it myself. I didn’t give that demonstration on the 20th of this month because I am not in the mood for it—I might help Ralph Castro on his World Tournament this coming 6th of March.
I have stopped training for two weeks now and will resume again when I’m back in Hong Kong. On this trip I’ll pick up more flowery [gung fu] forms and what not for the TV show—the viewers like fancy stuff anyway.
The first chance I have I’ll film the Wing Chun 3 Forms9 and tai-chi and whatever I feel that will be helpful and beneficial to you. It will be in 8 mm.
My mind is made up to start a system of my own—I mean a system of totality, embracing all but yet guided with simplicity. It will concentrate on the root of things10—rhythm, timing, distance—and embrace the five ways of attack.11 This