Michael Thomas is a Retired Trooper from the Maryland State Police. He originally began his Martial Arts (Tae Kwon-do) training in 1974 with a Karate Club at UMBC. It was in 1997, when he began training in Mixed Martial Arts, acquiring expertise in Kung fu, Judo, and Jujitsu at the Baltimore Martial Arts Academy in Catonsville under the instruction of Gary Berger. At the rank of Brown-belt, he began teaching the Kids Martial Arts class until and after his promotion to the Black-belt level. In February of 2002, at the recommendation of Shifu Berger, he began training in the Traditional Style of Tien Shan Pai Kung fu. This training was under the instruction of Shifu Mark Umholtz. Thomas received his Black Sash in May 2005. While studying Kung fu, Thomas also trained in Chen Style Taijiquan under Shifu Stephen Thomas, receiving a Black-belt; and Aikido achieving Brown-belt level under the instruction of Sensei Jeff Mims. Thomas continued further training in Yang Style Taijiquan, Hun-gar Kung fu, and various other training techniques under the guidance and instruction of Shifu Steven Burwen to this day attaining the rank of 5th degree Black-belt furthering his Mixed Martial arts background. It is his personal mission to assist his students by providing the knowledge to protect themselves in today's world and helping to achieve balance, energy, and harmony in life through Kung-fu and Taijiquan. It should be noted that he is also involved in the community teaching Taijiquan and Tai Chi: Moving for Better Balance at local Baltimore County Senior Centers to help the elder population with fall prevention.