James Yimm Lee
James Yimm Lee (Chinese: 嚴鏡海, published as James Y. Lee) (1920-1972) was an American martial arts pioneer, teacher, author, and publisher. James Lee is known for being a mentor, teacher and friend of the late Bruce Lee.
Early life
Lee was born on January 31, 1920 in Oakland, California. He was welder by profession and a U.S. Army veteran.
Career
He was one of Bruce Lee's (no relation) three personally certified 3rd rank instructors and co-founded the Jun Fan Gung Fu Institute in Oakland where he taught Jun Fan Gung Fu in Bruce's absence. James was responsible for introducing Bruce Lee to Ed 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 Man.
Podcasts:
