Legendery Bruce Lee Life

Bruce Lee

About Bruce Lee

1940 November 27
San Francisco- In the The Year of the Dragon between 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. (the hour of the dragon), Lee Jun Fan (meaning return again Lee), Bruce Lee is born at the Jackson Street Hospital in San Francisco?s Chinatown. Lee Hoi Chuen, Bruce's father, was performing with the Cantonese Opera Company in America.
At three months old, Bruce debuts in "Golden Gate Girl" in San Francisco.
He plays role of a female baby, carried by his father.

1941 (Age 1)
Hong Kong - Bruce and his parents return to Kowloon, their family home. They move into an apartment at 218 Nathan Road, Kowloon district. The apartment is located on the second floor of a building containing a store on the first floor.

1946 (Age 6)
Hong Kong - Bruce makes his first major childhood movie in The Beginning of a Boy. He also performs in The Birth of Mankind, and My Son, Ah Cheun. During the later years of his childhood, Bruce appears in 20 more films. At this time Lee also becomes nearsighted and starts to wear glasses. (He will later wear contacts, suggested to him by a friend who is an optometrist.)

1952 (Age 12)
Hong Kong - Lee begins attending La Salle College, a Catholic Boys school.

1953 (Age 13)
Attended St. Xavier College- a high school. Hong Kong - After being beaten up in a street gang altercation, Bruce begins to take Gung-Fu lessons. He begins to train under Yip Man, master of the Wing Chun system of Gung-Fu.

1954 (Age 14)
Hong Kong - Bruce takes up cha-cha dancing.

1958 (Age 18)
Studied Wing Chun with Wong Shun Leung.
Hong Kong - Bruce wins the Crown Colony Cha-Cha Championship. Bruce has a leading role in the film The Orphan. This is the last movie Bruce makes as a child actor. This is the only movie where Bruce does not fight. Hong Kong - Bruce enters the 1958 Boxing Championships and defeats the reigning three year champion, Gary Elms.

1959 (Age 19)
Hong Kong - Bruce's street fighting was becoming a problem. Bruce's father and mother decide that Bruce should take a three week voyage to the United States. San Francisco California, Chinatown. Lee returns to his birth-place to claim his American Citizenship. San Francisco - Seattle - With $15 from his father, and $100 from his mother, Bruce arrives in the United States, living with an old friend of his father. He works odd jobs around the various Chinese communities. Moved to Seattle to work for Ruby Chow, another friend of his father. He lives in a room above her restaurant while working as a waiter downstairs. He eventually enrolls in Edison Technical School and earns his high school diploma. Bruce begins to teach his Martial Arts.

1961 (Age 21)
Seattle- Bruce enrolls at the University of Washington, studying Philosophy. He teaches Gung-Fu to students at school.

1963 Summer (Age 23)
Hong Kong - Bruce proposes to Amy Sanbo but is turned down. Bruce returns to Hong Kong with friend Doug Palmer for the first time since his arrival in the U.S. to visit family. He then returns to Seattle at the end of summer to continue his education.

1963 October 25 (Age 23)
Seattle - Bruce takes out Linda Emery (his future wife) for their first date. They have dinner at the Space Needle. Bruce gives notice to Ruby Chow and leaves her restaurant. He starts the first Jun Fan Gung-Fu Institute.

1963 Fall (Age 23)
Seattle - Bruce moves his Jun Fan Gung-Fu Institute into a building (4750 University Way) near the university campus. Wrote the book Chinese Gung Fu: The philosophical art of self defense. Lee teaches anyone of any race, (Asian Martial Arts schools would only teach people of their own race) At Garfield High School, Bruce demonstrates the "One-Inch Punch". This is the punch he would later make famous at the 64' Long Beach Internationals.

1964(Age 24)
Bruce meets Jhoon Rhee at the International Karate Championships. The two would remain good friends and Lee would use the high flashy kicks that Rhee taught him in the Green Hornet series and in the rest of his movies. While he believed that kicking a man in the head was like punching him in the foot, he knew the kicks looked good on film even if they were impractical for real self defense.
(Jhoon Rhee will invite Bruce to Washington, D.C. to appear at tournaments.)

1964 June (Age 24)
Oakland - Bruce discusses with James Yimm Lee plans to open a second Jun Fan Gung-Fu Institute in Oakland, CA.

1964 Summer (Age 24)
Oakland - Plans are finalized, and Bruce leaves Seattle to start a second Jun Fan Gung-Fu school in Oakland.
James Yimm Lee is Co Instructor, the only person who ever received equal with Bruce Lee teaching status.

1964 August 2 (Age 24)
Long Beach, CA - Ed Parker, known as the Father of American Kenpo and also Elvis Presley?s body-guard and karate teacher, invites Bruce to give a demonstration. Bruce shows off his "one-inch punch," and his two-finger push-ups. At his first International Karate Championships, Jay Sebring, the hair stylist for Batman, William Dozier, a producer, who is looking to cast a part in a TV series he was developing. Sebring then gives a film of Bruce's demo to Dozier who is impressed with Bruce?s abilities. Bruce flies down to Los Angeles for a screen test.

