Shannon Lee – whose extensive resume includes roles as author, producer and legacy-keeper of her father, martial arts icon Bruce Lee -- visited UC Merced on March 6 as a special guest speaker. The event, held in recognition of Women’s History Month, spotlighted her career highlights, not only as Bruce Lee Foundation chair and Bruce Lee Family Companies CEO, but her many creative endeavors that are introducing her father’s philosophies and artistry to new generations of martial arts fans.
Students, staff and campus community members packed the Dr. Vikram and Priya Lakireddy Grand Ballroom to listen to Lee’s conversation with event moderator and Central Valley Opportunity Fund Regional Director and Program Officer Kim Garner. The discussion provided insight into Lee’s personal and professional journey as the steward of her father’s estate and her efforts to honor his memory through business, creative, educational and programming ventures.
Lee explained she “began looking after the Bruce Lee name in 2000,” 27 years after her father’s death. During those three decades, commercial rights were obtained and held by a Hollywood studio, which, according to Lee, would “take liberties” with her father’s image and persona that minimized the complexity and richness of his character. “There is so much more to this man,” she said.
Through what Lee described as several years of “patience, understanding the goal and looking for every possible opportunity,” along with shifting cultural norms and entertainment technologies, she slowly acquired the rights to her father’s likeness and name, formalizing what would become a defining factor of her life’s work.
“I believe I understand what (the Bruce Lee) legacy is more than anybody else, and I feel that my father would want me to be the voice of his legacy,” she said. “I will do whatever I have to do to step into that place.”
Part of Lee’s efforts to shine new light on her father is to bring attention to his philosophical concepts and writings, which informed every aspect of his work and life. Her first book, “Be Water, My Friend: The Teachings of Bruce Lee,” published in 2020, conveys the poetry and power of her father’s philosophy to readers seeking inspiration and avenues to self-reflection.
“He is mostly known as a martial artist, and I wanted people to know him also as a philosopher,” Lee said. Her motivation for writing the book was the effect of her father’s words on her own healing process after the unexpected death of her older brother, Brandon, in 1993.
“When my brother died, right before my 24th birthday, I was in so much pain. I thought, ‘How am I supposed to live like this?’” she said. Recalling her father’s quote, “The medicine for any suffering I had within me from the very beginning,” she found a pathway to her recovery.
“His words helped me to heal, helped me to have perspective,” she said. “I knew if they could do that for me, they could do that for others.”
Following “Be Water, My Friend,” Lee published “Breath of the Dragon,” a young-adult fiction novel co-authored with Fonda Lee (no relation). Based on Bruce Lee’s film and TV treatments focused on martial-arts and self-actualization themes, the book was released earlier this year and became a New York Times bestseller.
Other projects in various stages of development include a Bruce Lee biopic, potentially to be directed by award-winning filmmaker Ang Lee; a documentary project with famed Asian-American director Justin Lin, who partnered with Lee on the television series, “Warrior,” set in 19th century San Francisco and featuring characters originally created by Bruce Lee; as well as an animated series.
Lee’s commitment to advancing her father’s legacy through these many ventures, and their continuation of expanding Asian and Asian-American representation, resonate in everything from the political to the symbolic. In 2019, “Be water” became the rallying cry for Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement, with thousands of activists embracing Bruce Lee’s words to become “formless, shapeless, like water” as part of the protest. More recent tributes have included the designation of Bruce Lee Way in Oakland, where his Jeet Kune Do martial arts studio once stood, and plans for a Bruce Lee statue in San Francisco’s Chinatown, announced the day after Shannon Lee’s UC Merced event.
Also prominent in keeping Bruce Lee’s impact and influence relevant for younger generations are the mission and work of the Bruce Lee Foundation. Lee said she was excited about the foundation’s current programs, including Camp Bruce Lee and Warrior Academy. Operated in partnership with museums and organizations across the country and in Hong Kong, the programs focus on empowering youth through her father’s teachings and “passing on his legacy of martial arts, mindfulness and embodiment,” Lee said. The programs aim to teach kids how to “be in your body, grow in confidence, grow inner strength, and grow … with people in community.”
Lee added the foundation’s goal is to expand programming and “bring the Bruce Lee experience to more places.”
“Maybe bring it to Merced,” she said.
“Shannon Lee on Film, Writing, and Bruce Lee” was spearheaded by UC Merced Executive Chef Mitch Vanagten in collaboration with the Division of Equity, Justice, & Inclusive Excellence (EJIE) and the Bruce Lee Foundation.
“EJIE is delighted to co-sponsor Shannon Lee’s campus visit and bring our community together to hear firsthand about her lifelong work,” said Vice Chancellor and Chief Diversity Officer Delia Saenz, who introduced Lee at the event. “Ms. Lee’s efforts to share her father’s philosophies of healing the mind, body and spirit resonate more than ever. It is remarkable that her message brings inspiration across different sectors, including education, the arts, sports and humanitarian organizations.
“We are excited that UC Merced students, staff and faculty had this opportunity to be inspired by both her own and her father's words and wisdom,” she added.
Vanagten, who was inspired to reach out to the Bruce Lee Foundation and Lee while reading “Be Water, My Friend,” also invited Michelin Guide-honored Chef Siska Silitonga to partake in the Women’s History Month event. The owner and head of ChiliCali, Silitonga helped prepare an Indonesian-inspired food reception that followed the presentation.
A few weeks before the event, Vanagten organized a fundraising event for the Bruce Lee Foundation. The special Lunar New Year celebration took place in Merced’s Tioga Sequoia Taproom, with money raised benefiting the foundation, Camp Bruce Lee and scholarship support for campers.
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