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MASTER DANE HARDEN
Yoshinkan-Aikido
Biographical Sketch Courtesy Western Masters
Website
Master Dane S. Harden formed his nearly life-long affiliation with the martial arts when he began studying Aikido in 1969 at the age of ten in a small program run at a local college in Frostburg, Maryland. From there he went on to train in Tae Kwon Do with the Jhoon Rhee Institute, and over the course of almost forty years, he would go on to study numerous martial art's styles, eventually earning Black Belts in Aikido, Isshin Ryu Karate, and most notably a Sixth Dan in Tae Kwon Do. He was a major tournament competitor on the U.S. National Karate Circuit from the 1970's to the early 1990's, frequently earning top rankings in both forms and fighting at the regional and national levels. He has earned victories at tournaments like the Battle of Atlanta, the U.S. Diamond Nationals, and the Battle of Baltimore. He was an early full-contact karate competitor who competed professionally with the Professional Karate Circuit (PKA). Master Harden founded Western Masters Karate Systems and Western Masters Martial Arts in 1979. He recently completed a highly acclaimed instructional digital video disk series that was featured by "Black Belt Magazine" in their February 2009 essential gear section.
His professional education is equally impressive with two Bachelor of Science Degrees, one in Biological Sciences and the other in Respiratory Therapy, as well as a Masters Degree in Medical Science Education. He is a medical provider and board certified in Primary Care Medicine and General Surgery. Additionally, he is a Fellow of the Wilderness Medical Society, a Graduate of the United States Army Command and General Staff College, the United States Army Flight Surgeon Program, SERE School, Combat Tactical Medicine School, Military Combative Training, Medical Specialization courses in both Emergency Medicine and Orthopedics, and numerous other military and professional courses. Dane currently serves as a Senior Flight Surgeon and Lieutenant Colonel with more then twenty years of service to his country. He has been deployed to Estonia, Bosnia, Iraq, Afghanistan, and even Hurricane Katrina. A highly decorated combat veteran, some of his award submissions include the Bronze Star Medal, Combat Air Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, and the NATO Medal. Additionally, he was admitted to the extremely prestigious "Order of Military Medical Merit", given to less than 10% of all U.S. Army Medical Professionals.
One final note . . . Master Harden was recently admitted into the elite "Karate World Hall of Fame" for his lifetime achievements in various martial arts. Still an active martial artist and competitor who, at age "FIFTY-something" competed and won, both the Maryland and Pennsylvania State Championships for the forms divisions in 2008. He very recently won the Maryland State Karate Championship event held in Cumberland Maryland in April 2009!
His "martial credentials" are real world. Dane is married to a very supportive wife, Dr. Sherry Harden. They have one son and train together in Tae Kwon Do and Aikido regularly. Master Harden and family enjoy their peaceful life at home, and he has earned it.
Written by: Commander Pietro D. Marghella, USN (R), Current President of NPR. NPR works with Federal Agencies for our Nations..."Self-Defense".
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