1964 August 4 (Age 24)
Oakland - Bruce leaves for Seattle. He will propose to Linda.

1964 August 17 (Age 24)
Bruce returns to Seattle to marry Linda. They soon move to Oakland, living with his good friend and Co Instructor at the Oakland school James Lee.

1965 (Age 24)
Oakland - Several months after he begins teaching, he is challenged by, Wong Jack Man, a Gung-Fu practitioner in the Chinatown Community. They agree: If Bruce looses, he will, either close his school, or stop teaching non Asians or white ghosts; and if Jack looses, he will stop teaching all together. Jack Man thinking Lee is a blow hard, feels he will back down and delays the match. Bruce becomes angered and insists that they not wait. Wong then tries to put limitations on techniques. Bruce refuses "rules" and the two go no holds barred. Bruce begins to pound his opponent in only a couple of seconds. As Bruce pounds him, Wong attempts to run, but is caught by Bruce.
Bruce begins to beat him on the ground. Students of the other teacher attempted to step in and help their teacher, James Lee, Bruce's good friend and body builder prevents this. Later he is bothered on why the fight took so long and begins to re-evaluate his style. He is determined to fix the problems with gung fu. Jeet Kune Do (JKD), "The art of the intercepting fist" is born. JKD is an art including techniques from American Boxing, Wing Chun, and French Fencing. Bruce is signed to a one-year option for The Green Hornet. He is paid an $1800 retainer.

1965 February 1 (Age 25)
Oakland, CA - Brandon Bruce Lee is born.

1965 February 8 (Age 25)
Hong Kong - Bruce's father passes away in Hong Kong. Bruce returns to Hong Kong for his father?s funeral. As tradition dictates, in order to obtain forgiveness for not being present when his father died, Bruce crawls on his knees across the floor of the funeral home towards the casket wailing loudly and crying.

1965 May (Age 25)
Bruce uses the retainer money from the Green Hornet and flies himself, Linda, and Brandon back to Hong Kong in order to settle his father's estate affairs. While in Hong Kong, Bruce takes Brandon to see Yip Man to persuade him to perform on tape. Bruce wants to take the footage back to Seattle and show his students what the man looks like in action. Yip man declines the offer.

1965 September (Age 25)
Seattle - Bruce, Linda, Brandon return to Seattle.

1966 (Age 26)
Los Angeles - Bruce and family move to Los Angeles to an apartment on Wilshire and Gayley in Westwood.
This is where he begins working on a new TV series called The Green Hornet as Kato. The Green Hornet series starts filming and Bruce is Paid $400 per episode, where Lee perfects his famous flashy kicks taught to him by Jhoon Rhee. Bruce buys a 1966 blue Chevy Nova.
He later opens third branch of the Jun Fan Gung-Fu Institute in Los Angeles' Chinatown.

1966 September 9 (Age 26)
Los Angeles - The Green Hornet series premiers. 1967-1971 (Age 27-31) Hollywood - During this time, Bruce lands bit parts in various films and T.V. series. He also gives private lessons for up to $250 an hour to personalities Steve McQueen, James Coburn, James Garner, Lee Marvin, Roman Polanski, and Kareem Abdul Jabbar. Bruce meets Chuck Norris in New York at the All American Karate Championships in Washington D.C. Chuck fights Joe Lewis and wins.

1967 (Age 27)
Washington, D.C. - Bruce meets Joe Lewis at The Mayflower Hotel while both were guests at the 67' National Karate Championships. Joe is competing in the tournament and Bruce is making special appearances as Kato.

1967 February (Age 27)
Los Angeles - Bruce opens a 3rd school at 628 College Street, Los Angeles, CA. Dan Inosanto serves as assistant instructor.

1967 July 14 (Age 27)
Los Angeles - The last episode of The Green Hornet Series airs.

1969 April 19 (Age 29)
Santa Monica, CA Shannon Lee is born.

1969 (Age 29)
A scriptwriter is hired and paid $12K by Stirling Silliphant and James Coburn to write a script for the Silent Flute. (Later to be played by David Caradine) The script produced is unacceptable, and no other scriptwriter could seen to do the job. They then decide to write it themselves. 1970 (Age 30) Los Angeles - Bruce injures his sacral nerve lifting weights and experiences severe muscle spasms in his back.. Doctors told him that he would never kick again. They were wrong, but Lee suffered pain almost constantly. During the months of recovery he starts to document his training methods and his philosophy of Jeet Kune Do. Later published as The Tao of Jeet Kune Do.

1970 (Age 30)
Hong Kong - Bruce and Brandon fly to Hong Kong and are welcomed by fans of The Green Hornet Show.
Bruce sends Unicorn to talk to Run Run Shaw on his behalf and inform Shaw that he would be willing to do a movie for him for $10K. Shaw makes counter-offer of a seven year contract and $2K per film which Bruce declines.

