Bruce Lee – Nutrition, Supplementation, and

Training Protocol Concepts

The Bruce Lee Diet - Bruce Lee’s Diet and Nutrition Protocol

Bruce Lee is famous for his devotion to martial arts and his great abilities in this

field. He was not only an exceptional martial artist, but also a serious bodybuilder.

He firmly believed that diet and nutrition played a very important role in achieving

his objectives. However, he was not an expert in nutrition, he gained most of his

information from bodybuilding magazines and experimented with different

supplements in addition to eating a well balanced healthy diet. For Bruce Lee a

good diet was one that provided him with the energy and nutrients to maximize his

physical training.

The following diet rules are based on what is known about Bruce Lee’s daily

eating regime. There are many references to “The Bruce Lee Diet”, but really such

a diet simply attempts to replicate Bruce Lee’s dietary and eating patterns, as well

as his fitness regimes, to try to attain a physique similar to that of Bruce Lee.

Bruce Lee’s diet and exercise regime meant that he had close to zero percent body

fat. Following this diet regime could help you to lose belly fat as well as improve

muscular growth.

Bruce Lee Diet Rule 1: Avoid Refined Flour

Generally Bruce Lee avoided refined flour. So, he did not eat many baked foods

such as biscuits and cakes, which he described as being “empty calories”. It is

worth mentioning that today many people attribute irritable bowel syndrome to the

excess consumption of refined flours. His philosophy was not to consume calories

that did not provide some benefit to the body.

This approach to eating is very similar to that of the Buddhist scriptures, which

states:

“You must learn to be moderate in eating, and eat only enough to remain healthy,

and fit for trance. For excessive food obstructs the flow of the breath as it goes in

and out, induces lassitude (lack of vitality), sleepiness, and kills all valour. As too

much food has unfortunate consequences, also starvation does not lead to

efficiency. For starvation drains away the body’s volume, lustre, firmness,

performance and strength. You should take food in accordance with your

individual capacity, neither too much nor, from pride, too little.” From Buddist

Scriptures (Amazon.com), edited by Edward Conze (1959).

Bruce Lee Diet Rule 2: Chinese Food

Bruce Lee enjoyed Chinese food, as he felt that western food was often too bland.

Some of his favourite Chinese dishes were beef in oyster sauce and tofu. However,

he loved to eat steak and liver too, but overall preferred the more balanced

approach of Asian dishes. He felt that often Western food placed too much

emphasis on protein and fat and not enough on carbohydrates from vegetables,

rice, pasta etc.

Bruce Lee Diet Rule 3: Avoid Dairy Food

Bruce Lee did not like dairy food, and only ate dairy as part of protein drinks,

usually using powdered milk instead of fresh milk. This rule only helps to reduce

total energy intake. Calcium from dairy has been found to help reduce the amount

of fat that is digested.

Bruce Lee Diet Rule 4: Smaller Portions and More Meals

For Bruce Lee concentration on the type of foods eaten were not the only

important consideration, the size of portions and number of meals were just as

important. Bruce Lee would usually consume four or five smaller meals a day

rather than a couple of large meals, plus some healthy snacks such as fruits.

Today bodybuilders often follow similar eating habits, eating high protein meals

approximately every four hours to ensure the body has a good supply of proteins to

help build and repair muscle tissue. Eating more often than every four hours can

put too much pressure on the digestive system, leading to indigestion. This is

another reason why constant snacking is not good for you.

Bruce Lee Diet Rule 5: Drink Protein Drinks

Bruce Lee consumed one or two protein drinks every day, plus fruit smoothies

too. Although his protein drinks varied, they generally consisted of:

Non-instant powdered milk - which is reported to have a higher

concentration of calcium than other forms of powdered milk

Eggs - sometimes with the shells

Wheat germ / wheat germ oil

Peanut butter

Banana

Brewers yeast (contains concentrated B vitamins, which are essential in the

release of energy from carbohydrates).

Inositol supplement (Inositol is found in many foods, particularly in cereals

with high bran content. Inositol plays an important part in the health of cell

membrane, in particular the specialized cells in the brain, bone marrow, eyes

and intestines. The function of the cell membrane is to regulate the contents

of the cell, which makes effective functioning of the cell possible).

Lecithin - taken in granular form. (Lecithin is a mixture of glycolipids,

triglycerides, and phospholipids. It is needed by every cell in the body and is

a key building block of cell membranes; without it, they would harden.

Lecithin protects cells from oxidation).

All ingredients would be mixed thoroughly in a food blender. Bruce Lee suggested

that for better results (i.e. for gaining more muscle mass quicker) milk and cream

can be added too.

Please bear in mind that the supplements Bruce Lee took were popular when he

was researching bodybuilding during the 1960′s and early 1970′s, these

supplements may now be superseded by new ones producing better results. Also

bear in mind that all supplements may have side effects if taken to excess. It is best

to check with your doctor/GP before starting a bodybuilding diet.

Bruce Lee Diet Rule 6: Take Dietary Supplements

Bruce Lee also took many mineral and vitamin supplements. Today there is a

much greater variety of supplements on offer than there were when Bruce Lee was

training. Knowledge about how different supplements interact and benefit us has

advanced a great deal since the 1960′s, as a result there may be better and more

efficient supplements available than the ones listed below. However, here are some

of the supplements Bruce Lee is known to have taken:

Vitamin C

Lecithing granules

Bee Pollen

Vitamin E

Rose hips (liquid form)

Wheat germ oil

Natural protein tablets (chocolate flavour)

Acerola – C

B-Folia

Bruce Lee Diet Rule 7: Increase Carbohydrates by Juicing and

Blending

Bruce Lee knew that carbohydrates are essential for people with very high activity

levels. It was for this that he regularly consumed fresh fruit and vegetable

smoothies. Fruit and vegetables provide the richest source of carbohydrates, so

Bruce Lee would often make juices/smoothies comprising of carrots, celery,

apples, bananas and some parsley.

