BATMAN TO BRUCE LEE: George Fitzgerald's Martial Arts Journey
BATMAN TO BRUCE LEE: George Fitzgerald's Martial Arts Journey George Fitzgerald: A Martial Arts Journey from Batman to Bruce Lee In our latest podcast episode, we had the pleasure of speaking with George Fitzgerald, a seasoned martial artist whose journey is nothing short of inspiring. From his early days of being inspired by Batman and Bruce Lee to mastering multiple martial arts disciplines, George's story is a testament to passion, dedication, and the eternal quest for mastery. Andrew Staton asks the questions; George's journey into martial arts began at a very young age. "From the age of four I've been a Batman fan and I used to see Batman in the comics doing this weird stuff called karate jiu jitsu," he recalls. The influence of iconic figures like Elvis Presley and Bruce Lee further fueled this early fascination with martial arts. At the age of twelve, after watching Bruce Lee's "Fist of Fury," George knew that martial arts was his path in life. Over the years, George has trained in various martial arts disciplines, including judo, aikido, Wing Chun, Muay Thai, and Russian Sambo, among others. His dedication to martial arts is evident in his relentless pursuit of knowledge and mastery. "I just want to be the best martial artist I can be, so that then I can help anyone I teach to be the best martial artist they can be," he explains. One of the key philosophies that George holds dear is the effectiveness of martial arts in self-defence. "My number one premise of doing a martial art is, is this effective in self defence?" he states. This focus on practicality and real-world application has guided his training and teaching methods throughout his career. George's journey is also marked by his encounters with legendary martial artists such as Joe Lewis, Bill Wallace, and Chuck Norris. His relationship with Joe Lewis, in particular, left a lasting impact. "Bruce Lee was the greatest martial arts teacher he ever knew, without a doubt," George shares, reflecting on Joe's admiration for Bruce Lee. Despite his extensive experience and numerous accolades, George remains humble and refers to himself as the "eternal white belt." This mindset of continuous learning and growth is what keeps him motivated and passionate about martial arts. "Even now, I'm kind of getting all animated. That's why I can't actually put my finger on what it is. It just makes me feel like, you know, let's get up and train now," he says with enthusiasm. As George continues to train and teach, he remains a beacon of inspiration for martial artists around the world. His story is a reminder that martial arts is not just about physical prowess but also about cultivating a warrior spirit and a lifelong commitment to self-improvement. SIFU George Fitzgerald is the former President, Founder & Master Instructor of the Tang Lung Combat Academy from 1989 – 2012. Among his many credentials, he is a qualified instructor under THREE of Bruce Lee’s very best students! He has been studying and practicing formal Martial Arts for the last 50 years, starting in 1973 with Judo at age eleven. But his real introduction to the ‘fighting arts’ was from the age of seven in the form of boxing and self-defence ‘tips’ from his father – Bill Fitzgerald, a man who was definitely no stranger to ‘street survival’ – in fact, he was known to many simply as ‘The Bouncer!’ Filmed by Dean Meadows of Pentagram Pictures at the Martial Arts Show Doncaster event 2024 Thanks for reading & watching, we hope you enjoyed it, please LIKE, SHARE and don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to World of Martial Arts Television for more great content!! You can also FIND, FOLLOW and SUBSCRIBE to a huge World of Martial Arts Television here; Main site - https://www.worldofmartialarts.tv Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/www.woma.tv Twitter - https://twitter.com/Willwitter Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/worldofmartialartstelev