8th Dan, Paradise Valley Karate Arizona
Mike Wall took his first lesson in 1972 and in 1974 became a student of John Hutchcroft when he was in Waterloo, Iowa. He earned his Shodan (1st degree) in Shuri Ryu in 1978.
In 1979, Mr. Wall moved to Phoenix, Arizona to train with the “Father of Karate in America”, Master Robert A. Trias. Mr. Trias accepted Mike as a student and he became a staff instructor for the Trias dojo. He trained with Mr. Trias until the Master died in July 1989. Mr. Wall obtained the rank of Rokudan (6th degree). In 1981, he opened the Paradise Valley School of Karate, one of the oldest established karate dojos in Phoenix.
Mr. Wall was inducted into the United States Karate Alliance Hall of Fame in 1990 and has served as the President of the Hall of Fame. He is also the Southwestern Regional Representative of the USKA and the founder of the Arizona State Karate Alliance.
Training
He earned his Shodan (1st degree) in Shuri Ryu in 1978 under Mr. John Hutchcroft.
In 1991, Mr. Wall asked Mr. Oyata if he could train with him and was accepted as Mr. Oyata’s student. He studied with him for the next 15 years, and obtained the rank of Rokudan (6th degree).
He also was awarded recognition as a member of Mr. Oyata’s Shin Shu Ho, the highest recognition given by Hanshi Oyata in the Ryu Te system.
In 2006, Mr. Wall came full circle and once again became a student of Mr. Hutchcroft in Matsumura Seito Shorin Ryu. He has attained the grade of 8th degree black belt or Hachidan.
Mike received the Double Bladed Axe, Mr. Koeppel’s personal insignia, in 2008.
Sensei Wall is currently training with Tuhon Apolo Ladra in Pekiti Tirsia Kali.
Philosophy
Sensei Wall is a product of the old karate culture where you work hard and are respectful of those who have gone before you.
He also believes in giving his students his all. He regularly says that his greatest goal is to produce students better than him. He says “It is the greatest compliment to me, to have a student work so hard that he surpasses his teacher.”