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Michael Park
Michael D. Park, 8th Degree Professor Board Member of American Kajukembo Association
As the son of a career army officer whose father was assigned many different posts around the country, Michael Park always sought out the best martial art instruction available to him. This frequent relocation away from his native Texas provided him the rare opportunity to study diverse martial arts under many famous instructors. Michael Park received his first black belt promotion in 1969 in Korean Karate (Tang Soo Do) and was added to the Kajukenbo Ohana (family tree) in 1972 under Grandmaster James K. Roberts Sr. (Ret.) who as a native Hawaiian earned his black belt as a first generation direct student of Sijo Adriano Emperado in 1959. After he was assigned to Korea with the U.S. Army, Grandmaster Roberts transitioned from Kajukenbo to one of its root systems in Tang Soo Do. Before retiring to Hawaii, GM Roberts was a highly respected karate pioneer on the east coast and he was affiliated with Grandmaster Ki Whang Kim of Tang Soo Do and Chinese Kempo fame.
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For several years Park also studied the Korean royal court martial art of Kuk Sool Won, a comprehensive form of Hapkido that also uses the walking cane, Korean sword, rope and other weapons so much that it has been described as a type of Korean "Kung Fu". Kuk Sool and Hapkido trace their lineage back to Yong Sul Choi (Asao Yoshida) who studied Daito-ryu Aiki-Jujutsu in Japan for thirty years while living with great grandmaster Sokaku Takeda. Park received his 2nd Dan from In Hyuk Suh, the Korea national teacher, and trained under Jay Lee a senior American Kuk Sool master. Park was later also recognized as a black belt in International Hae Jun Moo Sool Hapkido by grandmaster Jae Ok Myung.
For a time before returning to more traditional systems, Park operated Tang Soo Do studios affiliated with the United Fighting Arts Federation under Chuck Norris. Park was also awarded master instructor certification from Chuck Norris’s instructor, Grandmaster Jae Chul Shin. Park’s Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan black belt pin # is 16321. |
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Park also had a long affiliation with the Korean Moo Duk Kwan in both Tang Soo Do (Korean Karate) and pre-Olympic style Tae Kwon Do earning his master instructor certification in this style. Park’s most influential teachers in “Korean Karate” include Grandmasters James Johnson, Ye Mo Ahn, Chuck Sereff, Soo Woong Lee, James K. Roberts Sr. and Hyun Chul Hwang the son of Grandmaster Kee Hwang, the founder of Moo Duk Kwan.
During the late 60’s and early 1970’s, before protective equipment was used, Park competed in a few American open karate tournaments mostly on the east coast. His position as a Washington D.C. police officer at the time prevented him from traveling too far from the Washington area. Park usually placed very well in forms, weapons and sparring competition and he defeated several well known “old school” fighters of the time. The Jhoon Rhee School was close to his and since most of the black belt cadre there were also from Texas, Park would often visit. He was at the headquarters school and sparred with Jeff Smith one of Jhoon Rhee’s black belt champions the day the first prototype Safe-T-Kick gear was introduced. |
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Park continued broadening his skills and began an intensive study of Aikido as a student of Bill Sosa and later Lynn Fabia sensei. He also studied traditional Jujutsu for several years eventually earning a master teaching license (menkyo kyoshi) with cross grade to 8th dan in Okinawa (Iron-fist) Kempo under Grandmaster Rod Sacharnoski, a controversial and flamboyant American teacher. Park’s prior experience under master Jay Lee in the joint locking, and throwing skills of Kuk Sool and Hapkido greatly influenced his progress in traditional Jujutsu. In 2000 Michael Park was inducted into the Texas Martial Arts Hall of Fame for his life-long contributions to the martial arts. |
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Michael Park had long heard of Kajukembo grandmaster Richard Peralta by reputation and when he had an opportunity to seek him out he asked to be instructed in his form of (KSDS) Kajukembo. Although he attended a few classes and sponsored some seminars with grandmaster Peralta, the training was cut short for awhile due to Park’s serious health issues at the time. Unfortunately, Grandmaster Peralta past away not long after Park reconnected with him. Always the innovator, GM Peralta was interested in complimenting his approach to Kajukembo with some of Park’s Jujutsu experience. The “Peralta system” had evolved since Park’s first exposure to Kajukenbo back in the early 70’s so in this regard; some of GM Peralta’s last directions to his senior black belt students were to assist Park in “catching up” so he can see how we do our thing in KSDS Kajukembo!”
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Since Grandmaster Richard Peralta past away, Michael Park came under the direct supervision of senior Grandmaster Alii Don Nahoolewa, the first black belt of Great Grandmaster Aleju Reyes Sr. and the founder of the American Kajukembo Association.
Since he retired as a federal agent in a covert government program, Park teaches regular classes in Kajukembo and Aiki-Budo in Plano, Texas. In 2007 he was elected to the honored position as a board member of the American Kajukembo Association and remains an active member to this day. |
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Professor Park is available for limited travel for special seminar instruction and he can be reached on his cell at (214) 982-1683 or through the web site at; (www.kajukemboplus.com). |
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Park came to appreciate the ground effects or ground work techniques of Kajukenbo and Kenpo Karate while participating in a week long martial art seminar and demonstration with Master Chief Al Tejero of CHA-3 Kenpo Karate who was visiting from Hawaii. |
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HALL OF FAME |
