Born in 1936, the tough Jim Harrison was a major force in the competition and development Judo, Karate and what is now called Ju-jitsu in the Americas. Harrison got his indoctrination into the martial arts from Bob Kurth, a former Judo Champion and Navy commando during World War II.

An outstanding AAU Judo champion, Harrison also won numerous karate titles including the first ever full contact Kickboxing match held in 1970. Concerning all phases of martial arts which includes training, teaching, coaching, as well as competing, he is a man of strong, honorable, and uncompromising convictions. Agree or disagree, he makes his stand and is willing to live or die by it – a sometimes unpopular characteristic in this generation of often found deception and creative public relations.

Jim Harrison was known for both giving hard and taking hard contact. Perhaps the most feared of Harrison's abilities were his Judo and Ju-Jitsu abilities. When competing against karate fighters, those who had not learned to fall regretted facing Jim Harrison, who was known to dump his opponents with judo throws throughout the match. A living legend from the "Blood and Guts" era of the 60’s, Harrison is still considered one of the toughest fighters – recently, he won the 1999 National Masters Judo Championships in Spokane, Washington, and, placed third in the first World Masters Championships held in Toronto, Canada.

Perhaps his most legendary feat of toughness was when as a police officer, he was ambushed by an ex-con who came out of a bathroom stall and fired point blank with a high caliber pistol at Harrison. Harrison managed to subdue his attacker before passing out from his wounds. The wounds, very serious in nature, kept him down for a while, but he recovered and came back stronger than ever.

A member of the elite USKA Trias International Society, Harrison has garnered membership in the Official Karate Magazine's 1979 Legion of Honor. The late Bruce Lee, Martial Arts Movie Star and Professional Hall of Famer said, "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! He’s one of the most dangerous men in the world."

Harrison, a retired police officer, continues a long and successful career as teacher, coach, competitor, and promoter. Besides instructing his Practical and Effective Street Survival Techniques & Tactics worldwide, he continues to instruct in modern weapons, bow hunting, camping, kayaking, climbing and rappelling, and alpine/nordic/para-skiing at his RONIN JUTSU Combat Training Headquarters in Missoula, Montana (406.728.8187). His students have been members of the Seals, Recon, Rangers, Special Forces, and Delta Force.

Even though Harrison resides in Montana, his legacy, producing true martial artists continues to thrive not only in the Kansas City area where his legendary Bushidokan system flourishes, but also throughout the world.

Yes, Jim Harrison continues to set the standards by which all others are judged, and there is no doubt martial artists will be talking about him come the next millennium. He is a legend in the development of Ju-jitsu in the United States.

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Jim Harrison has been called one of the last real living Samurai’s. He has never tried to win a most popular contest, and if the truth was known, he probably couldn’t. If asked, Harrison would undoubtedly answer, “I could care less.”

Yes, Jim Harrison was and still is the voice of truth and continues to be known worldwide for his candor. Concerning all phases of martial arts, including but not limited to, training, teaching, coaching, as well as competing, he is a man of strong, honorable, and uncompromising convictions. Agree or disagree, he makes his stand and is willing to live or die by it – the character that isn’t always popular because we live in a generation in which lying or distorting the truth is not only many times tolerated, but also acceptable.

The late Bruce Lee, Martial Arts Movie Star and Professional Hall of Famer said, “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! He’s one of the most dangerous men in the world.”

Bill “Superfoot” Wallace, Undefeated Middleweight Full Contact Champion and Professional Hall of Famer said, “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.”

A living legend from the “Blood and Guts” era of the 60’s, Harrison is still considered one of the toughest fighters – recently, he won the 1999 National Masters Judo Championships in Spokane, Washington, and, placed third in the first World Masters Championships held in Toronto, Canada. You think being a black belt in martial arts is being tough? Jim Harrison is tough. Ask almost any karate veteran whom he would least like to meet in the ring, and he would probably say Jim Harrison. As one veteran fighter said, “One of my ambitions is to knock Jim Harrison down and keep him down.” It has never happened.

Harrison got his indoctrination into the martial arts from Bob Kurth, a former Judo Champion and Navy commando during World War II. From Kurth’s teachings, Harrison evolved into a three-time U.S. Karate Champion and a three-time All-American Champion . . . and the list of titles goes on.

Besides instructing his Practical and Effective Street Survival Techniques & Tactics worldwide, he continues to instruct in modern weapons, bow hunting, camping, kayaking, climbing and rappelling, and alpine/nordic/para-skiing at his RONIN JUTSU Combat Training Headquarters in Missoula, Montana (406.728.8187). His students have been members of the Seals, Recon, Rangers, Special Forces, and Delta Force.

Even though Harrison resides in Montana, his legacy, producing fighters – not dancers, continues to thrive not only in the Kansas City area where his legendary Bushidokan system and schools flourished in the 60’s and 70’s, but also throughout the world.

Yes, Jim Harrison continues to set the standards by which all others are judged, and there is no doubt martial artists will be talking about him come the next millennium.

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