About Richard Morris

Richard Morris became Fort Worth Police Officer in 1978 and has served in many capacities. He retired from the FWPD in 2014 as the Gang Intelligence Sergeant. As the Fort Worth Police Department’s Gang Intelligence Sergeant in the Tactical Investigations Division, Richard supervised Gang Intelligence Officers and Detectives, as well as Gang Intervention and Prevention officers. He worked closely with the FWPD Homeland Security Intel Unit, Criminal Tracking Unit, Human Trafficking Unit, SWAT, Zero Tolerance, and Narcotics. In this role, Richard worked synergistically with several state and federal law enforcement agencies for investigations and prosecution of narcoterrorism and other organized crime by Criminal Street Gangs, Security Threat Groups and Mexican Drug Cartel Organizations. He served on the DEA Task Force, and on the Homeland Security Investigations Task Force. Richard has attended thousands of hours of training devoted to learning and teaching police, self-defense training, tactical operations, arrest control tactics and related skills, criminal investigations, intelligence gathering, gangs, domestic terrorism, and organized crime. As a Tactical Operations Instructor, he teaches dynamic entry and operational planning. Richard is a Certified Mental Health Peace Officer, former United Methodist pastor, FWPD Peer Team Member, and has Basic/Advanced Certifications in Crisis Intervention and Critical Incident/Stress Management.

Richard is a 10th degree Black Belt Grandmaster in American Karate, Tae-Kwon-do, and Shizen-Na Karate. He is the founder of Shizen-Na Karate (The natural way of fighting with empty hands). As a professional fighter, was a member of the original Texas Gladiators and the Fort Worth Texans in full-contact karate kick-boxing. He was the 1983 Texas State Middleweight Karate Champion, and trained several state, national and world champions. Richard s either a black belt, or at least an advanced student, in several other Martial Arts disciplines, such as: Judo, Kodokwon Jiu-Jitsu, Aikido, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Hapkido, Kenpo, Ho-Jutsu, Boxing, Kickboxing, wrestling, and more. Richard is also a Black Belt in MCMAP (Marine Corps Martial Arts Program). He was inducted into several Hall of Fames, including: the International Karate and Kickboxers Hall of Fame, the Karate Masters Hall of Fame, the Masters Hall of Fame, the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame, the World Black Belt’s Living Legends, the Museum of Sports Karate History Generals, and the Museum of Sports Karate Hall of Fame. Richard studies the science of fighting with his “Fight Science Team” of medical doctors, registered nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, kinesiologists, engineers, mathematicians, exercise physiologists, an OSHA Safety and Environment consultant, police officers, members of the US military (including some members of Special Operations Groups), and more. This Shizen-Na Karate system teaches natural movements and virtually eliminates torsional injuries to the ankles and knees, among others.

Richard has integrated his 44 years of teaching Karate and self-defense to police officers and federal agents with the fight dynamics needed in police work. Since the early 1980s, he was instrumental in establishing the Fort Worth Police Department’s Officer Survival School, Self-Defense, Arrest Control Tactics, Koga Baton, and Defensive Tactics training programs. By teaching officers how to overcome and control attackers using a principles-based methodology, officers learn the principles of the psychological and physiological dynamics of fighting. Officers learn how to effectively protect themselves, fellow officers, innocent victims, as well as the attacker. Richard has studied years of Worker’s Compensation claims, and he has investigated and addressed the physiological and tactical issues that cause injuries. Richard currently is an adviser to law enforcement agencies to help reduce Worker’s Compensation claims and civil litigation from use of force related issues. As an expert witness in this field, Richard has testified in Federal Civil Court proceedings.

As a published author, Richard was a featured author in Michelle Prince’s book, Dare to be a Difference Maker, Volume V. Richard's new book, On Fighting: the Police Science of Arrest and Control is about to be released. Richard is also collaborating in the co-writing of a new book for military and law enforcement agencies with his friend, retired Lt. Colonel Dave Grossman, the Pulitzer nominated author of On Killing. Col. Grossman also wrote On Combat, Warrior Mindset, and more. Richard’s book with Col. Grossman, On Fighting: the Psychology and Physiology of Violent Street Encounters, will undoubtably save the lives of many of our nation’s warriors. Richard has produced several video training courses related to the warrior skill set, and has published several articles on police training, self-defense, and close quarter combat.

Richard is a Certified Ziglar Legacy Speaker, Trainer, and Professional Business Coach. As a Certified Ziglar Legacy Speaker, Richard gives keynote presentations, seminars, and workshops about Goal Setting and Achieving, Personal Development, Relationship Building, Leadership, and more.

In November 2014, Tom Ziglar, CEO of Ziglar, Inc. appointed Richard as the Exclusive Personal Protection Coach for the Zig Ziglar Corporation. Richard teaches programs for the law enforcement and military community, as well as business and church groups. Richard has been a professional speaker and has taught tens of thousands of students, as well as conducted self-defense courses and seminars across the world. Richard was featured on ABC Niteline with Ted Kopple, CNN, Good Morning America, World News Tonight, NBC Nightly News, and many other forms of media.