Bruce Lee had an amazing physique and great mind muscle connection. He was also quite the showman and entertainer. No doubt he should be admired and given credit where it's due. We'll never really know how much of a real fighter he was because he never fought a true fight against a credible opponent. As for how he would stand up against professional MMA and elite boxers? The likes of a Bas Rutten and any other number of MMA elites would destroy him in short order, no contest, but Lee was very fit, no doubt had a discipline to achieve his life goals and for that he should be respected.
I have to respond to this. You’re stating that you have read that he could hold a 75lb barbell with his arms extended in front of him (like a front raise, arms straight and perpendicular to the body). Link us. I’d love to see it. I hope it wasn’t too fast for the camera shutter. You never struck me as this absurdly gullible. Coach, try to hold 30lbs in front of you for five seconds without letting it drop. 100% BULLSHIT.
In this pics he's using a Russian 20Kg bar with threaded collars. I used to have one, but it was stolen during a move. Rogue even makes one now. Those are ~20lb plates with the Russian 2.5Kg locking collars. I had an original Russian bar. So that's a hair under 90lbs or essentially a 45lb barbell curl. Not once is he seen pressing that overhead. And no, that's not a lot of weight. Suppose he's going to press that overhead. We will never know as there isn't a single pic or video of the movement, but a HUGE difference between a static press and a jerk movement. World class oly lifters can jerk twice their overhead/mil-press. I am 245lbs at 6'3" and can oly snatch 220. I can bench 3 Bruce Lees (Enter the Dragon weight) but I cannot hold 75lbs in a 90-degree front raise. Please don't promote that BS here. I realize it's your thread but this is fantasy.
Several people were quoted as saying he did this without reason to lie. I am sorry I cannot prove it to you. Just because you see a picture of him with a light weight that means that was all he could lift? What is the date of those photos? There are plenty of body builders who do front lateral raises with dumbbells and can hold out parallel to the ground. Are you saying a strong guy cannot take two 35lb. dumbbells and do front lateral raises??! Why would it be hard to imagine someone being able to do that?
You obviously don't lift and that's fine. And regarding the pics... it's all that is out there on the internet.