Harold_Sharp

Harold Sharp

Harold Sharp

American judoka (1927–2021)

Harold "Hal" Sharp (1927 – March 21, 2021) was an American judoka and author of books on judo.

Quick Facts Born, Died ...

Personal life

Sharp was born in 1927.[1] Sharp was deployed with the army in 1945 to Japan and learned about martial arts.[2] He attended Los Angeles State College.[3]

Judo competition

He earned his first black belt from the Kodokan.[3] In Japan, he was assigned as being a body guard of Emperor Hirohito.[4] He was a student of Takahiko Ishikawa. He was the winner of the first Foreign Judo Championships in 1954.[2] He became captain of the 1955 US Goodwill Team.[5] Sharp though stated that the Captain was John Osaka and he was a member of the team.[6]

Author

He co-authored The Sport of Judo,[7] Boys' Judo: Sport, Defense,[8] and The Techniques of Judo (Tuttle Martial Arts).[9] These books sold over 250,000 copies. [10] He served as a technical advisor for "Mrs Judo", a movie about Keiko Fukuda.[11] He is a 9th dan in Judo.[12] His final book was "The Road To Black Belt."[13]

Judo career

Sharp had a number of Judo friends including that of Charles Palmer (judoka)[13] He also served as instructor for Star Trek's William Shatner.[13]

Honors

Sharp was inducted into the USA Judo Hall of Fame in 2019.[14] Sharp died on March 21, 2021.[1][15]

References

  1. [1]
    https://www.usjf.com/2018/02/harold-hal-sharp/
  2. [2]
    "A Martial Arts Love Affair - Fight Times Magazine". Magazine.fighttimes.com. 2004-12-01. Retrieved 2015-03-14.
  3. [3]
    Inc, Active Interest Media (1 November 1964). "Black Belt". Active Interest Media, Inc. – via Google Books. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  4. [4]
    https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/latimes/name/harold-sharp-obituary?id=6699283
  5. [5]
    "Black Belt January 1965 - Google Books". January 1965. Retrieved 2015-03-14.
  6. [6]
    "Black Belt February 1965 - Google Books". February 1965. Retrieved 2015-03-14.
  7. [7]
    "Harold E. Sharp: Books, Biography, Blog, Audiobooks, Kindle". Amazon.com. 1989-12-15. Retrieved 2015-03-14.
  8. [8]
    Sharp, Harold E.; Cook C Hadly JR (October 2011). Boys' Judo: Sport, Defense: Harold E. Sharp, Cook C. Hadly Jr., Bob Owen: 9781258128371: Amazon.com: Books. ISBN 978-1258128371.
  9. [9]
    The Techniques of Judo (Tuttle Martial Arts): Shinzo Takagaki, Harold E. Sharp: 0676251821123: Amazon.com: Books. ISBN 0804821127.
  10. [10]
    https://www.usjf.com/2018/02/harold-hal-sharp/
  11. [11]
    "L.A. Screening of 'Mrs. Judo'". Rafu.com. 2013-11-10. Retrieved 2015-03-14.
  12. [12]
    "USJF - Recent Promotions".
  13. [13]
    https://blackbeltmag.com/hal-sharp-judo
  14. [14]
  15. [15]
    http://www.nankajudo.com/the-life-of-harold-e-sharp-judo-icon-and-beloved-member-of-nanka-judo-yudanshakai/
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