Michael grew up in Urbana, Ohio, with plenty of freedom to explore, get into things, and—occasionally—learn from his mistakes. He describes his childhood as a happy one, and that independent, adventurous spirit has stayed with him. One of the biggest influences in his life has been his grandmother, who taught him that life is going to have its ups and downs, but the important thing is to keep moving forward.

When he isn’t at the dojo, Michael enjoys spending time with family and friends, shooting sports, archery, and watching movies. He’s also a fan of ’80s music, so there’s a pretty good chance that if you hear music coming from his direction, it won’t be anything released in the last 30 years. Michael enjoys the simple things in life, too—coffee outside while watching the town wake up in the morning, or sitting outside in the evening watching the local wildlife make its rounds. With skunks, raccoons, and other critters regularly visiting, his backyard apparently doubles as a nature documentary.

Traveling has given Michael some memorable experiences, but a visit to Antwerp, Belgium, really stuck with him. Seeing the stark contrast between the historic parts of the city and the areas rebuilt after the devastation of World War II—and then discovering a cathedral that had somehow survived the war untouched—gave him a firsthand appreciation for history that pictures and textbooks simply can’t provide.

Michael would describe himself in three words as goofy, protective, and grumpy—although we’re not entirely sure anyone else gets a vote on the last one. When life gets difficult, his faith and the belief that God has a plan for him help keep him moving forward, even when he can’t quite see where that plan is headed.

And if you ever wonder whether Michael takes his martial arts seriously, consider this: he once worked as a caregiver for an 80-year-old woman with Alzheimer’s. On his very first day meeting her, she smiled at him—and then promptly sucker-punched him hard enough to give him a black eye. Naturally, his students found this absolutely hilarious and made sure he heard about it for a very, very long time. Michael may teach martial arts, but apparently even an instructor has to respect the old-school masters.

Qualifications

• Shotokan Karate – 5th Dan
• Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu – 4th Dan
• Tang Soo Do – 3rd Dan
• Hojutsu – 1st Kyu