Back when Harrison was seven years old, her first instructor was World Master Judo Champion Frank Herzog and he was among the crowd that greeted her with cheers as she was the star of the opening of a new martial arts studio in Middletown.
Herzog told the Journal-News he noticed Harrison’s tenacity right away.
Her international success - and undefeated MMA fighting record - didn’t surprise him nor many others who have followed her meteoric career.
“Ask anyone in the martial arts community throughout the world and they will tell you how exceptional Kayla is,” said Herzog, who was also a two-time national judo champion and founder of the academy.
“When Kayla first stepped on the mat, there was a glow about her and there was a look on her face that said ‘this is what I want,’” he said recalling their days together in Middletown.
“The tenacity was there and I knew I had something different in this young lady. She is flying high now but she keeps her feet on the ground and she doesn’t forget where she came from,” said Herzog.
Harrison proudly calls herself a Middletown “Middie” and said the Butler County city is her hometown forever.
“This is always where my heart will be. This is where I grew up and this is what I’ll always call home and I miss it dearly,” Harrison, who lives in Florida, told the Journal-News.
In October the rising MMA superstar will fight in Vegas in the mixed martial arts Professional Fighters League (PFL) in a semi-final tournament match.
Harrison predicted that match will be her stepping stone to the PFL national championship match in New York City’s Madison Square Garden on New Year’s Eve where the PFL champ goes home $1 million richer.
About the Author