“Repetition can be boring or tedious—which is why so few people ever master anything.”—Hal Elrod
BRUCE LEE
Bruce Lee is one of the most influential martial artists and entertainers of all time. His films and performances popularized Asian martial arts in the West, inspiring a generation of filmmakers and action stars. His impact on pop culture is indisputable. Dana White, UFC President, called Lee the “father of mixed martial arts,” and TIME named him one of the hundred most influential people of the 20th century.
Bruce Lee surpassed the skillset of his opponents by approaching his craft with philosophies. These philosophies dictated how he navigated life and martial arts. Some included ideas that implemented flow into his craft. Others were about the importance of learning and how to approach it. Many of these philosophies helped him perfect his martial arts techniques. Lee used all of his philosophies as guidelines and stayed within his rules. Eventually, Bruce Lee developed a unique style of martial arts called Jeet Kune Do.
Jeet Kune Do is known as an “intelligent martial art.” Bruce Lee formed it from his fighting techniques combined with philosophical influence from Eclecticism, Zen Buddhism, and Taoism. He believed that Jeet Kune Do was a way of life, a mental and spiritual discipline in addition to physical practice. This blend of the mind, body, and soul was Lee’s method of making martial arts a holistic craft.
BRUCE LEE’S CORE PHILOSOPHY
Like most creative geniuses, Bruce Lee kept a notebook and recorded his training regime and philosophical thoughts. His writings revealed a key trait that helped him become a legend in martial arts, saying, “A self-willed man has no other aim than his own growth. He values only one thing, the mysterious power in himself, which bids him live and helps him to grow. His only living destiny is the silent, ungainsayable law in his own heart, which comfortable habits make it so hard to obey but which the self-willed man is destiny and godhead.”
Lee valued the power of being self-willed. A self-willed creative person doesn’t wait for inspiration to practice. They set a schedule and practice even when they feel unmotivated or not in the mood. A self-willed creator stays focused on their inner power to dictate their growth and development. This belief becomes the guiding principle of their success. It gives them the ultimate authority over their own life.
James Clear, the author of Atomic Habits, wrote in his blog about the importance of creative people having a schedule saying, “Stop waiting for motivation or creative inspiration to strike you and set a schedule for your habits. This is the difference between professionals and amateurs. Professionals set a schedule and stick to it. Amateurs wait until they feel inspired or motivated.” It will take a long time for you to achieve mastery, so don’t let the world around you dictate the amount of time you spend on your craft.
10,000-HOUR RULE
In Malcolm Gladwell’s book Outliers: The Story of Success, he talks about a research study on the habits and practice routines of elite performers in sports, music, chess, and more. The research found that it takes around 10,000 hours of focused practice for people to achieve mastery in their field.
Thomas Edison’s quote, “Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration,” embodies the 10,000-hour rule. You can only unlock your creative potential if you dedicate the quality time needed to perfect your craft. The time it takes to become a master elevates mastery from being a relaxing hobby to a committed lifestyle. To put it in perspective, you have to build a habit of practicing for almost three hours a day for ten years to reach 10,000 hours.