The Kill Bill (and Bruce Lee) Sneaker Guide

Quentin Tarantino's Fourth and Fifth film is back for the first time on the big screen. Dropping on December 5th, Kill BIll: The Whole Bloody Affair combines Volumes 1 and 2 with an extended anime sequence that’s probably just as violent as the battle with the Crazy 88 if not worse, edits to make the film more coherent as a singular piece, and some surprises that were not included in the Cannes cut that Tarantino has screened sporadically through the years. It’s an exciting moment for movie fans who get to relive arguably the director’s most iconic work through a fresh lens and for new fans as they test themselves to watch a nearly five-hour epic without checking their phones at least once.

Count sneakerheads among those fans of the film. Through the years, countless cosplays of The Bride, aka Beatrix Kiddo, would not be complete without a pair of the mustard yellow Onitsuka Tiger Tai Chi sneakers. However, if the Tai Chi or its close cousin the Mexico 66 happen to be out of circulation or resale is a little too egregious, other brands have taken on the task of hooking the people up with yellow and black sneakers. Intentional Kill Bill homage or not, there is no shortage of sneakers with the appropriate color blocking. At the same time, brands have also taken to honoring the legacy of the late Bruce Lee through similarly styled sneakers, which makes sense because Kill Bill cribs a sizable amount of its style and vibes from Lee and his posthumous film Game of Death.

As we count days to the worldwide premiere of The Whole Bloody Affair, let’s take a look at the catalog that bears more than a striking resemblance to The Bride’s and Bruce Lee’s kicks and see if they can pass as a Kill Bill sneaker, a Bruce Lee sneaker, or both.

Nike Kill Bill Pack (2009)

While sneaker culture has dubbed this pack featuring the Big Nike High and the Nike Auto Flight High as a Kill Bill pack with its (imaginary) blood-soaked black and red pairs, they actually share the spotlight with the late Kobe Bryant. Count Kobe as a fan of Kill Bill, especially Uma Thurman’s character The Bride, aka Beatrix Kiddo, who also went by the codename Black Mamba. Each sneaker came with a Kill List similar to the one The Bride had, except Kobe’s list consist of foes he has dispatched in the NBA like Ray Allen and Paul Pierce

Could it pass for a Bruce Lee sneaker? No, too many Kill Bill references, not enough yellow.

BAIT x Bruce Lee x Reebok Kamikaze 2 (2018)

Inspired by Lee’s famous yellow tracksuit (which also inspired The Bride’s famous yellow tracksuit) from Game of Death, the yellow upper is complemented nicely by the black jagged lines of the overlays. Other signature touches include a Lee-inspired silhouette in place of the Reebok vector logo on the heel, blood-red scratch marks* on the tongue tab, and his name printed on the lateral side of the toe box. Not sure if Shawn Kemp would have made a better or worse foe for Bruce Lee in Game of Death than Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, but his intense energy during his Seattle days would have made for an interesting movie fight for sure.

Could it pass for a Kill Bill sneaker? No, too much official Bruce Lee branding.

*Note: The scratch marks you see on Bruce Lee sneakers are not a Game of Death reference. Those marks came from another Lee film, Enter the Dragon, which he filmed in between filming Game of Death. Unfortunately, Lee passed away before he was able to return and finish Game of Death.

CLOT x Nike Cortez Bruce Lee (2023)

Released before Edison Chen’s now-acrimonious divorce from Nike, the 3-in-1 modular “Clotez” sneaker got a yellow and black release that unofficially references Bruce Lee’s Game of Death yellow tracksuit. Since it’s not an officially licensed Bruce Lee product like the BAIT and Reebok collab, the yellow and black color blocking - along with CLOT explicitly saying this is an homage to Bruce Lee without saying the words Bruce Lee - does most of the heavy lifting. Unfortunately, while the original CLOT Cortez collabs featured the Chinese symbols for “Kung-Fu” stitched on the heel tab, the yellow and black pair shoutouts CLOT NFT. Remember when NFTs were a thing?

Could it pass for a Kill Bill sneaker? Yes, although it might be difficult (and possibly slippery) to get into a fight to the death in what are essentially house slippers if you’re not used to it.

ASICS Gel-Saga II Kill Bill (2017)

While not an official collaboration, ASICS ownership of Onitsuka Tiger along with their shared DNA means any yellow and black sneaker is going to get people to notice and recall Kill Bill. What makes this pair stand out from your standard-issue yellow and black pair is the use of blood-red splatter on the midsole. It’s a sneaker made for what happens after you wreck shop and take out O-Ren Ishii in the snow.

Could it pass a Bruce Lee sneaker? Yes, the red splatter on the midsole is faint enough that only the most diehard of fans is going to nitpick that difference.

Bad Bunny x adidas Response CL Yellow (2022)

Prior to the launch of this yellow colorway of Bad Bunny’s collaborative take on the adidas Response CL, there were some outlets and aggregators that tried to play the SEO game and label this as a Kill Bill or Bruce Lee sneaker. There are a few signs that could lead someone to that conclusion, from the yellow and black dominant colors to the hits of red and the use of silver on the three stripes that could be a nod to The Bride’s Hantori Hanzo-designed sword. The ambiguity and the departure from the slender shape of the Onitsuka Tiger Tai Chi makes this a bit of a stretch, but not out of the realm of possibility.

