Mr. Michael Wall always wanted to do martial arts, but coming from a small town in Iowa there weren’t too many dojo’s around.  He finally got a chance to train while he was attending the University of Northern Iowa in 1972.  After 2 years of training, he received a brown belt in taekwondo under Mr. Mike Nelson.

In 1974, he was working out at the University of Iowa gymnasium without a teacher.  He remembered seeing this big guy working out in the corner who looked really good.  He walked over and asked him if he could train with him.  The big guy (Mr. John Hutchcroft) said, “Sure, put on a white belt.”  This didn’t sound too unreasonable for Mr. Wall who then started training with Mr. Hutchcroft in the Shuri-Ryu system.

Mr. Wall received his Shodan under Mr. Hutchcroft in 1978.  When Mr. Hutchcroft moved from the Cedar Falls area, Mr. Wall took over his club.  After a year he realized he needed another teacher, and being in the Shuri-Ryu system it seemed only logical to move to Phoenix, AZ in 1979 to train with the master of the system, Grand Master Robert Trias.  Mr. Wall trained with Mr. Trias until his death in 1989.

During his years with Master Trias, Mr. Wall became one of the senior staff at the yearly Trias International seminars held in Phoenix.

In 1981, Mr. Wall started Paradise Valley School of Karate in Phoenix, AZ.  Since its inception, Mr. Wall and his school has been extremely active in the tournament circuit.  Paradise Valley School of Karate has always been known for its strong tournament presence producing numerous State, National, and World champions.  Paradise Valley Karate has consistently placed in the top 3 slots in the U.S.K.A. (United States Karate Alliance) and the A.S.K.A. (Arizona State Karate Alliance) which he co-founded in 1994.  And in 1999, Paradise Valley School of Karate placed 1st in both the U.S.K.A. & A.S.K.A. point championships.

Mr. Wall has always been active in tournament karate winning numerous State & National titles, culminating with his 1st place win in the heavyweight division at the United States Karate Association World Championships in 1988.

In 1987, Mr. Trias put together a U.S.K.A. American Koshiki team to compete at the International Championships in Tokyo, Japan.  Mr. Trias held eliminations throughout the U.S. to put together a team.  Mr. Wall toured with Mr. Trias competing for a spot on the team.  At the finals, Mr. Wall won his last match but broke his right hand on the last exchange (koshiki helmets are hard).  Extremely disappointed, went along to help coach the team.

In 1989 he was appointed Arizona State Representative for the U.S.K.A., and in 1990 was one of the 1st people to receive the United States Karate Alliance Hall of Fame awards.

With the death of Mr. Trias in 1989, Mr. Wall started looking for another teacher.  He was extremely fortunate to meet Taika Seiya Oyata at a seminar in 1992.  With Mr. Hutchcroft half way across the country, and one of Mr. Oyata’s chief instructors, Mr. Dennis Rao only an hour away, he got Mr. Hutchcroft’s permission to start training in the Ryu Te Ren Mei system under Mr. Oyata.  In 1999 he received a great honor in his martial arts career, and was inducted into the Oyata Shin Shu Ho society (one of the highest honors Mr. Oyata can bestow on a student).  He received his 6th degree black belt under Mr. Oyata that same year.

In 2005, Mr. Wall resumed his training with Mr. Hutchcroft in the Mastsumura Seito Shorin Try system under the direction of Mr. Philip Koeppel.  Mr. Wall continues his martial arts education by attending as many of Mr. Hutchcroft’s and Mr. Koeppel’s seminars as he can throughout the country.

Besides running a karate school full time, Mr. Wall also spends much of his time conducting Women’s Self Defense seminars.  He is a certified instructor in the “Fight Like a Girl” system of self defense, developed by Mr. Brad Parker.  This highly effective unique system is based on Brazilian Jui Jitsu instead of karate.  This system has been showcased on all the local TV channels including America’s Most Wanted.