THE DRAGON
By Peter Vuono
When we see or hear about Bruce Lee, most of us think about martial arts. To those of us who practice it, we think about how Lee was the originator of Jeet Kune Do or "The Way of the Intercepting Fist". Others think about the Green Hornet, or his cinematic battles with Chuck Norris in Return of the Dragon or with Kareem Abdul Jabar in Game of death. However, Lee's entire life was a continuous contribution to his fellow man.
Lee Jun Fan was born Nov. 27, 1940 at Jackson Street Hospital in SanFrancisco between the hours of 6:00AM and 8:00AM. This is both the year and the hour of the Dragon. The Dragon is the symbol of strength, power, good fortune AND HEAVEN. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lee Hoi Chuen were entertainers performing in SanFrancisco.The baby was Christened Lee Jun Fan because it means"Return Again". Lee's mom had always hoped that he would one day again return to America.
Although a nurse in the hospital nicknamed him "Bruce', his parents called him by a feminine name,"Sai Fon", which means "Small Phoenix".
In the Chinese culture, men are typically given feminine names to fool the evil spirits from taking their souls.
Bruce returned to America to Seattle as his mom had hoped and graduated from Edison Technical High School. He then enrolled in the University of Washington majoring in philosophy. In 1964 he would start teaching gung fu in Oakland and marry his college sweetheart Linda Emory.
Lee's life entailed so much more than just being a martial artist. He was a director, writer, artist and teacher as well as being a husband and loving father. However to this author two of his accomplishments warrant special note. Bruce Lee gave the Asian people a face. It was a face of strength, honor, pride and dignity. A face that has and will always endure. His other notable contribution was his philosophy of life. Lee, like many in the Asian culture believed in seeking the Tao(pronounced Dow), which is interpreted as the "Way of the Universe". In one of his published works- Striking Thoughts- Lee comments on every aspect of life from his personal interpretation of the Tao. I have found that reading and embracing what he has said has made me a better person.
There is a Chinese proverb that states,"If the dark element seeks to achieve a position in which it is not entitled and tries to rule instead of serving,it draws down upon itself the fury of the dragon".
I am convinced that any person who reads and embraces Lee's Striking Thoughts of philosophy will walk a path of righteousness which will ultimately lead to the paradise of the Dragon.
AFTER THOUGHT- The following is a letter of comfort from Bruce Lee to his closest friend Taky Kimura after Kimura had sustained an enormous hardship. Kimura would later become Lee's caretaker after Bruce Lee was laid to rest July 31, 1973 at Lakeview Cemetery in Seattle.
" Life is an ever -flowing process and somewhere on the path some unpleasant things will pop up- it might leave a scar- but then life is flowing on and like running water, when it stops, it grows stale. Go bravely on , my friend because each experience teaches us a lesson".
Thursday, July 17, 2014
Friday, July 11, 2014
GEORGE FRENN- TRIUMPH AND TRAGEDY
By Peter Vuono
In 1975 I trained at the bob Backus Olympic Health Club in Pembroke Ma. This studio, which was one of the first of it's kind was the invention of Bob Backus who was an Olympian in 1952, a Pan Am champ in 1955 and a track and field hall of famer in 1965. Bob was kind and gregarious. This, coupled with his extraordinary resume drew strong men and super athletes from all over the country. Ken Patera trained there for the world's strongest man contest with club member Steve Sanderson, who in the 80's did an official 920 high bar squat!
The immortal Dave Draper visited and brought with him a magnificent bench made of driftwood that Dave constructed himself. This bench adorned the lobby and was admired by all. Gold medal winner Harold Connolly visited frequently as did Olympian Al Hall. Last but not least was the Californian superman whom Bob mentored in the hammer throw, George Frenn.
When it comes to strength, George was synonymous with legend. In 1967 he won the senior national powerlifting championships in York with Bob Backus and Bill West of the original Westside Barbell Club at his side. At this meet Frenn won his class, became the first heavyweight to squat 700lbs. and broke 9 American and National records in one meet, a feat which I do not believe was ever duplicated by any other man.
