Tom Bleecker is Full of Sh*t about Bruce Lee - Unsettled Matters Review Pt 2 | The KFG Podcast

[@TheKungFuGenius]

For those of you who asked - I responded in the community section to Bleecker's non-response: www.youtube.com/@TheKungFuGenius/community 🎧 Hey Kung Fu Genius Podcast fans! 🎙 If you love what we do, here are some great ways to support the show: ➡Join us on Patreon for just $5/month to get early access to episodes and enjoy exclusive benefits at higher tiers! Your support means the world to us! www.patreon.com/thekungfugenius ➡Prefer a direct donation? You can contribute via my PayPal at www.paypal.com/paypalme/citywt. Every little bit helps! ➡ Exciting news! My best-selling book “The Wooden Dummy” is back in stock! Grab your copy here: www.citywingtsun.com/shop. ➡Last chance to book for the final 2025 Ultimate Hong Kong Kung Fu Tour! Early bird prices are available until March 31, 2025. Check out the details at www.citywingtsun.com/ultimate-hong-kong-kung-fu-tour. Thank you for your support, and let’s keep the Kung Fu spirit alive! 🤛 Peace, The KFG

[@eduardoescoban7790]

Soo good finally after all these years someone is reviewing this book in a meritoric fashion. Well done.

[@TheKungFuGenius]

My response to his non-response: www.youtube.com/@TheKungFuGenius/community

[@Andrew.Spartacus.C.]

Having lived in Seattle I must concur with you Alex. Now I live north of Seattle and it's still weird and awkward, any time I go visit Chinatown. I've lived in Washington nearly 10 years and it's still the same as when I arrived from the streets of California, back in 2015. Slept in the back alleys of Chinatown, without any issues, even though there's some nonsense stigma attached to Seattle. 😂😂😂😂😂 Although California is not much better😂😂😂😂😂. Thank you kindly sir for shedding much needed light on "Unsettled Matters" 😉🤣🤣🤣

[@TheKungFuGenius]

You’re welcome! The Seattle Freeze is real (and has many art articles on Google about it!)

[@Andrew.Spartacus.C.]

😂​@@TheKungFuGeniusI've been there and felt it. Fkn brutal 😂

[@WingZeroSymphonics]

Great episode. It is important to give Bruce Lee's life and martial art a new set of lens. Not only for martial arts sake, but Bruce was coming at certain topics in a way that may be refreshing in todays world.

[@bennyaruba3449]

Heard it in Spotify, and my verdict is: hell hath no fury like the scorned delusions of Mr Bleeker.

[@TheKungFuGenius]

Thank you! I think you listened to part one, and this is part two. I haven’t put it up on Spotify yet… But I will shortly.

[@bennyaruba3449]

@TheKungFuGenius aha ok yeah, you're right. Great! 👍

[@kirktailor]

I really enjoyed this breakdown of Tom Bleeker’s Draggin’ the Bruce Lee Story.

[@TheKungFuGenius]

Hahaha

[@AndrewDownes-yb1bq]

I don t know how many episodes yr guna do but im glad yr breaking it down 🙏

[@TheKungFuGenius]

We got one more left and after that I might do an aftermath video.

[@stevenmorris4482]

Bleeker wrote it with a wooden spoon , he stirred it up and presented info for the reader to think about but ultimately didn't really give many answers if any .. its an interesting read but you get a sense the guys got a chip on his shoulder after all he was getting seconds.

[@ruiseartalcorn]

Great vid! :)

[@perryfan49]

The dynamic duo

[@JCH2768]

Bleecker claimed he introduced BL to Ryan O'Neal and watched him kick O'Neal into a trailer. In Wrath of the Dragon Blake Edwards said he introduced Bruce to Ryan. I guess it's possible both had a part in that? Also: I think Yip Chun may have said BL got knocked down early in his training. Not sure he used the term "frequently" though.

[@JCH2768]

@@drhermes1141 Bleecker also said BL kicked him the length of Edwards' swimming pool. He claims it was mentioned in Edwards' autobiography. Plus he has mentioned that he was at Edwards' house the day Lee died. They were good friends at the time apparently. Doesn't mean his book is a good read obviously. I'll never buy it.

