Bruce Lee is fighting games

Bruce Lee is a big deal. Dozens of video games have paid tribute to him - especially fighting games. Polygon's resident kicking enthusiast is here to examine how Bruce Lee got sucked into the video game realm, and why he's so at home there.
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[@polygon]

I SAID WHAT I SAID: BRUCE LEE IS FIGHTING GAMES

[@OblivionMaster79]

Preach!

[@dust6590]

Someone had to take the role. Someone had to step up and become fighting games.

[@revsdoeschem]

Ur The game expert we can’t doubt Ur knowledge. Bruce lee is fighting games.

[@bridgetmagnusson3186]

He ain't wrong

[@janesmith1840]

The real question is: when did Bruce Lee BECOME fighting games? Edit: nevermind, it's like 2 minutes into the video

[@madelinekoh8499]

me, reading the title: oh they did a typo of “bruce lee in fighting games” patrick gill, leaning into my ear and tenderly holding my cheek: *no*

[@samboyaus]

I must be dyslexic. I legit didn't realise it said "is" until I finished the video and saw this comment.

[@Sbevewagon4493]

Which cheek

[@dpurut]

@@Sbevewagon4493 but of course, the right ass cheek

[@btonyh5878]

I didn't realize it said 'is' until the outro.

[@ShutItKyle]

"He only had three kicks." Thats all he needed.

[@cogspace]

@@tape2063 Reminds me of EVO Moment 37. A fighter with many options is uncertain. They have too much on their mind. A fighter who has been backed into a corner, who only has one option left... All they need to do is the thing they were born to do.

[@RazorEdge2006]

@@cogspace Daigo is the Bruce Lee of eSports.

[@sunishotra9958]

"I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times." the kick I fear is the one that hits it's target.

[@CopyCatCo]

"Whoever can Bruce Lee faster wins" is a great summary of most combat sports, tbh.

[@Sandux930]

Learn Adapt React

[@chrisrockett5897]

Improvise Adapt Overcome

[@BeretBay]

@@chrisrockett5897 L O L I didn't expect that.

[@chrisrockett5897]

@@BeretBay Yep.

[@phosepio.]

Nike Just do it

[@rebeccasmith847]

I find Pat's vids so calming (if not surreal, although I'm thoroughly convinced about the connection between Bloodborne and Muppets) ... The soothing contrast to Unraveled episodes.

[@MrsTold]

Where BDG UNravels us, Pat BEravels us

[@prankhan3097]

It’s his ASMRby’s legacy.

[@aimelle3]

BDG's videos: reasonable concept that turns out weird. Pat's videos: weird concept that turns out reasonable.

[@lilacrain3283]

I wish Gill and Gilbert would come back :(

[@assassinjedi6330]

I read something once that said that Pat Gill dresses like a diet punk, has the voice of an ASMR KZbinr, gives off werewolf vibes in an unexplainable way, and is also somehow one of the most reserved and hilarious people ever and I think that about sums him up

[@stephgilliam]

Absolutely love to see a Pat Gill video about literally anything ever. He talks with such a gentle authority, like he knows what he's talking about but not talking down to us if we don't.

[@Jeffing_Around]

Bruce Lee's first form he learned was Wing Chun, a style invented by Ng Mui. Mui was the only lady Five Elder who fled to the mountains during the Qing Dynasty. She had all this knowledge of all the different Shaolin forms, but as an old woman, she couldn't utilize them. So she essentially invented the first mixed martial art form and named it after her first student Wing Chun (beautiful springtime). Bruce continued the idea of adapting your fighting style for what works for you. Also, I highly recommend reading the story of Wing Chun. It's been made into one movie in the past but it deserves Mulan treatment imo.

[@BlindErephon]

The story of Wing Chun is imo one of the cooler ones in Chinese martial arts.

[@Lucarioguild7]

I've never seen an origin of it but you best believe I be watching Ip Man all day

[@dileepreddyp3010]

Thanks for telling this, this is so cool to know about

[@TacticalOreos]

Is there a movie of the creation of Wing Chun? What's the name? I practice WC but Ip Man is pretty much all we get as far as I'm aware haha. Helps to be able to claim Bruce Lee (y'know, kinda) or we'd have no media to scratch that itch!

[@Jeffing_Around]

@@TacticalOreos Same! Just search "Wing Chun movie" and you'll find it. Here is the Google movie description: "Yip Wing Chun teams up with a sharp-tongued businesswoman to run a successful tofu business. When bandits kidnap their friend, Wing Chun goes on the warpath."

[@kaleidoslug7777]

People: Three-kicks Bruce Bruce: I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.

