Category: Lee and Friends

About Bruce, Ted, Allen and related friends

Birthday !

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Bruce Lee would have turned 79 today .

There are always some discussions about who knows better or more about him but I think that no matter what,  Bruce Lee is a name you cannot forget, so let be those who only know the actor and still adore him for that.

 

The most important is that he is not forgotten, remember that we are  46 years after his death!

He left a mark on different kind of people , those who know the most about his art or the man that he was in life and those who know most about his movies and his appearances on screen.

I am part of the JKD world and very happy for it, but I started as a Bruce Lee- the actor fan and most of my family and friends from France only know him for that.

 

Bruce Lee was more than one man, he was also an actor and he worked very hard to get there and be recognized for it.

I do not judge people not knowing about JKD, I am always happy when someone asks me what kind of martial art I do and when  I answer JKD, most don´t know what it is but as soon as I say “ the art of Bruce Lee” all people, and I mean ALL people , younger or older respond : ” OH wow !”. That does not only make me proud of what I do, that makes me happy that people still know and still are impressed by Bruce 🙂

 

I really hope there will be an event next year for the 80th birthday in San Francisco, we were there 9 years ago for the 70th,  I would love to go back  🙂 I miss SF and this time I hope at least one word comes out of my mouth if I get the chance to meet Linda again 🙂

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The Hong Kong Bruce Lee house is gone.

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Bruce Lee called the mansion The Crane’s Nest.

 

I read about this in a FB post from FB friend John Little. I realized I knew very little about this story so I thought I would write about it here.

Bruce and his family lived in this house on 41 Cumberland Road from 72 to 73 while working on “The Way of the Dragon,” “The Game of Death” and “Enter the Dragon.”

Bruce died in Hong Kong on July 20, 1973.

Yu Pang-lin a Chinese businessman,  bought the house in 1974, after that the house was modified to be more private as it was  used as a “ bordel”,  I did not know that.

What the new owner did with the house has not much to do  with Bruce I would I say, but the thing is, this is Bruce Lee we are talking about,  he spent his last years in this house with his family , it should mean something.

I think that this house could have been used for something far more dignified and if not as a tribute or museum as it was planned in 2008 , it should have been something better that this degrading place for dirty men ( excuse my French ! )

Anyways, Yu had planned to sell it in 2008, but thanks to fans protesting , he did not do it at the time.

In 2018 his grandson announced he  was  planning on renovations to make the house a Chinese Study center but experts found the state of the house “extremely bad” and that it would be dangerous for students.

Because of the extensive damages the cost of the renovation would exceed  building a whole new one,  this is why the decision was taken.

Bottom line and my opinion, had it been preserved the right way from the beginning, this would not have happenned, too bad the house was sold to someone who obviously did not care at all.

 

This is before the demolition:

This is after:

Annie

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I was just informed about the passing of Annie Joe , I was not aware she was sick and I definetely did not expect this to happen this year.

I wrote not a long time ago how energetic and full of life she was, but  I understand that losing your life partner especially at that age is a factor.

I am deeply saddenned I had hoped to meet her again , this comes as a sad news and a sad beginning of the year .

Annie,

you brought joy in every people who ever met you and I will miss you very much

Rest in peace together with your love , we will always have you both in our hearts

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WARRIOR

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I just heard about this upcoming series that is based on Bruce Lee own writings , it is called Warrior  and will be aired in the United States beginning of 2019.

Here is the description:

“Set at the times of the Tong Wars in the late 1800s in San Francisco, the series follows a martial arts prodigy originating in China who moves to San Francisco and ends up becoming a hatchet man for the most powerful tong in Chinatown”.

This is a whole new series, not to be confused with “Kung Fu ” who was played by David Carradine .

But according to  Linda Lee Cadwell,  Bruce Lee created the concept for the Kung Fu series , which was then stolen by Warner Bros.  In an interview in Dec. 8th 1971, Bruce Lee said that he had developed a concept for a television series called  The Warrior, the series were meant to star himself,  the story is about a martial artist in the American Old West,  but Warner Brothers and Paramount were sceptical about it and did not go on with the project.

Instead a new serie named Kung Fu,  using the same idea, was aired one year later, starring David Carradine.

I  agree with Linda when she says they stole Bruce Lee´s idea. Not only they stole his idea but they also used another actor. Even though Kung Fu was a huge success and one of my favourite series at the time,  I always have in mind that it was  Bruce Lee´s idea and it should have been Bruce Lee in the role .

Now  we will get the chance to see Warrior , I am a bit surprised it is only coming to the television now after so many years but I will for sure watch it if the series get the chance to be aired in Sweden.

Raymond Chow

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It is important to know about the story of Bruce Lee and the people who had an impact on his life. We just learned about the passing of Raymond Chow and I  took some some highlights out of the Guardian,  published on nov 3rd.

“Raymond Chow, Hong Kong producer who found Bruce Lee.

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Raymond Chow with actors Bruce Lee and John Saxon on the set of Enter the Dragon in 1973

Chow made Lee and Jackie Chan stars after deciding to break away from the low-budget ethic of kung fu genre

Legendary Hong Kong film producer Raymond Chow, who introduced Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan to the world and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to the big screen, has died at 91.