In July of 1970, his picture appeared on the front cover of Sports Illustrated and again in 1972 on the front cover of Strength and Health. George competed in the Pomona Police Officer's Power Meet in Pomona Ca. in 1971 at Garey High School. As a heavyweight(242) George bench pressed 520, squatted 853 and deadlifted 740 to become the first man to total 2100. Although only a heavyweight, George's record surpassed Jon Cole's superheavyweight record by 40 lbs.
Frenn went on to compete in the 72 Olympics in Munich in the hammer throw and competed in one of the early World's Strongest Man competitions. Perhaps one of George's most valiant milestones was that he was one of the first Olympians to compete in the very first Gay Olympics in 1982. Shortly thereafter, George retired from the school dept. after teaching Science for 32 years. He later received another well deserved accolade by being inducted into the California powerlifting hall of fame along side of the immortal Pat Casey.
I remember training with George in 1975 at the Backus Gym. I'll never forget the thrill of meeting an idol who would become one of history's greatest athletes. On June 26th, 2006, George Frenn's life abruptly, unexpectedly and sadly came to an end. There was much conjecture in the strength world as to how and why this occurred. I would rather dwell on the thought that George Frenn was an inspiration and a valiant warrior who insisted on being himself in a world that too often demands that we all become something else
"No one day will erase you from the memory of time"-Virgil
By Peter Vuono
In 1975 I trained at the bob Backus Olympic Health Club in Pembroke Ma. This studio, which was one of the first of it's kind was the invention of Bob Backus who was an Olympian in 1952, a Pan Am champ in 1955 and a track and field hall of famer in 1965. Bob was kind and gregarious. This, coupled with his extraordinary resume drew strong men and super athletes from all over the country. Ken Patera trained there for the world's strongest man contest with club member Steve Sanderson, who in the 80's did an official 920 high bar squat!
The immortal Dave Draper visited and brought with him a magnificent bench made of driftwood that Dave constructed himself. This bench adorned the lobby and was admired by all. Gold medal winner Harold Connolly visited frequently as did Olympian Al Hall. Last but not least was the Californian superman whom Bob mentored in the hammer throw, George Frenn.
When it comes to strength, George was synonymous with legend. In 1967 he won the senior national powerlifting championships in York with Bob Backus and Bill West of the original Westside Barbell Club at his side. At this meet Frenn won his class, became the first heavyweight to squat 700lbs. and broke 9 American and National records in one meet, a feat which I do not believe was ever duplicated by any other man.
In July of 1970, his picture appeared on the front cover of Sports Illustrated and again in 1972 on the front cover of Strength and Health. George competed in the Pomona Police Officer's Power Meet in Pomona Ca. in 1971 at Garey High School. As a heavyweight(242) George bench pressed 520, squatted 853 and deadlifted 740 to become the first man to total 2100. Although only a heavyweight, George's record surpassed Jon Cole's superheavyweight record by 40 lbs.
Frenn went on to compete in the 72 Olympics in Munich in the hammer throw and competed in one of the early World's Strongest Man competitions. Perhaps one of George's most valiant milestones was that he was one of the first Olympians to compete in the very first Gay Olympics in 1982. Shortly thereafter, George retired from the school dept. after teaching Science for 32 years. He later received another well deserved accolade by being inducted into the California powerlifting hall of fame along side of the immortal Pat Casey.
I remember training with George in 1975 at the Backus Gym. I'll never forget the thrill of meeting an idol who would become one of history's greatest athletes. On June 26th, 2006, George Frenn's life abruptly, unexpectedly and sadly came to an end. There was much conjecture in the strength world as to how and why this occurred. I would rather dwell on the thought that George Frenn was an inspiration and a valiant warrior who insisted on being himself in a world that too often demands that we all become something else
"No one day will erase you from the memory of time"-Virgil
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