Five Things MMA Fanboys Think They Know About Bruce Lee

As a person who has been in boxing and martial arts since I was a child, I have always found MMA fanboys throwing Bruce Lee’s name around as if they had mastered his philosophy to be disrespectful and frustrating. Somehow, fanboys are under the impression because they have a tap-out shirt and watch fights on YouTube, they have a total understanding of who Bruce Lee was, but their understanding is often riddled with myths and stereotypes. Yes, Bruce Lee was an icon and a martial arts pioneer, but much of what fanboys believe about him is exaggerated and ridiculously inaccurate because they focus more on the mystique surrounding his persona rather than focusing the depth of his philosophy and teachings.

Bruce Lee emphasized adaptability, self-expression, and personal growth through martial arts, but many fanboys overlook these core principles in favour of surface-level interpretations. True mastery, as Lee taught, comes from understanding oneself and transcending ego—not just mimicking his techniques or quoting his famous lines.

So, as an actual martial artist, I cannot help but feel frustrated when Bruce Lee’s philosophy is reduced to a catchphrase or an image of physical dominance. The essence of his teachings goes far beyond the physical—it is about mental clarity, continuous self-improvement, and being true to oneself.

To truly honour Bruce Lee’s legacy, one must delve into his mindset, not just his martial arts style, embrace the lifelong journey of growth and self-awareness that he promoted, and see it for what it is, starting with the following ten facts.

Bruce Lee Was the “Father of MMA”

Fanboys love to credit Bruce Lee as the origin of MMA, but the truth is not that simple. While Lee’s philosophy of blending styles was groundbreaking, modern MMA evolved from Brazilian Vale Tudo and Japanese shoot wrestling—fighting traditions that existed long before Bruce stepped into the picture. Also, let another see your boys need to realize MMA is not a martial arts style. It is a sports event where people from multi-discipline fighting disciplines compete against each other, such as type boxing, tae kwon do, judo boxing, and so on.

Additionally, when fanboys claim that MMA is the ultimate fighting style, it is ironic, considering Bruce Lee himself believed there was no "best" style. He emphasized adaptability, fluidity, and the idea that fighters should "absorb what is useful, discard what is not, and add what is uniquely your own." His philosophy was about breaking free from the confines of rigid styles—a mindset that aligns with, but does not fully define, the ethos of modern MMA. It can be applied to any martial arts style or any aspect of life. It was not just about creating style. Bruce Lee even said himself that he did not want JKD to be a fighting style.

Bruce Lee Was an Unbeatable Fighter

I hate to break it to you, but there is no evidence to suggest Bruce Lee had a competitive record against top-tier fighters. While he was a groundbreaking martial artist and one of the most influential philosophers of the 20th century, he was not a professional competitor. Fanboys often imagine him dominating everyone, but real-world fighting is not choreographed like a movie scene. But he has trained with legendary masters and martial arts pioneers in tae kwon do, like Jhoon Rhee, Filipino stick fighting, legends like Dan Inataso and many more legendary pioneers. Whose accomplishments in martial arts are just as good as Bruce Lee’s.

Jeet Kune Do a Fully-Fledged Martial Art

Bruce Lee never wanted Tao of Jeet Kune Do to be published because he feared his writings could be misused or misunderstood. He saw the book as a reflection of his philosophy and thoughts on martial arts, not as a step-by-step manual or instructional guide. He was particularly concerned that people might interpret it as a rigid system, which was contrary to his belief in adaptability and personal expression.

Many people do not realize that the Tao of Jeet Kune Do is a philosophy that transcends any specific fighting style. It can be applied to boxing, karate, taekwondo, MMA—or even life itself. If you are skeptical, I would recommend watching Shannon Lee’s TED Talk, where she explains this in depth.

Bruce Lee’s close friend and protégé, Dan Inosanto, often emphasized that Jeet Kune Do was never intended to be a fixed martial art. Instead, Bruce believed in tailoring techniques to an individual’s needs, making it a fluid and personal approach rather than a structured style.

As someone with extensive training, I can tell you firsthand that there is no ultimate style or system. Everyone develops their approach, and the “best style” is the one that works at the moment—forcing the opponent to fight on your terms, whether you are using karate, MMA, taekwondo, or something else entirely.

He Trained Like a Modern MMA Fighter

As I mentioned earlier, Bruce Lee trained in various styles with respected masters like Jhoon Rhee, Ip Man, Chuck Norris, James Lee, Bolo Yeung, and Dan Inosanto. He valued and respected all forms of fighting and was ahead of his time when it came to cross-training, fitness, and the value of every fighting system.