Chow was a journalist who became a publicist for Shaw Brothers Studios, which churned out hundreds of films and popularised the kung fu genre. Studio founder Run Run Shaw soon moved Chow to the production side of the business after Chow complained that the movies – made on low budgets and short schedules – weren’t good enough.

He soon outmanoeuvred his former employer to grab the actor who would become synonymous with kung fu movies. Chow signed Bruce Lee in 1971 after seeing him on a Hong Kong TV variety show.

Golden Harvest signed Lee to a three-picture deal, with each breaking all Hong Kong box office records.

Those movies were followed by Enter the Dragon, the first Chinese martial arts film to be produced by a major Hollywood studio, Warner Bros. Lee died days before the film’s release in 1973.”

Annie Joe

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I remember meeting Annie for the first time, I thought she was such a fun and energetic woman, I remember wishing I would be like her when I am her age.

Meeting Allen was a big thing in my life, the fact he was Bruce Lee´s friend attracted a lot of people but I really liked him for him , for the man he was , for the fact that he was so kind and smart and had accomplished so many great things.

He was the kindest man on earth, he  opened his home to anyone who wanted to meet him, who wanted a piece of his history with Bruce Lee, or Ted Wong

I have been very sad after his passing and I have been wondering how Annie would manage.

Of course they have a big family so there is no problem but it can´t be easy  because  Allen and Annie were together for so many years.

 

I am thinking about her just as much as I was thinking about Allen every day and I hope we will be able to come visit very soon

I miss them and I miss San Francisco, my favorite town on earth, it won´t be the same without meeting Allen but we will pay our respects.

 

Until we meet again

Funeral

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Allen Joe

 

Yesterday 18/4/2018 was the funeral of Allen Joe in Freemont California , only family and a few guests were present at the funeral.

Our deepest condolences to Annie and the family, we will pay our respects to Allen next time we visit SF.

 

Allen was one of a kind, someone that touches lives and we will miss him and never forget him .

We are truly blessed to have met him and feel very honored to have been able to know him.

 

Another angel is in heaven, the team is reunited

We miss you Allen , Until we meet again

 

Allen JOE

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I use to check FB everyday but not yesterday and When Micke came home last night he told me something had happened to Allen, I did not want to believe it. I really hoped it was not true but unfortunately it was.

We all knew this would happen one day but still I did not want to have to read this , I am so sad.

Allen Joe is often referred as Bruce Lee´s friend who he was but he was much more than that.

I remember him being so honest so generous so happy , he lived a long life filled with greatness, from his personal life to his “ public “

I remember feeling so blessed the first time we were in SF and  he and Annie  opened their  home to us and shared memories, I was so fascinated by their energy.

We met him a couple of times here in Sweden and  also a few times in SF, we were planning on coming back this year, what saddens me is that we did not make it in time .

I sent messages to different people to pass on to him when he was sick,  I hope they had time to tell him that we were thinking of him.

The second time we met was in SF in 2010, that is where it began to call me his favorite French girl , I remember being so flattered and happy , he spread happiness all the time, he and Annie were so much fun to be around.

I am a little lost of words right now I would like to write so much but at the same time I am so sad I can´t do it.

May you rest in Peace Allen, you had a great impact on our lives and it was a great honor to have been able to know you.

I know you are now reunited with your best friends and look upon us , thank you for your friendship and kindness.

My deepest condolences to Annie and the family

Lots of Love

 

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44 years

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It seems incredible but it is true, Bruce Lee passed away 44 years ago.

There will always be speculations and need for a story behind the facts, truth is we don´t even know the facts and people who know are either gone or will never tell , so what is the point.

There will always be suspicions around  famous people who die too soon , we could spend our lives trying to digg some exiting story . Famous people die like non famous people, accident, illness  and yes even murder but the result is the same,  that person is gone and the tragedy is the same for their families as it would be for ours but is it?

Actually it is worse for them because on top of their loss they have to deal with millions of people thinking they know the truth, millions of people thinking they are entitled to their opinion and even people trying to get famous by spreading some false dirt here and there.

That is the price to pay when you are famous, I guess… I am not speculating on anything, I have a life … Let´s say that his pasing is terrible, not only for the family, but for the world, and for what he would have become and accomplished .

But what he already left us is incredible and to this day there is nobody in my mind that would ever replace him, This is my opinion.

Rest in Peace Bruce and thank you .

 

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November 27th, 1940 Chinatown, San Francisco

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No surprise for all fans, this is Bruce Lee´s birth date,  he would have turned 76 this year.

I feel blessed to have visited the hospital and almost entered the room where he was born before they destroyed the Chinese hospital for reconstruction.

I am always thinking about how far he would have come considering the amazing path he took towards success and self accomplishment.

One thing is certain, some people would run for their life if he was alive today !

I have already talked about how I came to know about Bruce Lee the actor and what impact he had on my life later on when I started with JKD so I won´t repeat that again.

I just want to point that no matter where you go, and how old you are, Bruce Lee is still known 43 years after his death , how is that for an accomplishment !

Let´s celebrate his life and be thankful for what he left us.

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