Tim Tackett

Timothy Harlan Tackett (February 21, 1941 – October 23, 2025) was an American martial arts instructor and author from Redlands, California, who ran a non-profit group dedicated to preserving Bruce Lee's art of Jeet Kune Do.

Life and career Tackett began training in the martial arts when he was stationed in Taiwan in 1962 while serving in the United States Air Force. On the recommendation of a friend, he began studying martial arts intensively. During his 3 years in Taiwan he learned two types of xingyiquan, tai chi, Northern and Southern Shaolin, White Crane, and Monkey style kung fu. After his discharge from the Air Force in 1966, he opened a Gung Fu school in Redlands, California while attending the University of California, Riverside.

In 1973 he was given a senior instructor's rank by Dan Inosanto and was permitted to teach Jeet Kune Do to a small group of students.

Tackett died in his sleep on October 23, 2025, at the age of 84.

Publications "Chinatown Jeet Kune Do: Essential Elements of Bruce Lee's Martial Art" by Tim Tackett, Bob Bremer "Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do: The Textbook" by Chris Kent, Tim Tackett "Jeet Kune Do Kickboxing" by Chris Kent, Tim Tackett "Jeet Kune Do" by Larry Hartsell, Tim Tackett "Jeet Kune Do: Counterattack Grappling Counters and Reversals" by Larry Hartsell, Tim Tackett "Hsing-i kung-fu" by Tim Tackett "Hsing-i Kung-fu: Volume II, Combat" by Tim Tackett