James Yimm Lee

James Yimm Lee (January 31, 1920 – December 30, 1972) was an American martial arts pioneer, teacher, author, and publisher. James Lee is known for being a mentor, teacher and friend of Bruce Lee.

James Yimm Lee
Born(1920-01-31)January 31, 1920
Oakland, California, USA
DiedDecember 30, 1972(1972-12-30) (aged 52)
Hayward, California, USA
Lung cancer
Native name嚴鏡海
ResidenceCalifornia
StyleWing Chun
Jun Fan Gung Fu
Iron Palm
Jop Sil
Boxing
Teacher(s)T.Y. Wong
Bruce Lee
Rank3
Occupationmartial artist, welder, US Army veteran
Spouse
Katherine Chow
​
​
(m. 1951; died 1964)​
Children
  • Karena Lee (daughter)
  • Greglon Lee (son)
Notable studentsRobert Baker, Howard Williams, Gene Snelling, Al Novak, Gary Dill
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese嚴鏡海
Simplified Chinese严镜海

Early life

Lee was born on January 31, 1920 in Oakland, California. He was a welder by profession and a U.S. Army veteran.

Career

He was one of Bruce Lee's (no relation) three personally certified 3rd rank instructors and co-founded the Jun Fan Gung Fu Institute in Oakland where he taught Jun Fan Gung Fu in Bruce's absence. James was responsible for introducing Bruce Lee to Ed Parker, the organizer of the Long Beach International Karate Championships where Bruce was first introduced to the martial arts community.

James Lee became well known for his Iron Palm specialty, and would routinely break bricks at demonstrations. He was the first to publish an Iron Palm book in America in 1957.

He and Linda Lee were eyewitnesses of the fight between Bruce Lee and Wong Jack Man held privately at Chinatown, Oakland in 1964.[1]

Books

Lee was a well-established author and was one of the first to publish martial arts books in English in America. He also helped Bruce Lee publish his first book, "Chinese Gung-Fu: The Philosophical Art of Self Defense." James Lee's published books include: Modern Kung-Fu Karate: Iron Poison Hand Training, Book 1 (Break Brick in 100 Days),[2] Wing Chun Kung-Fu ,[3] and Secret Fighting Arts of the Orient.

Personal life

Lee married Katherine Margaret Chow in October 13, 1951 in Nevada, they had at least two children, a daughter Karena Lee and a son Greglon Yimm Lee.

Jesse Glover was introduced to Chinese Kung Fu by James Lee during a trip before meeting Bruce Lee in 1959.[4]

His wife Katherine died in 1964.[5]

Death

James Lee died aged 52 on 30 December 1972 due to lung cancer caused by welding fumes,[6] only about 7 months before the death of Bruce Lee.

Notable students
  • Robert Baker
  • Howard Williams
  • Gene Snelling
  • Al Novak
  • Gary Dill[7]

See also

References
  1. "Bruce Lee vs. Wong Jack Man: Fact, Fiction and the Birth of the Dragon". Fightland. Retrieved 2019-12-13.
  2. Lee, James (1962). Modern Kung-Fu Karate: Iron Poison Hand Training, Book 1 (Break Brick in 100 Days) (4th edition (April 1990) ed.). ABRAMS Publishing. ISBN 978-0-317-02839-3.
  3. Lee, James (1972). Wing Chun Kung-Fu (First ed.). Ohara Publications. ASIN B0006C4USK.
  4. Bruce Lee : between Wing Chun and Jeet Kune Do, Jesse Glover
  5. Archived 2009-11-30 at the Wayback Machine USA Dojo biography, James Yimm Lee
  6. Gary Dill, (April 21, 2014) Black Belt Magazine, Meet James Yimm Lee, the Man who Helped Make Bruce Lee a Success, Archived at the Wayback Machine
  7. "Felix Macias Sr. & Jr. Interview". June 2002. Archived from the original on July 14, 2019.

(Wayback Machine copy)

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