Could this pass as a Kill Bill sneaker? Maybe, although it might be too bulky to pair up with the yellow tracksuit.

Bad Bunny x adidas Ballerina Bold Gold (2025)

Ok, now this one can pass as either a Kill Bill or a Bruce Lee sneaker. With a barely there outsole unit and an eye-popping shade of gold that definitely could match up with any fight-ready tracksuit, this reimagining of the old school adidas Taekwondo is ready for anything and anybody who might try and take on Benito. Considering his pro wrestling and acting bona fides, it wouldn’t be shocking to see him pay homage to the film in some way in a future role.

Could it pass as a Bruce Lee sneaker? Yes, as long as Bunny doesn’t mess around and try to remake Game of Death

Nike Air Max 95 OG Varsity Maize (2025)

A shocking contender that just recently released, you might think that there is no way that this honking beast of a sneaker should be in the running for a Kill Bill homage. And you would be right, but the potential was there. While we typically see Air Max 95s with the gradient side panels, for this particular release they have a solid block of yellow in leather save for the top panel which opts for a diamond-knit nylon look. If there were some strategically placed strips of black on the yellow upper to make it look more like the tiger stripes on a Onitsuka Tiger/ASICS then we might have something there.

Could this pass for a Bruce Lee sneaker? Yes, the only thing missing are the red scratch marks.

Sparco x Puma Speedcat Maize Puma Black (2021)

From the side profile, this sneaker can reside in the same space as the Nike Cortez or the Bad Bunny x adidas Ballerina: a sleek and slim silhouette that would fit in perfectly with a matching Puma tracksuit in the same color. However, upon closer inspection the blue Sparco logo plastered on the shoe’s tongue - a reference to PUMA’s collaboration with the company as they helped co-design the Speedcat - throws a proverbial wrench into anyone’s plan to cosplay as The Bride or Bruce Lee at the next local pop culture convention. Can’t be running around the convention floor with a yellow and black tracksuit with that giant Sparco logo for everyone to see. Kills the immersion, really.

Under Armour Curry Fox 1 Banzito

Similar to the PUMA Speedcat, any hopes this sneaker might have had at pulling off a Kill Bill look are dashed by other interests, such as De’Aaron Fox’s favorite Sacramento tack truck Banzito’s. The hits of teal on the Fox logo, the Curry logo on the toe, and the speckled laces further separate itself from any comparisons, while the Air Jordan 20-esque laser etched tongue features the same artwork that’s found on the Banzito’s truck. And besides, Fox might have a few more things to think about now that Curry Brand is effectively no more in Steph’s eyes.

Nike Kobe 5 Bruce Lee (2010, 2020)

While the late Kobe Bryant adored Kill Bill as evidenced by his adoption of the Black Mamba name, he was a Bruce Lee devotee on a different level. Similarly to how Lee concocted an entire life philosophy that revolved around his teachings and martial arts, Kobe created the Mamba Mentality that athletes all around today cite as their north star of how to approach life, sport, and everything in between. So it’s no surprise that Nike would release a handful of signature Kobes with references to the Game Of Death tracksuit and the Enter The Dragon scratch marks.

Could this pass as a Kill Bill sneaker? Yes, because the Mamba Mentality allows it (citation needed).

Nike Kyrie 3 Mamba Mentality Bruce Lee (2017)

In a social media post shared back during the launch of the Kyrie 3 Mamba Mentality Bruce Lee, Kyrie Irving shared that the Kobe 5 Bruce Lee was his favorite sneaker because he wore them during a Nike event as a 17-year old he wore the shoes and balled out.

The way Kobe Bryant obsessed over Bruce Lee is how Kyrie Irving obsesses over Kobe Bryant. From the moment he tried to challenge Bryant to a game of 1-on-1 during a Team USA training camp to his constant defense of his legacy before and after his passing, Kai embraced the Mamba Mentality before it was even a book.

Speaking of the Mamba Mentality, Nike released the Kyrie 3 Mamba Mentality in 2017 that goes beyond your typical homage. It’s one thing to show your appreciation to another signature athlete by adopting a colorway they made famous, it’s another thing to share the spotlight by giving them co-branding honors in the form of a Kobe/Kyrie logo mash-up on the tongue. The fact that it’s a Bruce Lee sneaker and by proxy, a potential Kill Bill sneaker is secondary to his adoration for the Black Mamba.

Could this pass as a Kill Bill sneaker? Despite the proximity to Kobe and Bruce Lee, the sneaker’s design is a such departure from the look and feel of The Bride’s outfit.

Onitsuka Tiger Tai Chi

When nothing else works, just go with the original. Problem solved.

Juan Martinez

From video game journalism to veteran of the sneaker blog era to podcasting about well, everything, Juan is smiling through it all and can't believe this is his life. After recently getting into Formula 1, he now has hot takes about who the greatest driver of all time is. Email: juan@soleretriever.com