Fighting.net Quiet Mind, Dangerous Body, Compassionate Soul™

Originally from the Chicago-Land area, Mike began his journey in the Martial Arts with Tae Kwon Do and Hapkido in 1978, eventually earning a 1st Degree Black Belt.  Throughout High-School Mike played on the Defensive Line of his school’s football team.  It was at this time that Mike first heard about Paul Vunak.  Soon thereafter Mike ordered a set of videos from Panther Productions.   Mike also began training in Chung Moo Quan and earned a 2nd degree Black Belt after 24 months of training, soon after leaving that organization.  Mike then began training in the Chinese Arts of Wing Chun, Southern Praying Mantis, and Shuai Chaoi.  After a few years of training, Mike earned a Black Sash rank in Praying Mantis and Shuai Chiao.  Mike joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1991 and served in the Infantry as a Rifleman.  After serving in the FMF for over a year he attended both Airbourne and Scuba schools; as well as training in a second MOS of Machine-Gunner.   While in the USMC Infantry, Mike reached the level of Instructor in the Marine Corps hand-to-hand system of L.I.N.E. Training.  Upon leaving the USMC in 1995, Mike moved to Orlando, Florida, and began training in a form of Indonesian Silat.  Shortly thereafter, Mike enlisted in the US Navy as a Hospital Corpsman which sent him back to work once again with the Marine’s of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.  After completing field training, Mike was sent to the Infantry Training Battalion to serve as an Instructor and Battalion Corpsman.  It was at this time that Mike became the personal training partner to L. Dominguez, who for the next 5 years taught Mike his blend of Filipino Kali, Wing Chun and kickboxing.  At this time Mike attended every one of Guru Dan Inosanto’s seminars that he could.   In 1999, Mike earned his Apprentice Instructorship under John Davis, a PFS Instructor based in Virginia Beach.   In 2001, Mike realized his longtime dream and was awarded the rank of Full Instructor by Paul Vunak.  Since 2000, Mike has trained in the Filipino Martial Arts and Silat with Sifu Jesus Flores who he continues to train with currently.  Mike trained at the Inosanto Academy from 2000-2003.  From 2004-2006, Mike trained several Marine MCMAP Instructors (Marine Corps Martial Arts Program) while living in Beaufort, South Carolina.  Recently, Mike began training with Sifu Damien Romero in the art of Kali-Kenpo.