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Longstreet
'The Way of the Intercepting Fist'
This unique episode was written by top script writer and student of Bruce's, Stirling Silliphant. First of all, we are introduced to the star of the show, Longstreet walking along the docks with his dog (Longstreet is blind) and he is attacked by three assailants. Lee Tsung (Bruce Lee) enters and gives the three thugs a beating and helps Longsteet up and introduces himself. Longstreet wishes to learn under Lee but at first Lee refuses :-
Lee - The usefulness of a cup is in its emptiness. I don't believe in system or method Mr Longstreet and without system, method - what's left to teach?
Longstreet - But you had to learn, you weren't born knowing how to take three people out in a matter of seconds?
Lee - True but i found the cause of my ignorance.
Longstreet - Well help me find mine.
Now we see Lee and Longstreet training. Bruce is holding an air shield as Longstreet kicks. Bruce decides to show what a real kick feels like. 'Brace yourself, now i want you to feel the difference when i put my whole body behind the kick.' Bruce knocks Longstreet flying across the room! Duke, Longstreet's friend asks Bruce :-
Duke - What is this thing that you do?
Lee - In Cantonese, Jeet Kune Do, The Way of the Intercepting Fist or Foot. Come On, touch me anyway you can.
(Duke moves and Bruce intercepts his advance with a side kick to the knee)
Lee - See, to reach me, you must move to me. Your attack offers me a chance to intercept you. I'm using my longest weapon, my side kick against the nearest target, your knee cap. This can be compared to your left jab in boxing but it's much more damaging.
Duke - Well speaking of a Left Jab (Duke tries to throw a jab but Bruce intercepts a different way this time)
Lee - I intercepted your emotional tenseness. You see, from your thought to your fist, how much time was lost.
This is the only episode that you will feel and hear the real Bruce Lee talking about his art of Jeet Kune Do. Lee is teaching Longstreet to defend himself emphasizing his awareness of sound, any sound to be important. Longstreet is going to take his attacker on in a fight which is at the climax of the episode. Bruce Lee received rave reviews for his performance in this first episode when it was aired in on American T.V. on September 16th, 1971.
Lee - When is it?
Longstreet - Tomorrow!
Lee - You're not ready?
Longstreet - I know.
Lee - Like everyone else, you want to learn the way to win but never to accept the way to lose. To accept defeat, to learn to die is to be liberated from it. So when tomorrow comes, you must free your ambitious mind and learn the art of dying. May it be well with you!!
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