The Legacy of

By Richmond O'Connor and the Art of Professional Football Bruce Lee revitalized-and transformed forever-the world of martial art. But did the Little Dragon ever guess that in advocating using "what works" and absorbing "what is useful," he would revolutionize a long· cherished American sport-professional football???

or weeks the sportswriters had other members of the JKD inner circle In 197 6, Ward was selected as the condi­ balleyhooed the game as the began to prepare once more for their state­ tioning coach for the Dallas Cowboys. He F "greatest Super Bowl match-up of-the-martial-arts football training seminars. quickly introduced the principles of JKO to of all time." The contest pitted the two players Larry Cole, Cliff Harris, and Charlie undeniably superior teams of the National The JKD-Pro Football Connection Walters. The players were fascinated; the and American Football Conferences. It was "First of all, none of this would have been coaches intrigued. a game that was expected to shatter Super possible without Bruce Lee," Tim Tackett Thus it was in 1976 that the JKD/pro Bowl records, stun audiences with its explo­ Sr. says of the JKD football program. football connection was forged: Robert sive display of offensive power, and thrill (Tackett Jr. is also a regular teacher in the Bustillo, Jerry Poteet, and ­ millions as the seasoned and brilliant Joe training sessions.) "Bruce gave us the prac­ Bruce Lee's JKD cadre-visited the Cow­ Montana faced off against the meteoric ticality, the problem-solving that put it all boys' training camp at Lutheran genius of rooky quarterback Dan Marino. together. His great achievement as a teacher College in Thousand Oaks, California. The This Super Bowl, it was argued, would was to give the student the tools and the seminars and JKD training were an unquali­ change the face of professional football. motivation-and trust the student to find his fied success. The Cowboys, one of the finest When the dust had cleared, the sports­ own way. That gift of questioning-examin­ professional football teams in the history of writers had been left in the lurch. With ing things, exploring new approaches-was the sport, were finnly convinced of the supreme confidence, the San Francisco a gift beyond value. utility of in training. 49ers blasted the Miami Dolphins out of "Then there are the men in professional The following year Jerry Poteet developed Palo Alto's Stanford University Stadium. football," Tackett continues. "Men like Bob specific JKD principles for football applica­ And Marino, the boy genius who has electri­ Ward and Randy White. From Bruce came tion. From 1978 until the present, JKD fied football fans while shattering nearly inspiration, from Dan Inosanto came the personnel have traveled to the Cowboys' every passing record in the book, was left practical foundation, and from men like Bob summer camp to work with the players. Tim frustrated by a perceptive, hard hitting 49er Ward came the opportunity to demonstrate Tackett Jr., for example, worked with Randy defense. the universal practicality and worth ofJKD." White. And from Poteet's original JKD That day left Tim Tackett and Larry The connection between JKD and foot­ principles, new pass rushing techniques Hartsell feeling extremely satisfied. "I ball has its earliest roots in the mid-'50s. were devised. definitely saw a few techniques that we'd Dan Inosanto, later Bruce Lee's closest The JKD-Dallas Cowboys relation in­ taught them being used," Tackett, a certified disciple, played football at Whitworth Col­ tensified In 1981, Bustillo and Inosanto JKD instructor and a student of Bruce lege in Spokane, Washington. Despite his journeyed to the summer camp to introduce Lee's, said with a satisfied gleam in his eye. short stature, Inosanto was the leading the players to the new directions JKD had Pro football-it's the latest arena for jeet ground gainer for his team. He quickly came taken since Lee's death. The players were !rune do. And for the San Francisco 49ers, to the attention of a coach named Bob instructed in the Filipino art of kali, with defensive skills that day were in part a Ward. Bustillo and Inosanto demonstrating and supreme test of" absorbing what is useful" - The matter lay until 1971. Inosanto had teaching sinawal~ two-stick kali tactics to a new training regimen for defensive linemen of course gone on to become a major force in develop the players' coordination and foot­ that concentrated on hubda drills, chi sao martial arts, having first studied kenpo with work. In 1982, the JKD team introduced exercises, and the advanced slipping and and then JKD under the close the cowboys to wing chun practitioner fighting principles of the Little Dragon' sjeet tutelage of Bruce Lee. Inosanto was also a Frances Fong. Fong demonstrated the use !rune do. superb master of Filipino martial art. More­ of wing chun energy principles and exercises The 49ers weren't the only-nor the over, Inosanto has always retained the such as chi sao, the famed "sticking hands" first-team in professional football to em­ qualities that first brought him to Bruce of Bruce Lee's foundation art. At this point ploy martial arts training. The Dallas Cow­ Lee's attention: an open-mind and a thirst the Cowboys were alone in incorporating boys, who suffered a disappointing season for martial arts knowledge that knew no martial arts into their regular program. Then due to injuries, internal turmoil, and the bounds. Reenter Bob Ward, now the track came another breakthrough-1983. ever-present question of who would be coach with the California State University That year in the Pro Bowl, the defensive quarterback this week, were pioneers in at Fullerton. Ward began to study martial line coach was Bill McPherson of the San using such training for their defensive line. arts with Inosanto in Inosanto's backyard­ Francisco 49ers. "He asked his all pro And as training geared up this summer, Tim an association that stretched from 1971 players to demonstrate their two favorite Tackett, Larry Hartsell, Dan Inosanto and until 1976. techniques," Tackett Sr. recalls. "Randy 63 1

