There have been some trouble and discussion about my involvement with a group called Larry Hartsell Original Instructors Group and I will use this place to offer my point of view in a statement.
During the years after Sifu Larry Hartsell’s death I was mourning about loosing him. During that time I wanted to be left alone and continue my own training. In that time the JKD Grappling Association has continued a development to preserve the art of Sifu Larry Hartsell. I didn’t wanted to join that path, so I decided to quietly drop out oft he association.
But I didn’t wanted to loose all my contacts to the people I met, trained with and had some very special memories with during the time I went to several seminars, trainings, camps, tours and holidays. So somebody created a Facbook group for us oldtimers. We used this group to talk about the teachings of Sifu Larry, to share memories and our training with him, our pictures and our videos with him. One of this group finally made a website called Larry Hartsell Original Instructor Group. It was meant to honor the memories of Sifu Larry Hartsell and his arts. It was not meant to divide the association or anything.
After the creation of the Facebook group and the webpage we were criticzed. We were named Frauds, Liars and Thieves. We are accused of stealing the name, the arts and the association. It was told that we are no instructors under Sifu Larry Hartsell and that we only trained with him. This is mainly because we didn’t renew our instructor certificate on a yearly basis.
I want to make it clear: I have three instructor certificates handed to me by Sifu Larry Hartsell. One apprentice instructor, one associate instructor and one full instructor certificate. There is no expiration date on any of them.
I am not a liar nor a thief. The aforementioned group is simply a gathering place for the old guys who are not members of the JKD Association any more or simply want to stay in touch. We don‘t sell anything. We dont charge membership fees, you can’t even become a member.
I am not stealing Sifu Larry Hartsells name, his arts or his association. I am still a humble and loyal student to him and will be forever. If you want to buy videos or DVDs, if you want to become a member of the JKD Grappling Association or an instructor in the arts of Sifu Larry Hartsell please contact the JKD Grappling Association via their webpage. They will carry on the legacy while I am still indulge myself in memories of the time with my mentor Sifu Larry Hartsell.