Jerry Poteet's Jeet Kune Do

Jerry Poteet's Jeet Kune Do www.jpjkd.com - Jerry Poteet's Jeet Kune Do™ led by Sifu Fran Joseph, is an association of Sifu Je

In the late 60's, Sifu Jerry Poteet 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.

01/18/2026
01/17/2026

Why Pak Sao, slip or parry when you can hit! JPJKD Instructor Todd Garrison demonstrates Bruce Lee’s “cutting in” drills! Our new online instructor training is coming soon!

Today we honor the memory of Jerry Poteet, a man whose dedication, precision, and spirit helped carry the flame of Jeet ...
01/15/2026

Today we honor the memory of Jerry Poteet, a man whose dedication, precision, and spirit helped carry the flame of Jeet Kune Do into new generations. His influence continues to shape students, teachers, and communities around the world.

As we reflect on his life and the path he walked, the words of his teacher, Bruce Lee, feel especially fitting:

“The key to immortality is first living a life worth remembering.”

Jerry lived such a life. Through his teaching, his integrity, and his unwavering commitment to the art, he remains with us not only in memory, but in every lesson passed forward. We are honored to continue the journey he helped illuminate.

01/01/2026

New online Instructor training coming soon!

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year! May 2026 be an extraordinary one!
01/01/2026

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year! May 2026 be an extraordinary one!

DRAGON’S DEN – DANIEL LEE In the mid 80’s, I had the pleasure of meeting one of Jerry Poteet’s oldest and dearest friend...
12/21/2025

DRAGON’S DEN – DANIEL LEE

In the mid 80’s, I had the pleasure of meeting one of Jerry Poteet’s oldest and dearest friends, Daniel Lee. He was a great friend to Jerry and myself for the next 30 years. One of their deepest bonds was the undying appreciation and loyalty to their teacher, Bruce Lee. Along with other Bruce Lee students, Ted Wong and Steve Golden, neither Dan nor Jerry wished to capitalize on their teacher’s fame, but rather vowed to keep the art of Jeet Kune Do, as they learned it first hand, true to the principles of the Maestro.

Dan Lee was the oldest of the private training group, and always referred to Sigung Lee as “The Young Dragon.” No slouch in the martial arts department himself, Dan Lee was middleweight boxing champion of Asia, a black sash in Shuai Jiao, a black belt in Ju Jitsu and Kenpo, and a Tai Chi master BEFORE he met his famous teacher. It speaks volumes that he considered Bruce Lee his Sifu until his death. He and Jerry used to sit in the living room and regal me with stories from their training sessions with Master Lee. But it is not those stories that I recall today.

Dan Lee was one of the first recipients of a triple bypass many decades ago. His diet was severely restricted after the cardiac surgery. Jerry, one of the first of a liver transplant, became a lifelong diabetic. One weekend Dan and Steve Golden were visiting us, and like naughty kids, they all snuck off to the ice cream parlor. I will never forget the sight of the three of them sitting there diving into hot fudge sundaes, and fighting over whipped cream! Dan and Jerry were “cheating” on their diets, and wore expressions of sheer bliss on their faces. As for Steve, he just encouraged them to eat more! Since we were not in the best neighborhood, I remember thinking “I wonder what would happen if someone tries to start trouble with these three middle aged men, giggling and hunched over their ice cream”?

After I lost Jerry, Dan Lee often called to check on my well being. Along with Steve, he encouraged me to keep Jerry’s JKD legacy going, and to take care of myself. On one particularly rough day of fighting through my grief, he shared a personal story. He confessed to me that after the death of his wife, Charmaine, he had slept in his car at the school parking lot in order to avoid going home to an empty house. I was relieved, since I had been doing the same, and sleeping in my car at the beach. We shared other stories about loss and recovery, and he told me “chin up, don’t succumb to sorrow.”

The true embodiment of Yin/Yang, Daniel Lee was an explosive powerhouse when he moved and sparred, but he was also the epitome of stillness in repose. Professor and scholar, philosopher and martial artist, scientist and Taoist. Loyal to his friends, his teacher, his family, Daniel Lee exemplified the living Tao.

Now, he reunites with Jerry and his teacher in the Dragon’s Den. I can only hope they have ice cream and root beer.
-Sifu Fran Poteet-Joseph

12/12/2025

Congrats to Rob Toney on his promotion to Full Instructor in JPJKD! Watch him in action with a whipping back fist and powerful cross on the mitts! He is located in Reno, Nevada, and can be reached at; eternaljeetkunedo@gmail.com.

Happy Birthday to the legendary Jerry Poteet! One of Bruce Lee’s most dedicated students and a true pioneer of Jeet Kune...
11/29/2025

Happy Birthday to the legendary Jerry Poteet! One of Bruce Lee’s most dedicated students and a true pioneer of Jeet Kune Do.

