National & World Champions
Jim Harrison
- 3-Time Karate All American Grand Champion
- 3-Time AAU Judo Regional Champion
- U.S. L1 Heavyweight Kick-Boxing Champion
- Coach of U.S. Professional Karate Team 3 Times World Champion
Janet Walgren
- 3-Time Women’s Karate Champion
- National Open
- U.S. Invitational
- U.S.K.A. National World’s Fair Award
Mark Payne
- 2-Time Midwest Grand Champion
- #4 World Rated P.K.A. Med. Wt. National Lt. Wt. Champion
- All American Mdl. Wt. Champion
Bob “Thunder” Thurman
- World Champion Full Contact Karate
Ray Patton
- #5 World Rated P.K.A. Lt. Wt.
Jeff Payne
- #4 World Rated P.K.A. Lt. Wt.
Dirk Harrison
- U.S.K.A. National Jr. Karate Champion
- Grand National Jr. Karate Champion
- U.S. Invitational Jr. Karate Champion
- 5-Time AAU Judo Jr. Div. Champion
Harry Parker
- 7-Time AAU Judo Jr. Div. Champion
- 5-Time AAU Senior Champion
- 3-Time AAU Judo Outstanding Player
- AAU Athlete of the Year
- 5-Time Mo. Valley Grand Champion
Shawn Harrison
- U.S.K.A. National Jr. Karate Champion
- Grand National Jr. Karate Champion
- Undefeated AAU Competition 8-years
- 3-Time AAU Judo Outstanding Player
- U.S. Invitational Jr. Karate Champion
- All American Jr. Karate Champion
Steve Mackey
- #2 World Rated P.K.A. Mdl. Wt.
- #3 World Rated P.K.A. Lt. Hwy. Wt.
- Shoot Fighting World Champion Tokyo Japan 1990
Pat Miller
- National Junior Judo Champion
Terrah Berger
- National Junior Judo Champion
Kari Gabriel
- 2-Time Judo Jr. National Champion
Tiffany Berger
- 6-Time Judo Jr. National Champion
Black Belt Champions
Ned Day
- All American Lt. Wt. Black Belt Champion
Jay Garrett
- U.S.K.A. National Black Belt Champion
Steve Mackey
- All American Heavy Weight Black Belt Champion
Brown Belt Champions
Jim Cox
- U.S.K.A. National Brown Belt Champion
- International Brown Belt Champion
Jerry Irwin
- 2-Time All American Brown Belt Champion
Ned Day
- All American Brown Belt Champion
Jay Garrett
- Grand National Brown Belt Champion
Green Belt Champions
Jim Carroll
- U.S.K.A. National Green Belt Champion
Greg Williams
- All American Green Belt Champion
Bob Dever
- National Judo Green Belt Champion
Ned Day
- National Open Green Belt Champion
White Belt Champions
Bob Osborn
- National White Belt Champion
Ray Patton
- All American White Belt Champion
Rick Gridder
- National White Belt Champion
Bill Mackey
- All American White Belt Champion
Jeff Payne
- National White Belt Champion
Chuck Northcott
- U.S.K.A National White Belt Champion
Joe Smedley
- All American White Belt Champion
Stories
In 1964, Judo became an Olympic sport. SAKURA’s Shawn Harrison – a Three Time National Champion – was selected for the 1980 U.S. Judo team; however, President Carter decided the U.S. should boycott the ’80 Olympic Gams in Moscow, USSR.
Sensei Harrison won the National Maters Championships in April and placed 3rd in the World Master Athlete Judo Championships in June. In May – exactly midway between the two tournaments – he lost a match with the automatic door at the Southgate Mall and tore cartilage and ligaments in his left knee and re-injured the right knee. He couldn’t train at all for the upcoming World Games. He did, however, get in one (15 minute) light workout Wednesday, before the tournament began on Friday.