Bruce Lee Performed a ?Dangerous and Detrimental? Training Technique Banned by Many NFL Teams in the 1960s

With sincerity and hard work, Bruce Lee achieved a physique that struck the right balance between strength and good looks. During his training years, Lee tried various types of obsolete and trendy workouts to achieve the desired physique to establish his name in the golden pages of martial art history. In fact, Lee also trained a regime that was often criticized and flagged as dangerous by NFL players.

Lee?s biography revealed that he was concerned about building body strength. To become an ultimate fighter, he recognized the need to level up his way of training. Hence, he chose a less-encouraged training regime.

Bruce Lee brought about a revolution in martial arts training

Bruce Lee?s curious attitude led him to try all sorts of training regimes. From boxing to fencing, the martial art legend was in for everything. According to his biography titled Bruce Lee: A life authored by Matthew Polly, the Little Phoenix was the first martial artist to train like a modern athlete back in the 60s. In those days, traditionalists assumed that it was sufficient to practice basic techniques as their primary form of exercise. But not Bruce Lee!

Modern training regimes like weightlifting were once detested by many. Additionally, the amazingly fit NFL athletes also did not encourage it much. Lee?s biography revealed, “Professional football players in the 1960s considered weightlifting to be dangerous and detrimental? many NFL teams banned it.” Contrary to the widespread belief about weightlifting, ?Bruce recognized that strength and conditioning were crucial to becoming the ultimate fighter.? He believed that to hit the punches and kicks right, he required more strength and that could only happen with weight training.

During his teens, Lee had somewhat tried weightlifting. However, he later took it as a serious undertaking when he was training to fight the legendary martial artist, Wong Jack Man during his Oakland days. It began in the company of his students James Yimm Lee and Allen Joe who were pioneers in the early era of bodybuilding.

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In his biography, his students described Lee?s weightlifting target was on strength and not size.

How Bruce Lee performed weightlifting?

Students James Yimm Lee and Allen Joe were into heavy weightlifting and this came to Lee as an opportunity. In his biography, Allen revealed that Lee focused on a ripped and not bulky physique. He performed with lighter weights with multiple repetitions.

In fact, to dedicatedly practice weightlifting, Lee built his mini gym in his garage. He placed essential gyming machines like an isometric machine, squat rack, bench press, dumbbells, and grip machine for his forearms. Nevertheless, the sensei doubled his efforts in weightlifting after experiencing an exhausting fight with Wong Jack Man. He performed cardio and boxing. Moreover, he loved jogging because it gave him time to be left alone with his thoughts.

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Even though the legend is no more, the Little Phoenix fought tooth and nail until he achieved what he desired. A true inspiration, he is.