Having returned to Hong Kong with the box office sensation ‘The Big Boss’ in 1971, Bruce followed up with the 1972 film ‘Fists of Fury’ (The Chinese Connection in the US) where he played the role Chen Zhen, a student of Huo Yuanjia, who looks to defend the honor of the Chinese people in the face of foreign invasion and avenge the death of his late master.

As one of the original trail blazers for cross training in the martial arts of his era, Bruce Lee would often use his film and television roles as vehicles to spread his unique brand of martial arts philosophy Jeet Kune Do, and given his now meteoric rise in Hong Kong his message could not be louder.

During his raid on the Japanese Dojo in Fist of Fury, Bruce has an encounter with a Russian fighter named Petrov played by Bob Baker.

After spending their time on the feet showcasing Lee’s trademark kicks and punches, the bout goes to the ground and ends up in a grappling exchange when Lee gets caught in a belly down armbar. Looking like there is no escape Lee resorts to an unorthodox escape, by biting his opponent’s leg and escaping the submission. From here the fight resumes on the feet climaxing with Lee crushing Petrov’s windpipe with a ridge hand strike.

Interestingly enough in 1971, Bruce Lee talked about this technique when he made a guest appearance on the show ‘LongStreet’ playing the role as a martial arts instructor for the main character Mike Longstreet. During a training session he demonstrates a front head lock, he offered this to say on an escape.

Bite! Are we not animals? Biting is efficient in close quarter, but don’t make a plan of biting, that is a very good way to lose your teeth.