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ar WC ch 1 of a unde and, a gru Bow sive milli1 Mon geniu This chan1 WI write: sup re 49ers Palo And! tied f every frustr; de fen: Thi Harts· defini1 taught JKD Lee's, Pro kune c defens supren anew I that cc exercii fightin1 kune d The first-t ploym boys,' due to ever-pr quarter using s1 And as Tacket1 JeetKuneDo

Combat JKD 1 2 1

Al the attacker (left) moves In (1), the defender cheeks the attacker's left arm with his right and elrelea tbe attacker's right arm with his left (l). DeCender now maintains the cheek while executing a left pak sao slapping block to ride down the attacker's right arm (3). The defender 1hlfts hl1 rlpt arm over to seize the attacker's rlpt elbow, jerking him forward and off­ balanee (4). The defender now slams a palm heel strike to the esposed kidney (5).

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Footboll llpplic:ation 1 2 1 The JKD tactic above Is easily adapted to a football situation: player black (right) agaliJ use1 JKD trapping tactics to off balance his opponent, securing the elbow and shifting outside (l-3). ButCrom here, black now sets (4) and pushe1 off Crom his opponent (5). This Crees tbe player to pursue other targets or opportunity-like the opposing quarterback.

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White demonstrated his pass rushing hc­ of '84, "The Tacketts did an amazing job. of variations off it-has long been a JKD him from tics-and they were JKD based move­ They showed us a wealth of pass rushing trademark. And Tim Tackett Sr. has no line." ments." McPherson was intrigued, and in techniques that really worked. Their tech­ doubt that that's one ofthe star attractions of As Tai 1984 JKD men like Tackett and Hartsell niques were quite innovative-I showed the JKD-based training programs. taliprinc were working with the Dallas Cowboys and them one of our pass rushing tactics, and "Defensive linemen," he explains care­ coming u1 the 49ers-and it all paid off in the Super they were able to come up with six variations fully, "have at the most four or five tech­ problems. Bowl (not that the entire success of the off that technique." niques for pass-rushing moves. If the line­ team for team's defensive line can be laid at JKD's man can learn four or five variations to each process. r door). The JKD Approach to Football move, then the offensive lineman must for genen As Bill McPherson explained after the Multiplicity-being able to take one defend against a range of20-25 techniques. develop ti Tackett's three day seminar in the summer movement or technique and weave a chain This complicates his job-and can prevent blockingtA 64 1 2 CombatJKD

Opponents square olf(l); defender left In black shirt. The attacker executes a rlpt hook (2) which the defender counten whh a pak sao slap block to the shoulder (3). The pak 180 converts Into a lap 180 lf8b to the elbow, which the defender reinforce• with a rlpt elbow strike to the arm above the elbow (4), which loosens the arm musclea. Defender 1hlfta his grab, shoots his left acro11 attacker's chest, and locks out the enemy's elbow (5).