1971 February (Age 31)
India - Bruce, James Coburn, Stirling Silliphant fly to India to scout locations for The Silent Flute. They spend one month searching but are forced to call off the search as Coburn backs out of the project. This trip gives Bruce the idea for Game of Death, where a fighter, mastering in several techniques, will go from one level to the next in a temple: the first level (the level of weaponry), the second level (the level of the nine degree black belt), and the third level ( "The level of the unknown.")

1971 (Age 31)
Hong Kong. - Bruce takes a short trip back to Hong Kong to arrange for his mother to live in the U.S. Unknowingly to him, he had become a superstar for The Green Hornet was one of the most popular TV shows in Hong Kong. Later, he is approached by Raymond Chow, owner of a new production company, and offered the lead role in a new film called The Big Boss. Bruce accepts. Bruce is supplied with small apartment at 2 Man Wan Road - Kowloon, HK. Brandon attends La Salle College. The same school Bruce attended only 15 years before. Bruce is interviewed by Canadian talk show host Pierre Berton for a TV program being filmed in Hong Kong.

1971 July (Age 31) Thailand - Filming begins for The Big Boss (released in the U.S. as Fists of Fury). The Big Boss opens in Hong Kong to great reviews and mobs of fans. Proceeds to gross more than $3.5 million in little than three weeks.

1971 December 7 (Age 31)
Hong Kong - Bruce receives telegram, notifying him that he had not been chosen for the part in the upcoming series, The Warrior. This series was later released as Kung-Fu, staring David Caradine, as the studios felt that the American public would not accept an Asian in a leading role on television. Kung Fu aired as ABC-TVs Movie of the Week on February 21, 1972.

1972 (Age 32)
Hong Kong - Fist of Fury (released in the U.S. as The Chinese Connection) is released. It grosses more than The Big Boss and further establishes Bruce as a Hong Kong superstar. Bruce gets a larger budget, a larger salary, and more power of directing in this film. Bruce begins work on Game of Death and films several fight scenes including Dan Inosanto and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Bruce appears on Hong Kong's TVB channel for a hurricane disaster relief benefit. In a demo Bruce performs, he breaks 4 out of 5 boards, one of which is hanging in the air with a line of string. Brandon even performs and breaks a board with a sidekick!

1972 (Age 32)
Rome, Italy - Location shots are made for Bruce's third film The Way of the Dragon (released in the U.S. as The Return of the Dragon). This time Bruce gets almost complete control the movie, which he writes, directs, and stars. Chuck Norris is Bruce's adversary in the final fight scene. Again, this film surpasses all records set by his previous two films.

1972 December 30 (Age 32)
Oakland ? James Yimm Lee, dies of Black Lung disease from his years of welding.

1973 February (Age 33)
Hong Kong - Bruce gets his chance at American stardom as filming of Enter the Dragon begins while Game of Death is put on hold. It is the first-ever production between the U.S. and Hong Kong film industries. On February 20, Bruce is guest of honor at St. Francis Xavier's school for Sports Day ceremonies.

1973(Age 33)
Bruce orders all three of his Jeet Kune Do schools closed in six months. He did not approve of some teaching methods in his absence and he felt others were taking advantage of him in some way. Hong Kong - Filming of Enter the Dragon is completed. Bruce is at Golden Harvest Studios in Hong Kong dubbing his voice for "Enter The Dragon". The air conditioners had been turned off, so the microphones won't pick them up. The temperature soared. Bruce takes a break looping lines to go to the bathroom and splash water on his face.
In he bathroom, he passes out on the bathroom floor. He revives twenty minutes later just as assistant sent to find out what was keeping him walks in and discovers him on the ground. He tries to conceal his collapse by acting as though he has dropped his glasses on the floor and is searching for them and is helped up by the assistant. As they are walking back to the dubbing room, Bruce collapses again and is rushed to a nearby hospital.

1973 July 10 (Age 33)
Hong Kong - Bruce Lee is walking through the Golden Harvest Studios and overhears Lo Wei in a nearby room bad mouthing him. He confronts Lo Wei who retreats and summons the local police. When the police arrive Lo Wei falsely accuses Bruce of threatened him with a knife concealed in his belt buckle. He further insists that Bruce sign a statement that he will not harm him. Bruce signs the statement to get Lo Wei off his back although Lo Wei lied to the police and Bruce never had a knife nor threatened to kill him. That same day, Bruce appears on the Hong Kong TV show, Enjoy Yourself Tonight with host Ho Sho Shin. Bruce alludes to his problems with director Lo Wei, but does not mention him by name. Bruce is asked to display his physical prowess and demonstrates his abilities. Bruce demonstrates a technique and Shin is knocked across the stage.

1973 July 16 (Age 33)
Hong Kong - Heavy rains fall caused by a typhoon off the coast of Hong Kong. Bruce makes a $200 phone call to speak to Unicorn in his hotel room, who is filming a movie in Manila. Bruce tells Unicorn that he is worried about the many headaches he is experiencing.

