merriman-pat

NORTH DAKOTA
Pat Merriman ’86
Dunn County State Attorney

Pat Merriman (J.D. ’86) could apprehend a criminal with his bare hands, but he prefers to use the law. The North Dakota state’s attorney is also a ninth-degree black belt.

His father first encouraged him to learn martial arts in order to protect himself against bullies. Merriman was born with a mild form of Asperger’s syndrome and says he had trouble fitting in as a child.

“My dad convinced me that unless I wanted to get beat up every day … I should learn how to fight.”

Decades later, Merriman is still practicing martial arts. In fact, he founded his own system of Aiki Ju Jutsu, later teaching it to police officers and members of the military.

In the late 1990s, Merriman got a call from a man named Leonard Holifield. He had read Merriman’s book Martial Arts and the Law and wanted to nominate Merriman to the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame.

“I actually said, ‘Yeah, right,’ and I hung up on the guy,” Merriman recalls.

The man called Merriman back, clarifying that he was the cousin of five-time heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield.

Through that connection, Merriman was eventually inducted into the U.S. and World Martial Arts Halls of Fames.

“I was just in the right place at the right time,” he says.

Merriman and his wife also run a martial arts academy that operates in North Dakota, Oklahoma and Missouri. Through that work, they have mentored several children into adulthood.

“Selena and I have actually raised probably another dozen children who were just lost souls wandering the streets and found my dojo,” Merriman says. “Being a soke or head founder is a Japanese compliment. It means ‘grandfather’ or ‘head man.’ Your students are considered to be your children.”

Merriman currently ranks as a ninth-degree black belt. In order for Merriman to get the top rank, he must die.

“I’m not really looking forward to that promotion,” Merriman jokes.

As a martial artist and an attorney, Merriman compares his work to the morals of a Japanese samurai.

“As a state’s attorney, I am sworn to protect the weak and helpless. That’s the Code of Bushido distilled to its basic essence,” Merriman says. “Martial arts teaches you that not everyone will like you, but they will respect you.”

Merriman says his time at UMKC’s School of Law helped prepare him for a life of service.

“The research and writing, appellate and trial advocacy programs prepared me for the work I have enjoyed over the last 30 years,” Merriman says. “I would recommend UMKC to any aspiring lawyers out there.”

 

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