Bruce Lee - part I

May 7, 2010

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Bruce Lee was born Lee Jun Fan, on 27 November 1940, in San Francisco, California. His parents were from Hong Kong. Bruce's father, Lee Hoi Chuen was one of the leading Cantonese Opera Company in America and film actors. At that time he was embarked on a Cantonese opera tour with his family, during the Second World War and the Japanese invasion of Hong Kong.

Despite the Japanese occupation of his country, Bruce's father decided to go back to Kowloon in Hong Kong after his wife gave birth to Bruce. The Cantonese name Lee Jun Fan literally means "return again", Bruce's mother chose it because she felt he would return to the United States some day. Dr. Mary Glover, the hospital attending physician chose the English name "Bruce". His Chinese stage name was Li Xiao Long; Xiao Long means small dragon.

Bruce's family survived the war and after it ended, his father Lee Hoi Chuen resumed his acting career and became an even bigger star. Bruce Lee's mother Grace Ho was the daughter of a German father and a Chinese mother. She belonged to one of wealthiest and most powerful clans in Hong Kong, the Ho Tungs.

Despite the advantage of growing up in an affluent and privileged environment, in fact the Hong Kong neighborhood of post war was a tough place to live in. It became over-crowded and dangerous. There were local Hong Kong laws, outlawing street-fights, but gangs ruled the city streets and Bruce was often forced to fight them.

Bruce's parents couldn't prevent him from fighting, and being seriously worried about his safety they decided he needed to be trained in the martial arts.

Bruce's father was the first trainer he had. Bruce learned the fundamentals of Wu style Tai Chi Chuan from him.

At age 13 Bruce Lee began training in the Chinese martial art of Wing Chun system of Kung-Fu under the famous Wing Chun master Yip Man. This was the largest influence on his martial development.

At the age of 18 after numerous street fighting, which ultimately caused police involvement, fearing for his life Bruce's parents decided he had to return to the United States, to his birth-place in San Francisco, Chinatown.

It was also just the time for him to claim his American Citizenship, and to receive his higher education, which he completed in December 1960, obtaining his diploma from Edison &#&Technical School&#& (now Seattle Central &#&Community College&#&).

In March 1961, he enrolled at the &#&University of Washington&#&.