1973 July 20 (Age 33)
Hong Kong - Early that morning Bruce types a letter to his attorney, Adrian Marshall, detailing business ventures he wants to discuss on his upcoming trip to Los Angeles. Bruce had tickets already set to return to the US for a publicity tour and was scheduled to appear on the Johnny Carson show. Raymond Chow goes by Bruce's house and the two discuss plans for their upcoming movie Game of Death. Linda kisses Bruce good-bye and says she is going out to run some errands and will see him later that night. Raymond and Bruce visit Betty Ting Pei at her apartment to discuss her role in Game of Death. That evening plans had been made for them all to meet George Lazenby over dinner and enlist him for a part. Bruce explains that he has a headache, takes a prescription pain killer offered by Betty, and lies down on her bed to rest prior to dinner. Raymond Chow departs and says that he will meet them later. Raymond Chow and George Lazenby meet at a restaurant and await Bruce and Betty's arrival, but the two never show up. At 9:00 p.m. Chow receives a call from Betty; she said that she has tried to wake Bruce up but he won't come to. Betty summons her personal physician who fails to revive Bruce and who has Bruce taken to the hospital. Bruce does not revive and is pronounced dead. Bruce Lee dies in Hong Kong of an apparent cerebral edema (swelling of the brain). Doctors declared the death of Bruce Lee as "death by misadventure." The premier of Enter the Dragon was pushed back by four days due to the actors death.

1973 July 25(Age 33)
Hong Kong - A funeral ceremony is held for in Hong Kong over 25,000 people were in attendance.
Bruce is dressed in the Hifu he wore in Enter the Dragon.

1973 July 30 (Age 32)
After a smaller second ceremony in Seattle, Washington at Butterworth Funeral Home on East Pine Street, Bruce Lee is buried at Lake View Cemetery. His pallbearers included Steve McQueen, James Coburn, Dan Inosanto, Taky Kimura, Peter Chin, and Robert Lee his brother.

1973 August 24
Hollywood California- Enter The Dragon premiers at Graumann's Chinese Theater.

After Bruce Lee?s Death

Tao of Jeet Kune Do published.
Main Chinese Gung Fu Associations grant Lee their highest honor, the title and rank of Sijo Founder of Jeet Kune Do.
Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

To pay your respects to Bruce or Brandon Lee:

Lakeview Cemetery
1554 15th. Ave. E
Seattle, WA

(about two miles northeast of downtown Seattle) Specific Interment Location: lot 276, east side of circular driveway in center of cemetery. GPS coordinates: 47.6333, -122.3158 (hddd.dddd)

206-322-1582 Lakeview Office

Jeet Kune Do

Jeet Kune Do is the systemized personification of the Bruce Lee fighting self defense system. It is a dynamic martial arts system designed to mold and blend with the individual martial artist. It has no strict rules, it has no strict disciplines. It's basic philosophy says to use what works. To mold the art to fit your body type and skills.

Much of Jeet Kune Do incorporates the training regimen used in Wing Chun Kung Fu (A Southern Chinese Martial Arts System), Kick Boxing, Filipino Martial Arts, and Kenpo.

Jeet Kune Do, The Street Fighting Philosophy

"Use no way as a way, No limitation as a limitation."...Bruce Lee

Jeet Kune Do's fighting system was the first "FREE-FORM" martial art to ever be brought to martial arts. JKD is the martial art created by Bruce Lee. It is a simplistic systm that allow the fighter to to be creative in his own expressiont of JKD.

The expression of JKD is like DNA, similar to all humans but not exactly the same from person to person. The are as many expressions of Jeet Kune Do as there are practicioners. They all abide by the basic structure and guide lines set by Bruce Lee, but each adds his one individual twist to his form of Jeet Kune Do.

You cannot put JKD in to a catagory like Tae Kwan Do for instance, you can say that they are feet fighters, but what is the Jeet Kune Do street fighter what is he, HE IS THE UNKNOWN.

Jeet Kune Do--the literal translation is "way of the intercepting fist"--was conceived by Bruce Lee in 1967. Unlike many other martial arts, there are neither a series of rules nor classification of techniques which constitutes a distinct Jeet Kune Do (JKD) method of fighting. JKD is unbound; JKD is freedom. It possesses everything, yet in itself is possessed by nothing. Those who understand JKD are primarily interested in its powers of liberation when JKD is used as a mirror for self-examination.

Silat Seni Gayong was formulated and founded by Mahaguru Dato' Meor Abdul Rahman bin Uda Mohd Hashim. He was of bugis decent born in 1915 and was the great-grandson of Daeng Kuning, commonly known as Panglima Hitam. Meor Abdul Rahman began learning the knowledge of silat at the age of twelve from his grandfather Tuan Syed Zainal Syed Idris Al-Attas. Syed Zainal is one of the warriors who fought against the British colonialism of the 19th century, in Pahang. Syed Zainal inherited his silat knowledge from Daeng Ambok Solok, a bugis warrior residing in Jambi Sumatra at that time.

