Instructors
Jim Harrison
Director - Head Instructor
5th Degree Master Black Belt Tae Kwon Do, Karate, Tang Soo Do
Master Jim Harrison has been involved in martial arts for over thirty years
receiving his first degree black belt in Karate in 1974 under then Master Young
Hong. Jim trained with Master Hong in Shotokan Karate and Tang Soo Do through
1978. Jim taught karate in Rockford from 1978 to 1980. Master Harrison is
certified in Karate, Tae Kwon Do and Tang Soo Do.
From 1973 to 1981 Jim competed in a number of local, regional and national
tournaments, winning the National Championship in the men’s light heavyweight
Black Belt division at the 1976 Midwest Open Karate Invitational Tournament in
Kansas City, Kansas. Jim’s tournament record included a total of 39 fights with
a record of 36-3.
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Carolyn Harrison
Co-Director - Instructor
3rd Degree Black Belt Tae Kwon Do, Karate
1st Degree Black Belt, Tang Soo Do
Carolyn has been involved in martial arts since 2000. Carolyn is certified
in Tae Kwon Do and Karate. Carolyn heads up the children’s martial arts program
at The Martial Arts Club and will be teaching Tae Kwon Do to children, teens
and adults.
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Giorgio Vidali
4th Degree Black Belt Nippon Kempo
1st Degree Black Belt Judo, Iaido
Giorgio Vidali was born in Italy in 1955 and was introduced to Martial Arts
at an early age. In 1973 he discovered the art of Nippon Kempo and started
learning and practicing under Master Armando Santambrogio – in his Fuji Yama
dojo in Gallarate (a small town in the North of Italy).
At the end of the 1970’s Armando Santambrogio obtained his qualification of
Master and Giorgio Vidali was one of the first Italian Nippon Kempo
athletes to receive a Nippon Kempo Black Belt. At the beginning of the 1980’s
Master Armando Santambrogio arranged for Master Toshio Koike to teach in
the Fuji Yama dojo. Giorgio Vidali studied with Master Toshio Koike for
approximately 2 years, and then traveled to Japan to study with Master Hicoichi
Tokimutsu.
After returning to Italy, Giorgio continued his study of Nippon Kempo and in
1982 was trusted with the Technical direction of the Fuji Yama dojo in Busto
Arsizio (Giorgio’s home town) – which he held until 1985 when he moved to the
United States.
Even though formal, national and international “championships” were
introduced only at the end of the 1980’s, between 1977 and 1983 Giorgio Vidali
competed in a number of tournaments for a total of 82 fights, with a record of
73-9.
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