Usually carrots would make up one half of the contents of the drink, the remaining

being split between the other fruits and vegetables. He also sometimes used green

leafy vegetables, again with a large proportion of carrot juice to help offset the

bitterness of the green leafy vegetables. Bruce Lee was ahead of his time hear, as

these are the basic rules applied in our article how to lose belly fat.

Juicing fresh fruits and vegetables is a great way to consume high quality

carbohydrates. Juicing allows the body to assimilate many nutrients more easily.

The enzymes in the juiced vegetables are also organic catalysts that increase the

rate at which food is broken down and absorbed.

Many enzymes are destroyed when vegetables are cooked, especially if boiled,

therefore consuming raw fruit and vegetables is best. Some nutritionists suggest

that for better health and more energy, approximately half of the carbohydrates

consumed should come from raw fruit and vegetables.

Bruce Lee Diet Rule 8: Eat Honey and Ginseng

Bruce Lee often drank a Royal jelly and ginseng drink to give him a quick boost.

These drinks are very small, and provide a very quick release of energy. Royal

jelly contains B-complex vitamins, including a high concentration of vitamin B5

(pantothenic acid) and vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), acetylcholine, hormones, and

eighteen amino acids. It also contains trace of many minerals, trace amounts of

vitamin C, some enzymes, as well as antibacterial and antibiotic components.

Contrary to claims by many of those promoting its use, vitamins A, D, and E are

completely absent from royal jelly.

According to Traditiona Chinese Medicine (TMC) Ginseng promotes Yang

energy, improves circulation, increases blood supply, revitalizes and aids recovery

from weakness after illness, and stimulates the body.

Bruce Lee Diet: Sample Meals

Obviously Bruce Lee’s diet would have varied greatly during the 1960′s and early

1970′s as his training methods evolved, but here is what is possibly one of

his typical days meals:

Breakfast

Food: A bowl of muesli cereal, comprised of whole grains, nuts, and dried

fruits, plus 2% milk (semi skimmed).

Beverage: Orange Juice and/or tea.

Snack

Juice or Protein Drink: Protein powder, non-instant powdered milk made

with water or juice, eggs, wheat germ, bananas, peanut butter. Brewer’s

yeast was frequently added.

Lunch

Food: Meat, vegetables, and rice.

Beverage: Tea.

Snack

Juice or Protein Drink: see ingredients for morning-snack protein drink.

Dinner

Food: Spaghetti and salad, or another meal of rice, vegetables, and meat,

chicken, or seafood.

Beverage: One glass of 2% milk and/or tea.

Reference:

The Art of Expressing the Human Body by Bruce Lee and John R. Little.

Tuttle Publishing. 1998. ISBN-10: 0804831297. (available from

Amazon.com)

Bruce Lee Fitness and Strength Workouts

Bruce Lee Fitness and Strength Workouts

Bruce Lee gave so much advice in his relatively short time as a professional

martial artist and fitness instructor. Fortunately he left many notes and journals that

have now been made into books, so that we know more about his training methods

and philosophies.

“Above all, never cheat on any exercise; use the amount of weight that you can handle without undue strain.” – Bruce Lee

Bruce Lee divided his routine into specific martial arts training to enhance his

martial arts prowess, i.e. weight training, calisthenics, cardio fitness and stretching.

If you combine this Bruce Lee workout with a fitness plan you will get excellent

results very quickly.

Each day Bruce Lee would train to improve his physique and his martial ability.

However, Bruce Lee also stated that it was important to never train the body so

hard on any given day, to the point where the body is too weak on the following

days to train more or to fight.

From a martial perspective it is essential to never over-train, as although in the

long term intensive training can make the body stronger quicker, in the short term

it is not a good martial practice to leave yourself weak to fight.

Here we look at his weight training routines including isometrics, his abdominal

workouts, we take a brief look at his cardio routines and stretching. Finally we

present a review of The Art of Expressing the Human Body, a fantastic book that

provides so many insights into Bruce Lee’s life and training. First we take a look at

his training philosophy.

Bruce Lee Workouts and Weight Loss Plans

There is little doubt that if you follow in the footsteps of Bruce Lee, training as

hard as he did and eating a nutritious and healthy diet, then you will quickly master

your own body and never have any weight issues again.

One thing is certain, and that is Bruce Lee knew how to lose belly fat very

effectively, to the point that he had zero body fat. Losing weight is easy with a

Bruce Lee style workout. Did you know that some weight loss plans are designed

by martial artists? Vic Magary, the founder of the 31 Day Fat Loss Cure, holds

black belts in Karate and Taokwondo, and uses his martial arts training technique

to help you lose weight and get in great shape.

Bruce Lee Training Philosophy

Above all, never cheat on any exercise; use the amount of weight that you can

handle without undue strain.” – Bruce Lee

This quote is still valid for all forms of weight training exercise today. Firstly,

good form is essential, whether you are lifting weights, stretching, performing

bodyweight exercises or practicing martial arts. Bruce Lee obviously had a very

good grounding in the importance of good form, as kung-fu, and other martial arts,

use “forms” for training and honing fighting techniques.

Good form is essential in martial arts, as it can help to determine the strengths and

weaknesses of a student, condition the body to react and move in the correct way,

as well as strengthen the muscles, ligaments and joints. Poorly executed form can

lead to poorly executed martial application, which can be fatal.

Bruce Lee was interviewed on the Pierre Berton Show in 1971. The interview

starts with the the question of Bruce Lee making films in Mandarin, when he can

only speak Cantonese. Surprising, in the early Bruce Lee films the voices are

dubbed, as the early Bruce Lee films were first shot without sound.

