Jerry Poteet
| Jerry Poteet | |
|---|---|
| Born |
November 29, 1936 United States |
| Died |
January 15, 2012 (aged 75) United States |
| Style | Jeet Kune Do |
| Teacher(s) | Bruce Lee Stan Lee Lawson |
| Notable students | Jason Scott Lee,[1] Michael Worth |
Jerry Poteet (November 29, 1936 – January 15, 2012) was an American martial arts instructor, recognized for his teachings in the art of Jeet Kune Do as an original Bruce Lee student.
Biography
Jerry Poteet was known by many as "the conscience of Jeet Kune Do." After the death of his teacher, Jerry stood firm, refusing to water down the art that had such an enormous impact in his life. In fact, Jerry credited his teacher, Bruce Lee, with giving him the tools to survive, "the fight of my life", when he was compelled to undergo a liver transplant in 1995. Until his death, Jerry taught Jeet Kune Do to the next generation of students and instructors, who will keep the flame alive. Sifu Poteet taught martial arts for over 40 years. Like many young men in the 1960s, Jerry began his martial arts career in Kenpo, and became a black belt under renowned Kenpo Instructor Ed Parker. Poteet was also selected to be in a "closed door" group of five students. In the years since, Jerry 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.
His proudest achievement was that he was chosen as the person best able to train the actor who would portray his teacher, Bruce Lee, in Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story. Over the years, Jerry refined a teaching method that, like the art of Jeet Kune Do itself, strips away the unessentials. It was this method he used to train actor Jason Scott Lee for the role. For Sifu Poteet, it was his way of giving something back to his teacher, "Bruce, for all he gave me."
Some of Jerry's notable students were Glenn Danzig, Jason Scott Lee, Michael Worth and Kevin Sorbo. In addition to choreographing Jason Scott Lee's key fight scenes in Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story, Jerry worked with him on Soldier and Timecop 2: The Berlin Decision.
The last years of Sifu Poteet's life was dedicated to preserving and refining the precious legacy he received from his Instructor, Bruce Lee. His students are noted for amazing skills, all attributable to Jerry's unique teaching method and curriculum.
He died on January 15, 2012.[2] Today, Poteet's legacy is being kept alive by protege Sifu Fran Poteet Joseph through the Jerry Poteet Jeet Kune Do Association.[3]
References
- ↑ Chase, Donald (1992-10-25). "Re-Enter the Dragon". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-09-21.
- ↑ http://bruceleefoundation.org/index.cfm/cdid/10791/pid/10234 Bruce Lee Foundation - Jerry Poteet's Passing
- ↑ "Bruce Lee's Brief Life Being Brought to Screen". The New York Times. 1993-04-15. Retrieved 2010-12-14.