I just received this email:
With a heavy heart I am sorry to say I feel compelled & obligated to write this email to inform all of you of the peaceful passing of Master Jerry Hyde last night. I just received a call from Master Hyde’s instructor; Grand-Master Bill Clingan about this loss of a true Martial Arts Master.
Most of you do not know me but your email addresses were on Master Hyde mailing list or I think you knew him. I apologize in advance if this passing of information may appear inappropriate to anyone. I felt everyone may need to be informed of this big loss that will be felt by the Martial Arts world. Prior to passing away Master Hyde’s passion & promise to his wife was to write a book about children’s safety. Master Hyde did an excellent job with this & kindly gave away many copies to help people since he had a very kind heart. He was a traditional teacher who paid the schools rent from his own pocket just so that others would have a place to learn the martial arts which was his passion. He often joked that he was married to the arts & everyone else took 3rd place as he very connected to God. The book was co-written with one of his students; Terra & this book can be seen on his website;
www.hydestangsoodo.com As you browse through his site you’ll see his commitment & passion for the true arts. Here’s a quote from Master Hyde’s last email to me [If it only saves the life of one child, whatever we have done will be worth it.]
Master Hyde was a very knowledgeable & skilled fighter, a great martial artist & a top notch teacher who insisted on improving his students in all aspects of their life. I saw him only a few weeks ago & I enjoyed our last conversation together. His humor for life & sincerity for training left a strong impression on me. One of his favorite philosophies for the arts were “ don’t teach a technique that wouldn’t work for your wife! ”…. In other words he only taught techniques that were practical & life saving – the mark of a true master!
Master Hyde achieved black-belt ranks in several martial arts & often signed his emails as:
Senior Master Jerry A. Hyde.
Soo Bahk Do Tang Soo Do/Jujitsu/Kun Tao/Kajukenbo/Tae Kwon Do/Okinawa Te
All Traditional.
I am deeply moved & saddened to have to write this email. We pass on our condolences to his family, friends & fellow marital artists with respect to the passing of a true master who was shortly due to be recognized as a Grand-Master for his contribution to the martial arts. I know that Master Hyde was looking forward to this next step in his martial arts training & so his instructor will present the Grand-Master title, belt & certificate to Master Hyde’s family.
With deepest respects to the Late Grand-Master Jerry A. Hyde (1944-2006); you’ll be in our hearts, thoughts & prayers.
Respectfully,
Master Jag Mann
