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Incredible Previously Unseen Footage Of Bruce Lee's Only 'Real' Fight Caught On Camera

Incredible Previously Unseen Footage Of Bruce Lee's Only 'Real' Fight Caught On Camera

It makes for fascinating viewing.

Anonymous

Anonymous

You can't think of martial artists without thinking of Bruce Lee. He was a famous martial artist, movie star and cultural icon, whose skills and philosophy on fighting have inspired millions worldwide.

He even created his own expression of martial arts called Jeet Kune Do (translated: Way of the Intercepting Fist).

We've all seen Lee fight on film countless times, but what is much rarer is an intimate glimpse of him sparring in his natural habitat.

Lee regularly sparred with his students, but only one of his MMA fights was ever recorded - and now it's been restored by YouTube channel Beerdy: Bruce Lee Central.

Beerdy explains: "This is the only recording of Bruce Lee in a real MMA fight. He's fighting Ted Wong here, one of his top students"

It's not 100% clear where the clip was filmed, but it was likely in California, where Lee had his school for Jeet Kune Do, and where Wong studied the discipline.

In the stunning footage, we see Wong repeatedly attempt to get close to Lee, who keeps his opponent just out of range with his nimble footwork. His lightning reactions and fluid movements are on full display - Wong's attacks are deflected whenever he gets close.

Lee block's his opponents moves. Credit: YouTube/Beerdy: Bruce Lee Central

Ted Wong was a martial arts practitioner who was best known for his time spent studying under the watch of Lee. He was born in Hong Kong in 1937 and died in 2010, aged 73.

In the clip he takes a few swift blows to the face and body, but to his credit he keeps going.

Wong hits the deck. Credit: YouTube/Beerdy: Bruce Lee Central

The description on YouTube reads: "This is the only recording of Bruce Lee in a real MMA fight.

"He's fighting Ted Wong here, one of his top students.

"They are wearing protective gear because they were NOT ALLOWED to fight without them. Those were the state rules at the time.

"If not for those rules I can guarantee you that Bruce would have fought bare-knuckled."

Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee

Bruce Lee in Enter the Dragon. Credit: PA

Wong only ever studied under Lee and had no other masters. This meant that he went on to teach a completely 'pure' version of Lee's fighting style.

He also wrote a series of books on martial arts, and was inducted into Black Belt magazine's Hall of Fame as the 'Man of the Year' in 2006, at the age of 69.

His first encounter with Bruce Lee took place in 1967, in Los Angeles, California, where Lee was giving a seminar on Kung Fu.

Although Wong was initially interested in boxing, he was so impressed by Lee's skills that he decided to study at his kwoon (training hall), the Jun Fan Gung Fu Institute in Los Angeles.

Bruce Lee died of a cerebral edema in 1973 at the age of 32, but his fighting style is still taught around the world to this day.

Words by Paddy Maddison

Featured Image Credit:

Topics: Fight News, MMA