Jeff Imada

Imada was born in Inglewood, California, US, where he began studying martial arts at the age of fifteen. At El Camino College and UCLA, he majored in pre-med and minored in music as a classically trained pianist.{{cite book|last=Kreng|first=John|title=Fight Choreography: The Art of Non-Verbal Dialogue|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oa4LAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA64|date=January 1, 2008|publisher=Cengage Learning|isbn=978-1-59200-680-9|page=64}} While in college, he started working as a film "extra", which led to his becoming a member of the Screen Actors Guild, Stunts Unlimited and the Directors Guild of America. Jeff Imada has been the technical advisor on numerous films, including Dutch (1991), Tango & Cash (1989), Jumpin' Jack Flash (1986), Dreamscape (1984) and Streets of Fire (1984), and such television series as Magnum, P.I. (1980), Remington Steele (1982), Dynasty (1981), Matt Houston (1982), Airwolf (1984), Stingray (1986), Hart to Hart (1979) and Tales of the Gold Monkey (1982).

He was a close friend to Brandon Lee with whom he studied Jeet Kune Do under the tutelage of Dan Inosanto. He was the primary fight choreographer on Lee's final film, The Crow.{{Citation | surname=Beasley | given=Jerry| title=Jeet Kune Do Experience: Understanding Bruce Lee's Ultimate Martial Art | publisher=Paladin Press | year=2001 | pages=216 |isbn=1-58160-131-X}}

Imada has authored two books on the history and use of the balisong and designed a particular grind known as the "Imada High Hollow" for Pacific Cutlery that was ground by knifemaker Jody Samson.{{Citation | surname=Imada| given=Jeff| title=The Balisong Manual | year=1984 | pages=130|publisher=Unique Publications|location=California|isbn=0-86568-102-3 }}{{Citation | surname=Imada| given=Jeff| title=The Advanced Balisong Manual | year=1987 | pages=216|publisher=Unique Publications|location=California|isbn=0-86568-117-1 }} The Balisong Manual was one of the first books published in the US about this unusual knife.

Jeff Imada has recently come to further attention by being the chief fight coordinator in the Matt Damon action films The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum,[http://www.mixedmartialarts.com/vault/exotics/matt-damon-trains-kali-bourne-ultimatum Matt Damon trains in Kali for ‘The Bourne Ultimatum’], Clyde Erwin Barretto, May 30, 2016 as well as participating as the motion capture artist for the Xbox and PlayStation game The Bourne Conspiracy.

In 2015, Imada was recognized by East West Players (EWP) with the Visionary Award for raising "the visibility of the Asian Pacific American (APA) community through [his] craft."{{Cite web|url=http://www.eastwestplayers.org/special-events/golden-50th-anniversary-visionary-awards-dinner-and-silent-auction/|title=Golden Anniversary Visionary Awards Dinner and Silent Auction|last=Wood|first=Ximón|website=East West Players|access-date=July 22, 2019|archive-date=July 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190722185206/http://www.eastwestplayers.org/special-events/golden-50th-anniversary-visionary-awards-dinner-and-silent-auction/|url-status=dead}} He had been involved with EWP "off and on" for many years due to his personal connection to Mako, one of the founders of the theatre company.{{Citation|last=IdeateTV|title=Jeff Imada - EWP Visionary Awards 2015|date=April 22, 2015|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fpb5g8ur0k4 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/Fpb5g8ur0k4 |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live|access-date=July 22, 2019}}{{cbignore}}

