Of these came the stories of Bruce Lee. From Bruce Lee: The Celebrated Life of the Golden Dragon (John Little) struck a particular chord with me due to its exclusive pictures that were provided by Linda Lee Cadwell

A Bruce Lee Interview:

Here are some quotes from the story that I related to my own life. Bruce’s philosophy regarding how to train in martial arts also apply to learning pick up, and any skill, for that matter.

A really trained, good actor is a rarity nowadays – that demand the actor to be real, to be himself. The audiences are not dumb today, an actor is not simply demonstrating what one wants others to believe he is expressing. That is mere imitation or illustration – but it is not creating – even through this superficial demonstration can be “performed” with remarkable expertise.

Pickup Translation: A really trained, good seducer is a rarity nowadays – that demand the artist to be real, to be himself. The girls are not dumb today, an artist is not simply demonstrating what he wants her to believe he is expressing. That is mere imitation, but it is not relating, even through imitation can be performed exceptionally well.

Some martial artists are now going to Hong Kong to be in movies, they think they can be lucky, too. Well, I don’t believe in pure luck. You have to create your own luck. You have to be aware of the opportunities around you and take advantage of them. Some guys may not believe it, but I spent hours perfecting whatever I did.

Pickup Translation: Don’t rely on luck or circumstance. You should be able to create your own pickup situations. You have to be aware of the opportunities around you and take advantage of them. Mastery takes years of practice.

Believe me that in every big thing or achievement there are always obstacles – big or small – and the reaction one shows to such obstacles is what counts, not the obstacle itself.

Yes, there is a difference between self-actualization and self-image actualization.

[What Bruce said]

I know we all admit that we are intelligent beings; yet, I wonder how many of us have gone through some sort of self-inquiries and/or self-examining of all these ready made facts of truths that are crammed down our throats ever since we acquired the capacity and the sensibility to learn?

Pickup Translation: Don’t accept the traditional teaching methods as the only truth. Find your own truth.

The important thing is that I am personally satisfied with my work. If it is a piece of junk, I will only regret it.

Pickup Analogy: If more gurus focused on the artform, more progress can be made in the seduction community.

To bring the mind into sharp focus and to make it alert so that it can immediately intuit truth, which is everywhere, the mind must be emancipated from old habits, prejudices, restrictive thought process, and even ordinary thought itself.

Open your mind and free it of old beliefs and personal prejudices when learning.

One cannot “express” fully – the important word here is fully – when one is imposed by a partial structure or style…he becomes paralyzed within the framework of the pattern and accepts the pattern as the real thing. He no longer “listens” to circumstances, he “recites” his circumstances. He is merely performing his methodical routine as a response rather than responding to what is. He is an insensitized patternized robot, listening to his own screams and yells. He is those classical blocks; he is those organized forms; in short, he is the result of thousands of years of conditioning.

Pickup Translation: Whenever you stick 100% to one system, no matter how great it is (i.e. M3 Model), you are imposed by the very definition of that structure. The student can become paralyzed within the framework or refuse to think outside of that framework. He is performing methodically as a response rather than to what is.

Take for instance the boxer: he will probably criticize the fact the two fighters are too close to allow crispy punching room. On the other hand, the wrestler will complain that one of the fighters should crowd and smother the other’s “crispiness,” and thus be close enough to apply grappling tactics. So a split second between the above two statements, the boxer could have switched into grappling tactics when there is no crispy punching room. The wrestler, when out of distance, could have kicked or punched as a means to bridge the gap for his specialty.

For example, a MM student may be running unnecessary A1 and A2 routines, when a girl he meets already attracted to him at sight. Or, a Juggler and natural who can charm women, but lack the initiative and training to do cold approaches with the girls that they are truly interested in.

True observation begins when devoid of set patterns, and freedom of expression occurs when one is beyond systems.

My only concerns are for those who are conditioned and solidified by a partialized structure, with only routine efficiency, rather than freedom of individual expression.

To set the record straight, I have not invented a new style, that is, set within distinct form as apart from “this” style or “that” style. One the contrary, I hope to free my followers  from styles.

[What Bruce said]

Drilling on routines and set patterns will eventually make a person be good according to the routines and set pattern, but only self-awareness and self-expression can lead to the truth. A live person is not a dead product of “this” style or “that” style, he is an individual, and the individual is always more important than the system.

Pickup Translation: Practicing a particular pickup style will eventually make a person good according tot that style and that framework, but only self-awareness and self-expression can lead to the truth. A life person is never a direct correlation to a “style”, rather, he is a unique individual that is ever so different from the system.

Of this I am certain: superior performances in martial art will rest in the future development and not on many of the obsolete and outmoded training methods existing.

Really, there is no rigid form in Jeet Kune Do. All that there is is this understanding: If the enemy is cool, stay cooler than him. If the enemy moves, move faster than him.

Be concerned with the ends, not the means. Master your own manipulation of force.

Don’t be restricted by your form.

To me, ultimately, martial art means honestly expressing yourself.

The future of the seduction art lies in the lack of models and thinking outside of existing models. Don’t be restricted by what you think are limits. Ultimately seduction is really the art of expressing yourself.

A good martial artist does not become tense – but ready. Not thinking, yet not dreaming. Ready for whatever may come.

