Black Belt Magazine Self-DefenseInstructor Of The Year – Jim Harrison
When Jim Harrison was seven years old he witnessed a Judo demonstration and knew the path he’d follow. Ten years later he started formal training under former WWII Navy Commando Bob Kurth. The hardcore and realistic judo and jujitsu training Kurth taught Harrison, along with toughness and lessons from his father, created the martial foundation that has stayed with him for over fifty years.
Anyone familiar with the karate scene from the late 50s through mid 70s knows Harrison earned a fierce reputation as one of the toughest fighters of the aptly named “Blood and Guts Era.” He competed in, coached, and refereed judo, point karate, and full contact karate tournaments, and promoted the first “professional” tournament in karate’s history from his dojo in Kansas City. Stints with law enforcement and as a bodyguard proved that Harrison was even tougher in the streets than he was in the ring.
Harrison’s first competitive victory was in 1958 when he won a local judo competition and his last was in 1999, when he won the National Master’s Judo Championships. Between those, this living martial arts legend won over 50 national and regional titles, including three-time U.S. Regional Judo Champion, three-time U.S. Karate Champion, and the Asian Challenge Kickboxing Champion. He also coached many champions, including the U.S. Professional Karate team of Al Dacascos, Howard Jackson, Bill Wallace, Jeff Smith, Jim Butin, and Joe Lewis in 1974.
A proud father, Harrison taught and coached his children to championships as well. Another legend, Bob Wall, said of Harrison’s kids, “No question, he raised tough kids, no one wants to fight a Harrison.” There is also pride for his other students, many of whom think of Harrison as a father figure, and who have won over 300 medals and trophies in national championships. Steve Mackey and Josh Barnett are two such fighters. Harrison has also taught elite military and police units such as SWAT, SEALS, DELTA, and other special operation teams and forces.
When asked about the highlights of his incredible martial art career, Harrison says it’s the friendships with the judo and karate competitors that are most important to him. Training and fighting with the top fighters of the time, men he respected, and beating many of those top fighters was important. However, the friendships and earning their respect is most significant. And earn their respect he did. Legends of the karate community have nothing but respect and high praise for Jim Harrison.
Keith Yates remembers being awed when he first saw Harrison fight in the late 60s. Yates says, “Harrison was one tough son-of-a-gun, one of the toughest guys from the 60s.” That is a theme heard from many who where there during those years. Bob Wall claims Harrison gave more stitches out to other fighters than anyone, and Bill Wallace states, “Jim Harrison is one of the baddest dudes I’ve ever seen. I respect him the utmost, and he is someone I’d always want on my side.” Joe Lewis remembers Harrison as one of the top guns of the “Blood and Guts Karate” of Texas and Oklahoma, and because they both came from a grappling background, he admired those attributes in Harrison.
J. Pat Burleson is another who has nothing but respect for Harrison, and says a black belt from Harrison means something. Burleson claims, “Harrison is a man’s man and has never compromised. He still does things like they used to, from a time that won’t be repeated.”
Toughness and fighting ability are not the only traits those familiar with Jim Harrison talk about. “He’s one of the best human beings I’ve ever met, who just happens to be great in the martial arts,” says Bob Wall, “He’s a really good guy, a great friend, and someone with a lot of love in his heart.” Without getting too sentimental, Wall continues, “I love Jim Harrison, but what I love the most is I can out run the mean SOB.”
After stories of the ferocious battles Harrison waged, Joe Lewis becomes serious and states that most importantly, Harrison has that rare quality of honesty. “The boy always told the truth,” says one of the greatest karate champions of all time.
Now in his 70s, Harrison continues to teach and coach from his school in Montana with a motto of, “realistic as possible, safe as possible.” He’s on the mat teaching Judo, Jujitsu, and the Bushidokan system of karate, a style he founded, which is a combination of the karate styles in which he has earned black belts: Shotokan, Goju Ryu, Kyokushinkai, Moodukwon, and Shorin-Ryu. He can also be found traveling to teach seminars on effective self-defense, including all aspects of weapons. The years and surgeries may have slowed him down a little, but Jim Harrison is still tough as ever and will continue to produce fighters, not dancers, for many years to come.
An edited version of this article appeared in the December 2009 issue of Black Belt Magazine when Jim Harrison was named its 2009 Self-Defense Instructor of the Year.
