James Yimm Lee (1920-1972): Mentor and Roommate of Martial Arts Legend Bruce Lee

James Yimm Lee

 PLOT 12, LOT 280, GRAVE 563

James Yimm Lee was an American martial arts pioneer, teacher, author, and publisher. He was a welder in the shipyards by profession and a U.S. Army veteran, fighting in both the Battle of Luzon and Battle of Mindanao campaigns during WWII.

He is known for being a mentor, teacher and friend of the late Bruce Lee, being only one of three individuals to be personally certified by Bruce Lee to teach his martial arts. During the period known to martial arts aficionados as the Oakland Years (1962-1965), the two men lived and trained together, and their mutual collaboration evolved into the now-famous fighting art known as Jeet Kune Do. 

James Lee became well known for his Iron Palm specialty, and would routinely break bricks at demonstrations. He was the first to publish an Iron Palm book in America in 1957.

James Yimm Lee was also an accomplished weightlifter and helped get Bruce Lee started in a weight-training program, which subsequently resulted in his sculptured physique.

Lee died at age 52 from lung cancer caused by welding fumes. 

The two men were not related.