Bruce's "Unsettled Matters"???
xman
To those who have read, "Unsettled Matters" by Tom Bleecker, what
shocking facts does this book put forth?? Give us some details.
What specific assertions does it make?? And please don't tell me
to ".. get the book". Give me something to salivate over!..
d...@wingchun.com
: To those who have read, "Unsettled Matters" by Tom Bleecker, what
: shocking facts does this book put forth?? Give us some details.
: What specific assertions does it make?? And please don't tell me
: to ".. get the book". Give me something to salivate over!..
Talks about Bruce's genitals. I'm no doctor, but it had something to do
with an undescended testicle, and other physical/sexual matters that I
really think had no business being brought up. Especially if one is that
close a friend as Tom says he was.
To me it intrudes far beyond what anyone would need to
know in terms of private medical matters.
Implies that Bruce was taking steroids.
Says that Bruce was in some senses addicted to other medication he was
taking due to that famous back injury. Tom's analysis is that Bruce's need
for the medecine was unwarranted (and he also says the back injury was due
to Bruce engaging in some sort of sex that screwed up his back; and not
to doing the "good morning" exercise with weights OR the BS stuff from
the "Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story" filmline.).
Dismisses some of his films as failures. Specifically "Return of the Dragon".
Frankly other than Enter the Dragon, I think Return was Bruce's best film.
Extensive use of nunchakus, great fight scenes showing off his attributes
and choreography that was UNDER HIS CONTROL and not the BS stuff that
was going on in most HK productions. And of course, the fight with Chuck
Norris--that was a thing of beauty.
My other opinion is that Tom as a loyal American Kenpo man was miffed
with the way Bruce took in so many Parker black belts into JKD.
So we get Tom's views on Bruce's mentality and psychological state,
based on his access to Bruce's medical records and to interviews with
people and records.
Kind of like Ken Starr with Clinton and "whitewater". Not that much
there in whitewater to get Clinton with, so go after his personal
failings.
To my mind Tom Bleeker and the Kenpo community would be quite pissed
if someone ripped thru the veil of privacy surrounding the death
of Ed Parker and laid out his medical record and essentially did an
public autopsy of all his failings as a human being, somehow
justifying it as "setting the record straight". I think Leilani
and some of old time Kenpo headhunters would want to kick that
person's ass.
Sure, he had the medical records and other things. That doesn't
mean it had to be put out in public other than for what comes
across as either bitterness or just lack of friendship to someone
you claim to call a friend.
The end result is Tom's book will only be read by a few. Bruce's
hyped legend is too large even for him to destroy it as he seems
bent to--in the name of some sort of "truth".
Makes Linda Tripp look like an amateur.
"Walk On"
--
David Williams mailto:d...@wingchun.com
Planet Wing Chun http://www.wingchun.com/
Bay Area Wing Chun Association http://www.thesphere.com/SJWC
Henchley
>
> To those who have read, "Unsettled Matters" by Tom Bleecker, what
> shocking facts does this book put forth?? Give us some details.
> What specific assertions does it make?? And please don't tell me
> to ".. get the book". Give me something to salivate over!..
It certainly gave us something other than the Saint Bruce version.
Someone posted with a question about Ed Parker and how kenpo guys would
feel it someone wrote the complete story of him. Well, let me ask
this. How would the martial arts community feel if Lelanie Parker came
out with a book and film she shopped as "the true story" and it told of
Ed Parker walking into the UFC and beating the crap out of all the
Gracie brothers? And then Parker issues a challenge, saying he can beat
anyone in 12 seconds and there are no takers? And Parker heals himself
of Parkinson's disease? And on and on and on with one outlandish claim
after the next. And it is shopped as a true story for all the future
generations of martial arts students to gawk at? No, somebody had to
give us the other side of this. I don't think you'll ever see Mrs.