• Furious 7 (2015) (fight choreographer)
• Breaking Dawn Part 2 (2012) (fight/stunt coordinator)
• The Green Hornet (2011) (fight/stunt coordinator){{Cite news |title= THIS HORNET HAS NO STINGER; SETH ROGEN MAKES 'THE GREEN HORNET' AN EMPTY EXCUSE TO SPEND A LOT OF STUDIO CASH.(Tempo) |newspaper= Taos News |accessdate= July 3, 2014 |date= January 27, 2011|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-247794367.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714121938/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-247794367.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 14, 2014 }}
• Hanna (2011) (fight/stunt coordinator){{Cite news |title= New course of action |newspaper= New Zealand Herald|accessdate= July 3, 2014 |date= August 27, 2011|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-265306112.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714224145/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-265306112.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 14, 2014 }}
• Breaking Dawn Part 1 (2011) (fight/stunt coordinator)
• Repo Men (2010) (fight choreographer)
• The Book of Eli (2010) (stunt coordinator){{Cite news |title= BY THE 'BOOK' 'ELI' STAR DENZEL WASHINGTON TAKES HANDS-ON APPROACH |newspaper= Daily News |accessdate= July 3, 2014 |date= January 10, 2010|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-21517930.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924190506/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-21517930.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 24, 2015 }}
• Eclipse (2010) (fight/stunt coordinator)
• New Moon (2009) (fight/stunt coordinator)
• Twilight (2008) (fight/stunt coordinator){{cite book|last=Stein|first=Marc|title=Twilight Exposed! The Inside Story of a Billion Dollar Franchise|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=INw8dDD7fxcC&pg=PA57|publisher=Marc Charles|page=57|id=GGKEY:JPPXYAXK2ZS}}
• Mask of the Ninja (2008) (stunts)
• Role Models (2008) (stunt coordinator){{Cite news |title= Role Models.(Movie review) |newspaper= Daily Variety |accessdate= July 3, 2014 |date= October 21, 2008 | last=Harvey|first= Dennis|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-188998309.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714224302/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-188998309.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 14, 2014 }}
• Balls of Fury (2007) (stunts){{cite AV media | people = Robert Ben Garant (Director) | title = Balls of Fury | medium = DVD | publisher = Rogue | date = 2007}}
• The Bourne Ultimatum (2007) (fight stunt coordinator){{cite book|last=Bowman|first=Paul|title=Beyond Bruce Lee: Chasing the Dragon through Film, Philosophy, and Popular Culture|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QWSsAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA6|date=April 2, 2013|publisher=Columbia University Press|isbn=978-0-231-16528-0|page=6}}
• Planet Terror (2007) (stunts){{cite AV media | people = Robert Rodriguez(Director) | title = Planet Terror | medium = DVD | publisher = Dimension | date = 2007}}
• The Gene Generation (2007) (stunt action director){{cite AV media | people = Pearry Reginald Teo (Director) | title = The Gene Generation| medium = DVD | publisher = Lionsgate | date = 2007}}
• Park (2006) (stunt coordinator){{cite AV media | people = Kurt Voelker (Director) | title = Park| medium = DVD | publisher = Lionsgate | date = 2006}}
• When a Stranger Calls (2006) (stunt coordinator){{cite AV media | people = Simon West (Director) | title = When a Stranger Calls | medium = DVD | publisher = Screen gems | date = 2006}}
• In Her Shoes (2005) (stunt coordinator){{cite AV media | people = Curtis Hanson(Director) | title = In Her Shoes | medium = DVD | publisher = Fox 2000 Pictures| date = 2005}}
• Serenity (2005) (stunts){{cite AV media | people =Joss Whedon (Director) | title = Serenity| medium = DVD | publisher = Universal Pictures| date = 2005}}
• Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005) (utility stunts){{cite AV media | people = Doug Liman (Director) | title = Mr. & Mrs. Smith | medium = DVD | publisher = 20th Century Fox | date = 2005}}
• The Hard Easy (2005) (stunts){{cite AV media | medium = DVD | date = 2005| title = The Hard Easy |people=Ari Ryan (director) |publisher=HBO}}
• Collateral (2004) (stunts) (uncredited)
• The Bourne Supremacy (2004) (fight stunt coordinator)
• The Ladykillers (2004) (stunts){{cite AV media | medium = DVD | date = 2004| title = The Lady Killers |people=Ethan Coen (director) |publisher=Buena Vista}}
• Spartan (2004) (stunt coordinator){{cite AV media | people =David Mamet (Director) | title = Spartan| medium = DVD | publisher = Columbia Pictures| date = 2004}}
• Stuck on You (2003) (stunts){{cite AV media | title = Stuck on You | medium = DVD | publisher =20th Century Fox| people = Peter Farrelly (Director)| date = 2003}}
• Daredevil (2003) (stunt coordinator) (wire choreographer)
• 8 Mile (2002) (stunt coordinator){{cite AV media | title = 8 Mile | medium = DVD | publisher = Universal| people = Curtis Hanson (Director)| date = 2001}}
• Serving Sara (2002) (stunt coordinator){{cite AV media | title = Serving Sara | medium = DVD | publisher = Paramount| people = Reginald Hudlin(Director)| date = 2002}}
• The Time Machine (2002) (stunt coordinator){{Cite news |title= The Time Machine|newspaper= Daily Variety |accessdate= July 3, 2014 |date=March 8, 2002| url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-83937764.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714133612/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-83937764.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=July 14, 2014 }}
• Rock Star (2001) (stunts){{cite AV media | title = Rock Star | medium = DVD | publisher = Warner bros| people = Stephen Herek (Director)| date = 2001}}
• Ghosts of Mars (2001) (stunt coordinator){{Cite news |title= Evil stalks the Red Planet |newspaper= New Straits Times |accessdate= July 3, 2014 |date= March 24, 2002| url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-82636243.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714224523/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-82636243.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=July 14, 2014 }}
• Ticker (2001) (stunts){{cite AV media | title = Ticker | medium = DVD | publisher = Artisan| people = Albert Pyun (Director)| date = 2001}}
• Little Nicky (2000) (stunt coordinator){{cite AV media | medium = DVD | date = 2000| title =Little Nicky | publisher = New Line| people = Steven Brill (Director)}}
• Forever Lulu (2000) (stunt coordinator){{cite AV media | medium = DVD | date = 2000| title = Forever Lulu |people=John Kaye,(director) |publisher=Buena Vista}}
• Disney's The Kid (2000) (utility stunts){{cite AV media | medium = DVD | date = 2000| title =Disney's The Kid | publisher = Walt Disney| people = Jon Turteltaub(Director)}}
• Gone in 60 Seconds (2000) (stunts){{cite AV media | medium = DVD | date = 2000| title =Gone in 60 Seconds|people=Dominic Sena (Director)|publisher=Buena Vista}}
• Wonder Boys (2000) (stunt coordinator){{cite AV media | medium = DVD | date = 2000| title =Wonder Boys |people=Curtis Hanson (director) |publisher=Warner bros}}
• Hanging Up (2000) (stunts){{cite AV media | medium = DVD | date = 2000| title =Hanging Up |people = Diane Keaton(Director)|publisher=Columbia}}
• The Green Mile (1999) (stunt coordinator){{cite AV media | medium = DVD | date = 1999| title =The Green Mile |people=Frank Darabont (director) |publisher=Warner bros}}
• Fight Club (1999) (stunt coordinator)
• Crazy in Alabama (1999) (stunt coordinator){{cite AV media | medium = DVD | date = 1999| title = Crazy in Alabama |people=Antonio Banderas (director) |publisher=Columbia}}
• Enemy of the State (1998) (stunt player){{cite AV media | medium = DVD | date = 1998| title = Enemy of the State |people=Tony Scott (director) |publisher=Buena Vista Pictures}}
