Sakura Warrior Arts

[Hetman]

When you walk into a Sakura self defense class, you will typically see Sensei Jim Ronin Harrison working with brand new students with the assistance of senior students and moving from experience group to experience group, demonstrating and correcting techniques and answering questions. The dojo is saturated with respect and encouragement among students and between Sensei and students.

That said, Sensei Harrison is very demanding. Do not expect to achieve a rank promotion in less than a year. High standards pay off, however. In 2008 Sakura students took home two gold medals, three silver, and a bronze in the fighting divisions of the USJJF national tournament. These were the latest in a long tradition of success at national and international levels.

Sensei Harrison is a legend. Google Jim Ronin Harrison and that's 'nuff said.

There is blood on the upstairs mat and a gravel bag (and other training equipment) in the basement.

Sakura emphasizes conditioning. Training is realistic, hard, and painful. Sparring in both the grappling and striking and combined classes takes place nightly.

Cost varies according to the payment plan, which is very flexible.

[GoldenJonas]

OK, any person that has Chuck Norris, give them a "Chick Norris'esque" quote is pretty damn cool in my book:

"Jim Harrison saved my life once... he pulled his punch and inch from my face!" - Chuck Norris

Of course, I'm assuming this is not BS, but regardless, it is pretty funny.

Anyway, Hetman, please post appropriate, rational, scores for your school.

Also, tell about a typical day of training. If you were trying to convince someone who has no idea who Jim Harrison is, how would you describe the training, attitude, atmosphere, competition training, etc.

As of right now, your "review" reads like a star struck MA-fan...

"Jim Harrison....'nuff said", does not help me to understand what the hell it is that you guys do or what he teahces and how he teaches it.

[Hetman]

Sure. I'm working on my green belt in self defense (Ronin Jutsu.) I have been at it for four years. Mr. Harrison (I'm 59 years old, by the way) typically teaches six sections of defenses per rank (for example, defenses to (1) front holds and grabs; (2) rear holds and grabs; (3) street boxer attacks; (4) ground attacks; (5) front weapon attacks; and (6) rear weapon attacks.) Each section addresses 5-6 attacks. For example, defending a rear, underarm bearhug, is one portion of one section for a yellow-belt candidate. Candidates will lower center of gravity, shuto to groin (x2), hiji to the head (x2), O Goshi with arm control; hiza to solar plexus, shotai to forehead; hiza to jaw (switch knee), tetsui to face, shuto to groin; stomp and leave. All practice is partial contact except where necessary to avoid injury (i.e. we don't smash each other's nose with the tetsui.) All throws are, of course, complete.

At the orange belt level and above we frequently practice with pads and test with full pads (mouth guard, head guard, forearm pads, elbow pads, MMA gloves, knee, shin, and foot pads) at half to full speed with partial contact.

Karate-kickbox sparring is full pads (boxing gloves, not MMA gloves) and 75% to full contact. Less skilled candidates may spar but won't be exposed to a full range of kicks and strikes until they are ready.

I should add that my unarmed combat training in Ranger School was not as intense.

By the way, I said "Google Jim Ronin Harrison." I can't add to the bona fides that show up in a Google search. I can say that he is a superb teacher--which is why he is the 2008 USJJA Sensei of the Year. And yes, he and Norris are friends. They were inducted into the Karate Hall of Fame together.