Naruto Creator was So Dedicated to Basing Rock Lee on Martial Arts Legend that He Even Gave them the Same Injury

The excellent taijutsu user in Naruto, Rock Lee is actually based of a legendary real world martial artist, Bruce Lee.

naruto creator was so dedicated to basing rock lee on martial arts legend that he even gave them the same injury

SUMMARY

  • Bruce Lee's iconic martial art and legendary action sequences have influenced several anime characters.
  • Rock Lee from Naruto is based on Bruce Lee just like Might Guy.
  • Rock Lee's injury after his fight with Gaara was inspired from Bruce Lee's actual injury in 1970.
Show More
Featured Video

Considering how much action fuels the anime realm, it is natural that Bruce Lee’s work has also inspired anime. It is also interesting to note that several characters were shaped in his image. These characters did an excellent job expressing different aspects of the iconic martial artist famous in their way. Rock Lee is such a character who has kept Bruce Lee’s legacy alive in multiple ways and is pretty beloved in their own right.

Advertisement
Rock Lee prepared to fight in Naruto Shippuden
Rock Lee prepared to fight in Naruto Shippuden

Bruce Lee has been a pretty well-known personality worldwide for his excellent martial arts skills. His movies were extraordinarily thrilling and did a great job of portraying how adept he was at fighting. The fight scenes in his films were quite raw and impactful. Unfortunately, he met his demise at an unexpected time. Despite that, his movies and action sequences remain alive in the hearts of his fans.

Also Read: Masashi Kishimoto’s Original Pitch for Naruto Didn’t Even Involve Ninjas, Was So Underwhelming it Was Instantly Rejected

Advertisement

Rock Lee from Naruto is based on Bruce Lee according to the creator, Mashahi Kishimoto

Rock Lee from Naruto Shippuden
Rock Lee from Naruto Shippuden

Rock Lee was first introduced in Naruto’s anime series as a chūnin-level shinobi of Konohagakure’s Team Guy. He is highly fluent in hand-to-hand combat and a taijutsu specialist. His teammates have supported him and helped him become one of the best fighters in Konoha.

Bruce is well known to be an outstanding martial artist who also created his style of fighting, Jeet Kune Do. He was an actor and director as well. He is considered by many to be the most influential martial artist of all time, and his films and philosophies continue to inspire people today. 

However, whether Rock Lee is based on Bruce Lee or not remains. Rock Lee is a fictional character, and there are several reasons why people think that they are connected.  Both men are incredibly skilled martial artists with a solid dedication to their craft, and both have inspired people worldwide. Furthermore, just like his sensei, Rock Lee is indeed inspired by Bruce Lee.

Advertisement

Also Read: “Overconfident, blusterous, and very, very skilled”: Not Kakashi, Masashi Kishimoto Wants Naruto Spinoff for Another Character

Does Rock Lee share the same injury as Bruce Lee?

Bruce Lee from Enter the Dragon
Bruce Lee from Enter the Dragon

Rock Lee was heavily injured after his battle against Gaara. The doctors revealed that he would never be able to return to his former life as a shinobi. However, through intense training and rock-solid determination, he was eventually able to recover.

This entire ordeal was inspired by an event that happened with Bruce Lee. In 1970, he suffered from a severe back injury that damaged his sacral nerve. He acquired his injury in a training session. However, several people speculated that it might have happened during a fight. Lee was told that he’d have to give up his martial arts career, but he was able to recover and continue his career.

Advertisement

Also Read: “I was already a big fan of…”: Even Naruto Creator is a Fan of One of the Most legendary Anime Plagued With Hiatuses

Source: Ranker

Avatar

Written by Archak

Articles Published: 295

Despite holding a degree in Chemistry Majors, Archak found himself as a Journalist. His love for anime and choccy milk is unmatched! When not writing, Archak can be found indulging with motorcycles. After all, four wheels move the body but two wheels move the soul!