Bruce Lee's Talking Points on Bodybuilders

[Devon97]

"This huge bodybuilder came walking by, and I said to Bruce "Man, look at the arms on that guy" I'll never forget his reaction, he said "Yeah, he's big, but is he powerful?". Dan Inosanto

[El Diablo Blanco]

"This huge bodybuilder came walking by, and I said to Bruce "Man, look at the arms on that guy" I'll never forget his reaction, he said "Yeah, he's big, but is he powerful?". Dan Inosanto

Epic ego on little china man.  Being in movies clouds his judgment.  Just because a guy in a movie hits him with a prop stick and he doesn't get hurt doesn't mean that he wouldn't get hurt with a real one.

Remember that Rocky 4 training sequence where Drago is punching into that machine that is calculating his pounds per square inch, I'd love to see what Lee's punch would register.

The fact is he was strong for a 5 foot tall 90 pound asian man, but would a bigger fighter just clean him with one solid punch?  I doubt he would have stayed standing getting a right hook from Ali or Tyson.

[ThaRealist]

Epic ego on little china man.  Being in movies clouds his judgment.  Just because a guy in a movie hits him with a prop stick and he doesn't get hurt doesn't mean that he wouldn't get hurt with a real one.

Remember that Rocky 4 training sequence where Drago is punching into that machine that is calculating his pounds per square inch, I'd love to see what Lee's punch would register.

The fact is he was strong for a 5 foot tall 90 pound asian man, but would a bigger fighter just clean him with one solid punch?  I doubt he would have stayed standing getting a right hook from Ali or Tyson.

Lee was a great martial artist and brought the first mma style of fighting. However, just like when Gracie was takin out guys twice his size in the octogon, it didn't take long for other guys to learn more styles and he couldn't even beat guys his own weight after that.

[keanu]

WHat Bruce Lee said is true. Bodybuilders train to LOOK huge, not necessarily to be strong or functional. I've known many big bodybuilders that lift weights guys 6 ft, 185lbs lift and just pump all day. Once in a while they'll max and it's shocking how weak they are for 6 or 8 reps. Power is also a factor of speed. Have you seen how slow huge bodybuilders tend to be? Explosive movements are not their friend.

  Of course there are exceptions. Derek Anthony can move a heavy bag a whole 2 inches with his power punches.

[Option D]

Epic ego on little china man. 

hilarious

[Master Blaster]

 Of course there are exceptions. Derek Anthony can move a heavy bag a whole 2 inches with his power punches.

Hahahah, classic finish. 

[JOHN MATRIX]

Power is mostly a function of speed; when it comes to punching arm size and strength is secondary to the speed and technique of the punch. i bet bruce with his 12 inch arms could register a punch harder than any bodybuilder

[Overload]

Power is mostly a function of speed; when it comes to punching arm size and strength is secondary to the speed and technique of the punch. i bet bruce with his 12 inch arms could register a punch harder than any bodybuilder

Exactly.

But don't post things of this nature on getbig, it's a terrible idea.

[Master Blaster]

Power is mostly a function of speed; when it comes to punching arm size and strength is secondary to the speed and technique of the punch. i bet bruce with his 12 inch arms could register a punch harder than any bodybuilder

Speed requires force
force requires stregnth

Hope that helps

[JOHN MATRIX]

Speed requires force
force requires stregnth

Hope that helps

it doesnt help

[MuscleMcMannus]

WHat Bruce Lee said is true. Bodybuilders train to LOOK huge, not necessarily to be strong or functional. I've known many big bodybuilders that lift weights guys 6 ft, 185lbs lift and just pump all day. Once in a while they'll max and it's shocking how weak they are for 6 or 8 reps. Power is also a factor of speed. Have you seen how slow huge bodybuilders tend to be? Explosive movements are not their friend.

  Of course there are exceptions. Derek Anthony can move a heavy bag a whole 2 inches with his power punches.

Dude what are you talking about 6'ft 185 lbs is not a bodybuilder.......someon e that size isn't even considered "big".

[El Diablo Blanco]

Power is mostly a function of speed; when it comes to punching arm size and strength is secondary to the speed and technique of the punch. i bet bruce with his 12 inch arms could register a punch harder than any bodybuilder

To a point.  Sure it's relative having a 90 pound asian taking a punch and comparing the punch to Bruce Lees.  But a lot of stronger guys will generate a stronger punch.

