Dave Rogers: When did you start your Muay Thai training?
Dick Harrell: I started my Muay Thai training
in 1984 when I met Ajarn Chai at Vic Payne’s Great Smokey Mountains Martial
Arts Camp. Prior to that, Guro Dan Inosanto had introduced me to Muay
Thai Training in 1983 and suggested I further my training with Ajarn Chai.
While I maintain my skills in the Filipino Martial Arts and Jun Fan/JKD
concepts, the thrust of my training for the last ten years has been Thai
boxing.
DR: We’ll then let’s go back, specifically when did your
Marital Arts training begin?
DH: I started in Shotokan Karate back in 1971
and around 1974 I started training with Larry Hartsell who at that time
was teaching at a Kung Fu school and the rule was that you had to be a
member of the school for a year before you could train with him. So I
was the first outsider, he waived that rule. Along the way I had three
kickboxing bouts just to get the experience. I won 2 and had one draw.
And then around 1980, Larry and I opened the first JKD school authorized
by Dan Inosanto outside the West coast.
DR: When did you meet Sifu Inosanto?
DH: Meeting Sifu Dan was certainly the beginning
of an incredible journey in my Martial Arts training. He was also instrumental
in introducing me to Ajarn Chai.
DR: We’ll then, back to 1984 when you met Ajarn Chai?
DH: What most impressed me about Muay Thai Training
was that it fulfilled every aspect of Martial Arts training for me; namely,
the transition from the ring to self-defense, the cardiovascular and strength
benefits, etc. If you trained under Ajarn Chai in those days, he drove
you until you had nothing left. I loved that!
DR: Did you know then that Thai Boxing was going to become
an important part of your life?
DH: Yes. The more time that I spent with Ajarn
Chai getting to know him, the art, and the philosophy of Thai Boxing,
the more I knew I would be devoted to helping him promote Thai Boxing
in the U.S.A.
DR: Do you have a school at the present time?
DH: No, I’ve just relocated to Charleston S.C.
and haven’t had the opportunity to do that. But I want to get back to
teaching on a regular basis and I teach seminars when the occasion arises.
My heart is there and I want to help Ajarn with promoting the art in anyway
I can. So along with my students Rob Kelly and his students, like Dan
King , we cover North and South Carolina.
DR: Finally, is there any thing else that you devote
your time to? Hobbies etc.?
DH: Most of my spare quality time centers around
my three sons, Kyle 14, Derek 13, and Brett 7 years old. All three are
involved in sports and fitness, the oldest and youngest being the most
interested in Martial Arts. They are a "dream come true" for
any father who ever wanted boys who love the sporting life. Kyle is a
fitness buff, while Derek is a "classic-level" soccer player.
Brett just wants to do it all!
DR: Would you like to say anything else?
DH: I would just like to thank Guro Dan and Ajarn
Chai for their patience and trust as well as the time they have invested
in training and supporting me over the last twenty years To these great
men, I am forever indebted.
