Happy Friday POU!
Today’s featured Martial Artist is Michael Jai White
Michael Jai White is a holder of seven black belts of varying degrees in seven different Martial Arts forms. Beginning his Martial Arts training at the age of eight and achieving his first black belt at the age of twelve, he now has over twenty years of experience. Originally a student of the legendary Shigeru Oyama , ( at the time Shigeru Oyama was the world renowned head of the U.S. Kyokushin Karate Association) he is now the head of World Oyama Karate.
White went on to achieve black belt in six other karate styles; Shotokan, ITF Tae Kwon Do, WTF Tae Kwon Do, Kobudo, Goju Ryu and Tang Soo Do. He has also had years of Wu-Shu Kung Fu training under current American Wu-Shu team coach, Eric Chen. White has trained privately with the likes of Bill” Superfoot” Wallace, Benny ” The Jet” Urquidez, Shihan Bobby Lowe, Shokei Matsui, Jean Claude Van Damme, James Lew, Don ” the Dragon ” Wilson, Peter Cunningham, Billy Blanks, Gene Lebell and Joe Lewis.
White has also worked behind the scenes on stunt fighting sequences with Steven Segal. White himself has amassed countless trophies, awards and Grand Championship honors from open “point System” to inter-federational tournaments both home and abroad Throughout his twenty-plus years as a Martial Artist. U.S. Open, North American J.K.A., World Knockdown Free sparring Champion are among many titles donned by White before moving to LA to continue his already successful acting career.
Although in the midst of the glamour and glitz of Hollywood White maintains that he is a martial artist first and still maintains skills competitive to any current champion of “fight” or “form.” “Regardless of what I’m into I always want to be able to get on the training floor with anyone at any time. I am a Martial Artist, first. I apply my Martial Arts discipline, focus, strength, and spirit to my life as well as my acting work. It is a way of life. Life cannot physically or mentally put me through more than I have voluntarily traversed through Martial Arts training. I am ready for anything. From the “Mike Tyson” story to “Spawn,” four to five months of rigorous filming at a time can’t touch twenty years of sweat.”