Bruce Lee inspired countless millions with his mastery of martial arts, and that legacy continues decades after the icon’s life through films, his undying presence, and now, through his words. Lee’s only surviving child, Shannon, was only four-years-old in 1973 when a traumatic brain injury took the life of her father. The young daughter was robbed of her father’s earthly presence in her life, but not of his wisdom, or the power of his words. It has only been a few years since the family has regained control of Bruce Lee’s likeness and licensing rights, and in her 20s, Shannon Lee discovered the dearest gift that her father could bestow—pages of words written in his own hand, straight from his heart, on life, love, and what mattered most to the master of martial arts.
The power of the pen over the powerful kick
“The feeling of him, his energy, how it felt to be in his presence,” is what Shannon Lee remembers most about her father. This month marks 50 years since Bruce Lee opened his Los Angeles kung fu studio, where stars like Steve McQueen, Chuck Norris, James Garner, and James Coburn would learn the finer elements of the art of “accomplishment arrived at by great time and effort” as “kung fu” literally translates. Building celebrity clientele was not nearly as important to Lee as “actualizing myself as an artist in life” as he wrote, far above his personas of martial arts by choice, and actor by profession.
The making of his 1973 breakthrough mainstream film, “Enter the Dragon,” became a battle for Lee, too.
The star fought both writer and producers to insist that the philosophical dialogues and angles of the film were included. He contended that he would not come on set until they conceded to the scenes of higher meaning beyond “ballistic ballet,” and Lee got his way. Many scenes of the film carry Lee’s comparisons of how the battles he fights with foes speak to deeper preparation for conflicts in life.
Feeling her father’s comfort
Among the collection of writings, there is one ongoing essay that Lee was constantly writing and revising, as if to show that life moves on, and change is inevitable. Just before her 24th birthday, Shannon Lee endured the tragic loss of her brother, Brandon, on the set of his movie, “The Crow.” Her grief sent her into a depression that lasted years until she came across a powerful comfort in her father's words.
“The medicine I have for my suffering I have within me,” the words pierced her chest from the page. She began to know that “you have the ability to come out of this, you just have to look for the path,” she explained to Ben Tracy of “CBS This Morning.”
Shannon Lee has found her path to healing in sharing her father’s wisdom and philosophies in a regular podcast series that has been adopted and appreciated especially by the millennial generation. Bruce Lee wanted to reach all people through his entertainment and martial arts skill, and now, his daughter is reaching the world with his deeper thoughts. Downloads for the installments have hit 1.3 million. One quote reminds that “under the sky, under the heavens, we’re all one family.” Thanks to technology, that idea of family conceived by Bruce Lee is only growing larger.
