Renshi-Go
Michael Fiorello is the chief instructor at Grand Valley Karate Academy.
He started Isshinryu Karate January 3rd 1983 at The Karate
School of Isshinryu in Downtown Willoughby, Ohio under Senseis Cecil
Moran, William Hayes, and Thomas Koons. In 1985 Michael became a member
of Master Kichiro Shimabuku’s Isshinryu World Karate Association. In the
fall of 1985 Michael went to college in Kansas, where he continued
practicing Isshinryu in between his studies. After graduating from
college he returned to the dojo to continue his training and was
promoted to Sho-Dan (1st Degree Black Belt) in 1989. In 1991 he was
promoted to Ni-Dan (2nd Degree Black Belt) and became a co-owner of the
dojo under its new name K&M Martial Arts. It was at this time that
Michael got interested in the competition side of the martial arts. This
led him to full contact kickboxing, then tournament point sparring,
weapons and kata competition. In 1994 he was promoted to San-Dan (3rd
Degree Black Belt) and received his intructor’s certificate from Master
Shimabuku. In 1998 he was promoted to the rank of Yon-Dan (4th Degree
Black Belt). In 1999 Michael moved to Rome, Ohio, and left the K&M dojo
and founded the Grand Valley Karate Academy in 2001. He taught private
lessons at his home to select students until 2003 when he found a
permanent location for the dojo in Orwell, Ohio. In 2004 Master
Shimabuku awarded Michael the title of Renshi-Go (polished instructor)
and the rank of Go-Dan (5th Degree Black Belt). In 2005 Michael
founded The Grand Valley Classic Tournament, which is held every Spring. In March of 2006
Michael joined Hanshi William Duessel’s W.H.D. affiliation and currently
trains with Hanshi and his Black belts when time permits. In 2009 he was
promoted to Roku-Dan (6th Degree Black Belt). All of Michael’s Dan
ranks, titles and certifications come from Master Kichiro Shimabuku;
Okinawa, Japan.
Over the years Michael has won over 200 awards,
championship belts and trophies throughout the East and Midwest, all at
the Black Belt level. This led Michael in conducting kumite seminars,
which he still does to this day. Some of the awards Michael has won are:
- Two-time 6 month Cleveland City Champion
- Cleveland City Kumite Grand Champion
- 1995 Karate and Kickboxing Hall of Fame Champion
- 1997 Karate and Kickboxing Hall of Fame Champion
- King Cobra Karate Championships Kumite Champion
- Pennsylvania Championships Kumite Champion
- P.K.R.A. State Kumite & Weapons Champion
- I.W.K.A. World Championships Kumite & Weapons Champion
|
Michael owes his success in the Martial Arts not only to
his three instructors, who are now retired from teaching, but to the
following people he has trained with on a routine basis or through
clinics and seminars :
- Sensei John Lennox (Isshinryu / Tonfa)
- Sifu Dwayne Harrell (Full-Contact Kumite)
- Hanshi William Duessel (Isshinryu)
- Master Chuck Wallace (Isshinryu)
- Master Kichiro Shimabuku (Isshinryu)
- Dr. John LaTourette “The Speed Man” (Speed Development)
|
- Michael DePasquale, Sr. (Jujutsu)
- Michael DePasquale, Jr. (Jujutsu)
- Danny Lane (Kumite)
- Bill “Superfoot” Wallace (Kumite)
- Joe Hess (Kumite)
- Prof. Wally Jay (Small-Circle Jujutsu)
|
