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The system of training of Bruce Lee

Strength or speed and flexibility?

In relation to the unsurpassed master of martial arts Bruce Lee developed many stereotypes and judgments, which, to put it mildly, not quite true. The cause is partly simple ignorance and partly due to forgetfulness on particular facts. In particular it is accepted that is paramount in the training process of a legendary dragon set exercises on focus, dynamics, speed. Weight training supposedly he was not held in high esteem. But attentive viewers will notice that in contrast to many aces of martial arts, the body of Bruce Lee could well be a visual aid to the study of the anatomical Atlas in terms of muscle – so boldly acted on it literally every muscle. Is it possible without strength training? Unlikely.

And indeed, not so long ago it became known (materials from personal archives of the famous athlete), which is a real passion for not only karate; bodybuilding also included in the scope of his interests and the attitude of the master to him was more than serious. Apart from the sports aspect is important here is another point: to successfully act in movies (appropriate genre), the body has to look spectacular – this is an important success factor. Such entertainment is almost impossible without bodybuilding.

Because eternal debate about whether athletes whose specialty martial arts, heavy weight training, or you can limit the development of flexibility and dynamics, from the point of view of the example of Bruce Lee resolved unambiguously: we need needed. Objections to muscular enslavement, reducing the reactivity of the muscles as a result of bodybuilding can be accepted only in part. All the matter in a proper combination of weights and other exercises, choosing the optimal training regime.

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Tell colleagues

Refer to the evidence as they say eyewitnesses. John Lewis (one of the disciples an invincible dragon) remembers Bruce Lee weighed before you begin to workout (its weight was about 70 kg), then picked up two dumbbells, each of which by weight was about equal to half its own weight (37 kg). The next step he took dumbbells, divorced (very slowly) in hand. In this position, he held practice rounds within twenty seconds. John.Lewis said himself that not every bodybuilder weighing even a hundred pounds would be able to repeat it.

Another American expert in martial arts and their apologist John Rea argues that Bruce Lee was very fond of muscle strength. In his words, the dragon was very strong, the same strength Ri is not met, none of those with whom he wassign. In the presence of John Bruce did multiple pushups (including, on the one hand and in the end, actually, on one finger).

It is clear that Bruce Lee is a unique athlete with exceptional natural abilities. The arrogance of him not in the least, was not peculiar, and continuous training (especially strength training), he attached great importance. Evidence – entries in the personal diary of the athlete. Another fact that speaks about the attitude of Bruce Lee power exercises: the famous master had a collection of posters, photographs of famous representatives of bodybuilding (among them pictures of Dave Draper, Larry Scott and not too well known back then Arnold Schwarzenegger).

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Bodybuilding in the life and career of Bruce Lee

In short, it is easy to conclude that the serpent was "not a stranger" man in bodybuilding; on the contrary – Bruce was well versed in the intricacies of it and loved the mixture of art and sport. Open biographical sources we know that outstanding master of the martial arts in 1969 "was friends" with the namesake of Jimmy Lee, who was seriously engaged in bodybuilding. Friends often trained together; Bruce in those days participated in training and shared with other rather important figures in the world of bodybuilding. At the same time, he showed awareness of the theory and tangible skills in practice. Now there is information that the dragon had previously fond of exercises that develop muscle strength. In particular, the new data indicate that in 1965 (not living in USA) athlete actively worked in the gym. Then he used to performed a set of twelve exercises (ten of them – using the superset). However, at the time the athlete has not reached his best form.

Early in his career Bruce Lee often felt the lack of stamina and strength, although it was mostly unnoticed. But the wife of an athlete Linda told me that in a long enough battle Bruce clearly felt the lack of energy to complete a worthy fight; that he was greatly disappointed and upset. Indeed, the final phase of the fight is the most important, decisive for the outcome of the battle. It was during this period Bruce Lee turns to the help of bodybuilding. He carefully examines the theory of matter according to the established literature and the new publication (in particular, in the magazines, a Bodybuilder and strength", "Mr. Olympia") and tries many methods and techniques in practice, selects the most appropriate for yourself. Already moving to Los Angeles, again by memories of Linda, Bruce continued to look out the interest of his literature various issues related to bodybuilding (nutrition, training regime, recovery andso on.). After the tragic death of the famous wizard, his son inherited a vast library of specialized literature, including many works on martial arts and about one hundred and forty works on bodybuilding.

Also in the house of Bruce Lee were and the necessary ammunition for strength training – barbell, dumbbell weights, dumbbell set (total weight – 50 kg), rack presses. Training mode is an outstanding athlete now known: he was (only strength training) three times a week. Besides, there were daily classes in aerobics and flexibility. Details of the scheme classes nowadays are readily available online or in special editions. Interested in Bruce Lee and methods of struggle with deposits of subcutaneous fat; he bought various recommended in the literature preparations and tried to imagine their action. Unfortunately, on these issues, his insights remained unknown.

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Own system of diverse training

His concept of the training process Bruce Lee finally realized methodically around 1970. The basic position it was to find an individual approach on the basis of trial and error, intuitive findings, proven.

In a personal system of training athletes bodybuilding has its place, has become an integral part of it, even though earlier he acted as temporary assistant in maintaining and developing muscle strength. Until the end of his life the genius of the martial arts invariably showed interest in the new methods of strength training; on the basis of some of them he perfected his own training regime. In particular, one of the characteristic of his methods was the use of the amplitude plot on which the muscles were reduced maximally. This technique, according to Bruce Lee, contributes greatly to the development of concentrated, explosive power.

According to the testimony of Linda Lee, her husband as a result of regular bodybuilding have achieved outstanding athletic performance. Amazing speed, lightning fast response, workshop focus, incredible physical strength, remarkable theoretical knowledge and Supreme fighting skills are main components of the invincibility of the famous dragon.

Now theorists the main reason for the outstanding achievements of Bruce Lee see that he, unlike the great masters of martial arts, has taken the liberty to leave a few established by centuries of traditions. The system of preparation of fighters is fully developed already in the middle ages; she faithfully honored and long time was completely unchanged. For all its virtues, it is clearly sinned conservatism – everything in the world should develop. Bruce Lee was not afraid to "shake" somethe age-old foundations, to expand their scope, improve on an ideological level. His genius was manifested in the conceptual approaches to the training process and allowed him to combine the strengths of bodybuilding and martial arts. This combination made him a great and invincible. Information from previously secret personal training diaries of Bruce Lee fully confirms this view.