“To me, a motion picture is motion. You gotta keep the dialogue down to a

minimum” Bruce Lee, 1971.

Then they discuss the secret of the success of the Big Boss, namely that it broke

the mould because the fighting was real. Bruce talks about how martial arts has

deep meaning to his life – and that martial arts have shaped all parts of his life.

“Martial Arts include all the combative arts like karate, Judo, Chinese kung-fu,

Aikido .. some have become sport, but some not, such as kicking to the groin,

jabbing fingers to eyes.” Bruce Lee, 1971.

On being asked if he could break five or six pieces of wood with his hand or foot,

Bruce Lee replies,”I’ll probably break my foot.”

Bruce then talks about his theory of the “art of expressing the human body“.

Combining instinct and control to have harmony, to prevent either becoming

mechanical or wild – unnatural naturalness, or natural unnaturalness.

“Under the sky, under the heaven, there is but one family. It just so happens that

people are different” Bruce Lee, 1971.

At the end of the video he talks about how style is meaningless, and that he does

not teach style. Everyone has two arms and two legs, so for fighting, style is only

restrictive.

In the end of this part Bruce Lee talks about “The Warrior”, and how martial

arts are relevant in Westerns, but not the modern world, as now people carry guns.

The Importance of Good Form when Exercising

In the Bruce Lee Workout, form is very important. Poorly executed form not only

reduces the effectiveness of an exercise, but it can also cause injury by placing too

much pressure in the wrong areas. Also, to cheat on an exercise, is to cheat your

own body of obtaining the optimal workout during any given session.

Bruce Lee’s weight training routine evolved during his career. In his early days,

his emphasis was on bodybuilding, especially forearm training, and he

supplemented his diet with protein drinks. Later on, he started to simplify his

training. He realized that rather than the isolation exercises favored by

bodybuilders, he needed to perform compound weight training exercises to

increase his overall strength and condition. Bruce Lee’s weight reduced after he

gave up the bodybuilding routines in favor of more traditional compound and

cardio training.

“Since weight training involves repetitions, a great deal of energy must be exerted. Therefore, weight training should be practiced only every other day.” – Bruce Lee

This quote is interesting, as it seems to move away from his traditional approach of

not working the body so much that you are weakened. So, although he was moving

away from the bodybuilding routines, he was also moving away from pure martial

arts. The Bruce Lee Workout should be intensive enough to require adequate

recovery days.

Bruce Lee suggested that you should train at most once every other day, or three

days per week, with an extra rest day at the weekend. For Bruce Lee, the most

important aspect of his new weight training routine was that he could still train his

martial arts and practice endurance/cardio training on the other days.

Bruce Lee adopted a cross training methodology, in that he believed fitness

training should have three key elements: stretching for flexibility; weight training

for strength; and cardiovascular for endurance.

Bruce Lee’s Weight Training Routine

Bruce Lee Clean and Press – 2 sets of 8 reps

The clean and press is a classic weight lifters exercise. Unlike bodybuilding

exercises, which work muscles in isolation, Bruce Lee’s weight lifting/power

lifting exercises work muscles together, i.e. they are compound movements. Bruce

Lee performed clean and presses in a very intensive fashion, that is, without rest

between reps. This made the exercise a cardio and endurance exercise as well as a

weight training exercise.

In the clean and press a barbell is lifted from the floor, and in one explosive

movement the weight is lifted up to rest on the front of the shoulders – this is the

clean. Afterwards, the weight is then pressed upwards, and held overhead. It is then

lowered to the floor in one movement, and repeated. A good form is essential in

the clean and press, it is also important not to attempt to lift too much weight, as

injuries to the lower back are common in poorly executed clean and presses.

Bruce Lee Barbell Squat – 2 sets of 12 reps

The squat is one of the most important compound exercises in the Bruce Lee

Workout, especially for martial artists. It develops a solid base and core. In the

standard squat, which should always be performed in a squat rack for safety, a

barbell is placed across the shoulders and a squat is then performed. Bruce Lee

advised there should be no pause in the lowest position, instead as soon as your

thighs reach a horizontal position, you should rise again to a standing position. The

squat works the hips, glutes, hamstrings, calves and quads.

Bruce Lee Barbell Pullovers – 2 sets of 8 reps

The barbell pullover is a weight training exercise that is less common these days. It

is the classic rib-box expander. To perform a pullover you should lie on a flat

bench, hold a barbell with a shoulder width grip overhead, and then lower it

backwards behind your head, keeping the elbows slightly bent. The bar should be

held as far back as it is comfortable. Some people can touch the floor behind them

with the bar, but this is not recommended without adequate training. Use a light

weight to start with, as this is a deceptively difficult movement.

Bruce Lee Bench Press – 2 sets of 6 reps

No weight training session would be complete without a bench press. Many

martial artists actually advise against the bench press as it expands the rib cage,

which is a weakness in fighting. Bruce Lee taught that a fighter should aim to

develop a solid set of ribs, which can take strikes. Performing many bench presses

and pullovers can open the ribs too much, so if you plan to fight competitively, do

not place too much emphasis on these exercises.

Bruce Lee Good Mornings Exercises – 2 sets of 8 reps

Bruce Lee was a fan of the good morning exercise. The exercise involves holding

a barbell across the shoulders and then bend forward, keeping the legs and back

straight. This exercise can be very dangerous if you do not warm up and attempt to

use too much weight. Really good mornings can be performed with good results

with just an empty bar. Bruce Lee damaged his back doing good mornings

exercises – he did not damage it in a kung-fu challenge match, as portrayed in the

film Dragon!

Bruce Lee Barbell Curls – 2 sets of 8 reps

Curls are the other staple weight training exercise along with bench presses.

Everyone seems to want bigger biceps. For martial arts styles that involve

grappling, grabbing, pulling and throwing, a good pairs of guns come in very

useful. So perform bicep curls in each training session to build up the guns. Bruce

Lee Workout aims to increase your pulling power.

Change the Routine and Exercises to Suit Your Needs

With any weight training, it is important not to get into a rigid routine. After a

while of training, you will hit a plateau and training will no longer produce the

same gains, if any, that it once did when you were weaker and less fit. For this

reason, it is essential to add new exercises. So, train with dumbbells instead of

barbells at times, change the weight and number of repetitions etc. to give the body

a new challenge and a new spurt of growth.

Bruce Lee’s Isometric Training Workouts

Bruce Lee adopted many different exercise workouts during his short but intensive

martial arts career. Although he became famous for his well chiseled muscles,

which were once compared to warm marble, he also used many exercises derived

from more traditional kung-fu training, which involve holding a weight steady for

a period of time. Possibly the most famous kung-fu isometric exercise is the horse

stance, which is simply a squat that you hold. Sounds easy, try it.

Bruce Lee’s Isometric Training Workout

Bruce Lee used to perform a simple routine using 8 different isometric exercises.

Each exercise is performed just once. The aim is to work to maximum effort in

each exercise for 6-12 seconds.

To perform these exercises you need a power cage or a similar weight training

bench with a bar that is too heavy to move. If you have enough weights you can

put them all on a bar so that it is too heavy for you to lift. This can actually aid

your training, as rather than knowing it is impossible to move the bar, you can tell

yourself that if you push harder, you may move it!

1. Press Lockout. Set a bar in a power cage at about 3 inches below your lockout position for a shoulder/military press. Grasp the bar as you would normally for a press, and then push the bar upwards as hard as possibly for 6 to 12 seconds.

2. Press Start. This is the second position for the press. Start with the bar at chin height, just above the lowest position on your usual military press. Exert maximum force for 6 to 12 seconds.

3. Rise on toes. Set the bar in a position just above your shoulders where you can touch it enough to apply pressure when on tip toes. Then position yourself under the bar, rise on toes, and push the bar as hard as possible for 6 to 12 seconds.

4. Pull. The bar is set in a similar position to where you start an upright row, just below waist level. Stand in front of the bar and with a shoulder width grip, pull it upwards as hard as possible while also rising on your toes for 6 to 12 seconds.

5. Parallel Squat. Set the bar at the lower position of a barbell squat at the point where your thighs are parallel to the floor. Position yourself in the usual squat position and then try to lift the bar as you would in a squat. Push as hard as you can for 6 to 12 seconds.

6. Shoulder shrug. Position the bar in the power cage at the start of the shoulder shrug position, so that you can grab the bar but with the shoulders down. Then with all your effort attempt to perform a shoulder shrug.

7. Deadlift. The isometric deadlift is performed with the bar about 2 inches below your knees. Then perform the usual deadlift with your feet set shoulder width apart, hips down and back flat, pushing as hard as possible with the legs and pulling up for 6 to 12 seconds.

8. Quarter squat. The second squat position. Set the bar about 4 inches below your standing position in a barbell squat. Position yourself, and then push upwards on the bar as hard as possible for 6 to 12 seconds.

See weight training exercises for descriptions and guides on performing these.

As you can see, in principal the exercises are easy. All are performed for 6-12

seconds. Remember that you are aiming to work to failure still, in that you will be

putting so much effort into pushing or pulling the isometric bar that by the time

your reach 10 seconds your muscles should be screaming in pain.

To perform these isometric exercises well you need to first really learn the moving

versions, as form is very important and unless you have performed squats and

deadlifts before, you may position yourself incorrectly resulting in a muscular

injury. Bruce Lee always emphasized good form over brute force.

If you perform these exercises with maximum effort then one set of these exercises

may be enough for you. Do not underestimate how much work the muscles are

doing in not moving an object. Your body will be attempting to get all of your

muscles to work together to move the stationary bar.

Isometric exercises should not replace other weight training exercises. Remember

also that diet and nutrition are vital to strength and muscle development. What

makes this type of training so different is that you only have your body and

willpower to listen to. Nothing moves, you just push and sweat! If Bruce Lee said

it worked for him, then there is a good chance that it will work for you too.

Bruce Lee’s Abs Workouts

Bruce Lee’s abdominal muscles were quite exceptional. They were very well

defined, well developed, and very solid. Lee’s waist was very thin, with almost no

fat at all. Bruce Lee followed some simple rules to ensure that his abs stayed in

great shape. The main rules are:

1. Diet is the most important thing when building abs. Learn how to eat in order to build muscle and keep off fat. A high protein and low carb approach is a great way to build muscle and lose fat.

2. Losing fat is the second key. If you have a layer of fat over your abs you will never see them no matter how good they are.

3. Work your abs like any other muscle. Add weight constantly so you don’t stagnate.

“Bruce Lee taught that abdominal exercises never reduce the waist“

Bruce Lee Abs Tips

Bruce Lee himself often used to comment on how he trained his abs. In doing so he

helped other people build their own. Bruce learnt how to build abs from champion

bodybuilders, and spent many years perfecting the art of abdominal development.

He believed that the abs were vital to provide balance and strength in the body.

“The abdominal and waist region coordinate all parts of the body and act as the

center of generator. Therefore, you can promote the ability to control the body’s

action and master your will more easily.” Bruce Lee.

One of the best tips that he offered, which has been tried and tested many times

over the years, is that you should always curl your body up as if rolling up a

newspaper when doing a crunch.