[@TheKungFuGenius]

Yes, without Tom sourcing his claim, the rest of us are trying to piece together his nonsense. The other aspect I find mind boggling about the free pass everyone gives Bleecker is why would Tom being married to Linda bestow him with "biblical inerrancy" on matters pertaining to Bruce where neither he nor Linda, were present? If you're not present, you must have a primary resource. Everything in his book just comes from him with no shame about sourcing. Also I had to do some clean up and delete some incessant trolls who refused to discuss substantive info and just press tone-policing against poor Tom. I'm fine with people disagreeing with my points, but they never press my points. So that's why some comments are deleted here.

[@icanmanifest]

This was one of the best episodes of Reading rainbow I have ever seen.

[@TheKungFuGenius]

“Take a look, it’s in a book…” 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@icanmanifest]

@TheKungFuGenius 🤣💪🏼

[@kungfunigel]

Spot on as usual 👏

[@TheKungFuGenius]

Glad you think so!

[@klaudioabazi4478]

Great Episode KFG. So many countless myths have been said about Bruce Lee since his death, that it has taken a literature of its own. You got Love Fans and Hate Fans. I am like KFG, simply try to examine and find out what is true or not, and at the end of the day you decide what opinions you have.

[@TheKungFuGenius]

Thanks! My issue with the "hate fans" is that they never get into my arguments, they either try to stigmatize me for even having an opinion or they decide to become the tone police because I mock Tom. I stated in part one that I was going to use a mocking tone when I felt that the line of argumentation was nonsense. They are even those that say I'm being disrespectful to Tom - someone who accused his so-called friend of everything from steroid abuse to being a triad without a shred of evidence. I would gladly invite those haters to address my points specifically instead of using manufactured outrage at the tone. After giving a couple of those trolls ample opportunity to discuss something substantive, they opted to be trolling and gaslighting tone police. I have little patience for anonymous passive aggressive trolls so at some point I have to remove them from the "conversation". Thanks for your support!

[@Rodz1874]

Hey! Don't be knocking Bumble Crack, Alabama

[@TheKungFuGenius]

Too late!

[@mgk22]

Weird i never even heard of this book until now, im actually surprised i missed it but based on what im hearing sounds i like i didnt miss anything lol

[@ShingoF961]

I'm still patiently waiting for the Wong Jack Man fight video, something only Bleecker claimed its existence😉

[@TheKungFuGenius]

I'm still waiting for solid evidence of Bruce Lee's steroid use, something Bleecker claimed too.

[@JoseRamos-kd9ig]

Herb Jackson in a interview, said, Bruce told him, someone came to his home to challenge him. He gave that guy the hardest kick ever!...Was that Joe Lewis?🙏💯👍

[@BRUCEJJ66]

I don't know the guy's name but it wouldn't have been Joe Lewis as the incident occurred at Bruce's home in Hong Kong during the time Bruce was making movies there (the early 70s). I got the impression it was just some unknown guy trying to show how tough he was.

[@LupusRexRgis]

Yes, Herb Jackson said at the documentary The Curse of the Dragon that Bruce told him this story, but only because it’s been told, it still doesn’t mean it really happened.

[@vincentd1992]

It was Chong E Itsu.

[@LupusRexRgis]

Plot twist: it was actually Fung Kioto.

[@tommyboy9056]

Great brake down of the 📖 it would be super cool to do an episode of lyour top 10 kung fu movies and actors ! keep up the good content! 🤌🏻 🥋

[@TheKungFuGenius]

Thank you!

[@benjaminjensen7402]

Hej kung fu genius on youtube, our history, uncovering the Truth behind bruce lee s mysterious death, maybe you can make a future video about this doc and give us your take about it, , and now i have to re read tom bleekers book haven't read it since the year 2001.love the channel thanks.

[@TheKungFuGenius]

Thank you for commenting! I made an announcement earlier in this season or perhaps last season that I wasn’t going to talk about his death anymore than I already have. I was very fortunate to come across some information which has changed my mind about his death, but this was given to me in confidence, and I cannot in good faith discuss it publicly. I hope you understand.