For three years, Meor Abdul Rahman trained and learned with other students of Syed Zanial. At 19, Meor Abdul Rahman successfully achieved the understanding and the 'selok-belok' (the ins and outs), the art of seni gayong. However, his grandfather did not perform the "ritual of authorisation" of silat gayong on him, as he had foreseen in a prophecy that Meor Abdul Rahman will have this ritual performed on him by a greater (unseen) warrior.

In 1936, the "ritual of authorisation" was performed on Mahaguru Meor Abdul Rahman by none other than the legendary Hang Tuah. Needless to say, this was an incident on the meta-physical (spiritual) level. Some stories report that the whole ceremony took place in a kind of "dream". This incident occurred on a large black rock by the river at Hutan Menam (now Southern Thailand). All the secrets and knowledge of Silat were transmitted to him and he was given the trust to teach and spread Silat Seni Gayong to the best of his ability.

Meor Abdul Rahman was given the title Panglima Sendo (invincible warrior), by his Royal Highness Sultan Alang Iskandar, after demonstrating his skills and ability to the royal court and dignitaries. The Sultan was so impressed and pleased by Meor Abdul Rahman that he took him as his adopted son. Meor Abdul Rahman stayed at the palace until the Sultan's death in 1938.

In 1938, Meor Abdul Rahman moved to Singapore looking for work. There he found work at the British Royal Signal Corp Barrack, Killman, Woodland. From there he later became the un-armed combat instructor to the British soldiers. When the Japanese army attacked Singapore in 1942, Meor Abdul Rahman escaped with his family to Pulau Sudong (island south of Singapore). He underwent much hardship and trials before finally being allowed to reside there. Being a "lawless" island, Silat Seni Gayong was much needed for the protection of one self and the community; therefore the art was re-introduced to the community.
When Meor Abdul Rahman successfully saved the population of Pulau Sudong from the "Japanese threat", Silat Gayong was 'accepted' by the population, and taught throughout the island. Meor Abdul Rahman and his family then returned to Taiping, Perak.

In 1943 Meor Abdul Rahman was captured and imprisoned by the occupying Japanese Army. He was charged with treason against the Imperial Army and was sentenced to death by hanging. (This followed an incident in which Mahaguru 'fought off' a Japanese officer who had made rude advances towards his wife.)
On the day of the execution Meor Abdul Rahman, bravely and against the odds, 'overpowered' his armed captors. For fear of further losses, the Japanese authorities released him. Soon after however, the Japanese managed to 'force' him to become one of their own soldiers.

When the Japanese surrendered in 1945, Meor Abdul Rahman and his family migrated yet again to Pulau Sudong. He was offered to become the 'Headman' of the island. During these years, Silat Seni Gayong spread to the neighbouring islands including those in Indonesian territories.

The year 1947 saw the appointment of Meor Abdul Rahman as an investigator with the Crime Investigation Department in Singapore. In this year too, he was awarded the 'King George VI' medal, an honour from the British Government, for his service in fighting the Japanese occupation of Singapore. In 1948 he actively spread Silat gayong throughout Singapore and on to the Malay Peninsula. After retiring from the police force, Meor Abdul Rahman established the first Silat Gayong Training School, at Lorong Fatimah, Woodland, Singapore. It was here that the early teachers or gurulatih of Gayong underwent their training.

In 1959, Meor Abdul Rahman met Dato' Onn bin Ja'afar, the founder of UMNO (United Malay National Organization), who offered himself to be a disciple of Silat Gayong. Dato' Onn suggested that Silat Gayong should be registered legally as an organization. Efforts began to register Silat Gayong and finally in 1963, this silat was officially registered as 'Pertubohan Silat Seni Gayong Malaya' with the registration number, 361. PSSGM is the first silat ever to be registered in Malaya.
After its registration, Silat Gayong continued to develop even more. From Singapore, Gayong spread to Johor. Meanwhile, in the north of the peninsula, Gayong spread on the effort of Meor Abdul Aziz, the elder brother of Meor Abdul Rahman and other 'gurulatih' sent from Singapore. Tengku Laksamana Kedah, on the royal command of Sultan Badlishah of Kedah had invited Silat Seni Gayong for a Command Performance in 1957.

The Silat Seni Gayong Training School was moved from Singapore to Kota Sarang Semut, Kedah, when the Mahaguru moved there in 1964.

In 1970, Silat Seni Gayong was invited by the Malaysian Government to be part of the National Entourage for The '70 Expo in Osaka, Japan. The Mahaguru and En. Razali Salleh (The Secretary General PSSGM then) accompanied two Gayong exponents, Che'gu Mustapha Kamal and Che'gu Mohd. Norsaii ,for the performances at the Expo, for two weeks. The Silat Demonstration was received with much encouraging enthusiasm and even 'surprised The Emperor Of Japan.
The Silat demonstration was also widely publicised by the media networks in Japan.