Do not sit up and down like a see-saw, but curl your upper body up starting with

your head, then neck, then chest. Keep your abdominals engaged (tensed) and your

attention focussed on them at all times. Do not simply go through the motions.

Lee concentrated on five exercises for stomach and abdominal development. He

found that these were the best exercises to help build and maintain perfect six-pack

abs. He would also only perform 1-3 different exercises on any one day, and very

rarely perform all five in the same session nor on the same day.

Bruce Lee’s 5 Favorite Ab Exercises:

Waist twists – 4 sets of 90 repetitions Sit-up twists – 4 sets of 20 repetitions Leg raises – 4 sets of 20 repetitions Leaning twists – 4 sets of 50 repetitions Frog kicks – 4 sets of 50 repetitions

Also Bruce Liked These Stomach Exercises:

Roman chair sit-up

Leg raises (excellent for the lower abs) Side bends

Bruce Lee’s Abdominal Training Tips:

It is important to work fast while concentrating on good form. When you can no

longer perform any more full repetitions, continue with smaller movements, such

as abdominal crunches, which give improved muscle development and definition.

Bruce Lee was also a firm believer in static concentrations, which involve

tightening the stomach muscles for short bursts and then relaxing.

Most importantly, Bruce Lee taught that abdominal exercises never reduce the

waist, i.e. there is no reduction in belly fat. For this, diet and nutrition is key.

Bruce Lee further developed this routine, adding additional sets of sit-ups, side

bends, leg raises, “flags,” twists and back bends to his abdominal workout

regimen.

The “flag” exercise was a complex movement that Lee devised for working the

abdominals harder. While lying on a bench, he would grasp attached uprights with

both hands and raise himself, supported only by his shoulders. Then, with his

knees locked straight and his lower back raised off the bench, he would perform

leg raises.

Bruce Lee’s Success with Abs Training

In addition to what we have learned from Bruce Lee, there have been many other

tried and tested methods of exercising and bodybuilding. Here is a summary of the

concepts required for developing excellent abs:

Bruce Lee preformed both cardio and weight training (high and low intensity)

every single day. In doing this he lost a lot of muscle, but mainly he burned off fat.

This was the main reason that his abs looked so good. There was barely a shred of

fat covering them.

Bruce ate a good diet and a lot of protein. He was an advocate of eating a post

workout protein shake and used to experiment with lots of different ingredients.

Recent research has proved that post workout shakes drunk within 30 minutes of

exercise provide maximum benefit.

Lee firmly believed that proper nutrition was essential for developing the perfect

set of abs. What you eat determines the thickness and density of the outer tissue

covering the abdominal muscles. Once the belly fat has been worked off through a

calorie controlled diet combined with aerobic and endurance fitness training, the

abs are then relatively easy to maintain through a good healthy diet and regular

abdominal exercising.

He did a lot of martial arts and was especially adept at kicking. Lots of the muscles

used to power a kick come from the core region and as such he worked his abs out

in different ways.

He was constantly changing his abs routine, which meant that his abs never

become too efficient at performing the same exercise. Overall this all helped him

to achieve a very complete development.

Bruce Lee’s final advice is to exercise abs daily, and that with patience and

perseverance, results will be seen in time. This advice goes against what many

athletes and bodybuilders advise. Today people suggest that you treat your

abdominals as any other muscle and ensure that it is rested for at least 2 days after

exercising.

Beyond Bruce Lee Fitness Training

This was by no means Bruce Lee’s only workout and weight training routine, but

it formed the foundation, the core, of his strength training later in his career. If you

want to start to train like Bruce Lee then perform the Bruce Lee Workout at least

once per week.

Bruce Lee’s Stretching Routines

For Bruce Lee stretching was a vital component of his daily fitness routine. The

same rule really applies to all forms of exercise, from martial arts to track and

field, weight lifting to gymnastics, plus sports from cricket to NFL. The benefits of

stretching are numerous and can aid you for years to come.

Stretching helps to prevent injury while training and competing and also increase

range of motion, which can increase the work and benefit of exercising. For many

martial artists stretching is just about kicking higher, but really stretching plays a

more important role than just that.

Routine Pre-Workout Stretches

According to Herb Jackson, one of his training partners, stretching was the only set

routine that he performed before a workout. His workouts were often varied and

spontaneous, but the stretching was specific and regimented. He also was famous

for stretching almost constantly while working on set. People have commented that

he would be reviewing some footage and rather than sit, would stand with one leg

up on a chair to help keep himself loose for the next scenes.

To view one of Bruce Lee’s stretching routines, watch his film Way of the Dragon.

In the final act, before fighting Chuck Norris on the Roman Coliseum, he performs

one of his pre-fighting warm up and stretches. Unlike many other action movies,

what Bruce displayed on film was true to his methods.

Bruce Lee’s Top Reasons To Stretch

Stretch for improved health and fitness. Strong and supply joints are essential to being healthy and fit.

Reduce injury. A greater range of motion means that you are less likely to put the weakest points under too much strain when working out or competing.

Stretching is a good way to warm up and prepare the muscles for the task ahead

Stretching after a workout can reduce muscle soreness and quicken recovery

Being more flexible makes you a better athlete A good stretch routine should be a pleasure to perform, and is a great way

to start or finish the day

Ideally you should stretch for 10 to 15 minutes before your main workout, but after

warming up. As part of a stand alone fitness regime, you should aim to stretch 4

times per week to help strengthen and tone the body. Pilates and yoga can be

considered advanced forms of stretching for this purpose.

When stretching, you should apply constant gentle pressure that increases over

time. Do not bounce. Always relax into the stretch. When doing seated forward

stretches look forwards, not down, to avoid hunching the back.

Bruce Lee’s Favorite Stretches

These stretches are performed as a warm up by most martial arts clubs today.