Parker coming out with that kind of book. She has never been interested
in turning her husband into an industry.
hht...@swbell.net
Actually I sort of agree with you Mr. Henchley. I first got interested
in martial arts way back in the distant mists of time when Bruce was the
side-kick in the Green Hornet television show. I respected the man then
and now for his ability and willingness to buck the system. but I never
saw the point in turning the man into a saint. Bruce Lee was a better
than average martial artist/fighter, and a half decent actor for the
times. He was probably a reasonably decent husband and father, but he
was no saint. I don't know what he would have done to either debunk the
myths or create new myths had he lived. The man wasn't really
predictable. It is likely, however, that we would have a much different
picture of him today. probably he would have seen the wisdom in
dispelling some of the myths about himself, but I could be wrong about
that.
I do believe that Linda went way too far in trying to portray Bruce as
the perfect fighter, husband, and father. He was probably something of
a womanizer from time to time, definitely an absentee father to his
children, and likely not all that dedicated to being a gentle, kind,
loving, and thoughtful husband. That would make him pretty much like
about -- at the least -- half of all adult males, wouldn't it? By the
way, we know that he occasionally smoked the ol' wicked weed and, yes,
he surely inhaled. So what?
Personally, I would love to see a more balanced view of the man offered
before the people who actually did associate closely with him die off.
Bleeker's book probably strays a little into fiction in trying to paint
too dark a picture of Lee; but then I haven't yet read the book. I
think I will, now; just to see for myself. I really don't care all that
much though. The Lee legacy isn't going to vanish no matter what is
proven or disproven about the man. Live Well -- Ronnie Henry
d...@wingchun.com
: xman <xm...@xman.com> wrote:
: : To those who have read, "Unsettled Matters" by Tom Bleecker, what
: : shocking facts does this book put forth?? Give us some details.
: : What specific assertions does it make?? And please don't tell me
: : to ".. get the book". Give me something to salivate over!..
: Talks about Bruce's genitals. I'm no doctor, but it had something to do
: with an undescended testicle, and other physical/sexual matters that I
: really think had no business being brought up. Especially if one is that
: close a friend as Tom says he was.
: To me it intrudes far beyond what anyone would need to
: know in terms of private medical matters.
[Snip]
You know, I wondered how Mr Bleecker would respond to my comments on
his book. The result?
I get an email from him AND from another Parker Black Belt.
Here is the email from the other guy (not Tom Bleecker):
"David,
Mr. Bleecker forwarded your email to me and other kenpoists. You really need
to take another look at your hero Bruce Lee. The guy never fought anyone.
Twenty five years later you guys aren't even on the boards. No champions, no
tournament fighters, no schools, no nothing. And don't try to defame Mr.
Parker. Lee and Mr. Parker aren't even in the same league. Grandmaster
Parker was a true legend in martial arts, not some fake movie star. You need
to take a good honest look at your hero and get real. Stop hiding behind all
that damn commercialism. It's about time this joke Lee came to an end and I
and many other kenpo people are glad Mr. Bleecker had the balls to bring it
into the limelight. You can go on hiding behind that stupid Mrs. Lee and all
her outlandish lies. She really is a joke. And finally, if you really care
all that much about your big hero, how come none of you ever give a rat's ass
about the fact that he was murdered? All you guys ever hype about is his dumb
one-finger push-ups. Some friends you are. Stay in your own sandbox and
don't be posting any more garbage about Mr. Bleecker.
Bob Bollinger"
I find it interesting that Tom felt it necessary to go off and "alert"
the Kenpo community to my post about his book.
As to my comments on the late Grandmaster of American Kenpo, Ed Parker,
they were not a slam or insult in any way, as anyone can see from reading it.
My point was and still is...Kenpo guys would not like it if anyone went off
and did a hachet job on their friend and mentor. You'd like to think that
anyone who called themselves a friend would not bring into public what
should be private. The point is not *if* there is anything "bad" about
Parker, its that one certainly wouldn't like it done to him once he is dead
in the fashion Tom took--IN MY OPINION.