Jerry carried Sijo Bruce’s teachings with unmatched integrity, passion, and precision. His commitment to preserving the essence of JKD continues to inspire martial artists around the world. His influence lives on, not just in technique, but in mindset, constant growth, simplicity, honesty, and the courage to express oneself fully.

Today we celebrate his life, his legacy, and the countless lives he touched through his teaching. Happy Birthday, Sifu Jerry Poteet! Your spirit and teachings will forever guide us.

Shop our Black Friday Sale! Save 20% off your entire purchase today through Cyber Monday December 1, 2025. Visit; www.bu...
11/28/2025

Shop our Black Friday Sale! Save 20% off your entire purchase today through Cyber Monday December 1, 2025. Visit; www.buyjpjkd.com and enter promo code: JPJKDBF20 at checkout to get your savings!

Today we celebrate the legacy of a man who reshaped martial arts, philosophy, and cinema. Bruce Lee would have turned 85...
11/27/2025

Today we celebrate the legacy of a man who reshaped martial arts, philosophy, and cinema. Bruce Lee would have turned 85 this year, and his influence continues to inspire millions around the world in martial arts classes, on the screen, and in the way we live our lives.

How fitting that his birthday falls on Thanksgiving today. There’s so much to be grateful for in the path he paved: the courage to express oneself honestly, the discipline to train with purpose, and the reminder to “be like water” as we navigate life’s challenges.

We are grateful for the philosophy, the art, and the endless inspiration. Happy Birthday, Sijo Bruce and Happy Thanksgiving to everyone celebrating!

JPJKD comes to PARIS! We are proud to welcome JKD INSTRUCTOR JÉRÔME HUON to our martial arts family! Jérôme made his Fre...
11/21/2025

JPJKD comes to PARIS!

We are proud to welcome JKD INSTRUCTOR JÉRÔME HUON to our martial arts family! Jérôme made his French Savate Boxing debut at the age of 9, the path that led him to become the World Champion. Today, he is one of the main international experts in this sport. His school is aptly named... Savate Evolution. He is the French Savate Federation Coach, and also trains professional MMA fighters.

Jérôme is excited to share Bruce Lee's Jeet Kune Do in the Paris, France area! Contact him at: Instagram; and Email; properf.france@gmail.com

We wish gifted actor Jason Scott Lee a very happy birthday! From the set of DRAGON: THE BRUCE LEE STORY, to The Wind & t...
11/19/2025

We wish gifted actor Jason Scott Lee a very happy birthday! From the set of DRAGON: THE BRUCE LEE STORY, to The Wind & the Reckoning, talent and friendship endures!

Address

Los Angeles, CA

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Jerry Poteet's Jeet Kune Do posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to Jerry Poteet's Jeet Kune Do:

Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn
Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share via Email
Share on WhatsApp Share on Instagram Share on Telegram

Our Story

In the late 60's, Sifu Jerry Poteet 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. Jerry Poteet’s Jeet Kune Do™ now led by Sifu Fran Joseph, is an association of Sifu Jerry Poteet’s students, certified instructors, martial artists, and friends with a passion for the martial art and philosophies of Bruce Lee’s Jeet Kune Do. Often referred to as “Keeper of the Flame” and “The Conscience of Jeet Kune Do”, Jerry Poteet spent his life living and teaching Jeet Kune Do to a new generation of students. In the late 60’s, Sifu Jerry Poteet 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. “Philosophy In Motion®”, Jerry Poteet was one of Bruce Lee’s first students, privately trained at Bruce Lee’s home and in Chinatown, Los Angeles with an small elite group.

Jerry Poteet represented a living yin yang – hard and soft. His energy and power were distinctive while his compassion and gentleness were endless. With the spirit of a philosopher and the force of unmistakable power, he not only taught Jeet Kune Do as Bruce Lee taught it to him; he shared experiences and wisdom to teach strategy, compassion, efficiency, power, self-awareness, and to live a life unfettered. Through his unique stories and creative analogies, Jerry Poteet simplified the art and life itself for each student.

While many knew of Jerry Poteet’s work through film and choreography, including “Dragon, the Bruce Lee Story”, where he and his wife Sifu Fran Poteet-Joseph trained Jason Scott Lee, his greatest gifts were to those who knew him personally.

He was many things to many people; yet always the same person sharing his energy to all he came into contact with. He was and still is to many of us – a sifu, a teacher, a friend, and an inspiration… The Gold Light. Now students can learn Bruce Lee’s Jeet Kune Do from his renowned student Jerry Poteet online! Step by step “closed door” instruction from the man Inside Kung-Fu magazine called, “ the greatest Jeet Kune Do instructor in the world.” Get authentic, from the source training, tips and information that are guaranteed to elevate your Jeet Kune Do! We are always adding new videos on exciting material! Join now at: https://www.patreon.com/jpjkd