These were also Bruce’s standard stretches (photos coming soon!):

Seated Hamstring Stretch – stretches the rear thigh muscle Hurdlers Stretch – stretches the hamstrings and groin Seated Groin Stretch – opens the hips and stretches the groin and inner

thighs Standing Hip Stretch – stretches the hip and buttocks Lunging Stretch – stretches the hips, buttocks and front thighs Thigh Stretch – stretches the large muscles on the front of the thighs Calf Stretch – stretches the back of the lower legs Lower Back Stretch – vital stretch to warm up the lower back before

exercising. Side Stretch – stretches the muscles along the core

In addition to stretching muscles, it is also wise to “limber up” before exercising.

This involves loosening the muscles with small gentle exercises. Typically the

neck, shoulder, wrists, knees and ankles are limbered up and gentle stretched. This

helps to get the blood flowing and warm the tendons.

References and Resources:

The Art of Expressing the Human Body (see our review below) “Warm Marble – The Lethal Physique of Bruce Lee” by John Little” “From Icon to Lifestyle, the Marketing of Bruce Lee” A New York Times

piece on Bruce Lee.

The Art of Expressing the Human Body – A Book Review

Bruce Lee was a trend setter in many ways. He was the first celebrity to really

bring the idea of martial arts fitness training into the lime light. Even today people

want to know how he managed to develop a body that was almost perfect. His

book, The Art of Expressing The Human Body, tells this story.

Beyond his martial arts and acting abilities, Bruce Lee’s physical appearance and

strength were truly astounding. He achieved this through an intensive and ever-

evolving conditioning regime that is being revealed for the first time in this book.

If you want to look like Bruce Lee, the Bruce Lee’s The Art of Expressing The

Human Body is ideal as it details many of his training methods and his diet and

nutrition rules. Much of what we know about Bruce Lee is found in this one book.

In this book we can learn about the various methods Bruce Lee used throughout his

career. He changed his methods as his body developed. He moved from traditional

kung-fu training drills to incorporate more functional strength training. We can

also learn about his diet, with insights from Linda Lee on what he liked to eat, the

supplements he took, even the home made juice blends that he drank.

One of the most inspirational things about this book is that it shows his actually

training logs. Bruce Lee was a great believer in documenting all his training. He

believed that only by keeping a log of his workouts was he able to progress and

improve.

Strength training is a key feature of the book. Bruce loved isometric exercises, and

the book explains how they provide the raw strength required for martial arts. And

he developed isometric exercise far beyond the basic horse stance.

Obviously the book documents his famous 1 inch punch, and goes some way to

explain how he trained his body and his mind to enable him to accomplish such

feats. Part of his success was trying new techniques, even having fitness equipment

custom made to meet his requirements, to strive to improve his physical self.

There are whole workouts dedicated to wrist and forearm strength (essential for

martial artists and grapplers). Plus his back exercise routines are simply awesome.

He provides details on stretching too.

The Art of Expressing the Human Body is still as relevant today as it was when

Bruce Lee started penning his notes in the early 1970′s. Modern day martial arts

classes would not be as dynamic today if it were not for Bruce Lee, and what he

taught to others through his classes, and through his books. Every serious martial

artist should read this book.

“The Art of Expressing the Human Body” by Bruce Lee (available from

Amazon.com)

Further Reading

Learn what Bruce Lee Ate – The Bruce Lee Diet

Jeet Kune Do – The Way if the Intercepting Fist.

Bruce Lee’s Kickboxing Workouts

Workouts Dos Lee De Bruce: Treinamento Da Força

Bruce Lee’s Kickboxing Workouts and

Punching Drills

Bruce Lee's Kickboxing Workouts and Punching Drills

Bruce Lee used many different training methods. We have looked at his strength

training and his abdominal workouts. Here we cover some of his specific kicking

drills, fitness training for kickboxing and then his punching routines.

Bruce Lee’s Kick-Boxing Fitness Routines

Kickboxing training helps to build stronger and more defined arms and legs.

Kickboxing training is no longer just for serious competitive martial artists, there

are many people who train in kickboxing schools purely for fitness, and there is

also a growing trend in kickboxercise classes.

These are aerobic fitness classes, which take some exercises from the martial arts

to make the class more dynamic and cooperative.

Generally these classes include pad work, with basic jab-cross, and jab-hook-

uppercut combinations, which provide a bit of fun without taxing the students.

Bruce Lee split his training into various sections, and would perform different

exercises on different days, or at different times throughout the day. He employed

running, cycling, skipping as well as more traditional training methods.

1. Roadwork

Jog (1 minute) – Sprint at your max for as long as possible – Walk (1

minute) in as many sets as you can. This is an intensive interval training in

its simplest – all you need is a pair of trainers / running shoes.

2. Skill Conditioning on the Punch Bags

a. Shadow kick-boxing—3 minutes (1 minute rest) – This first exercise is to

get you loosened up, warmed up, and ready for the more strenuous exercises.

b. Shadow kick-boxing—3 minutes (1 minute rest) – Repeat the same

sequence, but during this exercise work harder, push yourself to your limits,

and concentrate on developing speed and power in all strikes.

c. Skip rope—5 minutes (1 1/2 minutes rest) – Don’t just perform your

favourite jump, vary your jumps and challenge yourself.

d. Heavy bag—3 minutes (1 minute rest) – Start with individual punches,

focus on jabs and then combinations – hooks, upper cuts, crosses etc.

Improving speed, accuracy and strength of the basic jab is essential.

e. Heavy bag—3 minutes (1 minute rest) – Start with individual kicks, then

do combination kicks.

f. Light bag—3 minutes – The light bag is to develop endurance, start with

individual punches and add some combinations, but keep it light and fast to

tire the muscles. Keep you guard up at all times.

g. Shadow kick-boxing—2 minutes – acts as a cool down and “loosener”

after the bag work.

