Bruce Lee’s Legacy Lives On | How JKD Shapes Empower Martial Arts

Having a strong lineage and legitimate roots in what we train in is incredibly important to us at Empower Martial Arts Academy.

We've worked hard over the years to train, learn from and build relationships with some of the best martial artists available, both here and abroad, and as a result, have a pretty good Empower lineage! Over the next few blog posts we'll details a few of the key figures in our Empower lineage, their background and why they are such an intrinsic part of our Empower culture.

At the top is obviously the pioneer and founder of Jeet Kune Do - Bruce Lee

Few names in martial arts or popular culture carry the same weight as Bruce Lee. More than fifty years after his passing, his image, words, and philosophy continue to inspire generations of fighters, thinkers, and everyday people. For us at Empower Martial Arts Academy, Bruce Lee isn’t just a cinematic legend — he’s the reason we teach the way we do, move the way we move, and think the way we think.

The Man Who Changed Everything

Before Bruce Lee, most martial arts were locked in tradition. Styles were rigid, lineage was everything, and the idea of blending arts was almost sacrilegious. Then along came this charismatic, lightning-fast young man from Hong Kong, preaching that the highest form of martial art is no style at all.

Through films like Enter the Dragon, Fist of Fury, and Way of the Dragon, Lee brought martial arts into mainstream Western culture. But behind the cinematic kicks and one-inch punches was something deeper: a message about personal freedom, adaptability, and self-expression.

Bruce Lee’s famous quote, “Absorb what is useful, discard what is not, add what is uniquely your own,” became a rallying cry for martial artists everywhere. It wasn’t just about fighting — it was about how to live.

Jeet Kune Do: The Art of No Art

In the late 1960s, Lee formalised his philosophy into Jeet Kune Do (JKD) — “The Way of the Intercepting Fist.” It wasn’t a new martial art with set techniques; it was an approach. JKD was about stripping away the unnecessary, responding naturally, and adapting to any opponent or situation.

He fused elements of Wing Chun, Western boxing, fencing, grappling, and philosophy into a practical, living system. Lee’s notebook sketches and training footage show how obsessed he was with efficiency and truth in combat. JKD was the first mixed martial art before “MMA” even existed — decades ahead of its time.

At Empower, that same principle guides everything we do. We don’t cling to one style; we teach Kickboxing, Kali, Jeet Kune Do, and even elements of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu — because real skill comes from integration, not isolation.

Bruce Lee’s Ripple Effect on the World

Bruce Lee’s influence went far beyond martial arts. He broke racial barriers in Hollywood, became a global symbol of discipline and confidence, and helped Western audiences appreciate Eastern philosophy.

Today, you’ll find traces of his thinking in sports science, strength training, psychology, and leadership. Concepts like “flow,” “being like water,” and “honest self-expression” are quoted by everyone from athletes to CEOs.

In martial arts, his legacy birthed entire generations of teachers and systems a lot of which we now have links too as well:

• Dan Inosanto, Lee’s protégé, carried on JKD and introduced Filipino Martial Arts to the world.

• Rick Faye and the Minnesota Kali Group evolved that blend into a structured, progressive curriculum.

• Countless JKD and Kali instructors worldwide continue refining the art — and that’s the lineage Empower proudly represents today.

How Bruce Lee Influences Empower Martial Arts

When we founded Empower Martial Arts Academy, the goal was never just to teach people how to fight. It was to help them discover who they are through movement, discipline, and community. That’s pure Bruce Lee.

Here’s how his influence shows up in what we do every day:

1. Efficiency Over Ego

Lee said, “It’s not daily increase but daily decrease – hack away at the unessential.”
In our classes, we focus on what works. We encourage students to explore, question, and refine their movement — not memorise endless techniques for the sake of tradition. Whether it’s in our JKD, Kickboxing, or Kali sessions, the emphasis is always on directness, simplicity, and effectiveness.

2. Personal Expression in Combat

Everyone moves differently. We help students find their rhythm, their stance, their timing — their “own way.” That’s what Lee meant by “honest self-expression.” Two students might learn the same technique, but how they apply it in sparring is unique to them. Empower isn’t about clones; it’s about character and we certainly have a few of those in our academy...

3. Cross-Training Culture

Bruce Lee trained boxing one day, fencing footwork the next, and weights in between. That openness defines our academy culture. You’ll see our members blending Kali weapon drills with JKD striking, or applying Kali principles on the ground in grappling. We believe in the same experimental spirit that Lee championed — constant learning, constant evolution and we encourage this for both our students and instructors.

4. Mindset & Philosophy

JKD is as much a way of thinking as it is a way of fighting. We talk openly about mindset, resilience, and adaptability. Lee’s ideas — from “be water” to “using no way as way” — influence how we approach challenges in and outside of training. Our goal is to help students build confidence, not arrogance; calmness, not fear.

5. Community as a Tribe

Bruce Lee inspired people to think of martial arts as self-development, not just competition. At Empower, we’ve built a community that reflects that — a supportive tribe where everyone, from kids to adults, helps each other grow. Lee’s message of equality and connection lives on every time one of our students helps another tie their belt or master a new drill.

Beyond the Mat: Living the Philosophy

Bruce Lee’s reach was universal because his message was universal: truth in self-expression. Whether you’re punching pads, solving business problems, or rebuilding your health, the principle is the same — simplify, adapt, and stay honest.

That’s what Empower tries to embody daily. We teach people to move efficiently, think clearly, and act with intent — on the mat and off. We want students to leave each class feeling stronger, more focused, and a little closer to understanding themselves.

A Living Legacy

Bruce Lee’s life was tragically short, but his impact is timeless. He inspired the creation of countless martial arts academies, films, and philosophies. More importantly, he gave people permission to question tradition and find their own truth.

Empower Martial Arts Academy exists because of that mindset. Every punch, kick, trap, and disarm we teach traces back to Bruce Lee’s revolutionary idea: that martial arts should evolve — just like people.

So when we say, “Find Your Tribe,” we’re not just talking about joining a class. We’re talking about finding that space where you can be yourself, grow stronger, and keep moving forward — the way Bruce Lee would have wanted.

Because his art wasn’t really about fighting.
It was about freedom.
And that’s something we’ll always keep alive here at Empower.