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There is only one type of body, 2 arms, 2 legs, etc that make up the human body. Therefore, there can only be one style of fighting. If the other guy had 4 arms and 2 legs, there might have to be a different one. Forget the belief that one style is better than the other, the point of someone that does not just believe in tradition, but actually wants to know how to fight is to take what you need from every martial art and incorporate it into your own. Make it effective and very powerful, but don't worry if you are taking moves from many different arts, that is a good thing.

Bruce Lee#162

Martial artsTrainingAdaptationEfficiency

About this quote

What does it mean?
Human anatomy limits fighting styles; true fighters adapt techniques from all sources rather than relying on tradition.
In plain terms
Use whatever works from any martial art instead of sticking to one style.
What can you take from it?
Take what you need from every art.

Where it applies

  • training
  • self defense
  • competition

Putting it to work

  • cross train
  • discard ineffective moves

Questions to consider

  • Is your training too rigid?
  • How do you choose what to learn?

Another view

Mastery in one style may require deeper focus than mixing many.

More from Bruce Lee

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  2. This statement expresses my feelings perfectly: 'In memory of a once fluid man, crammed and distorted by the classical mess.'

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  3. There is no mystery about my style. My movements are simple, direct and non-classical. The extraordinary part of it lies in its simplicity. Every movement in J…

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