Meet the President     Michael Matsuda                             (Q & A Section)      Michael Gonzalez-Matsuda has been a proud member of the martial arts community for nearly 40 years. He began his martial arts studies in 1968 in a Judo class at the Japanese Community Center in Sun Valley, California.      From Judo, Michael went on to study Japanese Karate then Japanese Jiu Jitsu for a short time at the San Fernando Valley Parks and Recreation facility.     After seeing a brief performance by Al Dacascos, Michael became intrigued with the Chinese arts of Kung Fu.     In 1974, Michael began studying Hung Gar (Shaolin) Kung Fu from Sifu Lyle Fujioka, a senior student of Sifu Buck Sam Kong's school in Hollywood. Lyle was teaching as a branch of the school at the Mid-Valley YMCA. From there, Michael moved onto the Hollywood school and studied there until 1981, but continued his training for another three years thereafter.      In 1977, during his studies in Hung Gar, Michael met a practitioner in the art of Tai Shing Pek Kwar (Monkey) Kung Fu and began training together. After 30 years of training, Michael became the 6th Generation Master of Monkey Kung Fu and serves as the only remaining Monkey Master in America to currently teach the art. He is certified by the United States Tai Shing Pek Kwar Association.     - 1968, began training in Judo at Japanese Community Center.     - 1969, began training in Karate.     - 1970, began training in Jiu Jitsu.     - 1974, starting training in Hung Gar Gung Fu at YMCA, then to Buck Sam Kong's main school in Hollywood.     - 1974, Founder and president of the Hop Sing Tong group. It was a non-official martial arts club at his high school.     - 1975, began training in Monkey Kung Fu (Tai Shing Pek Kwar) for nearly the next 30 years.     - 1977, Opened a Hung Gar Kung Fu school in Sun Valley, California.     - 1979, dabbled in Jeet Kune Do.     - 1980, starting his training in Kickboxing under legend Cecil Peoples.     - 1982, Michael began a writing career as a journalist for Inside Kung Fu magazine and Black Belt magazine. Michael has         interviewed such martial arts figures including Jun Chong, Benny Urquidez, Gini Lau, Karyn Turner, Simon Rhee, Cecil         Peoples, Brendan Lai, Y.C. Wong, Carrie Ogawa-Wong, Phillip Rhee, Eric Lee, James Lew, Dan Inosanto and many more.     - 1982, Michael was the principal co-author of "Monkey Kung Fu" book.     - 1982, Michael was the advertising director for the Los Angeles Valley College News.     - 1983, Michael became the founder and publisher of Martial Arts Magazine -- a California tournament magazine. He sold the          company in 1988.     - 1985, 1986 and 1987 Michael established the Regional Karate Championships which were held at Cal State Northridge          University.     - 1992 to 1998, Michael helped produce 15 videos through Panther Productions and  CFW Enterprises on Monkey Kung Fu.     - 1994, Michael created the Media Department for California Federal Bank.     - 1995, Michael produced a three-part video series about the history of Martial Arts in America.     - 1996, Michael was the director of the San Fernando Valley Health Fair.     - 1996, Michael created and managed the Media Department for Blue Cross of California.     - 1998, Michael began a running career and ran in a variety of 5-K's as well as four times in the famous Los Angeles Marathon.     - 1999, Michael became the co-CEO of Martialinfo.com. He was able to turn a 100 monthly hit count into a 100,000 a day hit          website. Martialinfo.com today is the most visited martial arts site on the Internet (Michael resigned as the co-CEO in          December 2005).     - 1999, Michael also founded the Martial Arts History Museum -- thus creating the first martial arts museum in the world.     - 1999 Michael founded the first official Hall of Fame for the martial arts named the Museum's Hall of Fame.     - 1999, Michael established the only official Monkey Kung Fu association in America called the United States Tai Shing          Pek Kwar Association.     - 1999 Michael is selected as the president of the United States Tai Shing Pek Kwar Association and was named as one          of the leading authorities on the history of the Chinese art of Monkey Kung Fu.     - 1999, Michael was the principal co-author of the "History of Monkey Kung Fu" book.     - 1999, Michael served as the convention director for the Las Vegas Starbash convention.     - 2000, Michael began producing and directing events for Blue Cross of California.     - 2001, Michael was selected as one of the Nation's Top 100 Producers and has graced the cover of two film          magazines. He has also graced the cover of six martial arts magazines.     - 2001, Michael established the Museum Ceremonies to honor the community. Today, the Museum Ceremonies are          considered the most "professional oscar style event" in the martial arts. It is an event that is in its 7th year.     - 2002, Michael was the principal co-author of the "Hapkido History" book.     - 2003, Michael was selected again as one of the Top 100 Producers in the Nation by Producer Magazine.     - 2004, Michael introduced the Martial Arts History Museum traveling exhibit. This included the Asian Expo, Japan Expo,          Cherry Blossom festivals, Nesei Week, Chinese Expos and many more. The event traveled to New York, Vegas and          all of the Southern California area.      - 2004, Michael also had a short career in film co-starring in X-Treme Fighter, as a gangster role in 18 Fingers of Death and a          gang leader in Soft Target. He also appeared in a variety of commercials for Disneyland, Cobra Golf and more.      - 2004, Michael formed a Stunt and Wireworks Workshop company with film director Art Camacho.      - 2005, Michael and Art Camacho began conducting Stunt Workshops.      - 2006, Senator Richard Alarcon becomes major supporter for the museum.      - 2007, Museum opens its doors in Santa Clarita under the Redevelopment area.     Since 1978, Michael continues to teach both Hung Gar Kung Fu and Monkey Kung Fu.     He is considered one of the leading authorities in the world on the history of Monkey Kung Fu and considers himself a historian on Chinese Kung Fu. He has written the biographies over over three dozen martial arts pioneers and has done extensive research on the history of the arts in America. Michael holds the following:  - Bachelor's degree in Management  - Degree in Journalism  - Certificate in Graphic Design  - 3 years training at AFI (American Film Institute)  - Other Schooling includes:       Universities: USC, Master's, CSUN, UCLA       Colleges: Valley, Mission, Pierce, College of the Canyons,                       L.A Trade Tech, etc.        Technical Schools: NVOC, WVOC, etc.   - Courses include: Marketing, Public Relations, Film Production,                                Design, History, Art, Research & Development,                                management, computer programming, magazine                                and newspaper production, drafting, technical illustration,                                and more.       Michael's working career has included Production Manager for a Traveling Magazine, Art Director for an Advertising Company, Computer Based Training Manager, Training Instructor, Chief Executive Officer for Martialinfo.com, Publisher, Editor, Advertising Director, Event Coordinator and Producer.     He has owned MProductions Design Company, Martial Art Magazine and Martialinfo.com. He currently owns the WireWorks Workshop with Art Camacho, MuseumGear.com, Michael Matsuda Presents and is the president and CEO of the Martial Arts History Museum.    Michael was also the coordinator and director for the San Fernando Valley Health Fair, the Starbash Convention in Las Vegas, the Wellpoint Conference in Indiana and is currently planning the Asian-American Festival in Los Angeles.     From his Hispanic lineage, Michael is a direct descendent of one of the Founding Families of the City of Los Angeles.  His great....great grandfather was Augustin Zamorano, Governor of the State of California. Augustin is also the first person to bring the printing press to California. His first printed book is housed in the California Section of the Natural History Museum.    Michael is also the great... great grandson of California Governor Jose Maria Flores. Jose was a general in the Mexican army that won a decisive battle against the United States. (you can write Michael at info@MAmuseum.com)