Jerry Poteet (November 29, 1936 – January 15, 2012) was an American martial arts instructor, recognized for his teachings in the art of Jeet Kune Do as an original Bruce Lee student.[3][4]
Poteet began his martial arts career in Kenpo, and became a brown belt under the Kenpo instructor Ed Parker.[5][6] Poteet also trained the Dallas Cowboys football team and bodyguards in Jeet Kune Do, and choreograph the fight scenes of several films.[citation needed]
Poteet credited his teacher, Bruce Lee, with giving him the tools to survive, "the fight of my life", when he was compelled to undergo a liver transplant in 1995. Until his death, Poteet taught Jeet Kune Do to the next generation of students and instructors. He taught martial arts for over 40 years.[citation needed]
The last years of Poteet's life were dedicated to preserving and refining the legacy he received from his instructor, Bruce Lee.[citation needed]
He died on January 15, 2012.[9] Today, Poteet's legacy is being kept alive by protege Sifu Fran Poteet Joseph through the Jerry Poteet Jeet Kune Do Association.[10]
^Rafiq (2020); "One of the few original Bruce Lee students who refused to water down the original teachings, training methods and fighting methods of jeet kune do was Jerry Poteet.[...]Poteet was one of a handful of students who had the privilege of training at Bruce's house in addition to attending formal classes.
^Rafiq (2020); "Like most of Bruce's Los Angeles Chinatown disciples, Poteet made a switch from Ed Parker's kenpo school when Bruce opened his third and final branch of Jun Fan Gung Fu Institute.
^Poteet, Jerry (2004). "Jeet Kune Do Secrets". Black Belt Magazine (July 2004). p. 108. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
^Fogan, Sara (2004). "Recreating Bruce". Black Belt Magazine (July 2004). p. 110. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
^Rafiq (2020); [Poteet] went on to help choreograph fight scenes for Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story."