[@kobehutcheson2973]

Pat Gill: America's Wisest Gamer back at it again

[@floob247]

*"BRUCE LEE IS FIGHTING GAMES"*

[@duchi882]

*How to Bruce Lee:* 1. Lead Straight Punch 2. Lead Side Kick 3. Intercept 4. Be water my friend

[@wisemanlabs]

I just saw the title and honestly thought "Yeah, that's a Polygon video".

[@PrimroseFrost]

Additionally: "Yeah, that's a Pat Gill video."

[@android19willpwn]

you can feel the Pat Gill energy radiating through the title alone

[@dimitreze]

what a well researched video

[@Latham06]

First comment 2 months later

[@UrsusDerpus]

I have always said, a fighting game isn't complete, unless it has a Bruce Lee character. By the way, Bruce Lee is so deeply embedded in fighting games, that I think people take his legacy for granted. So thanks Pat, for pointing out that Bruce Lee IS fighting games.

[@theclaudfather6436]

I claim that Captain Falcon is the Bruce Lee of Smash Bros.

[@JosephFlores-yn4yi]

Cries in KOF

[@UrsusDerpus]

@@JosephFlores-yn4yi If they ever bring back World Heroes, they can put in Kim Dragon. But K' and Kula both have the one inch punch, so it's okay.

[@gwenpolo1307]

@@JosephFlores-yn4yi Kim Kaphwan! He may not practice the same martial art, but he's got the heroism, the looks, the kicks, and most importantly, the ATATATA WATAAAAAAAAAAAA!

[@levisamom5069]

​@@ruofanyu6699yeah me too... Only timm recently I reached enter the dragon and i realised the plot is literally every fighting game plot ever 😂

[@Feasco]

Astronaut 1: Bruce Lee is fighting games? Astronaut 2: Always has been

[@TheEvilCheesecake]

Member using sentences instead of meme templates?

[@Dragonflower]

I love how Pat isn't even named in the description, they just call him "Polygon's resident kicking enthusiast". I mean, I don't doubt it...

[@WykeRowerMedia]

**sad brian noises*

[@lalaspeaks]

20 minutes of pat talking about bruce lee? i'm being spoiled

[@CodfishJoe]

I could watch 20 minutes of him talking about industrial adhesives. He's just got such understated charisma

[@_mels_]

"Limited kicking repertoire" sounds like an accurate representation of BDG's dancing style

[@MrsTold]

I am SORRY? My man did a whole series of dance tutorials and yall call his iconic worm a limited kick? Im gonna break into your house and eat all of your oats

[@walkergibbs6984]

What’s bdg?

[@CuntyMcCuntface-ug5gt]

@@walkergibbs6984 Its an abbreviation for Brian David Gilbert, who used to work for polygon, he’s the guy who did the unraveled series

[@BluesMoth64]

Bruce Lee isn’t just IN fighting games- he **IS** FIGHTING GAMES

[@icymoons]

that's what the video title says now

[@MildExplosion]

I read that in his voice 😂

[@VideoFeverShow]

I’ve seen people dedicate hours attempting to explain what fighting games are and why they’re so appealing, but Patrick Gill just summed up the whole thing perfectly in a 20 minute video that is only partially about video games.

[@RazorEdge2006]

He did so by comparing fighting games to real-world martial arts, which both share a number of similar principles. And no one personifies those principles better than Bruce Lee. Great video.

[@bridgetmagnusson3186]

Pat could literally make a 47 hour video comentating on drying paint and I'd watch it twice a week. PERIODT.

[@aimelle3]

He made a three-and-a-half hour video watching the Young Sheldon trailer on repeat and that show is barely above drying paint on the interest scale so that might interest you: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ioeVpGBqpN1ljNU

[@bingoblackdynomite]

"Whoever can Bruce Lee the fastest wins" is my new life philosophy. Thanks, Patrick

[@aliens8bob1]

Bruce Lee did something better than almost anyone else. I wish that Pat got into it a bit more in this video, but I guess it was somewhat outside of the scope. Bruce Lee communicated to an audience who had never stepped into the squared circle the deep philosophical thought that underpins much of the combat sports. What Lee did was teach a general audience how a fighter should think about combat and he did it in a way that was more understandable than texts like the The Book of the 5 Rings. His ability to do this was beyond incredible.

[@lalaspeaks]

those who said that the title is a typo must be new to pat videos,

[@Taurusus]

Loving all the comments that were clearly made before they finished watching the video.

