Topic
Be Water is a 2020 documentary which debuted at the Sundance Film Festival and was broadcast on ESPN on June 7 and June 15. The film focussed on Lee's influence on Hollywood culture and documents his early rejections and his eventual emergence as one of history's most iconic actors and martial artists.
- Michael Jordan, Stephon Marbury, Andy Murray, Bruce Lee and Jose Mourinho among those featured this year
- ‘Athlete A’ proved inspirational, ‘The Last Dance’ dominated and ‘Home Game’ offered light relief in absence of live sport
ESPN documentary Be Water focuses on how Bruce Lee’s time in America affected his outlook, but glosses over parts of the martial arts superstar’s story and lacks insights from Hong Kong directors and actors that worked with him.
Bruce Lee’s legendary exhibition at Long Beach International Karate Championships in 1964 ‘changed things up’ and began martial arts movement that’s still developing today.
Stephen Thompson feels Bruce Lee ‘would be where Conor McGregor is now’ in the UFC if he were in his prime today, as ESPN’s ‘Be Water’ returns spotlight to martial arts icon.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar reflects in ESPN documentary ‘Be Water’ on the life of Bruce Lee, who has also influenced Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Shaquille O’Neal and Kyrie Irving.
Zhang Weili recalls becoming ‘formless, shapeless’ when she won UFC strawweight title – just like Bruce Lee preached, as ESPN’s 30 for 30 returns spotlight to martial arts icon.
Bruce Lee ‘inspired millions of people like me to start to train’ says UFC flyweight champ Valentina Shevchenko as ESPN 30 for 30’s ‘Be Water’ returns spotlight to martial arts icon.
UFC icon Georges St-Pierre says Bruce Lee changed his life and helped him become ‘the perfect nemesis’ as ESPN’s 30 for 30 ‘Be Water’ returns spotlight to martial arts legend.
Today and in the coming days, the Post will look at how Bruce Lee’s impact spread – and continues to spread – across the global sporting landscape.
Justin Gaethje took inspiration from Bruce Lee’s famous ‘be water’ motto as he tried to stay emotionless at UFC 249 against Tony Ferguson – ‘you can’t be swayed by anything’.
People in Hong Kong thought Bruce Lee was this perfect example of masculinity and confidence, but in the US he felt like an outsider, says Bao Nguyen, director of Be Water, film that includes rare interview with fighter’s widow, Linda.