And yet again, in 1971, The Silat Seni Gayong Training School moved to Air Kuning, Taiping Perak, when the Mahaguru moved there. Mahaguru Meor Abdul Rahman was then awarded the highest honour, The Dato' Paduka Cura Simanja Kini, by Sultan Idris Shah, the sultan of Perak. In this year as well, Silat Seni Gayong was introduced to the Malaysian Armed Forces. 87 personnel from the rank and file of the military underwent an intensive Silat Gayong training for six months at a military camp in Taiping. Upon completion, they were given authorization as teachers or Gurulatih of Silat Gayong and this Silat was taken to all the military camps in the country.

Silat Seni Gayong was then introduced to The Royal Malaysian Police in 1973. A similar intensive training course was held for 48 police personnel from the lower ranks. Similarly, upon graduating, they were ordered to spread Silat Seni Gayong to all the Police training schools in Malaysia.

In 1978, Mohammed Moncef Abdullah returned to his home in Tunisia, after acquiring the knowledge of Silat Seni Gayong in Malaysia. He is now responsible for propagating Silat Gayong in the Middle East. His students have been to Malaysia in the early 1990's to further their training in Silat Seni Gayong.

In Western Australia Silat Gayong is being taught by Jan de Jong, an expert in the martial arts specializing on the Japanese systems. He had studied Silat Seni Gayong from Mahaguru Meor Abdul Rahman himself during the mid 80's.

Che'gu Sulaiman Shariff and Che'gu Sheikh Shamsudin of Gayong America is responsible for promoting Silat Gayong in the USA from the early 1990's, although before that, Che'gu Shaharudin Abd. Hamid had introduced Seni Gayong to a few known martial artists there.

Che'gu Mufti Ansari brought Silat Seni Gayong to Europe in the late 1980's. In the United Kingdom, Silat Gayong was taught by Che'gu Adlin from Negeri Sembilan. Beginning from middle of the year 2000, Gayong UK was formed and headed by Ketua Khalifah Tuan Haji Ariffin Mahidin.

In July 2000, Silat Seni Gayong was established on the island of Mauritius by Che'gu Ridzuan Abdul Razak with blessings from Che'gu Siti Kalsom Dato' Meor Abdul Rahman. To date, two Gayong centres have been opened there.

Mahaguru Dato' Meor Abdul Rahman passed away and returned to Devine Presence on the 23rd of June 1991. According to the Will of The Mahaguru, after him, no one of his successors shall be titled 'Mahaguru'. Silat Seni Gayong would from then on be administered by a Board of Trustees, comprising of members who are trustworthy and strong on the 'cause' of Silat Seni Gayong. Before blowing his last breath, Dato' Mahaguru then appointed his daughter Che'gu Siti Kalsom as Trustee I, and Che'gu Mohd. Razali Salleh as Trustee II of Silat Seni Gayong Malaysia and the World.

US Silat Champ

American Joel Champ has come to Malaysia to earn his 3rd degree black belt in silat

HE may be from suburban Chicago, Illinois, but 32-year-old American Navy Master at Arms Joel Champ is a master at silat, a form of martial arts that hails from the Malay Archipelago.

I would say that silat has an attitude about it and an approach to self-preservation that stands out ..."

After 12 years of training, Champ is now ready to move from second degree black belt to third degree black belt. And this can only be done in silat’s spiritual home – Malaysia.

Champ’s journey to learn from reclusive practitioners of silat in Malaysia is captured in the National Geographic documentary, Fight Masters – Silat: The Deadly Art, which premieres Aug 31 on the National Geographic Channel (Astro channel 553) at 9pm.

The American picked up the finer points of this art form from Shiekh Shamsuddin Salim (or Cikgu Sam), the founder of The Silat Seni Gayong Federation of the United States. Cikgu Sam holds the rank of Harimau Pelangi Cula Sakti (black belt) in the Gayong Malaysia hierarchy and carries the title Ketua Kalifah (Chief Caliph).

He studied under the late Datuk Meor Abdul Rahman, the legendary mahaguru of silat who established the Malaysian Silat Art of Seni Gayong, the first officially recognised silat system by the Malaysian government.

A computer analyst by profession, Cikgu Sam has been living in Chicago since 1984 and conducts silat classes in his spare time.He was introduced to Champ’s father at his martial arts school in Lisle, a suburb of Chicago.

"When my father found out about his silat background, he asked Cikgu Sam to come teach at his school," said Champ in an email interview. "Cikgu Sam is one of the greatest teachers and an amazing pesilat. I feel he embodies all the qualities of a true modern-day silat warrior. He is a man of honour and is very humble and true to his word.

"He is a family man and a great friend. He has always openly shared his culture and vast knowledge of Silat Seni Gayong with me and because of him, many doors have been opened for me. I’m in his debt."

Champ and his older brother were exposed to martial arts at a young age at his father’s martial arts school. The boys would watch their father teach hapkido and they, eventually, took it up.

"That was the old school of hard knocks, losing teeth and bleeding in training. When I met Cikgu Sam at my dad’s school and watched him teach silat, I was very impressed by what I saw. It was deadly and unorthodox from other things I have been exposed to and it seemed to blend a bit of everything I had done in the past."