Pickup Translation: A good seducer does not become tense of nervous – but ready. He is not thinking, but not distant either. He’s ready for whatever may come from an interaction.

Because of styles, people are separated. They are not united together because styles became laws. But the original founder of the style started out with hypothesis. But now it has become the gospel truth. And people that go into it, man, become the product of it. It doesn’t matter how you are, who you are, how you are structured, how you are built, how you are made – it doesn’t matter. You just go in there and be that product. And that – to me – is not right.

But, if you do not have styles; if you just say: “Here I am as a human being, how can I express myself totally and completely?” Now that way, you won’t create a style because style is a crystallization, this way is a process of continued growth.

Pickup Translation: People argue in the community over styles and “schools of thought”. Why? We are all human beings focused on finding ourselves and the truth, and expressing it outwardly as to build a life and be in the relationships we choose to be in.

The word “superstar” really turns me off, and I’ll tell you why, because the word “star”, is an illusion, it is something – what the public calls you. You should look upon yourself as an actor. I mean you would be very pleased if somebody said, “hey man, you’re a super actor!” It is much better than “superstar.”

Pickup Analogy: don’t be fazed or starstruck by instructors. In the end, they are good coaches and (mostly) good people.

Ultimately, martial art is the expression of oneself.

Pickup Translation: Ultimately, any artform is the expression of oneself.

So therefore, my students are coming in and asking me to teach them – not so much how to defend themselves or how to do somebody in – rather, they want to learn to express themselves through some movement; be it anger, be it determination, or whatever. So, in other words, what I’m saying is that the student is paying me to show him, in combative form, the art of expressing the human body.

Pickup Analogy: students that come to study seduction may think they are gaining the tools to meet the women of their dreams, but really, the elite dating coach understands that the students simply wants to learn how to express himself to the world.

Through all of my children’s education will run the Confucianist philosophy that the highest standards of conduct consist of treating others as you wish to be treated, plus loyalty, intelligence, and the fullest development of the individual in the five chief relationships of life: government and those who are governed, parent and child, elder and younger sibling, husband and wife, and friend and friend. Equipped in that way, I don’t think they can go far wrong.

Even though I, Bruce Lee, may die someday without fulfilling all of my ambitions, I feel no sorrow. I did what I wanted to do. What I’ve done, I’ve done with sincerity and to the best of my ability. You can’t expect much more from life.

Rest In Peace, Bruce Lee.

Senator Obama, to me, was able to pick up the notoriously tough Google crowd with following key characteristics:

• Respect – he started the speech with a brief history of his last visit Google, and of the Internet, and the government’s involvement in it. He demonstrated clear understanding of Google’s history, as well as our founder’s stories. The Google Story.

• Honestly – I can’t figure out how he does this, but he’s very honest. You get that sense from him, that he’s transparent with you. And with tough questions, he acknowledges the difficulty and answers in a way that shows that he has thought it through before, but also is at the same time thinking about it more as he talking with you

• Body language – His body language is very warm, but also very alpha. It is slightly beta from Denzel Washington and a little more approachable.

• Charisma – this is different than just body language. At a loss for words, here is very accurate description of charisma, which Obama exudes plenty of:
“charisma is often used to describe an (elusive, even indefinable) personality trait that often includes the seemingly ‘supernatural’ or uncanny ability to lead, charm, persuade, inspire, and/or influence people. It refers especially to a quality in certain people who easily draw the attention and admiration (or even hatred if the application of such charisma is perceived to be negative) of others due to a ‘magnetic’ quality of personality and/or appearance. Similar terms/phrases related to charisma include: grace, exuberance, equanimity, mystique, positive energy, joie de vivre, extreme charm, personal magnetism, personal appeal, “electricity,” and allure, among many others. Usually many of these specific qualities must be present within a single individual for the person to be considered highly charismatic by the public and their peers.

Despite the strong emotions they so often induce in others, charismatic individuals generally project unusual calmness, confidence, assertiveness, dominance, authenticity, and focus, and almost always possess superb communication and/or oratorical skills. Although the etymology of the word (“divine gift”) might suggest that charisma can’t be acquired, and despite the persistent inability to accurately define or even fully understand the concept, it is believed that charisma can be taught and/or learned (through hypnosis for example).

• Presence – Obama had this presence about him. Maybe it was the cameras

• Tonality – Deep, powerful voice filled the room, his pauses and his pacing was perfect. I need to learn from this.

• Wit – he was quick on his feet, and wit is a form of intellectual humor. A wit is someone skilled in making witty remarks.

• Charm – “Charm” is an important characteristic. There are many definitions, including to protect through supernatural powers or charms, something believed to bring good luck, as well as “capture: attract; cause to be enamored; “She captured all the men’s hearts”.

• Ambition – He was very determined not to sit still at the status quo. Important change can be made, and there a sense of urgency, something about the time and events aligning together to pull everyone in the need for one cause.

• Vision – painting the picture of America being the leader in the world again, better future for the masses of middle-class families

• Adaptability – able to switch between genuine friendliness, to witty jokes, to serious, thought invoking conversations.

• Ability to Inspire – I noticed Obama, when doing the Q&A with Googlers, looked very interested in the person asking the question. He almost didn’t really care about Eric! And when he clapped, he seemed to be clapping not only for himself but for everyone, as if everyone was involved in making his speech a success. It really inspiring to watch.