Jeet Kune Do Instructors and Contributors

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Bruce Lee:  The founder of Jeet Kune Do in his early twenties, The Way of the Intercepting Fist. Lee is without question the most influential martial arts figure in recent times.

He is a martial arts instructor, philosopher, film director, film producer, screenwriter, and founder of the Jeet Kune Do martial arts movement. He is considered one of the most influential martial artists of the 20th century, and a cultural icon. Lee became an iconic figure known throughout the world and remains very popular among Asian audience and in particular among the Chinese, as he portrayed Chinese nationalism through his films.

While Lee initially trained in Wing Chun, he later rejected well-defined martial art styles, favoring instead to utilize useful techniques from various sources in the spirit of his personal martial arts philosophy he dubbed Jeet Kune Do (The Way of the Intercepting Fist).

Dan Inosanto:  When you think of JKD the first instructor that comes to mind would have to be Dan Inosanto. Contribution to the art: Guro Inosanto is given credit to keeping the concepts art alive after the tragic death of Lee in 1974 with books, seminars, and lessons. 1st generation instructor. Most prominent students; Paul Vunak, Burton Richardson.

Dan Inosanto teaches The Art and Philosophy of Jeet Kune Do, Filipino martial arts, Shoot wrestling, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai, Silat, mixed martial arts and other arts at his Marina del Rey, California school, the Inosanto Academy of Martial Arts. He received a shodan from and was an instructor for Ed Parker in American Kenpo Karate before becoming a student of Bruce Lee.

After Bruce Lee’s death, he has become the principal spokesperson and historian for Jeet Kune Do. Always a student himself, he continues to train with many highly regarded martial artists. Consequently, he holds Instructor or black belt level ranks in numerous, different martial arts. In addition, he is well known for promoting the Filipino Martial Arts.

Jerry Poteet: Known as the conscience of Jeet Kune Do. He was the technical choreographer for the movie the Bruce Lee Story. Contribution to the art: Keeping the truth alive as to what is JKD and what is not. 1st generation instructor.

Jerry Poteet is one of Bruce Lee’s original students from the “Chinatown era” in the late 1960s. He continues to teach the art of Jeet Kune Do just the way it was taught to him by Bruce Lee. Some of his notable students are Jason Scott Lee (Dragon The Bruce Lee Story), Michael Worth (U.S. SEALS 2), and Glenn Danzig. Jerry Poteet worked on choreography for the key fight scenes in “Dragon” with Jason Scott Lee.

Contrary to popular misconception, Jerry did not meet his famous Jeet Kune Do teacher in Los Angeles, but in Oakland, at James Lee’s house. Later that year, he was fortunate enough to be chosen as the second student admitted to Bruce Lee’s Chinatown School back in LA. He was also selected to be in a “closed door” group of five students, who trained with Bruce Lee twice a week. In the years since, Jerry has used his martial arts expertise to train the Dallas Cowboys football team, executive bodyguard Hollywood celebrities, and choreograph the fight scenes of several motion pictures.

Ted Wong: The iron man of the art. A true legend that just keeps on going strong. Contribution to the art: Endless teaching schedule, traveling and getting the art of Jeet Kune Do out there to the public. 1st generation instructor. 

Wong’s first encounter with Bruce Lee was in 1967, in Los Angeles, California, where Lee was giving a Kung Fu seminar. Wong had no martial arts training, and was interested in western boxing and some martial arts. Wong was present as Lee developed Jun Fan Gung Fu into Jeet Kune Do. He was also present to see Lee train other martial artists, including Karate Champion Joe Lewis and basketball star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Wong is one of only a few people to receive rank in the art of Jeet Kune Do by Bruce Lee.

What is also of note about Wong is that he never learned another martial art besides what Bruce taught him, thus has never taught anything other than what he learned from Bruce. Wong now gives seminars and continues to teach privately. Currently he is teaching Lee’s daughter Shannon Lee Keaser, and long-time martial-arts instructors such as: Mark Stewart, Bob Landers,Rodney Hitchcock, David Gallaher, Richard Torres, Lewis Luk, Teri Tom, Tommy Gong, Bill Mattucci, Mike Rutter, Yutaka Matsuoka Tim O’Leary Mike Gittleson, Joaquín Marcelo and Albert Grajales a Hall of Fame instructor. Wong is also a board member of the Bruce Lee Foundation.

Larry Hartsell: Contribution to the art: Let the world know about the final phase of the style of Jeet Kune Do, grappling / joint locks and take downs. 2nd generation instructor.

Larry Hartsell began his martial arts training in Kenpo karate with Ed Parker in 1961. He earned a black belt from Parker and went on to earn a black belt in judo as well. In 1967 he started training with Bruce Lee. He served as a military police officer in the army, including combat time in Vietnam. After returning from the war, he continued training at Bruce Lee’s school under the guidance of both Bruce Lee and his senior instructor Dan Inosanto. His training included private lessons at the Bel Air home of Bruce Lee. Hartsell continued his training with Dan Inosanto for the next 35 years. Hartsell’s research of techniques resulted in additions and innovations to the grappling that now forms the core of the Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do Grappling system.

He has co-authored or authorized several books on Jeet Kune Do and has released seven videotapes on the grappling and combative arts. These books, videotapes and his skill in the grappling arts have resulted in Hartsell being listed in the “Who’s Who in Martial Arts” and cover shots with numerous feature articles in Inside Kung Fu, Black Belt Magazine, Martial Arts Training, Inside Karate, Australian Fighting Arts, and many others.

Shannon Lee: Contribution to the art: Shannon Lee has been passed the torch so to speak of the Bruce Lee estate and is now the driving force in keeping the legend of Bruce Lee in the forefront, as well as promoting the original teachings of her father.

She is the daughter of martial artist and actor Bruce Lee and Linda Lee Cadwell. Brandon Lee was her older brother. She is currently the president of the Bruce Lee Foundation.

James Yimm Lee: Contribution to the art: Helped Bruce Lee define as well as refine the art of Jeet Kune Do, and was also a well respected Wing Chun instructor and bodybuilder. The only co-instructor with Bruce Lee in the history of JKD as Lee felt he was on par with his skill and philosophy. Head of Oakland school.

James DeMille: Contribution to the art: Let the world know about one inch punch. 1st generation instructor.

Carter Hargrave: Contribution to the art: President of the World Jeet Kune Do Federation (largest JKD organization) through his teaching program he has brought JKD to into more places, cities, and countries than any instructor in the arts history. 2nd generation instructor.

Tim Tackett: Contribution to the art: Along with Hartsell took JKD concepts of grappling to the forefront with articles and books long before anyone heard of Brazilian anything. Long live JKD grappling.

Taky Kimura:  Contribution to the art: Since 1964, Kimura has been the instructor of the Jun Fan Gung Fu Institute of Seattle. Kimura has never accepted compensation for his work, and has quietly been the caretaker of Bruce Lee’s grave for almost 30 years. 

John Little: Contribution to the art: With his excellent series of biographical books on Bruce Lee you get a unique insight to the man behind the worlds most famous martial artist and style.

Linda Lee: Contribution to the art: Since the passing of the Master, Linda Lee has been the instrumental in keeping the legend of Bruce Lee in the forefront.