Bruce Lee's Only Real Fight Ever Recorded Surfaces, Very Rare

The footage reportedly comes from the 1967 Long Beach International Karate Championships and features Lee taking on Ted Wong, one of his students, with both men sporting head-to-toe protective gear. Bruce Lee's off-screen fists of fury are finally seeing the light of day. A recently unearthed video showing Lee demonstrating the martial arts skills that made him a Hollywood legend has been making the rounds. It is significant in that the video appears to be the only footage of Lee fighting ever captured off-screen. Lee remains calm and collected throughout the fight, making his blows and quick kicks appear effortless. The legendary star died in 1973 at 32, but not before making a name for himself as one of the most influential martial artists of all time. He appeared in five films that catapulted him to stardom, including "Fist of Fury" and "Way of the Dragon," which featured him taking on a pre-fame Chuck Norris. His final film, "Enter the Dragon," was released posthumously. Click "NEXT" to see more images of the life and times of Bruce Lee Remembering Bruce Lee Bruce Lee was at the height of his career when he suddenly died at 32-years-old, news that shocked and saddened fans across the world while leaving a major hole in action cinema. On July 20, 1973, the martial arts master, actor, and director collapsed during the filming of "Enter the Dragon," before he died in hospital after suffering a severe headache and series of seizures. The official cause of his death was a brain edema caused by an allergic reaction to a prescription he was taking for a back injury. Take a look back at Lee's incredible life and career, which paved the way for broader depictions of Asian Americans in cinema. Bruce Lee and his family Bruce Lee, born Lee Jun-fan, was welcomed into the world at the Chinese Hospital in San Francisco's Chinatown on Nov. 19, 1940. At just three-months-old, Lee and his family returned to Hong Kong where he lived until he was 18-years-old. He was the fourth child of five children. A natural in front of the camera, Lee appeared in roughly 20 films as a child actor from 1946. Bruce Lee in 'The Kid,' 1950 In his first leading role, a 10-year-old Bruce Lee starred as an orphan who was groomed by his uncle to become a skilled thief in the 1950 Hong Kong drama film "The Kid." Lee starred in several films as a child but abandoned acting between 1959 to 1964, to pursue martial arts after he lost a street fight. Lee began studying Wing Chum under martial arts master Ip Man. Bruce Lee with his wife Linda and his son Brandon Since there was so much violence in Hong Kong, Lee's parents sent him to the U.S. to get an education, where he met his future wife Linda Lee. The couple met in Seattle while studying at the University of Washington in 1961, before tying the knot in 1964. They had two children, Brandon (pictured) and Shannon. Bruce Lee and his son Brandon Lee, 1966 Bruce Lee is pictured with his son Brandon, who would tragically share the same fate as his father. At just 28-years-old, Brandon was killed in a firearms accident while filming "The Crow" on Feb. 1, 1965. Brandon was due to marry his fiance Eliza "Lisa" Hutton just weeks later in Mexico, once filming had wrapped up. Bruce Lee in 'The Green Hornet,' 1966 - 1967 Having abandoned his acting career in martial arts, Lee opened a number of kung fu schools in the '60s before his notoriety saw him appear in high-profile martial arts events across the country. Through one of these tournaments, Lee met Hollywood hair stylist Jay Sebring, who introduced him to William Dozier, the TV producer of "The Green Hornet." Click "NEXT" to see more images of the life and times of Bruce Lee Bruce Lee and Van Williams in 'The Green Hornet,' 1966 - 1967 William Dozier, the TV producer of "The Green Hornet" asked Lee to audition for the role of Kato, the Green Hornet's sidekick, and the rest his history. Lee starred opposite Van Williams (pictured) in 26 episodes. Bruce Lee in 'Fist of Fury,' 1972 It wasn't until Lee starred in "Fists of Fury" in 1971 when he broke box office records for his portrayal as a vengeful fighter chasing civilians who had killed his kung fu master. Bruce Lee in 'The Chinese Connection,' 1972 "Fist of Fury," was accidentally released in the U.S. under the title "The Chinese Connection," a film title that was meant for another Bruce Lee movie, "The Big Boss." While the film broke box office records in Hong Kong, it received poor reviews from critics in the U.S. upon its release. Bruce Lee's mother Grace Ho, Bruce Lee and his son Brandon Lee, circa 1970 During the success of his film career, Lee moved his entire family from Hong Kong to California. Lee is pictured here with his mother Grace Ho and son Brandon in this family snapshot in Los Angeles, circa 1970. Lee's mother was alive at the time of Lee's untimely death, passing away at the ripe age of 89. Bruce Lee in 'Enter the Dragon,' 1973 CBS News By 1972, Lee was a major movie star, having released his first directorial debut "Return of the Dragon." He was poised to be a break-out star in the U.S. with the release of his first major Hollywood film, "Enter the Dragon," in 1973, before he tragically died just one month before the movie's premiere. Bruce Lee in 'Enter the Dragon,' 1973 The posthumous release of "Enter the Dragon" saw Lee become a legendary film icon and a key figure in Hollywood. The film, which reportedly had a budget of $1 million, went on to gross more than $200 million. Bruce Lee in 'Game of Death,' 1978 The legend of Bruce Lee reached a new peak with the release of "Game of Death," the last motion picture starring the greatest martial arts champion of all time. The 1972 Hong Kong martial arts film was incomplete at the time of his death. With over 100 minutes of footage shot before Lee's untimely death, it was released as part of a documentary entitled "Bruce Lee: A Warrior's Journey" years later in 1978. RIP Bruce And Brandon Lee TripAdvisor Bruce & Brandon Lee Grave Site (Source: NY Daily News - Bruce Lee shows off martial arts skills in rare footage) RELATED NEWS: ‘Grease’ What The Rydell High Students Are Up To TodayFeeling Nostalgic? Watch The Tear-Jerker ‘Goodbye Christopher Robin’ Trailer‘Grease’ What The Rydell High Students Are Up To Today‘To Sir, With Love’ Arrived On Screens 50 Years AgoLos Angeles Honored Adam West With A Ceremonial Bat-Signal Lighting

Bruce Lee’s Only Real Fight Ever Recorded Surfaces, Very Rare

by K. Gitter
Published June 16, 2017

Remembering Bruce Lee

Bruce Lee and his family

Bruce Lee in ‘The Kid,’ 1950

Bruce Lee with his wife Linda and his son Brandon

Bruce Lee in ‘The Green Hornet,’ 1966 – 1967

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