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Be Water, My Friend: The 10 Most Defining Bruce Lee Moments

Every once in a while, something very profound happens that changes life as we know it. One such occurrence took place in my life 20 years ago, and as such, shaped my ideals and passions into what they are today. At 8 years old through persuasion of my mother, I sat and watched for the first time probably what I consider to be the most influential movie of all time. The movie itself was very simple, but it was also one of the first of its kind and has spawned countless imitations since its release 40 years ago. The star is unmistakable and loved throughout the world, the man who opened up the door of martial arts in cinema to the West. The chiseled body, the lightning fast moves, the immovable fixed gaze, the animalistic scream, we all know who he is. The movie: Enter The Dragon; the man: Lee Jun Fan aka Bruce Lee.

1. “Boards Don’t Hit Back” – Enter The Dragon (1973)

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Well, here we are at the number one spot, and in my opinion, it is an absolute doozy. It’s halfway through the movie, and Bruce is at the tournament about to face off against Bob Wall’s treacherous O’Hara. As they approach each other centre stage, they turn to bow at Han, and then turn to bow at each other. Only instead of bowing, O’Hara decides it to be fitting to rather raise a wooden board with one hand and shatter it with the other. Bruce doesn’t flinch a muscle; he barely even bats an eyelid, and simply says, “boards don’t hit back.”

Now if this was said to me, I would’ve run for the hills or tried to find an abyss so I could disappear into oblivion just so Bruce Lee would never find me. The delivery of the line was so perfect that it was even borrowed by fellow Enter The Dragon alumni Bolo Yeung in the classic Bloodsport after Jean-Claude Van Damme performed the Dim Mak on a tower of bricks: “Very good, but brick not hit back.”

God and everyone knows I’ve missed so many other awesome Bruce Lee moments, but I’d probably need a top 50 list at the very least to be able to get them all. So please leave a comment and tell me what I missed, or just share the love and your favourite moments from the best martial arts master of all time.

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