Dane Harden inducted into martial arts hall

ABINGDON, Va. – Martial arts instructor Dane Harden, who founded a dojo on Lee Highway, is now an inductee of the national Martial Arts Masters Hall of Fame.

A six-degree black belt, physician’s assistant and National Guard soldier who has taught martial arts for more than 30 years, Harden was honored with the Hall of Fame’s Lifetime Achievement Award during a June 19 ceremony in Anaheim, Calif., as part of Disney’s Martial Arts Festival at Disneyland Resort.

“I knew the competition was pretty stiff, I didn’t know if I would be inducted or not,” Harden said, adding that the glass award he received is “the nicest award I’ve ever gotten.”

Dana Abbott, 54, who has been Harden’s instructor for about a year and is an ambassador for the Masters Hall of Fame, recommended Harden for the award.

“He’s different from the other students to the point that he gets things done,” Abbott said, adding that Harden’s military experience has had a lot to do with his success. “He’s one of the last old-school martial artists who take it on to the last level.”

Abbott, who runs a dojo called Samurai Sports in Arizona, said Harden travels over to train with him in the sword when he can and he is well-known in the martial arts community.

Harden also is a decorated combat veteran, with 24 years of military experience, including service in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Abbott said he nominates only a few students a year to the Hall of Fame. “When I nominate people, it’s a gimme,” he said.

Established in 1999, the Masters Hall of Fame is a nonprofit organization that promotes leadership and events in the martial arts community. It recognizes leaders by naming them to the Martial Arts Masters Hall of Fame.

“Being admitted into the Martial Arts Masters Hall Of Fame is a career milestone,” said Harden, who at age 51 has black belts in three different disciplines. “This lifetime award is considered one of the highest honors given by the international martial arts community and is reserved for recognition of dedication, skill, and leadership in the martial arts community.”

Bruce Feigenbaum, who accompanied Harden to California for the ceremony, said the honor is not one to be taken lightly. However, he said, he’s not surprised that Harden received the accolades.

“He is one of the true martial artists that you don’t really see,” Feigenbaum said of Harden. “He is like the Michael Jordan of karate and yet he is very humble.”

Harden said one of the highlights of the ceremony was when he was seated next to Bo Svenson, an actor in “Heart Break Ridge” and “Walking Tall.” Harden said Svenson was his father’s favorite actor. His father passed away about 12 years ago and was a big influence in his martial arts training, he said.

Kevin Blok, a full-time professional martial artist who teaches in Canada and has earned an eighth-degree black belt in Aikido, has been instructing Harden in Aikido for about six years.

“He’s willing to go way out of his way for his training,” Blok said, adding that Harden often comes up to Canada for a few days at a time to train with him. “He is a simple, down-to-earth fellow who works hard to achieve what he can.”

Blok also said Harden is a very balanced individual because of the influence of both his martial arts and military backgrounds.

“His military side is tempered by the discipline he learns in the martial arts,” Block said, adding that he “doesn’t play the tough guy.”

Pete Marghella, a student of Harden’s for 30 years and an instructor in the martial arts, called Harden “a force of nature” and said this award is “recognition that is long over due.”

“Abingdon is going to become a Mecca for the martial arts because people want to hang with that guy,” Marghella said.

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