[@benjaminjensen7402]

I understand. Thank you.

[@Partoftheratpack]

Watched it

[@Andrew.Spartacus.C.]

"horse syphilis" 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 you're killing me here. Have you even thought of doing some kind of stand up comedy? I get the feeling you'd be ruthless 😂😂😂

[@TheKungFuGenius]

Thank you! Glad you like that... it was... unrehearsed!

[@ThomasHenderson-c8e]

Bleecker's Unfinished Business seems like a quest for "Petty vengeance" towards Linda Lee's giving him the 🥾!!

[@dwuonw6438]

His new book said he's in the witness protection program, and they buried a clone because of the CIA

[@TheKungFuGenius]

Haha

[@CinematicTendency]

Guy Who Believes The Accuracy Of This Book has left the Chat…

[@TheKungFuGenius]

Chong E Itsu has left the chat. “Cortisone shots being taken on a daily basis (despite the fact it’s not in his Hong Kong medical records) being the reason why he died” has left the chat.

[@adamkane7513]

18:50 As an old Man I can tell you steroids were not illegal substances back then! Bruce could have got a Doctor's prescription very easily in the States. I imagine British ruled Hong Kong was likely akin to the UK model. In other words he would not have required a "dealer" such as Bob to procure them anymore than need to buy bootleg liquour instead of heading to a local bar.

[@TheKungFuGenius]

Yes, but the “”could have happened” of the steroids allegation thing never pans out. Bruce could have been on all sorts of things by this type of logic. By the way, in logic, the argument you were using is called the “argument from ignorance“. These types of discussions were not in the conversations he was having with his doctors, they’re not in any of the medical records from the period in Hong Kong, and this stuff did not come up in his autopsy. The steroid allegation always has to come from a coulda/woulda/shoulda kind of frame. But there’s never a shred of evidence and even Tom assertion the book comes out of nowhere and is not sourced.

[@eddietours3728]

17:42 😅

[@mikecombe7130]

Fantastically entertaining episode once again. You really deserve a lot more exposure than you're getting. ... And to be clear, I mean that you should be more famous than you are, not that you should start flashing in public or anything.😋 Two statements and a question: 1. Bleecker himself suffers from cryptorchidism (or so he said in one of the videos on his channel). 2. 1:17:35 While Jiddu Krishnamurti gets cited often as the biggest philosophical influence on Bruce, I really don't think that's true. J.K. was a pacifist and if Bruce had been truly interested in his ideas then he wouldn't have been using them as a springboard for the best way to kick someone's head in. I really think the biggest takeaway that he got from him is that 'truth is a pathless land' and therefore cannot be contained and/or constrained by any single, crystalised method. 3. In your previous Bleecker video you initially said that there were no photos of Tom & Bruce together, then edited it to say that it had subsequently come to your attention that ONE photo did exist. Much like a finger pointing to the moon, can you show us where that heavenly glory resides? Translation from BS into English: link please.🙂

[@TheKungFuGenius]

Thank you for this great comment! It’s always great to hear from people who take these topics seriously, and yes, I won’t go flashing people in public lol As for the Krishnamurti bit, I can completely see where you’re coming from there. I started following Krishnamurti as a result of my exposure to him through Bruce Lee. I had no idea what Krishnamurti was really talking about when he would rail against “systems“ and “methods“. I can say that I’ve been studying him for nearly 20 years, but only in the last year and a half did I really start to understand what he was talking about (read: just beginning to barely understand). If you look at his writings through the lens of throwing away formality, institutions, and focusing what is, then it’s perfectly applicable to the problems of institutionalized martial arts systems and styles. That is how I looked at him and that’s what made sense to me. Of course, later, I realized that’s not what he was talking about at all, but if you have a predisposition to see him through a certain lens, then I can see it. If Bruce (speculating here) read a few things from him which focused more on Krishnamurti disavowing systemize teaching, I can see where Bruce would latch onto that and view everything through that lens. That means that Bruce may not have been fully absorbing the essence but taking what he wanted from it. Which is a very Bruce Lee thing to do.

