REMEMBERING SIFU LARRY HARTSELL

Rest In Peace My Friend

 

It is incredible to believe that today, the 2oth August 2014, marks seven years since the sad passing of my friend and teacher, Sifu Larry Hartsell.

Sifu Larry was widely regarded as the premier fighter of those fortunate to be classed as original students of Bruce Lee. It is well known to the students of Bruce Lee’s Jeet Kune Do that Bruce Lee broke combat down into the four ranges of Kicking, Boxing, Trapping and Grappling. The serious students of Jeet Kune Do are also aware that the development of the grappling range techniques in this system were assigned to Larry Hartsell. 

Larry Hartsell authored several books on the subject of Jeet Kune Do Grappling. “Entering to Trapping To Grappling and takedowns, Counters, and Reversals.” In addition he nine internationally distributed videotapes on the grappling arts. These books, videos and his skill in the grappling arts have resulted in Larry Hartsell being listed in the “Who’s Who in Martial Arts” and cover shots with numerous feature articles in Inside Kung Fu, Black Belt, Martial Arts Training, Inside Karate, Australasian Fighting Arts, and many others.

Larry Hartsell’s skill in hand-to-hand combat, his weapons training and his development of techniques in the grappling range led to a wide and varied range of professional experiences. With his training under Bruce Lee, his degree in criminology, his ten years of law enforcement experience, and his training under Dan Inosanto, Larry Hartsell was in wide demand as a professional bodyguard for celebrities like Mr. T of the A-Team fame, and as a trainer for both the Dallas Cowboys and the San Francisco 49ers.

Sifu Larry conducted two outstanding seminars in 2004 at my former school, the Tang Lung Combat Academy, and I felt immensely proud and privileged to be his seminar assistant in Los Angeles 2005 at Black Belt magazine’s first Festival of Martial Arts.

Sifu Larry Hartsell & Sifu George Fitzgerald

Sifu Larry Hartsell & Sifu George Fitzgerald

Not only was he a legendary Martial Artist, but also a genuinely warm-hearted person who is missed by countless people all over the world. Sifu Larry, God Bless You.

[youtube]http://youtu.be/1AKcTQvpWgs[/youtube]

 

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WHO WAS THE FITTEST MAN EVER?

Men’s Fitness Magazine

100 Fittest Men Ever

 

Probably the greatest influence in my life as a Martial Artist was the legendary Bruce Lee. I started my Martial Arts journey in the same year that Bruce died, back in 1973. For those of you not of the right age to know this time, it would be hard for you to understand the Kung Fu and Bruce Lee boom of the 70’s. Of course nowadays, martial arts are to be seen in every blockbuster action movie; but back in the early 1970s and earlier, fight scenes looked very different!! It was the explosion of Kung Fu movies, spear-headed by Bruce Lee that changed the movie scene forever. It was after sneaking into one of the late night cinemas (because you had to be 18) to see my first Bruce Lee movie, Fist of Fury … that my path in life was firmly set.

So, I was very happy that in a list of the 100 Fittest Men Ever, published by Men’s Fitness magazine, Bruce Lee came in at Number Two, beaten only by Olympic swimming legend, Michael Phelps. Of course I think that Bruce should have been Numero Uno, but I guess my opinion is slightly biased! In fact, there were several other Martial Artists and boxers included in this list, such as Chuck Norris, George St. Pierre and Mohammed Ali.

Bruce Lee-ETD

 

The Martial Arts have long been recognised for their value as a means to physical fitness. Just as an example, it has been estimated that a good kickboxing workout can burn up to 8oo calories in just one hour!! Depending on which art is practised, a martial arts routine works the body for flexibility, strength, aerobic and anaerobic conditioning, speed, endurance, balance and just about every other attribute required to reach a great level of fitness. In fact, if you never have to use Martial Arts as a defence against physical assault, you are still practising the art of self-defence against all kinds of ailments. Prevention is after-all, always better than cure.

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