Sherman Harrill
Encyclopedia
Sherman Jordan "Tank" "Sherminator" "Harru" Harrill (May 11, 1941–November 4, 2002) was an American Isshinryu Karate
teacher.
Harrill was one of four children of Ernie Eldorse and Etna Estle (Churchill) Harrill. While he was still young, his family relocated to Carson, Iowa
where he finished High School. After graduating High School, at the age of 17, Harrill enlisted in The United States Marines Corps on July 21, 1958. After finishing boot camp
and supplemental training Harrill was assigned to the Third Marine Division
and stationed at Camp Courtney
on Okinawa, Japan
beginning on March 6, 1959. There he was bunkmates with Charlie Connor, Gary Baker and John De Santis, who introduced him to Isshinryu Karate founder Tatsuo Shimabuku
.
Harrill was one of the founding members of the Okinawan Karate Union, an organization that was dedicated to the promulagation and preservation of Isshinryu Karate in the United States and abroad. He was recognized by "Who's Who in Isshinryu Karate" and was inducted into the Isshinryu Karate Hall of Fame in 2001.
and later moved to Storm Lake, Iowa
where he took a job at Import Motors. On September 11, 1964, he married Linda Marie Nelson at the Storm Lake United Methodist Church
. Together, the couple had two daughters Leslie Marie and Courtney Ann. The family relocated to Carson, Iowa where Harrill worked at Tim O'Neill Auto center as a salesmen and eventually as their service manager.
While residing in Carson, Harrill began teaching Isshinryu Karate to his two daughters, Greg Eggers, and Egger's daughter Angela.
In 1983, Harrill's daughters were killed, along with Angela Eggers, when the vehicle they were riding in was struck by a drunk driver
. Harrill then took a job as a school bus
driver with the Macedonia School District and later opened Harrill's School of Isshinryu Karate. During this period Harrill also began traveling throughout the United States teaching Isshinryu Karate, he also traveled to South Africa
to teach karate. Harrill's seminars focused on basics (kihion), forms (kata) and self defense
fighting (kumite) techniques.
In 2002, Harrill was diagnosed with esophogeal and stomach cancer
. He died on November 4, 2002, as a result of complications of cancer surgery. He was buried with full military honors provided by a Color Guard
provided by The United States Marine Corps
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Isshin-ryu
is a style of Okinawan karate founded by Tatsuo Shimabuku and named by him on 15 January 1956. Isshin-Ryū karate is largely a synthesis of Shorin-ryū karate, Gojū-ryū karate, and kobudō. The name means, literally, "one heart method"...
teacher.
Early years
Born in Lebanon, MissouriLebanon, Missouri
Lebanon is a city in Laclede County, Missouri, United States. The estimated population in July 2009 was 14,292. The population was 12,155 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Laclede County. The Lebanon Micropolitan Statistical Area consists of Laclede County.-Geography:Lebanon is located at...
Harrill was one of four children of Ernie Eldorse and Etna Estle (Churchill) Harrill. While he was still young, his family relocated to Carson, Iowa
Carson, Iowa
Carson is a city in Pottawattamie County, Iowa, United States. The population was 668 at the 2000 census.-History:Carson was formed in 1881 as a result of the establishment of a depot on the Burlington and Rock Island Railroad at this location during the previous year.-Geography:Carson's longitude...
where he finished High School. After graduating High School, at the age of 17, Harrill enlisted in The United States Marines Corps on July 21, 1958. After finishing boot camp
Recruit training
Recruit training, more commonly known as Basic Training and colloquially called Boot Camp, is the initial indoctrination and instruction given to new military personnel, enlisted and officer...
and supplemental training Harrill was assigned to the Third Marine Division
U.S. 3rd Marine Division
The 3rd Marine Division is an infantry division in the United States Marine Corps based at Camp Courtney, Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler, Okinawa, Japan. It is one of three active duty divisions in the Marine Corps, and together with the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing and the 3rd Marine...
and stationed at Camp Courtney
Camp Courtney
Camp Courtney is a United States Marine Base located in Uruma City, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. It is part of the larger Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler and home to the III Marine Expeditionary Force headquarters as well as the 3rd Marine Division Headquarters. It is named after Major...
on Okinawa, Japan
Okinawa Prefecture
is one of Japan's southern prefectures. It consists of hundreds of the Ryukyu Islands in a chain over long, which extends southwest from Kyūshū to Taiwan. Okinawa's capital, Naha, is located in the southern part of Okinawa Island...
beginning on March 6, 1959. There he was bunkmates with Charlie Connor, Gary Baker and John De Santis, who introduced him to Isshinryu Karate founder Tatsuo Shimabuku
Shimabuku Tatsuo
Tatsuo Shimabuku was the founder of Isshin-ryū karate.-Family:Tatsuo Shimabuku was born in Kyan [Chan] village, Okinawa, on September 19, 1908. He was the first of ten children born into a farming family. By the age of 12, he had a strong desire to study martial arts...