[@mikecombe7130]

@@TheKungFuGenius Although I'm a complete stranger to you and my only knowledge of your life is a result of snippets gleaned from your videos, I think we've got quite a lot in common. First of all, we're the same age and both became interested in martial arts when we were young as a result of Bruce Lee movies. Clearly, you've taken this love to the ultimate level and who knows what I'd have done had there been any Wing Tsun schools where I lived in Scotland in the late eighties/early nineties. Maybe I'd be hosting the McKung Fu Genius podcast and talking (incomprehensible gibberish) to kilted versions of Dre and Mikey... Okay, on reflection perhaps it's best that timeline _didn't_ pan out!😄At any rate, I see many similarities between us in our interests. Also, just like you, my curiosity in Krishnamurti came from reading about Bruce (in my late teens) and hasn't waned since. I agree fully with your take on his 'absorbing what is useful' approach to Krishnamurti's work and applying it to his personal passion rather than trying to understand the pure essence. Of course, said 'essence' is something that Krishnnamurti lamented on his death bed that *no-one* had fully understood - this after a lifetime of travelling the world and talking to people. Lastly, mystical musings aside, I couldn't help but noticing the lack of Bleeckerish photoish links in your reply. I'm guessing that's because I'm not subscribed to you on Patreon and paying for all the extra privileges, huh?😋 Lol

[@NH1973]

Another actor who was very influenced by Krishnamurti is Terence Stamp. There are a couple of very interesting interviews with him on youtube. So now the big question is: who would win, Bruce Lee or General Zod?

[@mikecombe7130]

@@NH1973 Ha! As much as I love Bruce, I think the odds are with Zod. Call me crazy, but I think the whole 'being able to laser eyes him from space' thing gives him a bit of an advantage. 🙂 If I recall correctly Terence Stamp's autobiography title comes from something Krishnamurti said to him at Brockwood Park.

[@NH1973]

@mikecombe7130 that's right. The ocean fell into the drop..

[@inatrance92SK]

Thanks for the great episode I'm glad someone is finally calling out the "expert" on his obsession with Bruce's nuts...One of the oddest reads from back in the 90's. The bias and potentially "hate" written in those pages was something else. Maybe he wished every dojo back in the 80's and 90's had portraits hung on the wall of Ed Parker instead of Bruce??? The book had some interesting perspectives but the book was really difficult to get through. I read this book once back then but on the other hand I read Bruce Thomas' "Fighting Spirit" at lease three times. I bet he doesn't know what "goo wak jai" means...

[@TheKungFuGenius]

Thanks for your comment. Yes it's difficult to speculate as to the motivations Tom had, but it's clear it wasn't to simply "get information out there".

[@ecw787]

35:24

[@4seaskungfu]

So Bruce couldn’t have kids. That obviously means that Brandon and Shannon are not his. Linda and Tom were either having an affair or Tom did his best bud a solid and donated some sperm.

[@TheKungFuGenius]

Hahaha

[@davidtaylor2152]

Bleecker's Lee research info appears a bit bleak atm.

[@TheKungFuGenius]

his "research" could not be bleaker...

[@davidtaylor2152]

@TheKungFuGenius That was bleak even for a Bleecker.

[@TheKungFuGenius]

Hahaha and I think we’re at the end of “bleak” puns…

[@davidtaylor2152]

@@TheKungFuGenius Yeah, was getting rather bleak in the end.

[@TheKungFuGenius]

Wow, that deserves a slow clap, gradually gaining momentum…

[@davidreynolds2126]

Oh cool, you have the book, “The Water Margin, Outlaws of the Marsh.” One of my favorite books. 😎👍

[@TheKungFuGenius]

Thank you! It's also a book that contributed to a lot of Kung Fu mythology...

