Oakland Chinatown Artist Luke Dragon Paints Bruce Lee Mural at 10th Planet Oakland

Oakland Chinatown artist Luke Dragon brought together art, martial arts and Oakland history with a massive Bruce Lee mural at 10th Planet Oakland.

Luke, known for his distinctive artwork throughout Oakland Chinatown and the Bay Area, painted the large-scale tribute to Bruce Lee on the exterior of 10th Planet Oakland’s current academy.

Bruce Lee was a natural choice for the wall. His impact reaches far beyond any single martial art. His willingness to question traditional boundaries, explore different systems and focus on what was effective helped change the way generations of martial artists thought about training.

But the connection between Bruce Lee and 10th Planet Oakland goes much deeper than the artwork.

Before 10th Planet Oakland ever existed, Bruce Lee taught martial arts at the Chinese American Citizens Alliance lodge at 301 8th Street in Oakland Chinatown. Decades later, that same building would become the first home of 10th Planet Oakland.

Bruce Lee’s influence is also personal for 10th Planet Oakland founder and head coach Michael Hillebrand. Growing up in the Bay Area, Hillebrand watched Bruce Lee and became fascinated with martial arts from a young age. Lee was one of the figures who inspired him to pursue martial arts himself.

Years later, Hillebrand would open the first 10th Planet Oakland academy in the same building where Bruce Lee had once taught. After 10th Planet Oakland eventually moved to its current home, that connection to Oakland martial arts history came with it.

Having Luke Dragon paint Bruce Lee on the exterior of the new academy became a fitting way to honor that history and carry a piece of it forward.

The mural also received a special welcome from former Oakland Mayor Jean Quan, who came out to celebrate the artwork alongside members of the Oakland community. Quan, Oakland’s first woman and first Asian American mayor, added another meaningful connection between the mural, Oakland’s Chinese American community and the city’s history.

Bruce Lee’s years in Oakland were an important period in his development as a martial artist and teacher. His willingness to exchange ideas, challenge convention and evolve his approach would eventually influence martial artists around the world.

The mural represents more than an incredible piece of artwork. It connects Bruce Lee, Oakland Chinatown, Luke Dragon, 301 8th Street and 10th Planet Oakland through a shared piece of Oakland martial arts history, while carrying that story forward at the academy’s current home.

A huge thank you to Luke Dragon for creating a piece that celebrates Bruce Lee, Oakland and martial arts all on one wall.