Dr. Haralson was born April 29, 1946 in Black River Falls, Wisconsin and began his martial arts study in 1972 under Grandmaster Duk Sung Son in Poughkeepsie, NY. He worked for the IBM Corporation for 17 years and then entered the ministry. He has served churches in Florida, Montana and currently is the Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church in Osceola, WI.

He holds a B.S. in mathematics and physics from the University of Wisconsin; a M.S. in Computer Science from Ohio State University; a Ph.D. in the martial arts from Feather River University; and a D.Min. in Pastoral Ministries from Anchor Theological Seminary.

He holds the following rankings:

• 9th Dan – United State Karate Association
• 8th Dan - Assumed rank as head of personal system
• 7th Dan - Global Martial Arts Federation
• 7th Dan - Kirisuto Shinsei Ji Ei Budo
• 6th Dan - Nippon Ketsugo Ryu
• 5th Dan - Nippon Kenpo Karate
• 4th Dan - Tae Kwon Do (Oh Do Kwan)
• 3rd Dan - Chi Tao Chuan
• 2nd Dan - Kami Sama Bushi Kan
• 1st Dan - Tae Kwon Do (WTA)
• 1st Dan - Kenpo Jitsu

He is the author of two books and five booklets. He was inducted into the Christian Martial Arts Hall of Fame in 1995 and the World Head of Family Hall of Fame in 1996. He is the chairman of the College of Christian Martial Arts, a division of the Great Plains Baptist Divinity School