Bruce Lee, Mecca and Williamsport

If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance you are you wondering what Bruce Lee and Mecca have to do with Williamsport?

Continue reading and you will learn the answer.

But, be warned that if you decide to investigate the connection further and take action to become a lineage student, your life may be forever transformed.

Wait! I’m getting ahead of myself.

First, let’s discuss Bruce Lee.


Bruce Lee

For martial artists of my generation, Bruce Lee was a martial arts icon who served as a source of inspiration for getting us involved in martial arts.

For non-martial artists of my generation, Bruce Lee was a martial arts movie star that captivated and entertained audiences around the globe.

Both know him as a legend!

Bruce Lee – The Martial Artist

Bruce’s first teacher was his father, who taught him the fundamentals of Wu style Tai Chi Chuan.

At age 13, he became a student of the late Yip Man, a very famous Wing Chun Gung Fu Grandmaster.

In high school, Bruce won an interschool Boxing Championship against an English student in which Marquis of Queensbury rules were followed and no kicking was allowed.

Besides Gung Fu and Boxing, Bruce assiduously studied dancing as well. In 1958, he won the Hong Kong Cha Cha Championship. When Bruce Lee first returned to the United States in 1959, he lived in San Francisco (his birthplace) for several months before moving to Seattle, Washington.

Bruce Lee opened his first martial arts school, named the Lee Jun Fan Gung Fu Institute, in Seattle in 1963. He taught what he called Jun Fan Gung Fu, which was literally Bruce's Gung Fu. Jun Fan Gung Fu was basically a slightly modified approach to Wing Chun Gung Fu.

In the spring of 1964, Bruce moved to Oakland, CA to live with James Yimm Lee. James was twenty years Bruce’s senior. He was also a well known Chinese martial artist in the Bay area. James joined Bruce to co-found the second Jun Fan martial arts studio in Oakland.

Bruce relocated to Los Angeles in 1966. He opened his third Jun Fan Gung Fu School at 628 College Street in Los Angeles, California. This is where the final formulation of Bruce Lee's philosophy of the martial art he called “Jeet Kune Do” blossomed.

Jeet Kune Do was the result of Bruce’s many years of constantly researching, training and refining his techniques, tactics, strategies, and philosophies in an effort to create the ultimate fighting system.

While Bruce’s creation, Jeet Kune Do, was certainly a revolutionary fighting system that attracted hardcore martial artists, it was the strong philosophical framework that supported the system that attracted others.

So, in the end, Bruce created something even more meaningful. Bruce created a vehicle that was perfectly suited to transport students down the road of personal growth and development.

Bruce Lee – The Movie Star

As an actor, Bruce Lee was involved in many different television shows. Despite, his TV roles, however, it was his four major motion pictures that vaulted him to superstar status.

His first leading role was in The Big Boss (1971). He followed this with Fist of Fury in 1972. His next film, Way of the Dragon (Return of the Dragon), was also released in 1972.

Next, Bruce began working on Game of Death in late 1972. Production stopped when Warner Brothers emerged on the scene and offered Bruce the opportunity to star in Enter the Dragon.

Lee began working on Enter the Dragon. The filming ended a few months before its July 26, 1973 release. Bruce Lee never saw the film’s debut because he died 6 days before its release.

The Game of Death was released in 1978 when Robert Clouse finished the film using a Lee look-alike and archived footage. Supposedly, the film has only 15 minutes of actual Bruce Lee footage.


Mecca

No, I’m not speaking of Mecca – the holiest meeting site of the Islamic religion, which is the modern day city that is located in and is the capital of Saudi Arabia’s Makkah Province, in the historic Hejaz region.

I’m speaking of Los Angeles, California.

You’re probably wondering why I would refer to Los Angeles as Mecca.

To understand my reference, first let me share some published definitions of Mecca.

Two that are particularly pertinent to my reference include: Mecca is any place that many people visit or hope to visit. As an example, President George Washington's birthplace is a Mecca for history buffs.

