CYNTHIA ROTHROCK AND SKIP ELLSWORTH.
Skip says, "Cynthia is a very gracious and charming person. She has a lot of talent as a martial artist and as an actress. She has starred in many excellent Karate movies, and she is well-liked and respected by everyone in the ‘business.’ She will obviously continue to be a major movie-star for many years to come."
TAKY KIMURA, SKIP ELLSWORTH, AND ANDY KIMURA (TAKY'S SON).
Skip says, "Andy Kimura followed in his father’s foot-steps as a martial artist. Fortunately, he also followed in his father’s foot-steps regarding being a nice guy. Taky is very proud of Andy – as we all are."
JESSE GLOVER, SKIP ELLSWORTH, AND EMIL FARKAS
EMIL FARKAS is a legendary karateka who’s dojo in Beverly Hills has been home to many movie-stars. As a side-note, Emil used to be a bodyguard for the likes of Elvis Presley, and the Beattles. He is one of the very best in the business -- a real professional.
PAT STRONG, THOMAS NILSSON, AND SKIP ELLSWORTH
PAT STRONG (on the left) trained with Bruce Lee in Seattle in the early 60’s. Pat has obtained at least one black-belt in almost everything you can think of. Also, he has trained for many years in the Gracie techniques. He gives martial-art seminars throughout the world. He is a nice guy – very friendly and sociable.
THOMAS NILSSON (center) is a noted martial artist from Sweden. In addition to being a martial artist, Thomas is also a well known author. He is currently writing a book about Bruce Lee. Via e-mail, he is often in contact with Jesse Glover, Skip Ellsworth, and others in America. It appears that he will be visiting the Seattle area this year. Skip and his family are hoping that Thomas will stay at their ranch when he is in the Seattle area.
PS – Thomas and his wife have a beautiful daughter named Desiree – born on February 14, 1997. We can hardly wait to see her.
SONNY UMPAD AND DeWelle Ferguson (Chip) Ellsworth, IV, (AGE 2 1/2 -- born May 4, 1995).
Chip is almost ready for some "knife-fighting" and/or "stick-fighting" lessons, uncle Sonny.
A TELEVISION INTERVIEWER (name unknown) AND BRUCE LEE
While going through one of his desks, Skip recently found this photograph that he took of Bruce Lee. This photo was taken in 1959 or 1960, while Bruce was being interviewed on TV by a local Seattle news commentator.
This was Bruce's first televised interview and exhibition. The students who participated with Bruce in this exhibition were Jesse Glover, Skip Ellsworth, Jim DeMile, LeRoy Garcia, Taky Kimura, and Tak Miyabe).
Skip took the photo, but he can't remember which TV station was involved.
SKIP ELLSWORTH AND JO GIAMETTA.
Jo is a very well-known author -- as well as a gracious and charming lady. When Skip last saw her, she was writing a book about Bruce Lee. She visited Skip's ranch, and spent a lot of time interviewing him -- and also interviewing some of the other original students.
Jo and her husband are both very nice people. We heard a rumor that they recently had a baby. If so... congratulations mom and dad !!! Skip hopes that Jo and her family will stop for another visit when they return to the Seattle area. As they say in Italy, "Mi casa es su casa."
MISCELLANEOUS.
We will soon add more photos of Bruce Lee to this website -- and also more photos of Bruce's original students in America. Skip says that a photo of Ed Hart will be added as soon as possible.
ED HART AND SKIP ELLSWORTH
The above photo of Ed Hart was taken near the front door of Skip's house.
Ed was Bruce's second student in America.
Prior to becoming involved in the martial arts, Ed was a well-known street-fighter in Chicago. He was one of the baddest dudes around. He could take a punch exceptionally well, and he could hit like a 12 gauge shotgun.
By 1960, Ed had "reformed" -- and he had already become a hard-core martial artist (the Seattle Judo Dojo, etc.) -- at a time when this was relatively unusual.
Ed and Jesse were room-mates in a "tenement" duplex on the southeast corner of 7th and James, in Seattle (the site is now in the middle of one of the northbound lanes of Interstate 5). Their apartment was almost like a club house, in the sense that Bruce, Skip, and the rest of the guys were always welcome to stop by -- practice Gung Fu -- drink tea -- discuss martial arts, etc.
Ed was a very good friend to Bruce, and he had a large influence on Bruce's life.
Ed is taught Kung Fu in the Seattle area for many years.
We are sorry to say that Ed passed away on December 3, 1998.
MUCH more will be added about Ed here in the very near future.]
If you are acquainted with Skip (if you are a friend, or a former student, etc.) then you might be interested in reading the LETTER he just sent to me from Southeast Asia, which explains what he has been doing recently.