Tim Tackett
Encyclopedia
Tim Tackett is a martial arts
instructor and author from Redlands, California
who runs a non-profit group dedicated to preserving Bruce Lee
's art of Jeet Kune Do
.
in 1962 while serving in the United States Air Force
. On the recommendation of a friend, he began studying martial arts intensively. During his 3 years in Taiwan he learned two types of Hsing-i, T'ai chi, Northern and Southern Shaolin, White Crane
, and Monkey style kung fu. After his discharge from the Air Force in 1966, he opened a Gung Fu school in Redlands, California while attending the University of California, Riverside
.
Tackett saw Bruce Lee demonstrate Jeet Kune Do in 1967 at Ed Parker
's tournament in Long Beach, California
. Busy with college and supporting a family he closed his Gung Fu school and focused on his education. Soon after receiving his M.F.A. in 1970 he began a career as a high school drama
teacher (he is now retired) from Montclair High School
then Etiwanda High School
. Along with his first student Bob Chapman, he visited Dan Inosanto
's backyard Jeet Kune Do school on the recommendation of Dan Lee. At that time the class consisted of about 10 students including Bob Bremer, Dan Lee, Richard Bustillo
, Pete Jacobs and Jerry Poteet
.
In 1973 he was given a senior instructor's rank by Dan Inosanto and was permitted to teach Jeet Kune Do to a small group of students. Having no desire to teach JKD publicly, he moved his most senior group of students to his garage in Redlands, California where he continues to hold classes every Wednesday night. Beginning around 1988, Tackett and Larry Hartsell
taught Jeet Kune Do at Vic Payne’s Great Smokey Mountain Martial Arts Camp every summer of its existence and has taught courses throughout the United States and in Europe. He is also known for applying martial arts principles to football; he has worked with the Dallas Cowboys
and San Francisco 49ers
in this regard.
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
instructor and author from Redlands, California
Redlands, California
Redlands is a city in San Bernardino County, California, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 68,747, up from 63,591 at the 2000 census. The city is located east of downtown San Bernardino.- History :...
who runs a non-profit group dedicated to preserving Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee was a Chinese American, Hong Kong actor, martial arts instructor, philosopher, film director, film producer, screenwriter, and founder of the Jeet Kune Do martial arts movement...
's art of Jeet Kune Do
Jeet Kune Do
Jeet Kune Do is a hybrid martial arts system and life philosophy founded by martial artist Bruce Lee with direct, non classical and straightforward movements. Due to the way his style works they believe in minimal movement with maximum effect and extreme speed. The system works on the use of...
.
Martial arts history
Tackett began training in the martial arts when he was stationed in TaiwanTaiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
in 1962 while serving in the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
. On the recommendation of a friend, he began studying martial arts intensively. During his 3 years in Taiwan he learned two types of Hsing-i, T'ai chi, Northern and Southern Shaolin, White Crane
White Crane
White Crane may refer to:*Siberian Crane, a nearly all snowy white birds in Gruidae family*White Crane - Martial arts :*Fujian White Crane, a Southern Chinese martial art*Tibetan White Crane...
, and Monkey style kung fu. After his discharge from the Air Force in 1966, he opened a Gung Fu school in Redlands, California while attending the University of California, Riverside
University of California, Riverside
The University of California, Riverside, commonly known as UCR or UC Riverside, is a public research university and one of the ten general campuses of the University of California system. UCR is consistently ranked as one of the most ethnically and economically diverse universities in the United...
.
Tackett saw Bruce Lee demonstrate Jeet Kune Do in 1967 at Ed Parker
Ed Parker
Edmund Kealoha "Ed" Parker was an American martial artist, promoter, teacher, and author.-Life:Parker was born in Hawaii, and raised a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He began his training in the martial arts at a young age in judo and later boxing...
's tournament in Long Beach, California
Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
. Busy with college and supporting a family he closed his Gung Fu school and focused on his education. Soon after receiving his M.F.A. in 1970 he began a career as a high school drama
Drama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
teacher (he is now retired) from Montclair High School
Montclair High School (California)
Montclair High School is a public secondary school in Montclair, California. It is one of the eleven schools of the Chaffey Joint Union High School District.-History:...
then Etiwanda High School
Etiwanda High School
Etiwanda High School is a public secondary school in Rancho Cucamonga, California. It is one of the eleven schools of the Chaffey Joint Union High School District.-History:Etiwanda High School is one of the oldest schools in the district...
. Along with his first student Bob Chapman, he visited Dan Inosanto
Dan Inosanto
Daniel Arca Inosanto is a Filipino-American martial arts instructor from California who is best known as a student of the late Bruce Lee and authority on Jeet Kune Do Concepts.-Martial arts:...
's backyard Jeet Kune Do school on the recommendation of Dan Lee. At that time the class consisted of about 10 students including Bob Bremer, Dan Lee, Richard Bustillo
Richard Bustillo
Richard S Bustillo is an Filipino-American martial arts instructor from Hawaii who was a student of the late Bruce Lee and an authority on Jeet Kune Do Concepts and Filipino Martial Arts.-Martial arts:...
, Pete Jacobs and Jerry Poteet
Jerry Poteet
Jerry Poteet is an American martial arts instructor, recognized for his teachings in the art of Jeet Kune Do as an original Bruce Lee student. Since his teacher’s premature passing, Jerry has stood firm, refusing to water down the art that had such an enormous impact in his life...
.
In 1973 he was given a senior instructor's rank by Dan Inosanto and was permitted to teach Jeet Kune Do to a small group of students. Having no desire to teach JKD publicly, he moved his most senior group of students to his garage in Redlands, California where he continues to hold classes every Wednesday night. Beginning around 1988, Tackett and Larry Hartsell
Larry Hartsell
Larry Hartsell was a martial arts teacher and author, best known for his involvement with Bruce Lee's Jeet Kune Do.- Biography :...
taught Jeet Kune Do at Vic Payne’s Great Smokey Mountain Martial Arts Camp every summer of its existence and has taught courses throughout the United States and in Europe. He is also known for applying martial arts principles to football; he has worked with the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
and San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
in this regard.
Publications
- "Chinatown Jeet Kune Do: Essential Elements of Bruce Lee's Martial Art" by Tim Tackett, Bob Bremer ISBN 0897501632
- "Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do: The Textbook" by Chris Kent, Tim Tackett ISBN 0865681317
- "Jeet Kune Do Kickboxing" by Chris Kent, Tim Tackett ISBN 0865681201
- "Jeet Kune Do" by Larry Hartsell, Tim Tackett ISBN 0865680515
- "Jeet Kune Do: Counterattack Grappling Counters and Reversals" by Larry Hartsell, Tim Tackett ISBN 0865680817
- "Hsing-i kung-fu" by Tim Tackett ISBN 0897500849
- "Hsing-i Kung-fu: Volume II, Combat" by Tim Tackett