At 1.8m tall, Champ experienced some difficulties perfecting certain moves. "I’m taller than most practitioners of silat or pesilat. It was only an issue when the techniques involve very low stances – you try and match the person you are training with and that can pose an issue when your height is an issue and you’re taller than the rest."

In Champ’s opinion, silat isn’t that different from other forms of martial arts. "Different arts may emphasise on certain aspects more than others (such as grappling, kicking, weapons, etc). [But] all are physically so close to each other [that] it is best to recognise similarities.

"I would say that silat has an attitude about it and an approach to self-preservation that stands out, but I feel that [it] is because of years of [fighting] invading forces from various nations ....

"When a people is colonised, or when others attempt to colonise them, they will naturally develop an art form that is deadly with elements of stealth and hidden trickery. They will also incorporate elements of their environment and spiritual aspects to help them in their defence.

"That being said, I also will physically compare [silat] to a blend of Thai boxing, jiu-jitsu, escrima and kung fu. That is my style of silat – Silat Seni Gayong."

This is not the first time Champ has been to Malaysia. "I have always been treated more like family than like a guest. Cikgu Sam’s family has always been so kind and PSSGM (Persatuan Seni Silat Gayong Malaysia) welcomes us with smiles, food, and excellent training every time we come to Malaysia.

"I would like to go out and see more of the silat scene in Malaysia. I only have been exposed to Silat Seni Gayong and Silat Melayu Lok 9."

Champ personally believes that it is good that people are taking up martial arts. "I do think though that the Malay people and Malay youth should take a vested interest in silat.

"There is such a beautiful and powerful treasure in silat and it must be preserved! I would like to see it preserved by the people where the art has its origins and roots."

Silat In Illinois United States

Silat in Illinois

Gayong classes in Illinois are currently conducted by Cikgu (teacher) Sheikh Shamsuddin, also known as Sam. He is ranked Harimau Pelangi Cula Sakti (black belt) in the Gayong Malaysia hierarchy and carries the title Ketua Kalifah (Chief of Caliph). He has also studied other martial arts such as Hapkido and Aikido. He has given several seminars with other known self-defense practitioners such as Cikgu Majid Mat Isa and Cikgu Kahar from Malaysia, Cikgu Ariffin Mahidin (Gayong from London, England), Guru William De Thouars (Kuntao Silat) and Victor De Thouars (Serak Silat), Guru Jim Ingram (Mustika Kuwitang Silat), Guru Dr. Andre KnutGraichen, Guru Wayne Welsh, Hapkido instructor Randy Stigall and Hanshi Bruce Juchnik (Kempo).

Four senior students of Sam are also helping him spreading Gayong within United States; Joel Champ, Jennifer Para, Danial Snyder and Neel Tummala. Cikgu Joel Champ is ranked Harimau Pelangi Cula Sakti in the Gayong Malaysia hierarchy and currently carries the title Khalifah Muda (Young Califh) given by cikgu Siti Kalsom in Taiping, Perak, Malaysia. He has also studied other martial arts such as Hapkido, Kempo, Kuntao Silat, Kick Boxing and the Philippines Arnis stick fighting. He has also trained Gayong under the guidance of cikgu Majid, Kahar Redza, Jazwan and Malik in Kuala Lumpur. Joel has also given several silat seminars together with Sam in various locations within United States. He has written and published several articles on Silat Seni Gayong with the local martial art magazines as well as martial art magazine "Seni Beladiri" in Malaysia. Joel is an adopted son of cikgu Siti Kalsom Meor Rahman.

Jennifer Para, Daniel Snyder and Neel Tummala have also traveled to Malaysia and trained Gayong under the guidance of cikgu Kahar Redza, cikgu Jazwan and cikgu Malik. Jennifer and Daniel are an adopted daughter and son of Siti Kalsom Meor Rahman. Neel Tummala is an adopted brother of Siti Kalsom.

Malaysia Greatest Martial Art ( Silat Seni Gayong )

Introduction

Silat is a Malay word which means martial arts. Malay silat is a generic term for many Malaysian martial arts. There are at least 150 known Malay silats in Malaysia. Most popular ones are Silat Gayong (pronounced Guy Yoog), Silat Cekak, Silat Sendeng, Silat Keris Lok 9 and Silat Gayong Fatani. There is also another silat style called silat Melayu. This silat is considered as the oldest Malay silat.

Silat Gayong, or correctly referred to as Silat Seni Gayong, is a Malay art of self-defense; a fighting art, the art of stopping wars. The art is not merely about self-defense, it is also for the development of the self (belajar mengenal diri); becoming a better person so that you may serve humanity. It is a great way to develop and increase physical fitness, flexibility, mental conditioning, discipline and self-confidence. The philosophy of Gayong is strongly related to the Malay Adat Istiadat (Malay cultures and traditions), morals, adab (respect) and the teaching of religion. Religion is the inspiration, motivation and guidance for high quality behavior. It is a mark of peace and harmony.

