James Y Lee

Background

Lee was born on January 31, 1920 in Oakland, California.

Career

He was welder by profession and a United States. Army veteran. He was one of Bruce Lee"s (no relation) three personally certified 3rd rank instructors and co-founded the June Fan Gung Fu Institute in Oakland where he taught June Fan Gung Fu in Bruce"s absence. James was responsible for introducing Bruce Lee to Editor Parker, the organizer of the Long Beach International Karate Championships where Bruce was first introduced to the martial arts community.

James Lee became well known for his Iron Palm specialty, and would routinely break bricks at demonstrations.

He was the first to publish an Iron Palm book in America in 1957. He and Linda Lee Cadwell were eyewitnesses of the fight between Bruce Lee and Wong Jack Manitoba

James Lee died aged 52 in December 1972 - from lung cancer caused by welding fumes.

Connections

teacher:

James Lee