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“A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell, where his influence stops.” Henry Brooks Adams

Dick Harrell began his martial arts training in Japanese Shotokan Karate in 1971. In 1974 he met former Bruce Lee student Larry Hartsell and was accepted as Sifu Larry's student. At that time Sifu Larry was teaching out of a friends' Kung Fu school. Sifu Larry had a screening process whereby prospective students aspiring to train in Jeet Kune Do with him must first spend a minimum of one year in the Kung Fu program. Dick was the first student in the Charlotte Branch allowed to forego this process and be immediately accepted for JKD training under Sifu Hartsell. He trained with Sifu Hartsell from 1974-1982, at which time Sifu Hartsell moved to California to be closer to his teacher and mentor, Sifu Dan Inosanto. In 1978, Sifu Hartsell introduced Dick to Sifu Inosanto, which began a whole new level of training as well as perspective and understanding of his Jeet Kune Do training. Although both Sifu Larry and Dick had already begun their Filipino Martial Arts training by this time, meeting Sifu Inosanto signaled the beginning of a new chapter for both men. In 1980, Sifu Hartsell and Dick opened the first recognized and authorized Jeet Kune Do Academy on the entire east coast. The curriculum consisted of Sifu Larry's early JKD: Chinese Kickboxing, Western Boxing, trapping hands and some grappling, although the latter not as extensively as it would be in later years. Dick went on to become the first full instructor on the east coast in both Jeet Kune Do and Filipino Martial Arts under Sifu Inosanto. In 1984, Sifu Inosanto arranged for him to meet Ajarn Surachai "Chai" Sirisute, founder and President of the Thai Boxing Assoc of USA (TBA), and the man responsible for bringing Muay Thai (Thai Boxing) in to the US in 1968. At that time, Sifu Inosanto required all of his students to train with and attain at least the beginning instructor's certificate under Ajarn Chai. Dick was accepted by Ajarn Chai as his student and, after progressing through the ranks, received his full instructor credentials in Muay Thai in 2005. He continues to travel and train with both of these "masters/mentors" regularly, as well as help them to promote the arts and culture of which they are so passionate. Dick presently serves as the TBA Representative for North and South Carolina.

Larry Hartsell with student Dick Harrell, 1977	L-R: Sifu Francis Fong, Dick Harrell, Guro Dan, Ajarn Chai	L-R: Dick Harrell with Sifu Dan Inosanto and Sifu Larry Hartsell

“When I met Dick Harrell at the Smokey Mountain Camp in 1984, he had already earned the honor of becoming Guro Dan Inosanto's first Apprentice Instructor on the East Coast. Dick told me how much he wanted to learn Thai Boxing. I saw in his eyes the discipline and desire necessary so I told him, he must put his heart into it. After five years as my student, and with me as his pad holder, he passed his instructor test. I tell my students to do exactly as I do, to copy me, and Dick has accomplished that. He is an excellent instructor. He moves as I move. Dick is a Thai Boxer, not only with perfect form, but also gifted with the ability to teach, a rare combination. Some say it is best to learn Thai Boxing from Thai fighters. But I feel it is best to learn Thai Boxing from someone who has not only the skill, but also has the ability to convey those skills to others. Dick has the discipline, the skill and the ability, but also the passion it takes to teach the art of Thai Boxing to those who have the dedication and desire to learn. He is the perfect instructor"

I recently received the honor of promotion to Senior Instructor and given the title of "Ajarn" by Grandmaster Chai, my Muay Thai Instructor, life mentor, and founder and president of the Thai Boxing Association of USA (TBA). Those of you who know GM Chai know that he doesn't hand out promotions freely. I have been with him almost 27 years now and with all of my incredible memories what has been on my mind the most over last several days since my promotion is that he is always testing us! I remember when I was promoted to full instructor in 2004, it was totally unexpected. I had picked him up at the airport for our annual Muay Thai seminar and before we even got out of the airport parking lot he informed me I would be testing at the end of the weekend seminar. The test was performing the wai kru, our ceremonial respects to teachers. I told him with all respect that I had not been practicing it. His response was, "you'll be fine!" Long story shorter, I passed and was awarded full instructor, but was extremely dissappointed in my performance, and felt I had let him down by not consistently practicing. I vowed NEVER to be caught off guard by him again!
In 2008, he begin to "hint" he was going to be looking at promoting some of his full instructors to the senior level, which is the highest honor and rank under him. It was intimated by him that I make every effort to be at our annual camp the following July. I was planning on going anyway and consequently was working on my ceremony regularly and remembering my "experience" of my full instructor test. The camp came and went, no testing for senior level by anyone. At the time, the only Ajarn under him was Guro/Sifu/Ajarn Dan Inosanto! 2009's camp came and Ajarn Greg Nelson was bestowed the honor. When he came to Charlotte for our annual seminar in 2010, I was thinking he could spring the test on me again, and I was ready! Still no test. The Camp of 2010 was to be the 20th year anniversary and he intimated once again that he really wanted his top and oldest instructors there. Unfortunately, I was not able to be there. When several of my peers were promoted to Ajarn, I new I had better be ready when he arrived in Charlotte one month later. Again, 15 minutes after stepping off the airplane he brought up me testing again. This time I was ready as I had been practicing the wai kru almost daily for months. Still no test! It was then that I began to realize the "method of his madness" so to speak. He liked to create this perpetual testing atmosphere virtually all the time; had been doing it all the years I knew him really. He wanted us to always be challenging ourselves, stretching ourselves beyond what we thought we could do. He's a master of this; grace under pressure you could say. When I arrived at this year's camp last week, he announced the second day what would be the testing procedure for all the different levels of instructors who were eligible. He also announced the new ajarns, of which I was one of them. Knowing that he had told me since 2008 I would be testing for it, and performing my wai kru, I assumed that would again be the case. The next morning we had 30 minutes to practice before the testing began. There we were, out on the huge field, a beautiful chilly, dewy morning, all dressed in our customary thai shorts, men shirtless. It was finally my time! As he descended the hill down to where we were to test, he blew his ever-present whistle and we all snapped to attention. He called my name in his strong, booming voice, "Dickie Harrell!" He paused, as if to create one last bit of tension, one last test, and said "why are you down here with the others Sir? You are an Ajarn now, and Ajarn's don't have to test. I think you know the ceremony by now!"
All I could think about was that he's always testing us, always guiding us to get the best out of us!
What an experience; what a journey!

-Together with original Bruce Lee student Larry Hartsell, opened the first authorized academy to teach Jeet Kune Do on the east coast.
-fought professionally under the Professional Karate Assoc (PKA) from 1976-1978
-hosted first Sifu Inosanto seminar outside of California in 1982
-trained and represented numerous fighters in regional Muay Thai - Thai Boxing events, including Tim Sielaff - North American amateur lightweight title @ inaugural TBA championships in Iowa, 2007
-personally trained several Carolina Panther football players, including all-pro receiver Steve Smith, and offensive lineman Jeff Schwartz
-featured in the book "The Jeet Kune Do Experience - Understanding Bruce Lee's Ultimate Martial Art".
-First student of Dan Inosanto to receive Apprentice Instructor certification on the east coast.
-Currently serves as the TBA Representative for North and South Carolina.
-Promoted to Ajarn in July 2011

Click to Read more about The Early Years

Click to Read more about Dick's training with Sifu Larry Hartsell!