[@flvvrs4197]

1:33 "you, a gamer" how dare you insult me like that

[@DougStrouth]

I love that they let Pat work on things he's clearly passionate about. He does good research but boils it down to a thesis that isn't clickbait, but still is entertaining. The Polygon team is A+ across the board

[@taakotuesdays]

pat has this phenomenal ability to say things like "bruce lee is fighting games," "anthem needs truck nuts," "Luigi is the Jackie chan of video games," and "bloodborne is muppets" and then get me to agree with him

[@daniellewasdelayed8921]

"You put Bruce Lee into a cup, he is the cup" Oh I get it, because he's water. Water goes into a cup. "When you put him into a teapot, he is the teapot" Hell yeah, he's still water. "When you put him in fighting games, Bruce Lee is Fighting Games" Hold up you lost me This video was super good, hella stylish, and a really good showing of Pat's subdued charisma, passion, and penchant for good research. Love it.

[@gcampbell1448]

3:45 who remembers literally playing this level design word for word in multiple pokemon games

[@madeleinebarberian5968]

The “cat scream” is kind of a fencing thing, sometimes fencers (kind of in poor taste) will make obscure sounds to try and throw off their opponents, just a thought.

[@TheMaddestHatter234]

Like the stomping/loud footfalls some fencers will do to try to startle you when you’re fencing?

[@Crabgar]

3:45 i just got the hardest realization about that spongebob episode with the exact same plot

[@mitkitty]

Sandy was even wearing the yellow and black jumpsuit...

[@user-hn5zw8nq9m]

holy shit

[@rachelladue1572]

thank you!!!! i had the exact same realization. i mean i think i felt like that episode had to be a spoof of something but im glad it was exactly this. Pat is probably a bit too old to have made that immediate connection

[@polkadi]

Not even the same plot, it's a direct tribute. And it's amazing.

[@0lelouchlamperouge0]

pat’s brand stays strong

[@karai_sky]

dang, i didn't know bruce lee was the physical embodiment of fighting games. so cool!

[@temporalwolf7054]

Nah, fighting games are the physical embodiment of Bruce Lee.

[@devforfun5618]

@@temporalwolf7054 except one is an abstract concept, and the other is a person

[@jruler93]

I'd say it's more like fighting games are the digital embodiment of Bruce Lee.

[@IamJacksSTD]

Reincarnation. He transcended humanity to become a genre.

[@alecweiker]

All of you Polygon content creators are quarantined at home with only simple sticks and you still manage to make fire.

[@blajtucker7468]

I just wanted to say as a fighting game player, this is the single greatest love letter Polygon has ever done to the FGC. Would love more content like this

[@BestgirlJordanfish]

I love Pat and Jenna episodes so much, in which they make "in this essay I will..." prompts and then commit

[@BestgirlJordanfish]

@@joeyfromschool Well the "in this essay I will..." meme, the concepts are often ridiculous and non-committal, and the essays are rarely actually made. They commit on making the essay. Like, you right, but it's that leaning in for a bizarre essay topic that is beautiful

[@FreshGirl3000]

I love Pat so much. I just enjoy listening to his soothing voice, don't care what he's talking about. Edit: Okay, I did learn a lot in this video though. Bruce Lee is super rad actually.

[@AzizidarkReborn]

I love that nobody has a clue why Bruce started making cat noises. It's the best.

[@pocketlizarddd4549]

He IS the fighting games 😌

[@snowballeffect7812]

14:14 imagine how fast you have to be when even the camera can't capture your movement. His arm moves like 2 feet in one frame...

[@stephanvaleros9948]

Wonderful video, thanks! I love Polygon because you're the BEST at exploring games from fun perspectives and as a formerly chubby Asian kid who has used Bruce Lee's teachings to overcome bullying, anxiety, and weight issues: this has been an absolute delight :)

[@Thehotdogman1221]

"When you put him in a fighting game, Bruce Lee is the fighting game." Way to end that video. I believe this is the best of Pat's videos I've seen so far. Incredible job, so well threaded.

[@VAB0L0]

I love it when a horn section goes ham

[@hx0ad5]

clicked on this 100% expecting to hear pat's good voice in my ears and i was not let down edit after finishing: this is such a great video, really wanna go find my street fighter games and watch bruce lee films now

[@captainwilliams1325]

yeah!

[@Aleli_C_A]

Polygon Pat is game analysis.

[@Asocial-Canine]

"Polygon's resident kicking enthusiast" wait, that's not Brian?

[@blouiaie]

brian is the kicking

[@aimelle3]

Brian is jumping.

[@JacquesSnacques]

Brian kicks to dance whereas Pat kicks to deal damage.