.
Isshinryu Karate
Harrill began studying in 1959 under Tatsuo Shimabuku at his karate dojo in Agena, Okinawa, where he studied for approximately 14 months. He was awarded his first degree black belt (shodan) in 1960. Prior to leaving Okinawa, in mid-May 1960, Tatsuo Shimabuku called a meeting with Harrill and John De Santis. At that meeting he asked them if they planned to teach karate upon returning to the United States. When Harrill and DeSantis said yes, they received the rank of sixth degree black belt (rokudan) to be assumed at a later date after they had years of training and fulfilled the requirements.Harrill was one of the founding members of the Okinawan Karate Union, an organization that was dedicated to the promulagation and preservation of Isshinryu Karate in the United States and abroad. He was recognized by "Who's Who in Isshinryu Karate" and was inducted into the Isshinryu Karate Hall of Fame in 2001.
Return to the United States
Harrill returned to the United States and took a job as a mechanic at Sayer's Volkswagen in Council Bluffs, IowaCouncil Bluffs, Iowa
Council Bluffs, known until 1852 as Kanesville, Iowathe historic starting point of the Mormon Trail and eventual northernmost anchor town of the other emigrant trailsis a city in and the county seat of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, United States and is on the east bank of the Missouri River across...
and later moved to Storm Lake, Iowa
Storm Lake, Iowa
Storm Lake is a city in Buena Vista County, Iowa, United States. The population was 10,600 in the 2010 census, an increase from 10,076 in the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Buena Vista County. Storm Lake is home to Buena Vista University, originally Buena Vista College...
where he took a job at Import Motors. On September 11, 1964, he married Linda Marie Nelson at the Storm Lake United Methodist Church
United Methodist Church
The United Methodist Church is a Methodist Christian denomination which is both mainline Protestant and evangelical. Founded in 1968 by the union of The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church, the UMC traces its roots back to the revival movement of John and Charles Wesley...
. Together, the couple had two daughters Leslie Marie and Courtney Ann. The family relocated to Carson, Iowa where Harrill worked at Tim O'Neill Auto center as a salesmen and eventually as their service manager.
While residing in Carson, Harrill began teaching Isshinryu Karate to his two daughters, Greg Eggers, and Egger's daughter Angela.
In 1983, Harrill's daughters were killed, along with Angela Eggers, when the vehicle they were riding in was struck by a drunk driver
Drunk driving (United States)
Drunk driving is the act of operating and/or driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs to the degree that mental and motor skills are impaired...
. Harrill then took a job as a school bus
School bus
A school bus is a type of bus designed and manufactured for student transport: carrying children and teenagers to and from school and school events...
driver with the Macedonia School District and later opened Harrill's School of Isshinryu Karate. During this period Harrill also began traveling throughout the United States teaching Isshinryu Karate, he also traveled to South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
to teach karate. Harrill's seminars focused on basics (kihion), forms (kata) and self defense
Self-defense
Self-defense, self-defence or private defense is a countermeasure that involves defending oneself, one's property or the well-being of another from physical harm. The use of the right of self-defense as a legal justification for the use of force in times of danger is available in many...
fighting (kumite) techniques.
In 2002, Harrill was diagnosed with esophogeal and stomach cancer
Stomach cancer
Gastric cancer, commonly referred to as stomach cancer, can develop in any part of the stomach and may spread throughout the stomach and to other organs; particularly the esophagus, lungs, lymph nodes, and the liver...
. He died on November 4, 2002, as a result of complications of cancer surgery. He was buried with full military honors provided by a Color Guard
Color guard
In the military of the United States and other militaries, the color guard carries the National Color and other flags appropriate to its position in the chain of command. Typically these include a unit flag and a departmental flag...
provided by The United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
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Sources
- Murphey, Milledge. "Isshinryu Karate-do" (1996) One Heart Publishing Co. ISBN 978-0965345200
- Jacob, Rob. "Martial Arts Biographies" (2005) iUniverse, Inc. ISBN 0595348610
- Morris, Glen. "Path Notes of an American Ninja" (1993) North Atlantic Books ISBN 1556431570
External links
- Sensei Sherman Harrill. Harrill's School of Isshinryu Website. Retrieved November 4. http://web.archive.org/web/20091026221014/http://geocities.com/harrillsisshinryu/sensei.htm