Bruce Lee’s time in the East Bay affected him profoundly. This episode explores how a legendary fight sparked an evolution that changed martial arts forever. Charles Russo, author of “Striking Distance,” and Gary Cagaanan, an Oakland native who trained in one of Bruce Lee’s schools, share insights into this hard-hitting history.
Read more about Bruce Lee at Oakland Wiki.
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“There’s no doubt that whatever contributions Bruce had to MMA originated out of Oakland as a result of his experiences here.” -Charles Russo
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“When a guy like Bruce comes around, and he gives an entire generation, an entire culture of people, an entire ethnicity… a newfound sense of pride. People start to realize, hey, I don’t have to be afraid, I don’t have to be bullied.” -Gary Cagaanan