Unveiling the Inspiration behind Bruce Lee's iconic 'FIGHTING WITHOUT FIGHTING' scene in Enter the Dragon

The Pen and Sword Journal - Vol 42

In the 1973 movie “Enter the Dragon,” there’s a scene I really enjoy. It happens when Bruce Lee is on his way to Han’s Island. There’s another martial artist on the boat named “Parsons.” He’s been picking on the boat’s crew, and he tries to start a fight with Lee. But was this scene something that Bruce Lee came up with on his own, or did he get the idea from somewhere else?

Just so you know, while I’ve done some research on this, the basic story has been around for a long time. Let’s take a closer look.

In the scene, instead of fighting Parsons directly, Lee uses his wit. He suggests they fight on a nearby island. Parsons agrees and jumps into a lifeboat. But Lee doesn’t follow him. Instead, he unties the lifeboat, leaving Parsons stranded and making a fool of himself in front of everyone. This is what Lee calls “fighting without fighting.”

This idea wasn’t just a cool movie trick. It actually comes from ancient martial arts philosophy. The idea is to avoid conflict whenever possible. It’s about using your brain, not just your fists. This is a key part of many martial arts, including the ones Bruce Lee studied.

So, while Bruce Lee certainly made the scene memorable, the idea behind it has been a part of martial arts for centuries. I will show you where did he get his inspiration, but before that, let me share the movie sequence for those who missed or forgot about it.

The Origin of the Art of Fighting Without Fighting

In Japan, there’s a famous story about a samurai named Tsukahara Bokuden (1489-1571). He lived around the same time as Miyamoto Musashi. I did some extra research and found this story in a book called “Arts of War in Times of Peace: Swordsmanship in Honcho Bugei Shoden” translated by John M. Rogers. The story is in the 5th chapter.

Also, a fiend of mine in Japan, told me that this story is present in the Kōyō Gunkan, which is a historical record of the military achievements of the Takeda family, a prominent samurai clan in Japan. It was primarily compiled by Kōsaka Danjō Masanobu, a vassal of the Takeda family, and was completed in 1616 by Obata Kagenori.

👇 I will summarize the story:

By the time he was in his 50s, the master had developed a unique approach to martial arts that was far ahead of its time, an approach that is common in today’s martial arts world. He was already extremely confident in his abilities and no longer felt the need to constantly prove himself. Instead, he began to see the value in avoiding conflict rather than always trying to prove he was the best.

While traveling on a ferry, a young samurai started to bully and intimidate the other passengers. He boasted about his fighting skills and claimed to be the best samurai in the country. However, when he noticed that the master remained unmoved by his boasting, he became frustrated. Not knowing who he was dealing with, the young samurai challenged the old master to a duel.

The master responded, “My art is different from yours. It’s not so much about defeating others, but about not being defeated.” He went on to explain that his school of martial arts was called “The Mutekatsu Ryu,” which means “to defeat an enemy without hands.” The young samurai saw this as cowardice and demanded a proper fight. Instead of fighting, Bokuden suggested they row out to a nearby island, so they wouldn’t be disturbed. The young samurai agreed and jumped into a boat. But as soon as he was far enough from the shore, Bokuden jumped out of the boat and pushed it away, leaving the young samurai stranded. The wise old master laughed and shouted to his would-be adversary, "This is my ‘no sword’ school!”

Illustration of the Tsukahara Bokuden fight on Lake Biwa - Artist Unknown

There are various versions of this event with slight differences in details, as is often the case with stories passed down over the centuries. However, the core essence remains consistent, and it is precisely this essence that I aim to highlight on this article.

Furthermore, my intuition and experience that probably samurai like Tsukahara Bokuden, were influenced by the work of Sun Tzu, or Sonshi as they call him in Japan.

Those who have read The Art of War by Sun Tzu, are well familiar with these verses from the book:

“To fight and conquer in all our battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting.”

or

“What the ancients called a clever fighter is one who not only wins, but excels in winning with ease.”

Chinese literature, including the Art of War, the writing of Confucius, the Tao Te Ching, and more were brought to Japan during the Nara Period (ad 710–784), and were studied by the Kuge (Aristocrat class), and the Buke (Military class) throughout the centuries.

So, it would be of no surprise if the style of Bokuden was influenced by Sun Tzu as well.

Lessons from “Defeating the enemy without hands”

Every day, whether in business, social circles, or even among close relatives, we meet people whose behavior reminds us of the arrogant samurai or the strategic Tsukahara Bokuden.

People who act like the arrogant samurai are often tense and always ready to fight. You can tell by carefully watching their jaws and shoulders, which usually show their tension. On the other hand, people who act like Tsukahara Bokuden are very self-assured and confident in their abilities. They can fight, but they choose to keep their swords sheathed until they absolutely need to use them.

The thing is that both of these characters exist within all of us, each trying to take control.

The arrogant samurai inside you tells you that to win battles, you must always challenge and defeat those who are successful. This shouldn't be mixed up with healthy competition, which is a fantastic motivator in our lives, as long as it's not the sole motivator.

On the other hand, the Tsukahara Bokuden in you says that many of the conflicts you experience are caused by your being too ready to fight and not willing enough to cooperate.

Winning a battle doesn’t always mean swinging your sword all the time. Sometimes, victory is achieved by keeping your sword in its scabbard. There’s a lot of power in having your strength, intelligence, and abilities ready but choosing not to use them. In certain situations, people who are intelligent will respect you more when you CHOOSE not to draw your sword.

Of course, there will be people who are less mature and intelligent who will see your act of keeping your sword in its scabbard as a sign of weakness or even cowardice. With these people, you must act just like Bruce Lee and Bokuden did. You have to outsmart them and use their arrogance and exaggerated self-esteem against them. Your mind is your best weapon.

It’s important not to let your spirit be affected by their claims and taunts that your behavior is a sign of cowardice. If you do, you’ll fall to their level.

In these situations, it’s important to stay centered and keep your values in mind. Inner motivation is crucial. In situations like this, confidence is quiet, and insecurity is loud. So, remember to stay confident and let your actions speak for themselves. Not all the battles are worth fighting, and that is not only okay, but it’s one of the greatest skills a warrior can master.

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