Michael started with martial arts in the 1970 with Judo; he obtained his yellow belt under the instructor Sensei Ron Fraser. Two weeks before he was to test for his orange belt he was thrown into a wall hurting his caller, bone by the time it was better class was stopped for the summer. Once summer was over other things had caught his interest and he did not go back to the classes although there were many times he had practiced with some of the people he enjoyed the falls and techniques.

Student in art at Sault College in the Sault, he started training Hap Ki Do under the head instructor Sabumm Anthony Belsito with the Soo Martial arts Club; Michael was taught by three student instructors John Reid (now 6th dan Hap Ki Do), Craig McBride who left the Sault as a black belt, and Ray Trottier who has also achieved back belt in Hap Ki Do. Michael achieved yellow with this club when a job opportunity comes up in Toronto and Michael left the Sault.

In Toronto Michael trained a short time with Akie Kempo on Finch Street in Toronto. Toronto wasn't the place for him so he moved back to the Sault.

Do to the varied hours of the job Michael got the YMCA club hours were not convenient and he started with Ancient Fighting arts under head instructor Rudy Timmermin his teacher were John Reid then a Sho Dan Ho and Rob Doiron then a Sho Dan Ho now is retired from martial arts. He found he had learn much of the material up to Sho dan by being the partner for their tests for sho dan as well as others. The judo background and Michael's hab it of quickly getting up after being thrown made him to be popular as a test partner for many, it was a great learning tool for him. With this club Michael achieved Blue belt with at that time was right before brown, this was around the time that Michael's mother had been taken by cancer, she passed away. It was also in conjunction with AFA changing to as different style KooK Sul Won with the life changes at that time Mike chose to stay with Hap Ki Do Under Mr. Rob Doiron.

Michael was with Mr. Doiron as he started and developed his own club Doiron's Martial arts. It was through this club that Michael got a chance to train some with Sensei Brain Smith of the Kan Taw style some of the practices and ideas stick to this day with Michael and he very much wishes some day to renew his friendship with this man. Michael acieve Sho Dan Ho with this club when the club expectations were interfering with his studies as a Child & Youth worker so he trained with Soo Martial Arts again Under then 5th dan Anthony Belsito. As a result of his leaving Mr. Doiron His Sho Dan Ho was taken from him and he was a brown belt again. Michael taught the children class for them until due to unreasonable expectation on Mr. Belsito he retired from martial arts. Mr. Michael Ohara who started with in a six-month period of Mr. Running and was ranking belt at the time. Once he start to run the club he told Michael that he was going to bring down to green belt and have his friend be he teachers Michael said that was unacceptable and left.

For a time Michael trained with Kook Sul Won and obtain blue strip while still being allowed to wear his brown belt. It was enjoyed how Mr. Timmiermin was able to break down a technique and explain it even so someone simple like Michael could learn it. Until leaving for Midland Ontario to work as a CYW Michael trained with Mr. Timmermin.

Restarting correspondence with Mr. Doiron Michael eventually could be graded as a Sho Dan on June 13, 1993; this was a big step for him. In the time that followed Michael practiced with anyone who would let him workout with him. At one point he presented a proposed curriculum for a style he called Christian Jujostu sounding like Jujitsu but have a very different center Christ, to Martial arts Masters World federation and they recognized him as a third degree in that style, at this time he would like to think of it as Christian martial arts.

Now six years after the last stated development Michael is in the process of starting a Christian Martial arts club; he will still have a teacher Master Criag Holms and as well he will be training with a Judo instructor in the area hoping to advance his judo rank.

Pease pray that the finances and opportunities come to help Michael expand this Ministry and if you with to comment he is in Elliot Lake Ontario not hard to find God Bless.

It is now June 2008, and Michael has now finished a year and a half of classes.  There are some dedicated student and many who came and went Martial arts isn't for every one hopfully Machael's clsses will grew and flourished in the following seasons.  

Last Augest Michael practiced with the Fung Wai do people in Timmons and will be doing so with one of his students this Augest.  

God has been good to Michael and Lord willing there will be a plan revealed for this minestry in the future.

God be with you 

and God bless.

Michael Running 

Running Christian Martial Arts