[@brianderiemacker5234]

Bleecker started karate because he had been bullied at school if I remember correctly from one of his videos here on KZbin. I asked him in the comments about two years ago how that worked out. Tom answered he saw that guy years later and spoke to him. The guy was intimidated because Bleecker had become muscular and knew about his Karate. They only spoke and Tom wished him well and left. On other channels talking about Bruce I twice had a run in with the comments by a guy claiming to be an ex world champion in various age categories( I won't say his name nor his style) But man twisting things to suit his needs to put Bruce down which he did extensively talking about how superior trained fighters are and that Bruce wasn't in his opinion only at a lower tier. He categorically denied that Joe Lewis called Bruce the Greatest Martial Artist ever. I gave him two links where Joe said it and he still twisted and turned it all around. That was the first time. The second time about six months later I had done my homework and had looked him up here on KZbin to see some of his alledged fights. The irony was there was a young guy going by the same name but from Wales fighting in the ring but not the guy in question. The world champion guy only has a video explaining how to deal with a situation in a ring but no fights especially worldchampion fights. I said that maybe he should put some of his world champion fights here on this platform (because most comments are about there being no documentation of Bruce being able to fight) I also said I don't deny his legitamacy but why would Bruce be so intimidating to him??? I said why would you even bother to talk about Bruce knowing what you say you had achieved and accomplished??? I haven't heard from him since. But that was the worst putting down of Bruce ever in the comments that I've experienced. And boy did he love putting people down as "Fan Boys" and to go and drink "Kool Aid"

[@JKDVIPER]

Oh smack! 😎🤙🏻💯23:01 I’m constantly on sites studying that kind of thing, especially Prosocial tendencies and healthy boundaries . The bleaker guy was PROJECTING. It’s an abusive tactic used by narcissists ironically enough.” 😬💯🧠33:38 they should’ve called the book THE GAS LIGHT jeez 🤣37:00 been through that issue.” 😬🧠that’s why people should stay out of fights.” 🤢dude... I can’t believe the people who make criticisms on the topics? The topics are what they are. 😂oh my god guys. 💯😬on a buck. That’s ffff weird. I can see maybe disagreeing with the host on particular evidence, or having a different take on a situation, but I just read through LONG WINDED, harsh toned snickering. That’s mad queer. 😞realize, the topics are picked already, so it’s too late. You should be glad they posted to come hang out.” #brains 🤣🤙🏻

[@JKDVIPER]

@ I hear that, but I can tell you from experience/articulation myself, that Sifu Alex wouldn’t get tight or pissed about one dissenting comment. He might be candid and let you have his personal opinion though. Not liking one episode of something is normal, what isn’t, is an arm chair diagnosis of one of our heroes, from someone we can’t even see a picture of. For instance, is that your real name? That kinda thing. So it’s not about liking or not liking it, it was what you said about him being SENSITIVE. I see that as a projection.” 😌

[@TheKungFuGenius]

Hey @jkdviper - I had to delete some trolls, that's why some comments are gone. After repeated attempts to get this guy to discuss points, he repeatedly played the "tone police" and was nothing more than a passive aggressive troll. I appreciate people who challenge my points and evidence, not people who have to change the conversation to attacking the messenger.

[@JKDVIPER]

@ power fact. 💯😎

[@PAUL_BAX3]

I pushed back on TB's book quite a lot back in the 90's.

[@TheKungFuGenius]

Yes you did, but I'd venture to guess 99% of those in the comments or watching the videos don't know that and couldn't find it if they tried. Would you be interested in doing an episode with me on this?

[@PAUL_BAX3]

@ - 🤔

[@hakuna1291]

I feel so disgusted by people who would willingly defend for Tom Bleecker while Tom himself did what is really against humanity and friendship. If you guys are to say KFG is arrogant or rude, you better not stand with Tom.

[@TheKungFuGenius]

Thanks for your comment. It’s OK if they defend him, as long as they try to come at it with evidence. Just saying he must be right because he was married to Linda and then ignoring the points that I make is the part that is annoying. It’s always a cult of personality - if you attack Tom it’s because you’re in love with Bruce and can’t see anything bad about Bruce (although that’s clearly not the case with me). And then they offer no counter narrative other than they don’t like how I’m talking about poor old Tom. Poor old Tom who wrote a book bashing his “good friend” and believes in psychics telling people that Bruce was murdered by people like Chong E Itsu and Fung Kioto. It’s so ridiculous that people refuse to see such nonsense on their side and only get personally attacked when you go against what Tom says. I’m all for transparency and all for open and honest reporting about Bruce Lee. Anyone who has seen my drug letters or cocaine spoon video knows this. But Tom‘s book is not that. The point they are missing is that Bruce could be a flawed human being with a host of personal issues and Tom can also be full of BS. Both of these things can be true. Bruce having character flaws doesn’t mean that what Tom says is automatically true.