• Rush Hour (1998) (stunts){{cite AV media | medium = DVD | date = 1998| title = Rush Hour|people=Brett Ratner(director) |publisher=New Line}}
• Blade (1998) (stunt coordinator: additional photography) (stunts){{cite AV media | medium = DVD | date = 1998| title = Blade |people=Stephen Norrington (director)|publisher=New Line}}
• The Negotiator (1998) (stunts){{cite AV media | medium = DVD | date = 1998| title =The Negotiator |people=F. Gary Gray (director) |publisher=Warner bros}}
• Lethal Weapon 4 (1998) (stunts){{cite book|last=Willis|first=John|title=Screen World 1999|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=n1qxCqm75FEC&pg=PA89|date=May 1, 2000|publisher=Hal Leonard|isbn=978-1-55783-410-2|page=89}}
• Armageddon (1998/I) (stunts){{cite AV media | people =Michael Bay (Director) | title = Armageddon| medium = DVD | publisher = Buena Vista Pictures| date = 1998}}
• Vampires (1998) (stunt coordinator){{cite AV media | people =John Carpenter (Director) | title = Vampires| medium = DVD | publisher = Columbia Pictures| date = 1998}}
• U.S. Marshals (1998) (stunts){{cite AV media | medium = DVD | date = 1998| title = U.S. Marshals |people=Stuart Baird (director) |publisher=Warner bros}}
• The Replacement Killers (1998) (stunts){{cite AV media | medium = DVD | date = 1998| title = The Replacement Killers |people=Antoine Fuqua (director) |publisher=Columbia}}
• Most Wanted (1997) (stunts){{cite AV media | medium = DVD | date = 1997| title = Most Wanted |people=vid Hogan (director) |publisher=New Line}}
• Nothing to Lose (1997) (stunts){{cite AV media | medium = DVD | date = 1997| title = Nothing to Lose |people=Steve Oedekerk(director) |publisher=Touchstone}}
• L.A. Confidential (1997) (stunt coordinator)
• Volcano (1997) (stunts){{cite AV media | people =Mick Jackson (Director) | title = Volcano| medium = DVD | publisher = 20th Century Fox Pictures| date = 1997}}
• Spy Game (1997) (stunt coordinator){{cite AV media | people =Tony Scott(Director) | title = Spy Game| medium = DVD | publisher = Universal Pictures| date = 1997}}
• Dante's Peak (1997) (stunt coordinator: second unit){{cite AV media | people =Roger Donaldson(Director) | title = Dante's Peak | medium = DVD | publisher = Universal Pictures| date = 1997}}
• Beverly Hills Ninja (1997) (stunts){{cite AV media | people =Dennis Dugan (Director) | title = Beverly Hills Ninja | medium = DVD | publisher = TriStar Pictures| date = 1997}}
• Marshal Law (1996) (stunts){{cite book|last=Freese|first=Gene Scott|title=Hollywood stunt performers: a dictionary and filmography of over 600 men and women, 1922-1996|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qnVZAAAAMAAJ|date=July 1998|publisher=McFarland & Co.|isbn=978-0-7864-0511-4|pages=111–112}}
• The Glimmer Man (1996) (stunts)
• Escape from L.A. (1996) as 'Mojo' Dellasandro (stunt coordinator)
• Spy Hard (1996) (stunts)
• From Dusk till Dawn (1996) (stunts) (as Jeffrey Imada)
• Heat (1995) (stunts)
• Money Train (1995) (stunts)
• Jade (1995) (stunts)
• To the Limit (1995) (stunts: Los Angeles)
• The Last Word (1995) (stunts)
• Waterworld (1995) (stunts)
• Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home (1995) (stunt coordinator)
• Mortal Kombat (1995) (fire stunt double: Scorpion)
• Village of the Damned (1995) (stunt coordinator) (stunts)
• In the Mouth of Madness (1995) (stunt coordinator) (stunts)
• One Tough Bastard (1995) (stunts)
• Double Dragon (1994) (stunt coordinator)
• The Puppet Masters (1994) (stunts)
• The Crow (1994) (stunt coordinator)
• Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult (1994) (stunts)
• Vanishing Son (1994) (TV) (stunts)
• On Deadly Ground (1994) (stunts)
• The Criminal Mind (1993) (stunts)
• Showdown (1993/I) (stunt coordinator)
• Even Cowgirls Get the Blues (1993) (stunts) (as Jeffrey Imada)
• Undercover Blues (1993) (stunts) (as Jeffrey Imada)
• Body Bags (1993) (TV) (stunt coordinator)
• Rising Sun (1993) (stunt coordinator)
