Born New Years’ Eve, 1961 in New York City, Mike is the son of a US Navy Officer and lived all over the Eastern Seaboard as a child. In 1976, Mike moved to California where he graduated from High School, earned a B.S. in Biochemistry at U.C. Davis, and holds an M.S in Computer Information Systems.
Mike started training in the Shorin Ryu Kobayashi system under Sensei Noel Smith of Virginia Beach in 1970 because of problems with the cliché’ “older bully on his block”. During the 70’s Mike’s family moved often and despite studying multiple styles (Shorin Ryu, Tae Kwon Do, Shuai Chiao, and Moo Duk Kwan), Mike was never in one area long enough to attain any serious rank in those styles. In 1980 Mike met his primary instructor, Sensei Jim Silvan. Ironically, Sensei Silvan was in the same karate lineage as Mike’s first instructor, Sensei Noel Smith. Through Sensei Silvan, Mike met and exchanged ideas with many prominent martial artists including Professor Wally Jay, Hanshi Sid Campbell, Sensei Don Jacobs, Sifu Eric Lee, Sensei Oshiro Toshihiro, and Joe Lewis among others.
In 1986 & 1988, Mr. Verona was able to train in Okinawa under Hanshi Nakazato Shuguro (Kobayashi), Sensei Kishaba Chokei (Matsubayashi), and Sensei Shinzato Katsuhiko (Matsubayashi). While on Okinawa, Mr. Verona also had the good fortune to accompany Sensei Silvan during many of the interviews conducted for Sensei’s book, “Okinawan Karate: Its Teachers and Their Styles”.
Sensei Verona received his Shodan in 1986 from Hanshi Nakazato’s organization. Sensei Verona has studied Yamanni-Ryu kobudo under Sensei Silvan and Sensei Toshiro Oshiro since 1989. In 2001, Sensei Verona began to study Guang Ping Tai Chi & Xing Yi Chuan under Grandmaster Henry Look. Sensei Verona received the title “Renshi”, from Hanshi Sid Campbell’s WOSKKA in 2004. In 2006, Sensei Verona moved to Oregon where he met and began training under Hanshi Paul Keller. Sensei Verona received his “Kyoshi” title in 2009 and his Nanadan in 2010 from the ASKA.
Currently, Sensei Verona works full time for a Fortune 500 Technology firm and helps run the Adult Program at Family Martial Arts Academy under Papa Paul Keller in Oregon. Mr. Verona is married to his beautiful wife, Danni, who is an accomplished martial arts instructor in her own right, and has 3 children, each of whom hold multiple black belts in various styles.
