Bruce Lee (1940-1973) was a Hong Kong-American martial artist, *actor, *filmmaker, and philosopher. (**Note: Although I’m saying favourable things about Bruce Lee here, this article is not meant to endorse his movies – I am NOT promoting martial arts, endorsing Hollywood movies, endorsing dragon symbolism, or Eastern religion! But I am promoting self-discipline, which Bruce Lee 100% excelled in.)

I’ve also seen conflicting accounts of Bruce Lee’s beliefs about God, and whether he was an athiest or not. But Bruce gave some interesting ‘Biblical like’ advice, and left some great quotes that we can learn quite a lot from.

For example, Bruce Lee said:
“As you think, so shall you become.”
“You think the fight begins when you step onto the mat; no, the real battle is fought long before that, in your mind. Before I ever threw a punch, before I ever kicked I had already won or lost in my head. The moment doubt enters, the battle is over.
That’s why I trained my mind as fiercely as I trained my body.”

This is very similar to Prov 23:7 KJV and it is key to self mastery.
For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.

Bruce also said:
“If everyone would help their neighbor, then no one would be without help.”

This echoes a Biblical principle, with additional depth.
James 2:8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well.

Bruce Lee is most famous for saying:

BE LIKE WATER

The way I think about this is, when a person swims in a pool, the pool takes the shape of the person. After the person leaves the pool, the water returns to how it was before.

I don’t believe you should totally empty your mind to allow some demon to take over, but we do need to empty out the self will, as Christ did.

Luke 22:41- 42. And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. 

Help with Anger Management

Bruce said “A quick temper will make a fool of you soon enough.”

Anger and frustration comes when we are contradicted, or attacked.

This is because we are too ridged in holding to our own shape, holding to our own rigid identity.

Christ gave us the solution in the Lord’s prayer.
“THY kingdom come, THY will be done.”

When we die to self, that is to self will, in a sense, OUR will is no longer done, we are easily counselled (James 3:17), and we follow Galatians 2:20.

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

This is saying that we too can have Christ living in us!

Bruce Lee:

In order to taste my cup of water you must first empty your cup. My friend, drop all of your preconceived fixed ideas and be neutral. Do you know why this cup is so useful? Because it is empty.

Too often, I’ve been guilty of thinking I had all my ducks in a row, and resisted being told that which I didn’t want to accept, instead of graciously welcoming other viewpoints.

If we are dead IN CHRIST then we need not feel we are being attacked, nor will we be upset that OUR opinion is being contradicted, because we defer to God’s opinion, in preference to our own.

We can also be like water.

The Holy Spirit is like water.
When Christ is in us, through His Spirit, the water of His Words flows in our life.

Bruce Lee:

“Running water never grows stale. So you just have to keep on flowing.”

FOCUS

Bruce Lee said,

‎”THE SUCCESSFUL WARRIOR IS THE AVERAGE MAN, WITH LASER-LIKE FOCUS.”

“I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.”

It’s said that Bruce practiced 5,000 punches a day for decades!

“Do not have an attitude, open yourself and FOCUS yourself and express yourself. Reject external form that fails to express internal reality.”

“Bring the mind to a sharp FOCUS and make it alert so that it can immediately intuit truth, which is everywhere.”

Hmmn, – the Bible says, in John 17:17 Thy word is truth, but also:

Phi 3:13 KJV Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this ONE THING I DO, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

FEAR and PROGRESS

Bruce Lee:

“Don’t fear failure. Not failure, but low aim is the crime. In great attempts, it is glorious even to fail.”

“Make at least one definite move daily toward your goal.”

Bible:

Phil 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Bruce Lee:

“If you love life, don’t waste time, for time is what life is made up of.”

Bible:

Psalm 90:12 So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

Bruce Lee:

“Do not pray for an easy life; pray for the strength to endure a difficult one.”

Bible:

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Jesus left us a promise, that we can have HIS peace.

LIFE and TIME

I’m repeating Bruce’s time quote:

“If you love life, don’t waste time, for time is what life is made up of.”

He also said:

“It’s not the daily increase but daily decrease. Hack away at the unessential.”

Bible:

“Making the best use of the time, because the days are evil” Ephesians 5:16

The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.” – Romans 13:12

Bruce Lee

“The key to immortality is first living a life worth remembering.”

Bible:

“The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps” – Proverbs 16:9

“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” – John 10:10

… that believing ye might have life through his name.” – John 20:31

DEFEAT and VICTORY

Bruce Lee:

“Defeat is a state of mind; no one is ever defeated until defeat has been accepted as a reality.”

Bible:

Deuteronomy 20:4: “For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.”

Psalm 44:7: “But you give us victory over our enemies, you put our adversaries to shame.”

1 Corinthians 15:57: “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

1 John 5:4: “For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.”

What Bruce Lee Missed

While teaching self-discipline, so far as I know, Bruce Lee did not teach fasting. He didn’t believe in methodology either. He said, talking about levels of attainment, “Belts are only good for holding up your pants.”

He believed we should obey health principles without being bound by them. Good advice, and true up to a point. But fasting is a powerful journey toward attaining self-mastery that I suspect he missed.

Sample Bible fasting quotes: Philippians 3:19 “Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.” Proverbs 23:2 “Put a knife to your throat if you are given to appetite!” Jesus also said (Mat 6:16-18) “when you fast,“ not if you fast.

If you are a slave to your passions you don’t have self-discipline. Therefore, you may hate this advice, but fasting is a disciplined practice that strengthens both body and mind. By willingly embracing hunger and resisting instant gratification, you cultivate resilience, focus, and unwavering willpower. Each moment of restraint becomes a victory over impulses, proving that you—not your cravings—are in control.

As you fast, you sharpen mental clarity, deepen self-awareness, and unlock a profound sense of inner strength. This ancient practice is more than abstaining from food; it’s a transformative act of discipline that teaches you to conquer desires, endure discomfort, and emerge stronger.

Through balanced and sensible fasting (there is no need to be extreme, or Pharisaical as in Luke 18:11-12), you don’t just master your appetite—you master yourself.

There are other principles on nicetiming that Bruce missed, but mostly he was very astute.

Summary

In summary, I don’t idolize Bruce Lee, but I do give credit where it’s due.

In a number of ways he was well above average, as well as amazing, and in fact, superhuman. (If you don’t think so, you try doing two finger push-ups, as verified in the video below.)

I’m sorry he died so young.

I think the following YouTube short is surprisingly poignant!

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