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
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