And from what I can see Grandmaster Ed Parker sure exhibited more class
towards his late friend Bruce Lee then some of you Kenpo masters seem to
be doing today.
Tom and Bob seem to want to distort my opinions on Tom's book into some
attempt to discredit Ed Parker or paint me as some apologist for Linda Lee.
Thats merely pathetic and inaccurate. I stated my opinions on his book.
I'm not a member of the JFJKD. I bought Tom's book, read it, and gave
my opinion on it.
Filling my mailbox with crap about a dead man isn't going to change that.
Nor is trying to rally Kenpo guys up because I mentioned Ed Parker's name
in an email.
If you are jealous that the "martial arts magazines" still profit off
Bruce Lee's body and memory, complain about it. But why turn that into
such puerile jealousy as evidenced above? Bruce got hyped into Saint Bruce
and blown out of proportion...he is a pop icon and "legend". Thats life.
Thats how the media works. Your reaction of cutting on a dead man sure
speaks volumes.
Is this all that you guys got out of a lifetime of study of Kenpo?
Is this what the spirit of Kenpo is about?
Please.
Look at it this way...Tom for all your complaints, you are more than
happy to profit off Bruce as well.
"My book is read by hundreds more every week. I am now in my third printing.
This book is everywhere throughout the world. Your lie is
not ever going to be everyone else's truth. Sorry to disappoint you."
My "lie"? Thats rich. Hell, you should thank me, this ought to stimulate
more sales for you Tom. Where's my commission?
xman
inappropriate, prurient, and personally invasive?
Is the book "factual", or just so-called "intelligent surmising" or unsupportable
"opinions" by someone who was close to him, and from research and interviews? Do
you think that the book was written with some malicious intent?
I understand that Bleecker and Linda Lee were once married. What's the story with
that? Are they on bad terms? If so, why?
Someone mentioned "murder". Is there credible reason to suspect that Bruce was
murdered?
Is there reason to suspect that Bruce took steroids?
te...@c.com
[snip]
>Thats merely pathetic and inaccurate. I stated my opinions on his book.
>I'm not a member of the JFJKD. I bought Tom's book, read it, and gave
>my opinion on it.
>
>Filling my mailbox with crap about a dead man isn't going to change that.
>Nor is trying to rally Kenpo guys up because I mentioned Ed Parker's name
>in an email.
>
>If you are jealous that the "martial arts magazines" still profit off
>Bruce Lee's body and memory, complain about it. But why turn that into
>such puerile jealousy as evidenced above? Bruce got hyped into Saint Bruce
>and blown out of proportion...he is a pop icon and "legend". Thats life.
>Thats how the media works. Your reaction of cutting on a dead man sure
>speaks volumes.
>
>Is this all that you guys got out of a lifetime of study of Kenpo?
>Is this what the spirit of Kenpo is about?
>
>Please.
imho, my experience with quality kempo people isn't about the negative
side you've seen here in the email responses you got and posted. for
example, a person wouldn't see Larry Tatum, Jim & Al Tracy, etc.
acting this way. sometimes a few people from any art misrepresent it.
lraven
> xman wrote:
> >
> > To those who have read, "Unsettled Matters" by Tom Bleecker, what
> > shocking facts does this book put forth?? Give us some details.
> > What specific assertions does it make?? And please don't tell me
> > to ".. get the book". Give me something to salivate over!..
>
> Someone posted with a question about Ed Parker and how kenpo guys would
> feel it someone wrote the complete story of him. Well, let me ask
> this. How would the martial arts community feel if Lelanie Parker came
> out with a book and film she shopped as "the true story" and it told of
> Ed Parker walking into the UFC and beating the crap out of all the
> Gracie brothers? And then Parker issues a challenge, saying he can beat
> anyone in 12 seconds and there are no takers? And Parker heals himself
> of Parkinson's disease? And on and on and on with one outlandish claim
> after the next. And it is shopped as a true story for all the future
> generations of martial arts students to gawk at? No, somebody had to
> give us the other side of this. I don't think you'll ever see Mrs.
