Customer Reviews

The Dragon and the Tiger: The Birth of Bruce Lee's Jeet Kune Do

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1 star:		(2)

 

 

An incredibly enthralling look at the relationship between two of the most influential martial artists of the 20th century. One now a well-known icon (Bruce Jun Fan Lee), the other just coming into his due (James Yimm Lee). For the first time, in this extensive work we can read about the symbiotic relationship between Bruce Lee and James Yimm Lee (not blood related to one another despite the last name). The book is helped immensely through the participation of Greglon Yimm Lee, James Lee's son, who offers insight into the life of his father and family life previously unknown.

Largely forgotten, or formerly summed up in a few brief paragraphs, James Lee wrote and published the first publicly available serious gung fu books in English. James Lee was a consummate martial artist in his own right, having studied at one of the first public Sil Lum (Shao-Lin) schools in San Francisco (under T.Y. Wong), as well as making it a practice to trade techniques and practice with other martial artists throughout the Bay area. Another famed student of James Lee's covered in this book is Al Novak, a pioneer in his own right.

James Lee was one of the first martial arts men to advocate the practical approach through his books, keeping useful information, and rejecting the notion of maintaining "tradition for tradition's sake." As a matter of fact, if you compare any of J.Y. Lee's early self-published books, you can see the progression J.Y. Lee made from blind obedience to tradition, to creating his own practical tradition. Of course, most of us don't have access to these books--which is what makes this volume, "The Dragon and the Tiger", a treasure.

There are photos and explanations of James Lee's early books, training devices, and classes--and the full story of how Bruce Lee came to adopt many of James Lee's theories and methods. It isn't difficult to see how James Lee's concepts became popularized by Bruce Lee, who adapted many of James Lee's methods to his own needs (as James Lee had intended). Bruce Lee of course, later became legendary for his own practical approach, which was later systematized in his Jun Fan Gung Fu and Jeet Kune Do, influencing contemporary martial arts thought in the U.S. and the World.

This is a book about friendship. About a journey into study and research and human limits that two men undertook together. It provides new information not contained in any other work which makes for an enjoyable read and a hard-to-set-down book. Finally, a book that gives credit where it is due--to James Yimm Lee: teacher, student, and argueably perhaps the greatest influence upon Bruce Lee. You needn't be a Bruce Lee fan to enjoy this book, anyone with an interest in American martial arts history, the Chinese community in America, or American history in general should find this fascinating.

This book was presented in a very candid, easy read fashion and flowed--like water. I enjoyed it tremendously and was hooked from the first page. I am currently on my second book on the series and that too is equally great. It's wonderful that the author took the time, energy and effort to do the research, connected the dots and presented the materials in a way that connect with the reader. I felt like I was there during the time when the story unfolded. Both Bruce Lee and James Yimm Lee were remarkable martial artists and human beings and deserved praise and recognition that were bestowed upon them. I must admit, I didn't know about James Lee much before reading the book and now have much respect for him. Bruce of course was Bruce and what can I say more?

This is a poorly written book about two great martial artists. I've been a martial artist and a Bruce Lee fan for over 30 years and have read many books and magazine articles about the legendary martial artist, and have to say this book has been a great disappointment. The book is slow and boring and I would not recommend it to anyone. Better to read one of Jesse Glover's, Dan Inosanto's, or John R. Little's books on the subject.

this is a book that has been needed for a long time now. the early bruce, and a look back at how he developed. there's great stuff here...too bad it reads like a "junior scholastic" teen book! the authors are poor storytellers. this is bruce lee material we have all been waiting for, james yimm lee, jesse glover, wally jay, etc. the early years! fantastic! some great photos...and some not so great maps, copied from "mapquest"? the book reads like a danielle steel movie-of-the-week potboiler...boring. fantastic material, horrible presentation. like a 5-star meal on a paper plate. bruce and james history both deserve a better treatment...5 star material served as 2 star writing! poor publishing from a company that usually puts out quality books. found quite a few grammatical mistakes...so o.k. get a real writer and a proofreader too! maybe they will make-up for it with volume 2.

This book is just plain awful. I was expecting to learn more about James Lee (who IMHO is the most underated of all JKD practioners).

Most stories are conjecture and out right lies. The authors should be ashamed of themselves. This book does nothing but tarnish the legend of Bruce Lee.

To add insult to injury, it reads like a 3rd grade book report.

If I could write this review in blood and tears, I would.

The first part of this book regarding Bruce Lee's training w/ Gin Foon Mark seems totally bogus ! There is no eveidence Bruce Lee ever met this guy. The book details Lee's father and Bruce himself in NY , even covering in detail their innermost thoughts,and there is no proof of this other than the oral record of this guy who has claimed for years to have taught Bruce Lee. I think actually Lee's fathers last trip to the USA was when Bruce was born in 1940 .

On the other hand the material covering Seattle and early Oakland seems to be on the up and up and very imformative.