This Vintage Bruce Lee T-Shirt honors the legacy of Bruce Lee (born Lee Jun-fan; November 27, 1940 – July 20, 1973), a pioneering Hong Kong-American martial artist, actor, filmmaker, and philosopher. As the founder of Jeet Kune Do, Lee combined his extensive martial arts experience with Zen Buddhist and Taoist philosophies to create a revolutionary approach to combat and self-defense. Celebrated as the first global Chinese film star, Lee significantly influenced martial arts cinema in the 1970s. His journey from child actor in Hong Kong to martial arts instructor in the United States reflects his enduring impact on both film and martial arts culture. It was during this time in the United States that he began considering making money by teaching martial arts, even though he aspired to have a career in acting. He opened his first martial arts school, operated out of his home in Seattle. After later adding a second school in Oakland, California, he once drew significant attention at the 1964 Long Beach International Karate Championships of California by making demonstrations and speaking. He subsequently moved to Los Angeles to teach, where his students included Chuck Norris, Sharon Tate, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
