In Memoriam

Remembering With Love – Sifu Larry Hartsell

Amy Tucci

Amy Tucci

Amy C. Tucci LAWRENCEVILLE – Amy C. Tucci, nee Race, 55, died Friday at home surrounded by her loving family. Born and raised in White Township, Warren County, she was a resident of Ewing – Lawrenceville since 1972. She attended White Township elementary school and was a graduate of Belvidere High School and Trenton State College. Amy was the co-owner/co-director of the Princeton Academy of Martial Arts which was established in 1987. She was previously employed by the State of New Jersey Department of Labor and Industry. Amy was internationally known as a Martial Arts Instructor. For many years she was one of only three women certified as a full instructor of Bruce Lee’s Art of Jeet Kune Do having been trained by Bruce Lee’s best friend Dan Inosanto. She was well trained in the Martial Arts of Thai Boxing, Filipino Kali and Indonesian Silat. Amy was an inspiration and mentor to many women not only in the physical aspects of the martial arts but the spiritual and mental aspects as well. Amy was a true artist in every sense of the word. She painted and did pastels and drawings for years and even showed her works in Germany. Throughout the years she enjoyed traveling and took many vacations in Europe. In her later years she learned how to speak German, play the cello, play the drums, and horseback riding. She enjoyed life and lived life to the fullest. She is survived by Rick Tucci; her parents Samuel R. and Jean A. Race of White Township; a brother William Race of White Township; a sister and brother-in-law Carol and John Gross of Bangor, PA; a niece Keri Race of Belvidere; and her many friends and students at Princeton Academy of Martial Arts.

Friends may call 6-9 p.m. Tuesday at The Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, 40 Vandeventer Ave., Princeton. A Memorial Service will be held 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Interment will be in Hazen Cemetery, Belvedere, at a time to be announced. Memorial contributions may be made to World Wildlife Fund at www.worldwildlife.org (888-993-9455) or Make-A-Wish Foundation at www.wish.org (866-880-1382).

TUCCI, Amy C. Of Lawrenceville. Visitation: 6-9 p.m. Tuesday at The Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, 40 Vandeventer Ave., Princeton. Memorial service: 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Interment: Hazen Cemetery, Belvedere.

Akko Nishimura

Akko Nishimura was a martial artist, women’s self defense instructor and co-founder (1993) of RUCKUS Safety Awareness based in New York City and the San Francisco Bay Area.  She was an apprentice instructor in Wing Chun under Francis Fong, and in Jun Fan Gung Fu and the Filipino Martial Arts under SiFu / Guro Dan Inosanto.

The IIMAIA REMEMBERS
Akko Nishimura
May 1964 – February 2000

Bill Gebhardt

Bill Gebhardt was a world champion martial artist and the owner and head instructor of the State College Martial Arts Academy.  Sifu Gebhardt’s death on September 17, 2002 may have halted his life, but not his legacy.  TITAN FITNESS has named its martial arts program after the man who inspired it.

At the age of 16, Bill started in the martial arts as part of Sifu Kevin Seaman’s private backyard group.  He diligently focused and developed into a professional in the fields of martial arts and business.  He was Kevin Seaman’s senior most student, and held a Full Instructor credential in both Jun Fan Gung Fu/JKD and the Filipino Martial Arts under Sifu Seaman.

Sifu Gebhardt received his instructor certification in Jun Fan Gung Fu/JKD, and instructor credential in Filipino Martial Arts in 1992 under Guro Dan Inosanto.

Competitively, Sifu Gebhardt fought in full-contact stick fighting matches on regional, national and international levels.  He placed second in his division in full-contact stick fighting at the World Championships in January 1992, which were held at the Aquino Memorial Stadium in Manila, Philippines.  As a competitive coach and trainer, he trained dozens of fighters in amateur Thai Boxing, boxing, Shoot Wrestling, and contact stick fighting.  He acted as a guiding light for students and competitors of all ages.

Bill Gebhardt was a certified instructor in Thai Boxing under Ajarn Surachai Sirisute, President and Founder of the Thai Boxing Association of the U.S.A., and served as the Pennsylvania State Representative for the TBA.

A boxing coach and instructor, Bill was certified through USA Boxing, the nation’s largest amateur governing body.  In 1993, he was voted the State College Jaycee’s Outstanding Fitness Leader of 1993-1994.  He was the proud father of a son, Jordan – his most prized accomplishment.

Bo Sayoc

With deepest respect we honor the memory of Tatang Bo Sayoc.

You can read Tatang Bo Sayoc’s tribute on the Sayoc Website: Click Here

Bobby Blanchard

Inosanto International Martial Art Instructors Association – Instructor Candidate