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1 2 l'ootbaU Application In the modified football application, the black player (left) meets the lineman's rush with a modified, double pak sao type trap (l-2) and shifts to the outside (3), thouah the elbow should not work qalnst the opponent's arm. With a grip on the opponent's arm secure, black brlnas his rlaht wrist up behind the opponent's neck (4) and Jerks the opponent forward, freelna black (5).

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aJKD him from responding in time to the defensive JKD tactics effectively against the LA Now, it's true that you can't use JKD tactics has no lin e. " Raiders in the opening game of the '84 directly, but all of the principles of the art tionsof As Tackett sees it, "By using JKD and season.) are easily applied to slipping past an oppo­ kali principles, we are able to problem solve, Last summer, Tackett and company, in nent and popping free to carry out the LS care­ coming up with specific answers to specific seminars for both the Cowboys and the assignment-sack the quarterback or sew •e tech­ problems. And after you have worked with a 49ers, stressed what Tackett described as, up the run. b.e line­ team for a period of time, you refine the "new pass rushing techniques and power "One really beneficial exercise we used toeach process. Not only are you problem solving methods. We introduced new ways of using this past summer was the kali hubda energy n must for general defensive tactics, but you can power. Instead of the old method of using exchange drill. You see, it's not just impor­ miques. develop tactics against specific opponents' pushing power, we stressed snapping power tant that pass rushers have enough tech­ prevent blocking techniques." (The 49ers used their and footwork to off balance the opponent niques so that offensive linemen can read 65 Make it Official! Jeet Kune Do REGISTER the energy of the defensive line, it's also and exercises down. The one week period YOUR HANDS important that the defensive lineman flow let them get the hang of it. The 49ers camp with the energy given him by the offensive expressed the same sentiment. Of course, AS DEADLY lineman. The objective is to get free to rush with the Cowboys, you had individuals like the passer, whether one can off balance the Randy White who were already familiar WEAPONS. offensive lineman immediately, or whether with the basis of the program." one takes his energy, neutralizes it, ties him As Larry Hartsell pointed out, "I could up-and the lineman pops free." see a real growth in the players' utilizing Another area concentrated upon the past basic concepts of footwork, balance, explo­ two summers has been footwork. "Dan sion and coordination. They were getting (lnosanto) brought in Chai Sirisute, the the most out of their forward thrust." Thai boxer. They were developing the play­ Those sentiments were echoed by Bill ers' footwork. And Chai had them kicking McPherson, the 49ers defensive line coach. How often have you heard black belts Thai knee pads to develop their lower leg "Three days were definitely not enough. on lV and in the movies say "I'm warn­ strength. We definitely plan to have them all back." ing you, my hands are registered as "In fact," Tackett laughs, "Randy White And for the final word on JKD's impor­ deadly weapons!" actually went 14 three minute rounds. And tance to pro football, Bob Ward, the Dallas Now you can registeryour hands and become a card-carrying martial artist then, of course, there were elbow and knee Cowboys conditioning coach, says flatly: with proof that you are the possessor of tactics from Thai boxing-how to develop "A lot of martial arts offer direct benefits to "deadly hands." those techniques, modify them, and use a professional football team. Not only does Send us your name, rank and style them to slip out of the opponent's grasp." this involve speed, stamina, power, efficien­ and you will receive an official 1.0 . card (It's said that