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Bruce Lee and Karate

Get to know your Sifu

 

Did you know that a source of inspiration for your Sifu, Leo Ming, is Bruce Lee?

“Bruce Lee was a spiritual being and philosopher; he was the searcher and the seeker of truth.  He often said what he thought. He was an analytical thinker, and had a great insight into life,” believes Leo Ming.

Bruce Lee, born in 1940, is one of the most influential figures in Martial Arts.   He not only acted in and made films where he showed his skill as a martial artist, he was also a philosopher and he founded a martial arts called ‘Jeet Kune Do’.


Having both charm and an attractiveness about him, Bruce Lee loved displaying his wit and knowledge.    He was so fast, that he could pluck one coin off of a person’s hand and leave behind a different coin, before that person could close their palm.  He also could catch grains of rice in mid-air using chopsticks!

“I think he was a gift from above and was way ahead of his time, in his thinking and in his actions,” admires Sifu Leo.

Some of Leo’s favourite quotes from Bruce Lee include:

“Don’t think. Feel. It is like a finger pointing out to the Moon, don’t concentrate on the finger or you will miss all that heavenly glory.”

This means that if you focus only the finger which is directing you to look in a direction, you will miss the point.  Don’t confuse the finger (the teaching about Truth) with the moon (the actual Truth).

Leo also enjoys Bruce Lee’s saying of:

“If you spend too much time thinking about it, it will never get done.”

As martial art students, we can take a feather from both Leo and Bruce’s cap, and balance our thinking with some action. Make one small step today towards your martial arts goals. (Share your step with Leo in the comments section.)

“My all time favourite is Bruce Lee’s quote about being like water” says Leo with a smile.

“Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless — like water. Now you put water in a cup, it becomes the cup; You put water into a bottle it becomes the bottle; You put it in a teapot it becomes the teapot. Water can flow and water can crash, be water my friend”

Leo explains: “This is what martial artists aspire to be like- adaptation is crucial. To be zen like, to be receptive as an open mind but calm.  And yet if needed, to be as one minded as a devastating tsunami.”

For more about Karate and to get to know your Sifu, Leo Low Ming, contact him on 0833780468.

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