Bruce Lee was an athlete.
Lee Jun-fan ( ; November 27 , 1940 -- July 20 , 1973 ) , known professionally as Bruce Lee , was a Hong Kong and American martial artist , actor , philosopher , filmmaker , and founder of the martial art Jeet Kune Do . Martial arts are codified systems and traditions of combat practices , which are practiced for a number of reasons : as self-defense , military and law enforcement applications , mental and spiritual development ; as well as entertainment and the preservation of a nation 's intangible cultural heritage .