Larry Hartsell
Encyclopedia
Larry Hartsell was a martial arts
teacher and author, best known for his involvement with Bruce Lee
's Jeet Kune Do
.
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 obtained a degree in criminology as well as years of law enforcement experience. This, combined with his notoriety had put him in wide demand as a professional bodyguard
for celebrities (such as Mr. T
), and also as a trainer for the Dallas Cowboys
and San Francisco 49ers
. Hartsell gave self defense and combat courses to the Navy Seals and police officers through various colleges, agencies and law enforcement training programs.
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.
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....
teacher and author, best known for his involvement with 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 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...
.
Biography
Larry Hartsell began his martial arts training in KenpoKenpo
is the name of several Japanese martial arts. The word kenpō is a Japanese translation of the Chinese word "quánfǎ. This term is often informally transliterated as "kempo", as a result of applying Traditional Hepburn romanization, but failing to use a macron to indicate the long vowel...
karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
with 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...
in 1961. He earned a black belt from Parker and went on to earn a black belt in judo
Judo
is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
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
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
. 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
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:...
. 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
Grappling
Grappling refers to techniques, maneuvers, and counters applied to an opponent in order to gain a physical advantage, such as improving relative position, escaping, submitting, or injury to the opponent. Grappling is a general term that covers techniques used in many disciplines, styles and martial...
that now forms the core of the Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do Grappling system.
He obtained a degree in criminology as well as years of law enforcement experience. This, combined with his notoriety had put him in wide demand as a professional bodyguard
Bodyguard
A bodyguard is a type of security operative or government agent who protects a person—usually a famous, wealthy, or politically important figure—from assault, kidnapping, assassination, stalking, loss of confidential information, terrorist attack or other threats.Most important public figures such...
for celebrities (such as Mr. T
Mr. T
Mr. T is an American actor known for his roles as B. A. Baracus in the 1980s television series The A-Team, as boxer Clubber Lang in the 1982 film Rocky III, and for his appearances as a professional wrestler. Mr. T is known for his trademark African Mandinka warrior hairstyle, his gold jewelry,...
), and also as a trainer for 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...
. Hartsell gave self defense and combat courses to the Navy Seals and police officers through various colleges, agencies and law enforcement training programs.
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
Black Belt Magazine
Black Belt is an American magazine covering martial arts and combat sports founded in 1961 by Mitoshi Uyehara. During the early years of the publication, Uyehara was a hands-on owner and publisher...
, Martial Arts Training, Inside Karate, Australian Fighting Arts, and many others.
Publications
- Jeet Kune Do Entering to Trapping to Grappling by Larry Hartsell ISBN 0-86568-051-5
- Jeet Kune Do: Hardcore Training & Strategies Guide by Larry Hartsell & Paula Inosanto ISBN 0-9531766-6-5
- Jeet Kune Do: Conditioning and Grappling Methods by Larry Hartsell & Paula Inosanto ISBN 0-9531766-5-7
- Jeet Kune Do: Counterattack Grappling Counters and Reversals by Larry Hartsell & Tim Tackett ISBN 0-86568-081-7