Harold Howard

Harold Clarence Howard (born 1958) is a Canadian retired martial artist who earned a blackbelt in jujutsu under Steve Reynolds and in Gōjū-ryū karate under Yogi Israel and was the first World Sport Jujutsu Heavyweight Champion in 1984. Howard is more widely known for competing in the Ultimate Fighting Championship where he made it to the final of the Ultimate Fighting Championship's third tournament. Howard is also well known for once executing a scissor-flip kick during his battle with Steve Jennum in the UFC 3 finals.

For other people named Harold Howard, see Harold Howard (disambiguation).
Harold Howard
BornHarold Clarence Howard
1958 (age 61–62)
Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
NationalityCanadian
Height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight240 lb (110 kg; 17 st)
DivisionHeavyweight (265lbs)
Rank 4th Degree Black Belt in Iki Shin Do
3rd Degree Black Belt in Jujutsu
3rd Degree Black Belt in Gōjū-ryū Karate
2nd Degree Black Belt in Shito-ryū Karate
Mixed martial arts record
Total4
Wins1
By knockout1
Losses3
By submission3
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Biography

Early life

Howard grew up in Richmond Hill, Ontario. He began training at age 17 with Steve Reynolds in Jiu-Jitsu Kai. Harold moved to Niagara Falls in 1983 and taught Karate and Jiu Jitsu at James Morden School and the YMCA. Harold opened his Action Karate and Jiu Jitsu Centre (as the Niagara Fighting Griffin Fitness and Martial Arts) in 1984 and has excelled both as a competitor and as a trainer/coach having various students among the top Sport Karate and Sport Jiu-Jitsu competitors in the world.

Howard has earned a 4th degree in Iki Shin Do (under John Anderson), 3rd degree in Jujutsu Kai ( Steve Reynolds), 3rd degree in Gōjū-ryū (Yogi Israel), and a 2nd degree in Chito-ryū (Monty Guest). He is the founder of the Katsudo-te-Jitsu style and is a 6th Degree - 2 grades above his highest ranking students.

Jujutsu

In 1984, Harold was the first Canadian Heavyweight Sport Ju-Jutsu Champion and represented Canada in the first world ju-jutsu championships sanctioned by the World Council of Ju-Jutsu Organizations (WCJO).

At the 1984 World Championships, he was a member of the gold medal winning Canadian team (heavyweight) and also won the individual World Heavyweight Jiu-Jitsu Championship as the gold medal winner of the men's heavyweight fighting division.

Karate

Howard captured the Canadian Heavy Weight Karate Championship three times in 1982, 1983 and 1984 and was a member of the Canadian National Karate team in 1986 and 1987. During that time he was the top rated sport karate fighter in Canada.

After potentially career ending back surgery in 1988, Howard made his return to competition in 1992 (at 34) and won a silver medal at the NBL (National Blackbelt League) World Championships in Sport Karate. He was undefeated entering the finals but had to bow out of the final 2 matches due to injury.

Mixed martial arts

With a final record of 1-3 in what would later become known as mixed martial arts, Howard went 1-2 in the UFC[1]

Personal life

Harold is married with three children, two sons and a daughter. Up until 2009, Howard was doing roofing jobs while still operating a small school—Howard’s Self-Defense Systems in Niagara Falls, Ontario.[2]

On December 22, 2009, Howard was charged with two counts of attempted murder, two counts of assault with a weapon, attempted breaking and entering, failure to remain, flight from police, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, mischief and two counts breach of recognizance after being captured by police. The events leading to said arrest include attacking his sister and nephew with a hammer, attempting to force his way into his estranged wife's home, and finally crashing his car into the Fallsview Casino.[3] In the end, Harold was sentenced to just shy of five years in prison.[4]

Mixed martial arts record
Professional record breakdown
4 matches 1 win 3 losses
By knockout 1 3
By submission 0 0
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 1-3 Hugo Duarte Submission (punches) UVF 3 - Universal Vale Tudo Fighting 3 August 14, 1996 1 0:29 Tokyo, Japan
Loss 1-2 Mark Hall Submission (strikes) UFC 7 September 8, 1995 1 1:41 Buffalo, New York, United States
Loss 1-1 Steve Jennum Submission (punches) UFC 3 September 9, 1994 1 1:27 Charlotte, North Carolina, United States
Win 1-0 Roland Payne KO (punch) UFC 3 September 9, 1994 1 0:46 Charlotte, North Carolina, United States

References
  1. "Fighter Profile". fightmagazine.com. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-07-21.
  2. "Harold Howard: Where Is He Now?". Sherdog.
  3. Ricciuto, Tony (2011-11-14). "Truck crashes through casino entrance". Niagara Falls Review. Archived from the original on 2012-02-29. Retrieved 2011-11-20.
  4. "*Updated* Mulletted UFC Meme Harold Howard Sentenced to Five Years in Prison". Cagepotato. Retrieved 2011-11-20.
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