Legendary Chinese-American martial arts artist and actor (1940–1973). ALS signed “Bruce,” three pages, 8.5 x 11, Lee’s Jeet Kune Do letterhead, September 20, 1967. Letter to Taky Kimura, his prize student and eventually one of only three Lee-certified instructors of Jeet Kune Do. In full: “Thank you for your immediate response to my last request. / At last, the lesson plan has completed and I’m forwarding the official lesson plan along with John’s proposed one. You will see, after you’ve read it carefully, that it is very ‘simply’ arranged. Follow it closely and if there is any points not clear to you, write me about it. By following this plan, a student will be very sharp after six weeks. Try follow the lesson plan in your own home training session in your case and speed it up. Get Josh to join in, you will be able to improve just on these twelve lessons. Make sure you can come down for my birthday [November 27] and stay for the week-end as I have something important to discuss among the instructors and I like you to be present. Make arrangement for it now. / Back to the uniforms. Can you make some more, at least another eighteen jackets and pants (of course, do not forget to send eighteen pants to match the eighteen jackets you’ve already sent) Remember the pants should not be too baggy, and should follow the line of a regular loose workpants (maybe a bit looser). As for the length, leave it a little bit long so the females at home can sew it up for the desired length. By the way, they do not shrink too much, do they?
Also, have maybe five among the other eighteen uniforms made into larger size. If the whole uniforms cost $7.00 to make, material and labor, I think we should sell them at $16.50 each. This price is according to the Tokaido Karate-gi sell by the Japan Karate association. Of course, among friends so to speak, this is assistant or close group. We should have a fixed price to sell them, which we should avoid as once the official $16.50 is marked. But again there are always special considerations. You yourself should have two made and charge it to the Institute. After all, with you, everything fits to you buddy.
One thing comes to mind, and that is with the Karate gi, the price goes up as the size growths. In the case of the Tokaido brand, large is $17.00 and $17.50, extra large is $18.00, and dig this, super extra large is $19.00. So, we will wait and see if the tailor increases his price as the size increases. At any rate, we should charge the medium uniform $16.50 and the large $17.50. Let me know your thinking on this. / What’s his name Armstrong is inviting me to come up to Seattle for the Oct. 22 Tournament. I might come up with Linda, and I’ll let you know ahead of time if I do.
One of the major reason for me to come up is my latest discovery that will definitely guarantee to sharpen your kicking in no time. Wait till we get together, and this change of ability will occur in a matter of minutes, as you already have the hidden ability and training. So I’ll probably see you either in Oct. or you will be flying down as my guest in November. An important meeting will take place at that time and as a senior member you must be present. Take care my friend and rush the uniforms to me at your earliest convenience.” In clean, fine condition, with a staple hole to top left of pages.
Lee had opened his school in Los Angeles in February of this year. Kimura, his friend and lifelong student, ran Lee’s school in Seattle. Lee eventually regretted coming up with the expression “jeet kune do,” anticipating that it would meet a fate common to martial arts and be turned from a fluid concept to a rigid system. This lengthy handwritten letter, full of the obvious affection and trust he held for his dear friend, provides a wealth of insight into the legend as well as the man. Pre-certified PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
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