Dallas Cowboys head coach, cy, and explosive footwork-all critical with your personal registration number. the fabled Tom Landry, took one look at qualities in football-but it involves the Plus ... a handsome certificate suit­ Chai's Thai boxing techniques and quipped modification of specific martial arts tech- able for framing. that while he didn't know if it helped on the Only $9.95 plus $1.50 shipping football field, it should work great in a bar.) Send check or money order to: In addition to teaching the defensive Cowboys conditioning NATIONAL MARTIAL ARTIST HAND linemen how to neutralize their opponents, coach Bob Ward believes REGISTRATION Tackett, Hartsell, lnosanto and the others also teach the qffensive line how to neutralize that all pro teams will have P.O. BOX 2557. such defensive tactics. "ff you're facing an "energy" coaches ala the SPRINGFIEW. OH t5501 opponent who knows the same sort ofJKD­ related tactics, then you know what to JKD seminar team within THROWING STAR expect and how to counter them," Tackett five years. INSTRUCTION MANUAL explains. The Cowboys' week-long training (practice star Included) program also involved Gary Hogeboom, niques for football tactics as well. In the focusing on how the quarterback could use future-within five years I believe-teams bobbing and weaving to avoid the clutches will have fulltime energy coaches ala Jerry of rushing linemen. Unfortunately for Poteet or Larry Hartsell and Tim Tackett * G•l,m * ~aooeo! Hogeboom, he was blindsided from all They've introduced a new and exciting * . directions during the season-in part the aspect to professional football." Cowboys' confused quarterback situation Tackett concludes, "As I said earlier, we * Basic and Advanced throwing techniques! helped doom them to a mediocre season. owe it all first to Bruce, who gave us the T088ing, whipping, slashing and snapping Of the Cowboys participating in the skills to analyze and problem solve. Dan methods explained and illustrated. AND MUCH MOREii JKD/kali/Thai boxing training in 1984, Inosanto gave us the practical foundation. Send $3.99 plus $1 .00 p.& h. to: was Jim Cooper, Brian Baldinger, Kurt But it was men with open attitudes like Bob THROWING STARS Peterson and Chris Schultz, among others Ward and Bill McPherson who gave us a Box 543 Dept. F from the Cowboys' offensive line. Veteran chance." American Fork, Utah 84003 OR SEND FOR FREE CATALOG! linebackers Randy White, Ed "Too Tall" Tackett reflects back to the threCHiay Incl. $1.00 postage and handling Jones and Jim Jeffcoat were among the training seminar he hosted with the 49ers. defensive players. "The open attitude of defensive line coach The 49ers were restricted to a threCHiay Bill McPherson and his assistant Tommy Top: Tb training seminar. Lawrence Pillers, Dwaine Hart, plus the interest showed by all of the Dallas C Board, MannyTuiasosopu andJim Stuckey players, made that a great experience. It From lei all concentrated on hand and speed develop­ also taught me a lot-that working with the Cowboy SHOTO KAN tor lam ment, upper and lower body coordination, players on specific problems showed both KATA condltlo; VIDEOCASSETTES and special tactics to pull-and shed­ me and my son that we could use JKD and lnatructo MA·101 BASIC AND ADVANCED (llO MINUTES) offensive linemen. All this would have been kali principles to come up with solutions to HEIAN (1·51 • TEKKI (1 ·3) Paul Vu1 B ASSAI DAI • KANKU DAI apparent to Dan Marino in the Super Bowl, specific problems that were outside of the gives pol MA-102 ADVAHCED (llO MINUTES) if he hadn't been too busy avoiding the direct sphere of martial art." BASSAI SHO • NIJUSHIHO • HANGElSU • GANKAKU the San I SOCHIN e JITIE • JION • EMPI • UNSU pressure the 49er defense was putting on his He laughs for a second. "I'm still a JKD tralnlq $59.95 EACH (VHS~AI line-and on him. man-continually in the process oflearning, Wbltepri u.s Pos._ Paod . Send Money Oroer tor Fasl Del•Y91Y learning, learning." Ing; Tim Pertonal Checl