Why Bruce Lee Loved Boxing

This week I listened to an episode of the Bruce Lee Podcast titled, "Hack Away the Unessentials." The timing of the show could not have been more perfect. Just a few days before I met up with a coach who's been trying to get me to do just that. "You're doing so many wonderful things," she said. "But when I listen to all that you have going on I'm exhausted." 

The truth is I was starting to feel it too. I knew the pace and scope of what I was taking on wouldn't be sustainable. What I discovered is you can still be very productive but take on less. In fact, you'll likely be even more productive if you start making sacrifices. 

Bruce Lee's theory was that it's not about taking on more, but doing less. He called this, "Daily decrease." And though the philosophy was largely incorporated into his martial arts training it's certainly much broader in its applicability. 

In his own practice, Lee discovered Wing Chun consisted of many extraneous moves. It's one of the reasons he became very taken with boxing. Boxing, is far simpler in design and execution. You've got your jab, your hook, and uppercut. That's basically it but it's how you utilize and master each move that really counts. 

Taking on more doesn't necessarily make you a better fighter, especially if you do many things at a level of mediocrity. Conversely, doing a few things at high level can make you a potent force.  

Ask yourself what it is you REALLY need to own, do, and say. Question your patterns and take inventory of why you do what you do. Is it because you've been doing it for so long without bothering to question if it still helps you? (this was my issue)

Be fiercely honest with yourself about what you don't need and start to cut it out. Change is unsettling at first, so it'll be difficult in the beginning. But in time you will find an incredible sense of liberation, which will make you wonder why you didn't make the changes sooner.