The development of the Yamakasi is traced back through David Belle to his father Raymond Belle, who was heavily influenced by Georges Hébert's "methode naturelle". The group also drew influence from Asian culture and Asian martial arts, including the acrobatic antics of Jackie Chan in his Hong Kong action films, the martial arts philosophy of Bruce Lee, the Japanese shōnen manga and anime series "Dragon Ball", and the martial arts films of Jean-Claude Van Damme. They considered Bruce Lee to be the "unofficial president" of their group.