Gayong art has been passed down from generation to generation; from the Hulubalang Gayong to Tengku Panglima Hitam (Daeing Kuning), to Syed Zainal Idris Al-Atas, to Daeing Uda Mat Hashim, to Meor Abdul Aziz and Dato Meor Abdul Rahman (see picture on text book). Today, several practitioners have been entrusted to share the art with mankind. These include Abdul Majid Mat Isa, Siti Kalsom Meor Rahman, Razali Salleh, Hussain Kaslan, Awang Daud, Ahmad Lazim, Mat Nanyang and BadirulZaman.

There are other Gayong practitioners dedicated to spreading the art of Gayong; Kahar Redza, Ismail Jantan, Mufti Ansari, Safiah Mohd Noor, Mustapa Kamal, Sani Morni, Rasul Abdul Ghani, Faid Musa, Azhar Abbas, Zainal Ishak, Rahim Hussain, Ariffin Mahidin, Ibrahim Yatim, Idris Abdul Rahaman, Jaafar Jamaludin, Hamzah Ahmad, Selamat Mat Raji, Mohd Anuar Hamid, Jebat Majid,.... and many more.

Gayong is widely practiced in Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. Due to different opinions and styles of managing a very large organization, Gayong carries many different names; Gayong Malaysia, Gayong Pusaka, Gayong Warisan and Gayong PASAK. Regardless of whatever names Gayong may carry, they all agreed on one thing...... that the Grand Master of Gayong will always be Dato Meor Abdul Rahman . Now, Gayong is slowly spreading into Europe and the Western world.

Chuck Norris

Chuck Norris

When you think of Chuck Norris, you either immediately think action movie star (recalling his numerous feature films) or television star, for his long-running CBS television series, "Walker, Texas Ranger."

But prior to that, Chuck was a martial arts star, winning many martial arts championships including being a six-time undefeated World Professional MiddleWeight Karate Champion. Chuck was also a renowned teacher in the martial arts. Some of his students were Steve McQueen, Bob Barker, Priscilla Presley and Donnie & Marie Osmond.

From 1964 to 1968, Chuck won many State, National, and International amateur karate titles. In 1968, Chuck fought and won the World Professional MiddleWeight Karate championships by defeating the World's Top Fighters. He held that title until 1974 when he retired undefeated.

In 1968, Chuck was inducted into the Black Belt Hall of Fame as Fighter of the Year. In 1975, he was inducted as Instructor of the Year and in 1977, Chuck received the honor of Man of the Year.

Chuck is also founder and President of United Fighting Arts Federation with over 2,300 black belts all over the world.

In 1997, Chuck achieved another milestone in his life by being the first man ever in the Western Hemisphere to be awarded an 8th degree Black Belt Grand Master recognition in the Tae Kwon Do system. This was a first in 4,500 years of tradition.

Chuck's intense drive and determination extended beyond his martial arts and acting career. He became an offshore powerboat racer with speeds of 140 miles per hour. In 1991, Chuck with his team and sponsor "Popeye Chicken" won the World Off Shore Powerboat championships. Then he went on to setting a new world record by racing a 38 foot Scarab boat 605 miles across the Great Lakes, from Chicago to Detroit, in 12 hours and 8 minutes.

In 1988, Chuck wrote his autobiography, "The Secret of Inner Strength", for Little Brown Publishing, which became a New York Times Best Seller. He followed up a few years later with a second book, "The Secret Power Within: Zen Solutions to Real Problems", also with Little Brown Publishing.

Chuck was asked how he would like to be remembered. Chuck's answer was as a Humanitarian. He has gotten a good start by:

1. Being the spokesperson for United Way, doing an eight-minute commercial, which helped bring in over two billion dollars.

2. Veterans Administration spokesperson visiting over 12 V.A. hospitals and speaking with World War II, Korean and Vietnam War Veterans including one from World War I.

3. Winning the 1998 Epiphany award on Walker, Texas Ranger for the best Christian program.

4. The Jewish Humanitarian Man of the Year Award.

5. Actively involved with the Make A Wish Foundation for 20 years by making dreams come true for terminally ill children.

6. BMI Music Television Award for Walker, Texas Ranger theme song, "Eyes of a Ranger".

7. Texas Ranger Hall of Fame.

8. Commissioned Police Officer for Terrell, Texas.

9. Motivational speaker for many Christian ministries, such as T.D. Jakes Ministry, Trinity Broadcasting, and Bill Glass Crusade.

But Chuck thinks his most rewarding accomplishment was the creation of his Kick Drugs Out of America Foundation. With the help of President George Bush, Chuck implemented a program teaching the martial arts to 150 high-risk children at M C Williams Middle School in Houston, Texas, as part of the school curriculum. The program was so successful in helping these kids raise their self-esteem and instilling discipline and respect, as well as getting them out of gangs, that the program is now in 30 schools with over 4,200 young boys and girls actively participating.