09/14/2026
🚨 Student of the Week 🚨
Please help me celebrate this weeks student of the week Michael Maloney!
Michael started training in tae kwon do when he was 17. When he was 19, he had an opportunity to join an Okinawa Kenpo class for upper belts. He decided this was gonna be his new style and he studied for the next three years. As his life took over opportunities to find the dojo and work out, seemed more limited, and he dropped out for more years than he would like to admit. When Michael was stationed back in Okinawa with the naval criminal investigative service he had an opportunity to rejoin a dojo and work out for about a year before being transferred.
Many years later, after being tired of being a couch potato, and losing about 30 pounds Michael decided it was time to get moving again. In June Michael found the Olathe karate Academy! He realized that he needed to go back to his martial arts roots. He joined in June and hasn’t looked back! He said he has a new outlook on health and a new outlook on life, a new dojo and a new karate family! .
Michales favorite karate moment was here in Olathe. He was pretty nervous coming to his first class and one of our young middle school students, Tyler, took the opportunity to talk to him, welcome him and later during the grueling workout he showed Michael where to stand so that the air conditioner vent was blowing on me. This is when the dojo turned into a family to him!
Michael’s favorite quote:
Pain is weakness, leaving the body.
If you have not gotten the chance to meet Michael you are missing out! He is an incredibly smart, kind and well traveled man. He has great stories and the most amazing work ethic! We at OKA feel so blessed to have him at our dojo and part of our karate family!
