30+ Things You Never Knew About Bruce Lee

Dive into the legacy of martial arts legend Bruce Lee, whose life was a tapestry woven with achievements, complicated relationships, and untold challenges.

From his iconic films, influential friendships, and dedication to his craft, to the profound personal moments and unexpected parallels with his son, Brandon Lee, join us as we unravel the hidden layers of Bruce Lee’s incredible life.

A Combat Prodigy

Bruce Lee first studied combat at the age of 13, taking up Wing Chun Gung-Fu as well as boxing, fencing, and other forms of martial arts.

He opened his own school, Jun Fan Gung Fu Institute, when he was just 20 years old and eventually developed his own unique form of martial arts called Jeet Kune Do. So much for any rumors that his moves were fake!

Before the Dragon

Lee was born in San Francisco but raised in Hong Kong. His birth name was Lee Jun-fan, meaning return-again in Cantonese. It is believed that the nurse who helped birth him was the first person to call him Bruce.

Second Generation Talent

Lee was born in the United States because his father, who was a famous Cantonese opera singer and film actor, was on an international opera tour in California at the time of his birth.

His father’s success and fame led to both Lee’s American citizenship and his early parlays into the entertainment industry.

Movies Before Martial Arts

Due to his father’s connections, Lee had appeared in over 20 movies by the time he was an adult. His first film appearance was as a baby of just a few months old in a movie called Golden Gate Girl. An interesting fact about these early movies and why most people do not know about them is that they were not martial arts movies.