“I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.”
- November 27, 1940 – July 20, 1973
- Hong Kong-American
- Martial Artist, Actor, Director, Philosopher, Founder of Jeet Kune Do
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Quote
“I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.”
Explanation
This quote emphasizes the power of focused repetition over superficial variety. Bruce Lee is highlighting the difference between breadth and depth of practice—saying that true mastery comes not from doing many things a few times, but from doing one thing exceptionally well through disciplined repetition. A person who has practiced one kick 10,000 times has likely refined it to the point of instinct, power, and precision—making it far more dangerous than a scattered arsenal of underdeveloped skills.
In Lee’s martial philosophy, this principle was foundational. He was not impressed by the accumulation of techniques for their own sake. Instead, he believed in stripping away the unnecessary and perfecting the essential, aligning with his broader ethos of simplicity, efficiency, and economy of motion. His training focused on deep internalization of fundamental moves, making them second nature under stress.
Today, this message applies far beyond martial arts. In business, art, athletics, or any skill-based field, excellence often arises from deep, focused practice of the core elements. While variety has its place, Lee reminds us that true strength lies in commitment, consistency, and mastery, not in superficial display. This is a timeless call to practice with purpose and depth.
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