?Very Profitable Thing to Do?: Despite Doubling the Prices, Bruce Lee Was Overwhelmed With Requests in Hollywood Once

When Bruce Lee came to America in 1959, he began teaching martial arts to earn money for his living. Eventually, he opened a school in Seattle in the 1960s, which became a huge hit. It led him to open more classes in Seattle and Oakland. Gradually, Lee?s martial art talent roared for him as many Hollywood stars took private training under the Sensei. At one point, his popularity grew so drastically that people were ready to pay him skyrocketing prices for his classes.

Lee?s biography, Bruce Lee: A Life, revealed that the master once disclosed to a reporter how martial art training under him, became a highly demanding aspect in Hollywood. Lee unfolded the jaw-dropping prices that he charged and guess what? He made great money!

Bruce Lee talked about the craze of his martial art classes in Hollywood

With great conviction, Lee was able to impress traditional martial art practitioners in America to try modern martial art taught by him. The master discarded the idea of practicing repetitive martial art moves. Instead, his approach was more towards combatting with the presence of mind. Since Lee’s approach was fresh and effective, people in America took to his methods. By 1968, his popularity reached Hollywood and he eventually became the ?hottest self-defense instructor.?

Lee was so overwhelmed with the requests he received in Hollywood for the training sessions that he had to carry a business card that read, ?Bruce Lee?s Jeet Kune Do, Professional Consultation and Instruction.?

His biography revealed his training charges which were, ?$275 per hour, Ten Session Course: $1,000, Instruction Overseas: $1,000 per week plus expenses.? During an interview with a reporter in 1968, Lee talked about the overwhelming response that he got from Hollywood. He told, ?I even doubled the prices and people still kept coming. I had no idea so many people were interested in Chinese boxing. It was a very profitable thing to do.?

Read More: ?They Have No Teeth?: Bruce Lee?s Actions Once Angered American Crowd

Lee revealed that Hollywood stars like Stirling Silliphant, James Coburn, and Steve McQueen filled his account with lumpsum amounts as his fees. Nevertheless, they also gave him a taste of the rich and famous lifestyle. Although Lee enjoyed the opportunity of training these Hollywood stars, it was not liked by the Chinese community in the States.

Bruce Lee was forced to shut down his school

The master earned great fame as a highly demanded self-defense instructor in Hollywood. However, the idea of giving private classes to American actors was not much appreciated by the Chinese community. They did not like the idea of teaching kung fu to non-Chinese people.

As a consequence, Lee had to end up in a condition-oriented fight with legend Wong Jackman. The condition was that if Lee lost to him, he would have to close his school. Although, the fight results were never disclosed, it seemed like Lee won the fight as he did not shut his school afterward.

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