• Hot Shots! Part Deux (1993) (stunts)
• Excessive Force (1993) (stunts)
• Robot Wars (1993) (stunts)
• Falling Down (1993) (stunts)
• Rapid Fire (1992) (stunt coordinator)
• Raven (1992) TV series (stunt coordinator)
• Patriot Games (1992) (stunts)
• Memoirs of an Invisible Man (1992) (stunt coordinator){{cite book|last=Mavis|first=Paul|title=The Espionage Filmography: United States Releases, 1898 through 1999|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ehkcZFT8fMoC&pg=PT389|date=March 3, 2011|publisher=McFarland|isbn=978-1-4766-0427-5|page=954}}
• Kuffs (1992) (stunts)
• Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991) (stunts)
• Showdown in Little Tokyo (1991) (stunts)
• V.I. Warshawski (1991) (stunts)
• Point Break (1991) (stunts)
• Fever (1991) (TV) (stunt coordinator)
• The Perfect Weapon (1991) (stunts)
• Highlander II: The Quickening (1991) (stunts)
• Kindergarten Cop (1990) (stunts)
• Captain America (1990) (stunts)
• The Rookie (1990) (stunts)
• The Big One: The Great Los Angeles Earthquake (1990) (TV) (stunt coordinator)
• Marked for Death (1990) (stunts)
• Come See the Paradise (1990) (stunts)
• Ghost Dad (1990) (stunts)
• The Last of the Finest (1990) (stunts)
• Angel Town (1990) (stunt coordinator)
• Tremors (1990) (stunts)
• Why Me? (1990) (stunts)
• Vietnam, Texas (1990) (stunts)
• Tango & Cash (1989) (stunts)
• Road House (1989) (stunts) (as Jeffrey Imada)
• Hyper Space (1989) (stunt coordinator)
• Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989) (stunts) (as Jeffrey Imada)
• Who's Harry Crumb? (1989) (stunts)
• Kinjite: Forbidden Subjects (1989) (stunts)
• Gleaming the Cube (1989) (stunts)
• One Man Force (1989) (stunts)
• They Live (1988) (stunt coordinator)
• The Dead Pool (1988) (stunts)
• The Presidio (1988) (stunts)
• Prince of Darkness (1987) (stunt coordinator){{cite book|last1=Speed|first1=F. Maurice|last2=Cameron-Wilson|first2=James|title=Film Review|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZxAIAQAAMAAJ|year=2003|publisher=W. H. Allen|page=27|isbn=9781903111680}}
• Beauty and the Beast (1987) TV series (stunts)
• Steele Justice (1987) (stunts)
• Lethal Weapon (1987) (stunts)
• The Golden Child (1986) (stunts)
• Big Trouble in Little China (1986) (as "Needles") (stunts){{cite book|last=Muir|first=John Kenneth|title=The films of John Carpenter|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=K3pZAAAAMAAJ|year=2000|publisher=McFarland & Company Incorporated Pub|isbn=978-0-7864-0725-5|page=126}}
• Police Academy 3: Back in Training (1986) (stunts)
• Gung Ho (1986) (stunts)
• Hollywood Vice Squad (1986) (stunts)
• House (1986) (stunts)
• Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985) (stunts)
• Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985) (stunts) (as Jeffrey Imada)
• Missing in Action 2: The Beginning (1985) (stunts)
• Dreamscape (1984)
• Uncommon Valor (1983) (stunts)
• Breathless (1983) (stunts)
• Fire and Ice (1983) (stunts)
• Blue Thunder (1983) (stunts)
• The A-Team (1983) TV series (stunts)
• Matt Houston (1982) TV series (stunts)
• Blade Runner (1982) (stunts){{cite AV media | people = Ridley Scott(Director) | title = Blade Runner | medium = DVD | publisher = Warner bros| date = 1982}}
• Cheech and Chong's Nice Dreams (1981) (Wine steward){{cite AV media | people = Tommy Chong (Director) | title = Nice Dreams | medium = DVD | publisher = Columbia Pictures | date = 1981}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{IMDb name|0408001|Jeff Imada}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110522063925/http://movies.msn.com/celebrities/celebrity/jeff-imada/ MSN Movies]
• [https://www.fareastfilms.com/?feature_post_type=6351 Interview At FarEastFilms.com]

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Imada, Jeff}}

Category:American Jeet Kune Do practitioners

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Category:1955 births

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