Mecca is a place that is regarded as the center of an activity or interest.

Next, let me share some martial arts facts as they pertain to the martial arts systems (Jeet Kune Do, Kali, and Pentjak Silat) that are practiced at the Hebb Institute of Martial Arts (HIMA).

I am the founder of HIMA. My teacher, Sifu / Guro Cass Magda, is located in the Los Angeles area.

Cass Magda’s Jeet Kune Do teacher, Sifu Dan Inosanto, is located in the Los Angeles area.

Cass Magda’s primary Kali teacher, Guro Dan Inosanto, is located in the Los Angeles area.

Cass Magda’s primary Silat teacher, Pendekar Paul deThouars, is located in the Los Angeles area.

The Los Angeles area is home to many more noteworthy martial arts teachers as well. A brief list includes Ted Wong (Jeet Kune Do), Richard Bustillo (Jeet Kune Do, Kali), Hawkins Cheung (Wing Chun), Rorion Gracie (Gracie Jiu-Jitsu), and Darren Levine (Krav Maga).

When you combine the definitions with the facts, my reference should start to make sense.

If it doesn’t, allow me to clarify.

Many martial arts enthusiasts visit or hope to visit Los Angeles to train with the revered teacher of their choice.

The greater Los Angeles area is also a place that is regarded as the location (center) of many different styles of martial arts. For instance, the founder of the Inosanto / Lacoste Kali system is located there. The founder of the Pentjak Silat system of Bukti Negara is located there. These are just two examples, but there are many others as well.

So, hopefully you now understand why I (and many of my friends) affectionately refer to Los Angeles as Mecca – the Mecca of Martial Arts.


Williamsport

So, you’ve learned a little about Bruce Lee.

And, you’ve also learned about Mecca.

But despite your newly acquired knowledge, you’re probably still trying to figure out what either has to do with Williamsport, Maryland.

Well, let me enlighten you.

Bruce Lee’s original Jeet Kune Do is now being taught by the Hebb Institute of Martial Arts in the Community Building located in Byron Memorial Park in Williamsport.

Yes, you read that correctly. The art and philosophy of the late Bruce Lee is alive and well in Williamsport.

You can become of fourth generation student of the legendary Bruce Lee.

Are you wondering how you would be a fourth generation student of Bruce Lee?

And, are you still wondering what Mecca has to do with Williamsport?

Once I explain how you would be a fourth generation student, you will understand the Mecca connection.

Recall that Bruce Lee had opened schools in Seattle, Oakland, and Los Angeles. He had an assistant teacher in each location. In Seattle, it was Taky Kimura. In Oakland, it was James Yimm Lee. In Los Angeles, it was Dan Inosanto.

Each of these men trained directly with Bruce Lee. That makes each man a 1st generation student of Bruce Lee.

Recall that my teacher, Sifu / Guro Cass Magda, was taught by Dan Inosanto. That makes Cass Magda a 2nd generation student of Bruce Lee.

Because Sifu Cass Magda is a 2nd generation student and I am his student that makes me a 3rd generation student of Bruce Lee.

With me as your teacher, you become a 4th generation student of Bruce Lee right here in Williamsport, Maryland.

Recall that my teacher, Sifu Cass Magda is located in Mecca, Los Angeles.

So, now you know the connection between Bruce Lee, Mecca and Williamsport.

If you’re like most people, you will be satisfied with knowing the connection.

If you’re the rare breed of people that HIMA seeks, you will not be satisfied with knowing the connection.

You will feel compelled to become a 4th generation student of the legendary Bruce Lee.

Let Bruce Lee inspire you to action.

If Bruce’s inspiration is not powerful enough for you, let the words of Kahlil Gibran speak to you, “A little knowledge that acts is worth infinitely more than much knowledge that is idle.”

Take the little knowledge that you have gained and act!

Your action could forever transform your life.