Bruce Lee, Jeet Kune Do, and the Cultural Power of Kung Fu

Beyond the Screen: Bruce Lee, Jeet Kune Do, and the Cultural Power of Kung Fu

超越银幕：李小龙、截拳道与功夫的文化力

This event is co-organised by the Trinity Centre for Asian Studies and the Maynooth University Department of Chinese

Speaker: Joseph Clarke
Date and time: Thursday, 19 February 2026, 5pm-7pm
Venue: Synge Theatre, Arts Building, Trinity College Dublin

This talk explores the cultural and ideological legacy of Bruce Lee and the global influence of Chinese martial arts through the lens of Jeet Kune Do. Drawing from Joseph’s ongoing PhD research at Maynooth University, it examines how Bruce Lee transformed martial arts from a traditional fighting practice into a global symbol of identity, resistance, and intercultural dialogue. By tracing the evolution of Kung Fu’s image in Western and Chinese contexts, the lecture highlights how Bruce Lee’s philosophy of self-expression - “using no way as way” -continues to inspire contemporary understandings of strength, freedom, and cultural exchange. The session will conclude with a live Jeet Kune Do demonstration, offering participants a chance to experience how philosophy and movement intersect in practice.

Joseph Clarke (Chinese name: 寇哲风) completed his MPhil in Chinese Studies in 2023 and is a TCAS alumnus. He is currently a PhD candidate in Chinese Studies at Maynooth University, Ireland. His research focuses on the cultural, ideological, and transnational legacy of Bruce Lee, examining how Lee’s influence reshaped Western and Chinese perspectives on martial arts, identity, and cultural power. Joseph has published in the Asian Journal of Sport History and Culture and regularly teaches workshops on Jeet Kune Do. He has performed at academic and cultural events across Ireland, promoting dialogue between Chinese philosophy and martial arts practice.