Bruce Lee’s martial arts studio has reopened at its original location in the heart of LA’s Chinatown after 50 years.
Bruce Lee’s original studio has re-opened its doors nearly 50 years after it closed in 1969. Back in the day, Lee taught students “Jeet Kune Do,” a phrase he coined himself to describe his unique blend of Tae Kwan Do and other fighting techniques.
Eric Carr, the martial artist responsible for the re-opening, said he did so to honor Lee’s legacy: “It’s a landmark. The teaching, philosophy, and mindset of Bruce Lee have influenced people and martial arts around the world for decades. This was my small part in giving back and bringing the art home and accomplishing a dream on my own path.”
Carr considers Lee more than a martial artist. In his work in film and his tireless promotion of martial arts, Lee was some who “paved ways for humanity.” His legacy as an actor left a huge imprint not only on the film industry but around the world. As one of the first famous non-white actors in America, Lee will forever be remembered as a trailblazer who encouraged everyone to see things they stereotyped as “foreign” through a different lens. Lee’s groundbreaking representation of martial arts in American film helped kickstart an entire generation’s interest in the art.
Lee died in 1973 after having an allergic reaction to meprobamate and suffering an acute cerebral edema. He is survived by his daughter, Shannon, and his wife, Linda, who continues to promote Jeet Kune Do around the world.
*Image courtesy of Instagram.