3. Supplementary Exercises for Flexibility

Bruce Lee was incredibly flexible, and was a firm believer that improved

flexibility lead to increased speed and power, and helped to reduce injuries and

pulled muscles.

1. Forward bend 2. Stride stretch 3. High kick 4. Side leg raise 5. Elbow touching 6. Waist twisting 7. Alternate splits on chair 8. Sitting bends 9. Leg stretch—straight, side 10. Arched bridge position

Bruce Lee used to perform thousands of punches and kicks everyday. Although he

did a lot of bodybuilding later in his life, the core of his conditioning was from

kung-fu / kickboxing workouts. Follow his footsteps to develop superior strength,

speed and power.

Bruce Lee’s Kicking Drills and Sequences

Bruce Lee was an extremely dedicated martial artist, and performed many different

workouts throughout his career. We have already looked at his typical muscle-

building workout which includes his abs workouts, and reviewed his diet also.

However, Bruce Lee was a martial artist first, and an athlete and bodybuilder

second, so now is time to take a closer look at his actual combat training.

Before performing his kicking routine, Bruce Lee would warm up with footwork

drills and stretches. Good footwork is essential in all martial arts, and you can

never train too hard on perfecting your footwork. Bruce would start out with some

shadow boxing combined footwork drills, which would include these basic steps:

Step and slide shuffles, forwards and backwards – the step and slide

shuffle involves taking a very small step with your lead foot, immediately followed

by sliding your rear foot the same distance forward. This step is used as an

adjustment during fighting. Also known as mouse steps in some styles. Backwards

step and slide shuffles are as above but by leading with the rear leg, going

backwards

Slide shuffles, forwards and backwards – slide your rear foot until it meets

your lead foot, as this happens, step forward with your lead foot so that you end up

back in the same stance as started. For a Slide step backwards, slide your lead foot

so that it meets your rear, and then step with your rear foot.

Once you have gone through these steps for a few minutes, you should then do

some stretches to limber up, including forward stretches, side stretches, groin

stretches and hurdles and splits. Then, he would use a side pulley and a front pulley

to give an extra stretch – if you are training with a partner then pulleys are not

required, as you can push/pull each other to aid with the stretching. Once stretched,

you should be ready for the next stage of the leg workout, the kicks.

Bruce Lee’s Quick Kicking Routine:

Bruce would simply go through the main kicks, and practice both as a shadow

boxing exercise to develop speed and accuracy, and then on the heavy bag to

develop power. (Number of sets and reps are approximate).

Shadow Kicking Routine:

1. Forward straight heel kick – 3 sets of 12

2. Forward shovel kick – 3 sets of 12

3. Side kick – 3 sets of 12

4. Low side kick – 3 sets of 12

5. Low toe kick – 3 sets of 12

6. Groin toe kick – 3 sets of 12

7. Hook kick (medium & high) – 3 sets of 12

8. Spinning back hook kicks – 3 sets of 12

Pad/Bag Kicking Routine:

1. Side Kick (left) 2. Side kick (right) 3. Hook Kick (left) 4. Hook Kick (right) 5. Spinning kick – heavy bag 6. Heel Kick on a pad 7. Rear front thrust – heavy bag

These are the basic kicking routines. Once you are proficient with the kicks, start

to add the footwork, i.e. the slide shuffle into a quick front kick or to position for a

side kick. Practice on pads with a partner, or on a heavy bag. When the heavy bag

is moving, try to time the kicks to make maximum impact, to improve timing.

Aim to improve your technique each time your train, while at the same time

increasing power and accuracy. Without accuracy, power is wasted, so use strike

pads as well as heavy bags. Training with a partner, or in a club, really helps to

improve your kicking techniques, as does sparring and ring work. Happy kicking.

Bruce Lee Punching Routines and Boxing Workouts

Bruce Lee was very thorough in his training regime and was a great believer in

performing repetitive movements to enhance muscle memory, strength, stamina

and speed. His punching workouts were certainly not an exception to this rule.

Bruce used to train his punching technique tirelessly. He may today be most

famous for his one inch punches in which he transferred a huge amount of energy

over a very short distance, but his devotion to traditional long punches and also the

understanding of the importance of the Western style punch meant that he spent a

lot of time on the bag honing his skills and perfecting his art.

Simple Boxing Drills

Bruce sometimes performed his punching routine as a circuit which also included

kicking. He would often start with some jog/sprint intervals to warm up and then

start his boxing routine using a variety of methods. This was one of his workouts:

3 minutes of shadow boxing to loosen up the arms 3 minutes of shadow kicking to loosen up the legs 5 minutes of skipping to get some more cardio in 3 minutes of punching on the heavy bag performing single punches and

some combos 3 minutes of kicking on the heavy bag, single power kicks plus combos 3 minute punching on the light bag, fast continuous punching 2 minutes shadow kicking to cool down

Each exercise would be followed by 1 minute of complete rest. This is a great

cardio workout as well as a fantastic conditioning workout. Every martial artist can

benefit from this.

Advanced Punching Routine

Later in his development Bruce Lee planned his boxing workouts more, so that he

would concentrate on more specific punch training. He started splitting his

punching and kicking workouts, alternating them each day so that he would do 3

punching routines and 3 kicking routines each week.

