Kirkland martial arts instructor organizes Bruce Lee tour exhibit

For Bruce Lee fans, Kirkland martial arts instructor Korbett Miller has organized something hard to resist.

For Bruce Lee fans, Kirkland martial arts instructor Korbett Miller has organized something hard to resist. A tour with James DeMille, an original student of the famous martial artist, at the Wing Luke Art Museum’s “Do you know Bruce Lee?” exhibit. Not only will they have the chance to ask him about his time training with Lee, but they will also be able to get signed copies of “Chinese Gung Fu: the Philosophical Art of Self-Defense,” a book by Lee which he appears in, as well as enjoy lunch at the Tai Tung restaurant, where Lee and DeMille would eat after training.

Miller, who has run Miller’s Martial Arts Academy for 18 years in Kirkland, said the tour is a great opportunity for people to learn about the famous Seattle figure from someone who knew him well.

Miller, a Michigan native, first met DeMille during a martial arts seminar in 1993. Although by then Miller was already fully immersed in the sport and had earned his black belt, he was working to obtain a business degree. Before he graduated, DeMille offered him the chance to be one of his instructors and travel with him. The offer was too good to pass up.

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Miller said he graduated on a Saturday and left for Seattle. His current career as a martial arts instructor began the Monday after.

DeMille first met Lee at Edison Technical School, now known as Seattle Central Community College, before Lee dropped out of college and moved to Oakland.

Although he died in 1974, public interest in the Hong Kong native has grown, especially in the modern era of social media. It also increased after the 1993 biopic film Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story.

“In many ways he was ahead of his time in terms of martial arts,” Miller said. “He was really kind of down on traditional martial arts. He was really the father of mixed martial arts.”

“Chinese Gung Fu: the Philosophical Art of Self-Defense” includes Lee’s reflections on martial arts while providing exercises and fighting techniques for basic Gung Fu stances, waist training, leg training and the theory of yin and yang.

“The book that Bruce Lee authored with my instructor – he was really big on it as being a means of personal growth and development,” Miller said.

Now in his 70s, DeMille still teaches martial arts, according to Miller.

The tour will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Jan. 31 at the Wing Luke Art Museum, located at 719 S King St Seattle, WA 98104.

Miller’s Martial Arts Academy is located at 8920 122nd Avenue Northeast in Kirkland.

For more information or pre-event interviews please contact Korbett Miller at 425-444-5242 or to register go to www.mmaa.com/bruceleetour.