> Parker coming out with that kind of book. She has never been interested
> in turning her husband into an industry.
Are you saying that Bruce Lee's wife turned him into an industry?
Chris
Chas
> Are you saying that Bruce Lee's wife turned him into an industry?
No, he was an industry for some time before she got involved; she turned
him into a Saint.
But you have to admit that he was a cool little guy-
Chas
d...@wingchun.com
: xman <xm...@xman.com> wrote:
: : To those who have read, "Unsettled Matters" by Tom Bleecker, what
: : shocking facts does this book put forth?? Give us some details.
: : What specific assertions does it make?? And please don't tell me
: : to ".. get the book". Give me something to salivate over!..
: Talks about Bruce's genitals. I'm no doctor, but it had something to do
: with an undescended testicle, and other physical/sexual matters that I
: really think had no business being brought up. Especially if one is that
: close a friend as Tom says he was.
: To me it intrudes far beyond what anyone would need to
: know in terms of private medical matters.
: Implies that Bruce was taking steroids.
: "Walk On"
: --
Mycroft
> xman wrote:
> >
> > To those who have read, "Unsettled Matters" by Tom Bleecker, what
> > shocking facts does this book put forth?? Give us some details.
> > What specific assertions does it make?? And please don't tell me
> > to ".. get the book". Give me something to salivate over!..
>
> It certainly gave us something other than the Saint Bruce version.
> Someone posted with a question about Ed Parker and how kenpo guys would
> feel it someone wrote the complete story of him. Well, let me ask
> this. How would the martial arts community feel if Lelanie Parker came
> out with a book and film she shopped as "the true story" and it told of
> Ed Parker walking into the UFC and beating the crap out of all the
> Gracie brothers? And then Parker issues a challenge, saying he can beat
> anyone in 12 seconds and there are no takers? And Parker heals himself
> of Parkinson's disease? And on and on and on with one outlandish claim
> after the next. And it is shopped as a true story for all the future
> generations of martial arts students to gawk at? No, somebody had to
> give us the other side of this. I don't think you'll ever see Mrs.
> Parker coming out with that kind of book. She has never been interested
> in turning her husband into an industry.
1) Recovering from a back injury and healing yourself of Parkinson's
disease are in two totally different categories. The first happens
all the time. The second has NEVER happened.
2) Yes the movie "Bruce Lee the Dragon story" was not 100% accurate.
But it didn't follow Linda Lee's book 100% either. The fight scene
at Ed Parker's demonstration didn't happen. But there were several
fights that have been verified over and over again that did happen.
Bruce did beat a karate black belt in less than 12 seconds. But it
happened at raquetball court.
3) You forget that Ed Parker invited Bruce to his demonstration
event and he did so because he was impressed by what he already
saw in Bruce. Bruce Lee and Ed Parker both respected each other.
Those who, in the name of Kempo, try to discredit Lee only bring
dishonor to Ed Parker.
4) The book "Unsettled Matters" was obviously written by someone
with an unsettled brain. Take the "undescended testicle" part
for example. Anyone with ANY medical training knows that the
testicles of some men don't fully descend without having an
operation. There's nothing implied by this about drug use,
moral terpetude and certainly not martial arts ability. The
only conclusions that a sane person can draw from that is that
it could lead to sterility (and Bruce had two kids) or in some
rare cases cancer in later years (and Bruce didn't live long
enough for that to be a factor). That someone felt that was
worth putting in a book only proves that are a stupid moron.
Anyone who reads such a book lowers themself to that leve.
--
******************************
Remove the "nospam" from my email to reply
Accounting Students' Association
in bleekers book...like besides the testicle...i mean
a deformed testicle is not all that interesting
arthur.
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In Heiho speed is not the true way. Speed is the fastness or the
slowness which occurs when the rythm is out of sychronization.
----Miyamoto Musashi, Book of 5 Rings.
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