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Bruce Lee?was a pioneer, martial arts legend, filmmaker, and actor who bridged the gap between the East and the West with his movies. Lee also became the first individual to introduce the West to the philosophy tied to Chinese martial arts. A student of philosophy, Lee developed a unique worldview, and decades after his death, Lee’s philosophy has continued to inspire people across the globe. Even athletes and champions of other sports, like?bodybuilding?legend Flex Wheeler, have found motivation in the martial arts master’s words.

In his prime, Wheeler won the Arnold Classic four times. Fans also consider him an uncrowned Mr. Olympia. However, Wheeler is also a martial artist who draws inspiration from the Jeet Kune Do founder even today. Earlier,?Wheeler shared a clip on his Instagram story?of the?Enter The Dragon?star.?

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The bodybuilding legend shared the wise words of Bruce Lee

The bodybuilding legend posted a clip of Lee from the iconic film?Enter The Dragon (1973). The four-time Arnold Classic winner wrote,?“often imitated, never duplicated,”?while posting the story. In the clip, Lee spoke with a Shaolin kung fu master, who asked him,?“Your thoughts when facing an opponent?”?However, he replies,?“There is no opponent.”

via Getty

When the kung fu master asked,?“Why is that?”?Lee replies,?“Because there is no ‘I'”?The famous clip is from the first of Enter The Dragon, before Lee’s character embarks on his journey to participate in the martial arts tournament. The clip ends with the famous line,?“A good fight should be like a small play, but played seriously.”

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Wheeler found inspiration in the golden words of the legendary martial artist. Unlike most bodybuilders, Flex Wheeler is also an experienced martial artist. In fact, during his teenage years, Wheeler practiced martial arts and did bodybuilding workouts in the gym.

When Flex Wheeler chose between bodybuilding and martial arts

Training for martial arts and training for bodybuilding are two different things, but the Arnold Classic winner excelled at both. However, Wheeler reached a point where he could compete. Despite being talented in both disciplines, Wheeler had to choose between bodybuilding or martial arts as a career.

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The bodybuilding icon chose to compete in bodybuilding. Wheeler didn’t regret his choice as he became one of the top bodybuilders in the world. Besides breaking the record for most Arnold Classic wins, the bodybuilder became a runner-up at Mr. Olympia multiple times. He also continued to practice martial arts.

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Watch this story | Bruce Lee: Top five moves of the legend you need to know

Did you also find Bruce Lee’s words inspiring? Write your thoughts in the comments.