b. 1949 in Port Arthur, Texas
- Education & Service Record: French High School - Beaumont, Texas in 1967.
- U.S. Marine Corp-Pvt. E-1 to Sgt. E-5 (1968 - 1970)
- Lamar University - Beaumont, Texas in August, 1977 A.S. in Law Enforcement, B.S. in Criminal Justice.
- South Texas College of Law - May, 1981 Doctor of Jurisprudence.
Born on June 14, 1949 in Port Arthur, Texas, Patrick Hardy attended French High School in Beaumont, Texas, graduating in 1968. Following graduation, Hardy enlisted in the Marine Corps serving from 1968 to 1970, moving through the ranks from Private E-1 to Sergeant E-5. He attended Lamar University – Beaumont earning an A.S. in Law Enforcement and a B.S. in Criminal Justice in 1977 and in May 1981, he earned his Doctor of Jurisprudence from South Texas College of Law. Patrick Hardy began his Karate training at age 16, under the direction of Jack Hebert in Port Arthur, Texas. Hardy also trained with Ernest "Radar" Smith before receiving his 1st Black Belt from Smith in 1974. He then received his 2nd Black Belt from Hebert in 1975. During his Black Belt career, Hardy competed in many tournaments winning 43 first place, 12 second place, 6 third place, and 2 fourth place finishes. Hardy reached professional status when he claimed the 1975 U.S. Karate Championship title. As a professional full-contact fighter, Hardy was World Rated in the Top Ten on different occasions between 1975 -1977. He fought his way up to the 1977 World Championship Bout but was defeated. Following that fight, he retired from professional Karate competition to pursue his legal career. He has continued his involvement in the martial arts by learning and teaching Gracie Jiu-Jitsu in Silsbee, Texas. Hardy was named the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Senior Division National Blue Belt Champion for his weight class in 1997, 1998, and 1999. From 2000-2008, he competed extensively in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, winning four (4) World Titles, four (4) Pan American Titles, and three (3) National Titles in his age and weight class at the largest Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournaments in the world which are hosted by the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation. In 2004, he was the legendary Royce Gracie’s first Black Belt, an achievement that Hardy has stated was his proudest moment in the Martial Arts. Later that year, Hardy won the IBJJF American Nationals. In 2005, Hardy took third in the Pan Am and won the Worlds in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. Following the death of his close friend and training partner, Brad Rehor, Hardy was out of competition for 2006 and 2007. In 2008, with the help of Travis Lutter, Buddy Clinton, Tony Tipton, Bret Bosler, and many others from Team Lutter, Hardy came back to win the Pan Ams and No-Gi Worlds. He now holds a Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do, Tang Soo Do, Shoto Kan (5th Degree) and Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. In National and World Competitions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Hardy won 21 Gold Medals, 4 Silver Medals, and 7 Bronze Medals in a 12 year period. Patrick Hardy is presently the Assistant District Attorney and Criminal Investigator in Hardin County, Texas.
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