Sure there were arts that cover more than one range and maybe even borrowed techniques from styles, but they did not say, "Oh this is an aikido technique or a fencing technique"? No, they said this is Hapkido, therefore making it a singular, multi ranged, art. Singular, one art. Then in 58 - 59 Bruce was spouting it all over the place about doing Boxing and Fencing and Savate and Jujutsu and Aikido and Judo and Muay thai and Shotokan Karate. And he was talking about using these whole systems to create a new art but instead using bits and peices of each, not to create a form or stle but just "his" way.