Bruce Lee performed many of the exercises at 3 levels of intensity: a warm up, a

fast workout then a maximum intensity workout. For his punching workouts he

followed this routine:

Skipping to warm up and loosen up Shadow boxing – warm up; fast punching; maximum intensity Shadow boxing – loosen up; maximum intensity; warm down Jab training – top and bottom bag; heavy bag; focus mitt Hook punch training – Heavy bag; focus mitt Cross training Spinning back fists Finger jabs (biu jee)

Elbow smash – inward; outward (elbow smashes are designed for break joints and bones)

Punching on a Padded Board

The padded board, which is literally a padded board fixed to a wall, is a kung-fu

favorite. Unlike heavy bags that move and teach you to focus power at various

angles on a moving target, a padded board is designed purely for the development

of power in a straight line and to condition your hands, joints and tendons. Bruce

Lee would perform the following simple routine on the padded board, practising all

the major strikes:

Jab Finger jab Hook Cross Upper cut Palm strike Elbow

Punching with Wrist Weights

One method Bruce Lee used to develop power was to punch while wearing wrist

weights or holding light dumbbells. You do not need to hold a heavy weight, in

fact a heavy weight will tire you too soon. Lee explained that the main purpose of

punching with weights is to build strength in the lats, the latissimus dorsi muscles.

He would generally perform 100 crosses with each arm. Bruce Lee also performed

bent over barbell rows to build his powerful lats.

General Boxing Training

Bruce Lee also performed a lot of boxing combinations. Practising combos over

and over is the only way to develop speed in boxing. Only through hours of

practice you can train your body to flow, so that each punch follows effortlessly

from one to the other while still delivering maximum impact. All combinations

would be practised, from simple jab-crosses to multiple combos with jabs, crosses,

hooks and upper cuts. This form of boxing training was inspired by Western

boxing.

Endurance Punching Training

Bruce Lee’s training logs also reveal that he did a lot of endurance training to

develop his punching power. He was well aware from personal fighting

experiences that you could soon lose steam in a fight if you did not have the

required muscular endurance to punch hundreds of times. So he simply trained

punching for hours on end to develop his skills. Here is a typical session from

January 1968:

10 minutes general warm up 500 punches on left arm 500 punches on right arm 15 minute run 20 minutes of punching with weights and punching through paper (to

develop the “snap”)

According to his training diaries he usually finished a session off with 500 more

punches. He referred to these as supplemental punches, which suggests that they

are not planned in his routines, although he performed 500 at the end of most

routines.

By February 1968 he had developed his punching routines further still, adding

even more reps. In one training session he performed 2000 right arm punches

followed by 100 left. The following day he did 1000 right arms followed by 200

left. On the 2nd March 1968 he performed 2000 right arm punches followed by

500 on his left arm. A sign that he was moving away from symmetrical training

and starting to focus on building maximum strength in his right arm, his leading

arm. Although he liked the Western boxing approach he still fought in the kung-fu

stance with his strong hand leading.

Heavy Bag Workout

This heavy bag workout is actually a series of drills. Bruce would often mix them

up, but always perform the first drill and then add another 1 or 2. So although there

are many drills here not all are done on the same session.

They are just picked for your punching days when you have to work the heavy bag.

If you keep tabs on which drills you have done on the heavy bag, you can ensure

you train all punches in time on the heavy bag, even if it takes a few weeks to get

them all done.

This is not all the combinations that Bruce performed, but these form the most

important combos for boxing training. Remember, high means a head shot and low

means a body shot. So when training do not swing your arms about your head

height or below your waist line. Aim for your imaginary opponents ribs and solar

plexus on the low shots.

1. Single jab or double jab 2. Low right jab followed by high right jab or right hook 3. Inside right jab followed by outside right hook 4. Right jab, right back fist 5. Right jab, left cross or left hook 6. High right jab, low left cross 7. Low right jab, high left hook, high left cross 8. Outside high right jab, left body cross/hook to low right hook 9. High right jab, low left cross, high left hook 10. Low left cross, right jab, high left hook 11. Low right jab, high right hook/jab, low left cross/hook 12. Low right jab, high left cross, high right hook, low left hook 13. High right jab, high left cross/hook, high right hook, high left cross, low right

hook 14. High inside right jab, high centre right jab, high right hook, low left

cross/hook 15. Low right jab, high right hook, low left cross, high right hook 16. High right jab, high right hook, high left cross, low right hook 17. High right jab, medium right jab, high right hook, low inside left cross 18. Low right jab, high right hook, low right jab

In addition to performing these routines over and over on the heavy bag Bruce also

would add in feints, so for some initial attacks he would perform a feint and not

jab, then perform the subsequent strikes. This trains you to still strike with force

when you are not rebounding from the original strike. It is important to learn that

sometimes you miss and when this happens your momentum is easily thrown off-

balance. It is also a way to improve your feints.

This is really just the tip of the iceberg of Bruce Lee’s punching training. In

addition to the routines mentioned above he incorporated many strike routines into

the stepping training. Also in addition to the standard weight training he performed

isometric exercises to strengthen his punches, such as isometric upper cuts and

hooks. This type of training is rarely seen in martial arts gyms today.

What is most revealing when looking through Bruce Lee’s training journals is the

sheer volume of training he performed. He was truly dedicated to training.

Remember that these punching exercises were done in addition to kung-fu training,

kicking workouts, strength training, stretching routines and teaching his students

and later making films.

To build the power, speed and endurance that Bruce Lee was famous for you need

to train hard for 6 days a week, for many hours every day. Proper nutrition and rest

are essential, only a full-time fighter can really train to these levels, but you should

be able to take something from his punching drills to improve your own skills. Just

doing 2 heavy bag workouts each week with 9 of the routines trained for 5 minutes

each will give you two intensive 45 minute punching sessions. Put on your favorite

music and give that bag hell.

Reference: • The Art of Expressing the Human Body

Further Resources:

• Bruce Lee’s Workouts

• Bruce Lee Diet

• Jeet Kune Do – The Way if the Intercepting Fist.

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