Jim 'Ronin' Harrison
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Jim 'Ronin' Harrison (b. 1936) is veteran martial arts fighter, instructor, coach, referee, and Special Operations police officer. He is considered one of the great fighters of the 1960s "Blood-and-Guts" era of American karate.
Harrison was a fighter in all regards.... ring, street and jungle. In the ring, he was known as one of the most feared and ruthless fighters of the "Blood-and-Guts" era of American karate. Winning a combination of regional, national, and world championships championships in karate, judo, and kickboxing, Harrison has a long resume of accomplishments. These include AAU Judo champion, 3-time U.S. Karate Champion, 3-time All-American Grand Champion, undefeated U.S. light-heavyweight kickboxing Champion, and coach to the undefeated 1974-76 U.S. Professional Team. At 63, Harrison won the National Masters Judo Championship and in 1999, placed 3rd in the Masters World Judo Championships.
Harrison served in a 'Special Violence Squad' as part of a trial branch of the SLPD in 1959-60. He worked on call, 24/7 in the high crime districts and slums in St. Louis in a world of extreme violence. Despite taking one bullet to the head and four to the chest while serving on the squad, he remains one of two survivors of the original unit.
Harrison has trained US Army Special Forces, Ranger, Navy SEAL, Delta Force, Marine Recon and police units across the US and served in a para-military 'Search-and-Destroy' unit for the Thai Army that undertook missions in SE Asia in the early 1970s.
Harrison's students have led successful careers as fighters, including Bill Wallace (full-contact karate), Bob "Thunder" Thurman (kickboxing), Steve Mackey (shootboxing), Bobb Boggs (karate), and Brent Anderson (kickboxing/MMA).
Called "one of the most dangerous men in the world" by Bruce Lee, Harrison is regarded at the top instructor in combatives in the world. Besides training Army Special Forces, Rangers and other military/Police units, he trains champion MMA, karate, judo, jujitsu, and submission fighters at his Sakura Warrior Arts school in Missoula, Montana, USA.
Jim Harrison is the founder of the Bushidokan and Ronin Jutsu systems and continues to teach at his Sakura Warrior Arts school in Missoula, Montana, USA.
[edit] Quotes
"Jim Harrison saved my life once... he pulled his punch an inch from my face!" - Chuck Norris, Karate champion and actor.
"I fear no man, but Jim Harrison and Mike Stone are the two last men that I would wish to meet in an alley fight. Jim Harrison's fighting style is not flamboyant or spectacular, it's just simple and deadly!" - Bruce Lee, actor and founder of Jeet Kune Do.
"When I decided to become a full contact fighter, I knew I needed a fighter to teach and coach me. I chose Jim Harrison. Jim is not only an excellent technical instructor but his tactical and strategical knowledge is unbelievable." - Bill "Superfoot" Wallace, champion in full-contact Karate.
"Jim Harrison is no 'kata-king', but an authentic leader-instructor in personal combat who has walked the walk for years and proven his abilities and techniques on countless occasions in streets, rings and jungles around the world." - Craig Smith, former Special Operations police officer and publisher of Grandmaster Magazine.
