- Jason Kelly
- Oct 1, 2023
- 4 min read
Bruce Lee, the legendary martial artist, philosopher, and actor, left behind a wealth of wisdom that inspires millions worldwide. One of his most profound statements was about learning from all different disciplines. He said, “Take and develop what works and discard what does not." This is important because some unpopular disciplines may not be strong in fighting skills but effective in teaching techniques, life, etc.
For instance, Bruce was a boxer. He learned Kung fu, judo, and jujitsu, which developed his martial arts flow JKD. JKD was not just about fighting but honed in on life and philosophy. So don’t underestimate learning about all disciplines.
For example, capoeira. Capoeira is a Brazilian fighter dance. However, it is not about learning to dance. It is about developing capoeira's fast footwork, speed, and agility and transferring it into your martial arts. And the same goes for others like Wushu, Kalarippayattu, and Kendo.
The Power of Diverse Knowledge Embracing various disciplines and learning from them allows us to tap into a vast reservoir of knowledge. Each field of study or practice offers unique perspectives and insights that can broaden your understanding of the world. By venturing beyond your comfort zones and exploring diverse disciplines, you open yourself to new ideas, methodologies, and ways of thinking.
The ability to synthesize knowledge from different disciplines is a powerful tool. Like Bruce, he gained insight into his perspective, understanding his approach and naturalness that tapped into his chi. He was able to see beyond by connecting to a more profound sense of self that often gets overlooked.
Incorporating What Works Learning from different disciplines involves discernment—recognizing and adopting what works for you. Every discipline has its strengths and weaknesses, and by exploring multiple domains, you can cherry-pick the most effective tools, techniques, and concepts. This selective approach enables you to create a customized toolkit that aligns with your goals, values, and aspirations.
For instance, martial artists can learn and enhance their skills and techniques by learning boxing, judo, or capoeira. You can draw inspiration from their movements, strategies, psychology, and philosophy. By adopting what resonates with you selectively, you can enhance your effectiveness and achieve greater success.
Discarding What Does Not Work Equally important is the ability to discard what does not work. Not every concept, approach, or practice from different disciplines suits or applies to your interest. You can avoid unnecessary distractions, wasted effort, and misguided pursuits by critically evaluating and letting go of what does not serve you. Discarding and eliminating what does not work requires self-awareness, reflection, and understanding of your strengths, weaknesses, and aspirations. It allows you to streamline your efforts, focus on what truly matters, and optimize your personal growth.
The Path to Personal Growth Adopting Bruce Lee's philosophy enables you to embark on a lifelong journey of personal growth and self-improvement. You continually expand your intellectual, emotional, and physical horizons by embracing diverse disciplines. You become more adaptable, resilient, open-minded, and better equipped to face life's challenges.
Learning from different disciplines fosters curiosity and a thirst for knowledge. It encourages you to be a lifelong learner and student constantly seeking new ideas, experiences, and perspectives. It helps you develop a growth mindset, where setbacks and failures become opportunities for growth and learning.
Breaking the Shackles of Self-Imposed Limits The human mind tends to set boundaries and limits, often due to fear, doubt, or a lack of belief in your abilities. You create mental barriers that confine you to your comfort zones, inhibiting your progress and growth. However, when you challenge these limits and push beyond your perceived boundaries, you unleash untapped potential and open yourself to a world of possibilities.
Learning other disciplines taps into the reservoir of hidden potential within. You discover strengths you never thought you had and unlock capabilities you never thought possible. By shattering self-imposed limits, you gain confidence in your abilities and develop a deeper understanding of your potential. You awaken to the idea that your growth is not limited. It is only limited by your beliefs and unwillingness to embrace the unknown.
Here are a few additional points.
1. Cultivating a Well-Rounded Perspective: Learning from different disciplines helps you develop a well-rounded perspective on life that encourages you to interconnect various methods and philosophies to discover your way and flow.
2. Innovation and Cross-Pollination of Ideas: When seeking knowledge from different disciplines, you create opportunities for innovation and cross-pollination of ideas. Often, breakthroughs and advancements occur at the intersection of various fields. By combining insights from seemingly unrelated disciplines, you can come up with fresh approaches and solutions that have the potential to revolutionize techniques and methods, spark creativity, and address complex problems in unique ways, much like Bruce did with JKD.
3. Overcoming Limiting Beliefs: Exploring diverse disciplines challenges your preconceived notions and expands the boundaries of what you believe is possible. It helps you break free from limiting beliefs and self-imposed constraints as you witness achieving things through approaches you may have never considered before. By embracing the philosophy of learning from all disciplines, you open yourself to new possibilities and cultivate a mindset of infinite potential.
4. Adaptability in a Changing World: Adaptability is crucial in today's rapidly evolving world. Learning from different disciplines equips you with mental agility and flexibility to navigate uncertain and dynamic environments. As you acquire knowledge and insights from various fields, you develop a versatility that allows you to adapt to new situations, acquire new skills, and thrive in diverse contexts. This adaptability becomes valuable as you embrace change and stay ahead in an ever-changing world. Bruce Lee's wisdom resonates deeply with an innate desire for growth and self-improvement. By recognizing that limits are often self-imposed and that plateaus are mere stepping stones, you can transcend your perceived limitations and embrace a life of boundless potential.
Break free from the shackles and step into a world where your achievements know no bounds.
