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About Michael CatronMichael Catron currently holds a 5th degree (Master) ranking in the Universal Taekwondo Association. He began training in Taekwondo in the seventh grade and has practiced a variety of martial arts in the 20 years he has studied. In his youth, Mr. Catron competed frequently in regional and national tournaments and placed 1st and 2nd place in several Junior Olympic and other national competitions for forms and sparring. He is the only competitor (as of 2006) to have won Sparring, Forms, Weapons Forms, Grand Champion Forms, and Grand Champion Sparring events in a single year at the Hastings Regional Invitational which draws competitors from Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Illinois, and Colorado.Mr. Catron has studied Judo, Muay Thai, and Aikido and while living in Japan for two years studied Go Jyu Ryu Karate, Shorinji Kenpo, and Kendo, earning a Sho-dan (or first degree ranking) in Kendo. Also while living in Japan he trained with the Kyoto prefecture police force and learned their version of short-stick fighting which combines kendo, escrima, and modern weapon tactics. He also helped train the Kumihama-cho police force for the annual National Police Force Sparring competition. Currently Mr. Catron is working on developing his joint-manipulation and take-down skills through the study of Hapikido techniques and has begun learning Jujitsu ground fighting tactics. More recently, Mr. Catron has spent time promoting martial arts across the state of Nebraska. He has served as chairman of the rules committee of the Heartland Martial Arts League since 2002 and in 2006 he and his sister and co-instructor, Hilary Strom, volunteered to direct the Taekwondo competition for the Cornhusker State Games. Mr. Catron currently lives in Lincoln, Nebraska and is a graduate of Nebraska Wesleyan University. He teaches English at Millard West High School. |