[@zoinks-scoob]

@@JacquesSnacques one could argue that Brian's kicks deal psychic damage

[@fen4ri]

to be fair we cant begin to know what evils pat faces when the camera's not rolling

[@joeforti596]

Man, this current lineup of Polygon creators... what a special group.

[@PrimroseFrost]

I love listening to Pat talk about his favorite things. I never expected to care about (or even want to know about) fighting games, but here we are! Thanks, Patrick!

[@Abigail-hu5wf]

Me watching Brian: "Honey you need to take your medication" Me watching Jenna: "That's one hell of a hot take but I am so aggressively HERE for it" Me watching Pat: "No... unless??? M Y G O D , I T ' S T R U E" Me watching Clayton: "How do you manage to find hats to fit around a brain that big?" Me watching Simone: "Aww I wanna give you a cup of tea and a hug"

[@marioisawarcriminal5435]

thE BRIAN DISRESPECT-

[@itzwynn5517]

I instantly thought it would be a Pat video

[@shaedbear]

idk how long it's been visible in his videos but i just spotted that fullmetal alchemist poster and I'm so glad, we already knew pat gill had good taste but this is the cherry on top

[@henriquepadovese4335]

Only Pat can make such a strong statement as “Bruce Lee is fighting games” and make me absolutely agree

[@jeremyowens3319]

Does anyone remember the McElroy brothers leaving Polygon and wondering what it would become? I still rewatch and chuckle at Monster Factory, but the Polygon portfolio as a whole has evolved into something I so enjoy returning to over and over and over.

[@ArloMathis]

Monster Factory is still going on the McElroy Family KZbin channel, btw

[@rhinoquakes8395]

Are you telling me that one Spongebob episode where Spongebob and Sandy have to fight a tower of fighters is based on a Bruce Lee film

[@stinkiest]

the bruce lee wingspan,,,,

[@cwovictor3281]

He never died, he flew away like a bird.

[@lucasbune]

Oh this one's a gem. Right here folk, we found it. One of the good ones.

[@Faisure]

I just want to compliment Jenna and Brian for the editing, it‘s really amazing ❤️

[@toontoosh]

Bruce lee vocalisations inspired kenishiro's battle cry which in turn inspired jotaro's stand cry... And all the other stand cries further on. So thank you Bruce Lee, for oraoraora, dorararara, mudamudamuda, etc

[@geschnitztekiste4111]

He even does the Jonathan hamon arm thing at 8:55

[@charliewoofy2678]

Damn Partick, that video was a bomb! i love Bruce Lee and this really made me appreciate him more, thank you for this little documentary style thingy X3

[@GreatgoatonFire]

Me before awatching the video: Dis gunna be good. And lo, It was good.

[@pliable-head]

The sweet moment of "I'm just like Bruce Lee! :D .... And so is my opponent!" went down SO smooth. thanks for another great video pat

[@giovannialoisio4523]

I don't know if the "is" in the title's a misspelling but it still fits tbh

[@krell.1415]

Bruce Lee IS fighting games. The man means it

[@thatoneguy9582]

The S and N are on literally the opposite ends of the keyboard

[@extra4542]

He means it and the video says so too when you watch all the way through

[@fuduzan5562]

...watch the video before you comment, dawg.

[@DanielGalimidi]

Watch the whole video, you'll understand why it's not a misspelling.

[@nmatefilms]

I appreciate the Jackie Chan poster behind Pat SO much.

[@JSON1C]

Bruce Lee VS Games: FIGHT

[@CodfishJoe]

This conjures up an image of him fistfighting a pile of nintendo cartridges and I want to watch that now

[@Viniter]

I don't even care about martial arts, but I could listen to Pat talking about them for days

[@irrigamii]

Bruce Lee is fighting games Guy named games:

[@tobistein6639]

D E D ded

[@suemccashland]

😱

[@megabuster3940]

Be like *WATAH!*

[@RodTejada502]

*standing ovation YES!!

[@bally7675]

while watching this, i'm stunned by how closely a ton of the philosophy/fighting game mechanics of bruce lee lines up with fencing strategy--like it's down right uncanny

[@chickensangwich97]

"The basic plot was that there was something important on the top of a five-story pagoda, so Bruce had to battle his way up, floor by floor, engaging in one-on-one fights with increasingly difficult opponents." Oh hey, that's Yuffie's sidequest in FF7!

[@Mr_Mimestamp]

But why would Bruce Lee fight games?