[Overload]

Speed requires force
force requires stregnth

Hope that helps

Force requires "mass".

F=ma

[affeman]

"This huge bodybuilder came walking by, and I said to Bruce "Man, look at the arms on that guy" I'll never forget his reaction, he said "Yeah, he's big, but is he powerful?". Dan Inosanto

Squadfather would crush that skinny geek.

[kiwiol]

Of course there are exceptions. Derek Anthony can move a heavy bag a whole 2 inches with his power punches.

In his defence, he's used to handling mostly ball bags and that too, with his chin.

[TRIX]

this guy was an actor

its like saying steven segal would destroy frank mir

[_bruce_]

WHat Bruce Lee said is true. Bodybuilders train to LOOK huge, not necessarily to be strong or functional. I've known many big bodybuilders that lift weights guys 6 ft, 185lbs lift and just pump all day. Once in a while they'll max and it's shocking how weak they are for 6 or 8 reps. Power is also a factor of speed. Have you seen how slow huge bodybuilders tend to be? Explosive movements are not their friend.

  Of course there are exceptions. Derek Anthony can move a heavy bag a whole 2 inches with his power punches.

Poor Derek 

[big L dawg]

Remember that Rocky 4 training sequence where Drago is punching into that machine that is calculating his pounds per square inch, I'd love to see what Lee's punch would register.

I guarantee his PPSI number would be higher than any 300lbs bodybuilder out there...

[IronMagazine.com]

Power is mostly a function of speed; when it comes to punching arm size and strength is secondary to the speed and technique of the punch. i bet bruce with his 12 inch arms could register a punch harder than any bodybuilder

agreed, muscle and strength mean almost nothing in a fight unless it goes to the ground but even then skill, experience and technique is more important.

I would love to see any current IFBB pro bodybuilder punch a bag or better yet get in a fight, most would get their ass kicked.

[Master Blaster]

I would love to see any current IFBB pro bodybuilder punch a bag or better yet get in a fight, most would get their ass kicked.

Yeah the average joe on the street could beat up almost any bodybuilder because of all those fancy fake muscles that slow them down. 

[devilsmile]

Yeah the average joe on the street could beat up almost any bodybuilder because of all those fancy fake muscles that slow them down.  

No.

But trained bodybuilder will get owned by a trained fighter

Take a bodybuilder who has trained lifting for 20 years against a guy who has trained against other trained fighters who train 5 hours a day- for 20 years... bodybuilder would be like; "how is this possible... this is so hard... I even took creatine this morning... I'm a on a god damn loading phase with it :O!!!"

[Skeletor]

Bruce Lee wanted mainly functional strength and muscle mass that wouldn't limit his movement or speed.

But he did eventually conclude that a stronger muscle is a bigger muscle (not a direct analogy to bodybuilding "big" though).

[Master Blaster]

No.

 bodybuilder would be like; "how is this possible... this is so hard... I even took creatine this morning... I'm a on a god damn loading phase with it :O!!!"

HAHAHAHAH!!! 

[#1 Klaus fan]

agreed, muscle and strength mean almost nothing in a fight unless it goes to the ground but even then skill, experience and technique is more important.

This is why lightweight boxers often fight against heavyweights...

[MuscleMcMannus]

agreed, muscle and strength mean almost nothing in a fight unless it goes to the ground but even then skill, experience and technique is more important.

Strength means nothing in a fight?  LOL........yeah ok bud.  You've obviously never been in a fight.  There comes a point all things being equal size and strength absolutely mean something in a fight.  If some dude grabs you or pushes you it doesn't matter how big or strong he is?  If some dude gets you in a choke it doesn't matter how big and strong he is?  If some dude grabs your wrist and puts you in a lock it doesn't matter how big and strong he is?     Strength and size I would agree offer little advantage after a certain point.....but to say they "mean almost nothing" in a fight is fucking naive.  Trust me..........a 6'5 300 lb fat power lifter swinging a bat at your head is going to do much more damage than a 5'8 150 lb twink swinging same bat.  Some 6'5 300 lb fat powerlifter grabs you from behind and puts you in a bear hug..........vs. a 5'8 150 lb twink I'd love to see which  one would be easier to get out of.  I'd rather take my chances being punched by a 5'8 150lb twink than some 6' 250lb monster with long arms.  Size means a lot.  Is it the definitive characteristic.  NO.