[@hakuna1291]

@@TheKungFuGenius Totally agreed. I was more shocked to see the name of Chong E Itsu than when I found out the cocaine abusing habit of Bruce Lee, as I'm a Korean so I'm more used to Japanese and Mandarin Chinese than non-asians in general, which means the moment I watched Tom's video on that issue, I said wtf.

[@inatrance92SK]

Thanks!

[@TheKungFuGenius]

Thank you! 🙏🏻

[@TheKungFuGenius]

Much appreciated!

[@alexchen5811]

Love Dre's expression at 38:10 hahaha

[@TheKungFuGenius]

Dre's faces are on point.

[@CinematicTendency]

I had no idea about the undescended testicle 😮

[@TheKungFuGenius]

Tom is an expert on Bruce's undescended testicle. It's the reason Bruce didn't have a black belt and could never have muscles.

[@mattk5020]

You shouldn't say this about someone without proof. I know we all reserve the right to our opinions but clearly Tom knows his stuff as he knew Bruce Lee personally and doesn't try to portray him as a fanboy would but tells it how it is.

[@TheKungFuGenius]

I think you’re missing the concept of burden of proof: the person making the claim is the person who has the burden of proof. Unsettled Matters is a book full of claims that lack the evidence (it does not even cite its specific sources for any allegations - a red flag) to meet its burdenof proof. This video is just pointing that out. If you think Tom is great, that’s totally your right as I say in the video. And thank you for giving me permission to have my own opinion. And the whole fanboy allegation is talked about in part one and in this part two. Perhaps you should watch the video and get some context first.

[@TheKungFuGenius]

Also, rather than going for the fanboy attack, I would appreciate it much more if you went point by point on my specific arguments rather than the whole trying to stigmatize someone who has a difference of opinion than you do. Tell me where I went wrong don’t just tell me I’m a fanboy who doesn’t like Tom for saying naughty things about Bruce Lee. I am the guy who released the drug letters video after all, right? Context is King.

[@mattk5020]

​@@TheKungFuGeniusIt would be interesting to get Tom Bleecker on the show if he wants to come on but I enjoyed the book but no book isn't going to please everyone. I respect your right to express your thoughts and opinions. I hope Tom comes on but he probably can clear up any misunderstandings. All the best 👍

[@kenshiroFNS]

Knew Bruce personally? Lol. What a joke

[@alexchen5811]

Just cos someone talks about Bruce Lee, he's automatically a fanboy? So, are you a Tom Bleecker fanboy? Gosh. Evidence isn't based on "knowing" a person or simply having had access to private items.

[@ramondiaz2851]

When I first heard Bruce had one testicle I really thought he was transgender like!! But that was my ignorance back then!!

[@TheKungFuGenius]

Thanks for commenting.

[@Partoftheratpack]

How you’d have come to that conclusion is … wild

[@ramondiaz2851]

@Partoftheratpack I was young & dumb! Or to put it more mildly ignorance!! I hear a lot that if a person has any defect in his or her sexuality, that person has transgender issues & the church I grew up with told me something of that nature & worse is a curse! From God!! I was 9 years old at that time!!

[@mattk5020]

This is Tom Bleecker's video on Steroids at around the 29 mins mark. kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKPNpIyFhqanrMU

[@TheKungFuGenius]

It's settled then!

[@mattk5020]

@TheKungFuGenius I think I would approach Tom and see if he can be persuaded to come on to the show but maybe a Q&A.

[@TheKungFuGenius]

I have invited him to the podcast per email, in response to his comments on other videos, and in general for at least two or three years now. He had ample opportunity.

[@VigilantAnarchism]

Mikey: “Maybe Tom is upset that Bruce didn’t hook up with him” 🫵🏾😂 Yo I love you guys