[@PipPipTV]

Only saw the thumbnail and could already hear Pat’s sultry tones

[@danieldevonshire427]

Pat's tried and true formula of making a video about "x is y" still works wonders. Always here for the Wisest Gamer/my favorite cryptid

[@benbonney]

Got a link to this from a friend..... Polygon, push more videos like this and people might not see you as they do, this lad Patrick is amazing at his job, and that was an amazing video.

[@ezrawyrd9275]

Polygon video team has always been a totally different beast from their publication side. It's been scaled back since the golden days but it remains fantastic. Pat, Jenna, and BDG are top tier youtube personalities and their production is amazing. I don't necessarily agree with how Polygon's articles get characterized in certain parts of the internet, but even if you hate the articles their video content is always top notch.

[@Bottomsupyours]

Such a beautiful closing statement, I was kissing my phone, man. Damn.

[@non-binarycoding5505]

BRUCE!!! LEE!!! IS!!! FIGHTING GAMES!!!

[@moolikeachicken]

I dont care if this sounds stupid: This is a beautiful tribute to Bruce Lee. I honestly teared up a couple times watching it, thinking about how Bruce would have probably LOVED this.

[@torreykat]

Pat saying "Big leggies for big kicks" is everything.

[@maximilianpaws6900]

"Do they have big leggies for big kicks?"

[@bjarkijonsson5653]

Saw this in my notifications: yup there's Pat.

[@rmdcade1717]

Christ, what a good video.

[@f1r3hunt3rz5]

This is probably one of Polygon's best videos yet. So well-edited, so well-researched, and so well-presented it's like flowing water. Keep being water, my friend.

[@nicksurename5392]

16:43 Yes I can hear you Clem Fandango!

[@Hirochicken]

I was thinking on this topic recently and wondering just what other actors or characters have gone on to fully become their own trope in media.

[@thefakeaccent]

Idk why, Pat. I've seen almost every video from you, but this one just flows perfectly. Incredibly well-researched, great interviews, interesting subject. 10/10

[@ZweihanderSteve]

this was p awesome. you lightly get to the very core of a large breadth of topics and got some great guests to boot. :)

[@revsdoeschem]

Pat making a fighting game vid is strangely on brand

[@PrimroseFrost]

Strangely on brand? It IS his brand. (Also Muppets.)

[@revsdoeschem]

PrimroseFrost Ur right and u should say it

[@OKaysional]

Polygon: has matt mercer as a guest Polygon: doesnt use any of matts voice clips as fei long Opportunity missed

[@niallgraham9487]

I always wanted to see a video making this link! Thank you so much Pat!

[@IssenKai]

what a calm and relaxing voice, i was amazed by this video is almost like a mini documentary and im loving it, keep the good content coming pat!

[@Electroporcupine]

*Sees title* Ahh, a Pat video I see.

[@300-blkout]

Man, he is video games

[@racg174]

i always loved the term “cold read” where you guess what your opponent will do before getting any evidence that they will do it. it’s sometimes called the “hard read” because if it goes wrong it goes hard.

[@Maelachlainn]

The ending of this video is such a Chef's Kiss™ moment I can't even stand it.

[@khadijanagi9576]

the whole time the gamer recognition meter went up, the more I started to believe Yu-Gi-Oh season one was being described to me

[@Moocow2003]

They use the same plot in a few levels of Love Nikki: Dress Up Queen too 😭

[@sigh824]

Mines was Spongebob 😂

[@jaiye_]

Alternatively "how bruce lee indirectly created a game where the most recognizable nintendo characters can kick the shit out of the most recognizable jrpg protagonists"

[@JESUSWASAJUGGALO]

watch out bud, you're getting dangerously close to making your comment the current focal point for the ancient feud between the competitive smash community & larger fighting game community

[@bigchimpjr.4005]

This was such a fascinating video. I recently started watching polygon videos I will now be going back to find other videos like this from Pat. So well crafted, comprehensive and entertaining!

[@samanthamansfield6693]

This was SO informative!! Thank you for the enrichment, Pat!

[@Legbas_Ear]

Love the vid!! Rly got me thinking if there's a modern persona, character, fighter, actor etc. that could influence popular consciousness to the extent it informed a genre borne of that persona, fighter, actor, etc... Like, what if Danny Trejo or his Machete character went on to be game-ified? I mean, at this point in the lexicon of video game genres... a Machete game would be some sort of soulsborne or side-scroller brawler... But what if it inspired someone to make something completely new....

[@ros7444]

“Resident kick enthusiast” Ah so this is a Patrick video

[@steamyrobotlove]

This is a great video Pat and deserves way more views!

[@DapperBadger]

Classic Pat video. We are truly blessed.