As someone who has trained with elite athletes like TJ Grant, the former number two ranked UFC lightweight in the world, and the late Ryan Jimmo, who broke the record for having the fastest knockout in history, professional fighting in his first UFC fight.

I can confidently say that Bruce Lee’s training methods were not on par with how today’s MMA athletes prepare. Today’s fighters use scientifically designed strength and conditioning programs and highly specialized fight camps tailored for competition. While Bruce’s approach was groundbreaking for his era, it does not compare to the rigorous and systematic training of today’s fighters.

His Philosophy Fits Modern MMA Rules

One of the most life-changing books I have read was Shannon Lee's book "Be Water, My Friend: The Teachings of Bruce Lee," In the book, Bruce Lee’s daughter talks about how Jeet Kune Do (JKD) is not just a martial arts style but a life philosophy

Shannon does an incredible job explaining her father's teachings about adaptability, fluidity, and personal growth, which can be applied to all aspects of life, not just fighting. She does an incredible job of honouring her father’s teachings and humanizing him. She mentions how Bruce Lee believed in being formless and shapeless like water, which means being adaptable and open to change, whether in a ring, on the street, or anywhere else.

Shannon also points out that while MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) does use techniques from various martial arts styles, it is fundamentally a sport focused on competition. In the fighting world, and what I mean by that is people who train, most of them do not even consider MMA a fighting style because it is not. It is a sporting event, plain and simple.

In contrast, JKD is about personal expression and self-discovery. Sorry, fanboys, you got this one wrong, too, because Bruce Lee did not UFC, bruh, lol, even though he inspired many MMA fighters, martial artists, and boxers.

Final Thoughts

Bruce Lee’s impact on martial arts and the world is undeniable but reducing him to stereotypes disrespects his memory and legacy. He was a father, a son, a husband, a philosopher, a cultural icon, and a martial artist who shaped my life and career in the ring and as a coach. But he was not perfect, and while MMA fanboys often romanticize him as an unbeatable MMA god, the reality is more nuanced.

Not everything Bruce Lee said or did fits into modern MMA. He feared Tao of Jeet Kune Do would turn his philosophy into dogma, which is why he never wanted it published. Lee believed in adaptability, experimentation, and individuality—not rigid systems.

By romanticizing him, we ignore his core beliefs and undermine the core principles he stood for growth, freedom, and breaking limitations. Let us honour his memory by embracing the depth of his ideas rather than distorting them.

RESOURCES AND REFERENCES

Kung Fu Kingdom. (n.d.). Be Water, My Friend: An Interview with Shannon Lee. Kung Fu Kingdom. Retrieved from https://kungfukingdom.com

Paminy. (n.d.). Summary: Be Water, My Friend by Shannon Lee. Paminy. Retrieved from https://paminy.com

Bookshop.org. (n.d.). Be Water, My Friend: The Teachings of Bruce Lee. Bookshop.org. Retrieved from https://bookshop.org

Aikido Journal. (n.d.). Dan Innosanto on Bruce Lee and Aikido. Aikido Journal. Retrieved from https://aikidojournal.com

About Bruce Lee. (n.d.). Collaborator profile: Dan Innosanto – About Bruce Lee. About Bruce Lee. Retrieved from https://aboutbrucelee.com

Little, John. Bruce Lee: Artist of Life. Tuttle Publishing, 2001. This collection of Lee’s writings highlights his philosophical contributions and martial arts innovations rather than a competitive fight record. https://www.amazon.ca/Bruce-Lee-Artist-Life/dp/0804832633

Arlington Kicks. (n.d.). Our founder. Retrieved from https://arlingtonkicks.com/our-founder/#:~:text=After%20coming%20to%20America%20in,U.S.%20Senators%20and%20House%20Representatives

Lee, S. (n.d.). What Bruce Lee can teach us about living fully [TED Talk]. Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/shannon_lee_what_bruce_lee_can_teach_us_about_living_fully/details?subtitle=en

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Tao of Jeet Kune Do. In Wikipedia. Retrieved from https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tao_of_Jeet_Kune_Do

Lee, S. (2020). Be water, my friend: The teachings of Bruce Lee. New York, NY: Flatiron Books. Retrieved from https://www.amazon.ca/Be-Water-My-Friend-Teachings/dp/1250206685

Our Mental Health. (n.d.). Bruce Lee’s philosophy: The mind behind the martial arts legend. Retrieved from https://www.ourmental.health/celebtypes/bruce-lees-philosophy-the-mind-behind-the-martial-arts-legend