Southern Michigan Martial Arts Summit

The First Annual Southern Michigan Martial Arts Summit was an OUTSTANDING success!

Here are the details of the event that took place on Sunday, May 23, 2010:



And why you should crawl across broken glass on your naked knees to get to this fall's event!



When: Sunday, May 23, 2010 - 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Where: Dan Vigil’s Academy of Taekwondo

235 E. Main St. Northville, MI 48167 (see below)

Cost: $89.00 (paid to your instructor in advance)

Contact Nicklaus Suino Sensei for more information and payment methods

(734) 645-6441 - info@japanesemartialartscenter.com

Bring: Training clothes & protective equipment.

WATER. Snacks.

This seminar is guaranteed to take your self defense skills to a higher level. Four master instructors, each experts in their field, will teach workshops dealing with combat at different ranges. From a kicking distance, to punching, to knees and elbows, to takedowns and ground work – you will benefit from the unique insights of teachers with experience in Judo, Jiujitsu, Karate, Taekwondo, Kung Fu, Krav Maga and Goju Ryu. Even better, you will have an opportunity to hear them expand collectively on each teacher’s concepts with insights of their own. Such a depth of experience is rarely found.


We have kept the cost for this seminar extremely low (normally an all day seminar of this kind goes for $250+) so that you will not only benefit from great instruction, but also from the energy and experience of numerous partners. Imagine the fun of helping eager students from another discipline master the basics of your art, and then having them return the favor as you attempt theirs. Experiencing this atmosphere of mutual respect and fun is a rare opportunity!


Even if you have no previous martial arts experience, you can benefit from this seminar. Every workshop is designed to work for someone with no experience in that particular style of fighting.


Schedule of Events



10:00 am – 10:30 am Welcome and Opening Ceremony


10:30 am – 12:00 pm Workshop #1: Practical Self Defense Kicking and Footwork (Vigil)


Unlock the closely guarded secrets of a National level Taekwondo competitor and learn how to apply them in realistic self defense situations. No jumping. No spinning. No head kicks. You will enjoy discovering the simple shifts in body weight that will add serious power to your kicking techniques, the footwork that will give you speed and move you from outer distances into a range where you are most comfortable – and get you there with total dominance. Get a base understanding of how to read “the triangle” that telegraphs any attackers attempts to kick or punch you. Plus learn how a good strong kick can save you from a beat down when you’ve blown a grab or takedown attempt.


Perhaps best of all: get 90 minutes with a martial artist who has been in the trenches as a security professional applying his techniques on a daily basis. No fancy theories, just simple stuff that works when it counts.


12:15 pm – 1:45 pm Workshop #2: Short Distance Striking, Gouges and Rips (Larioza)


In this eye-opening session, Larioza Sensei will show the serious martial arts student the intriguing link and relationship between an ancient traditional Asian martial art and an effective modern and tested self defense system. You will gain a valuable insight into how super-human power is generated in Traditional Okinawa Goju Ryu Karate and how it shares some surprising similarities and techniques with modern Israeli Krav Maga. While there is far too much to cover in a mere 90 minutes, you will learn the fundamental simultaneous block and attack that is the core and basic foundation of both Goju Ryu Karate and Krav Maga.

Later you will practice how an attacker’s limbs are destroyed in a similar fashion to how the weapon martial artist attacks the hands. Finally the student will learn how to use the devastating techniques of grabbing, ripping and tearing of muscle, throat and eyes at close quarters. …….…..a little bit of deep theory and a lot of hands on practice to immediately elevate your self defense skills.


1:45 pm – 2:15 pmLUNCH


2:15 pm – 3:15 pmWorkshop #3: Takedowns and Takedown Defense (Suino)


In this extraordinary 90-minute session, Suino-Sensei will show you how to precisely analyze your opponent's weaknesses, how to apply your strength in the most dynamic and efficient manner, and how to block your opponent's puny attempts to take you down. Learn how your opponent is actually helping you by attempting to stay upright, and how to avoid making the mistakes your opponent makes. Learn to dominate the center, and how to think tactically about the takedown battle. Learn the keys to a posture that will make you incredibly, exceptionally strong. Don't miss this chance to study with an internationally recognized expert.


3:30 pm – 5:00 pm Workshop #4: Grappling, Submissions and Ground Striking (Holland)


Holland-Sensei’s workshop will focus on the key postures and positions that will enable you to gain and maintain ground dominance. This workshop will tap you into the fundamental methods of immobilizing your opponent, tactical ground striking, and submissions via joint reversal and strangulation. These universal principles will serve you not only in the ring and in self defense, but also should you need to passively restrain an aggressor. Attendees will benefit from Holland-Sensei’s varied and deep background in grappling with experience in wrestling, BJJ, Nihon Jujutsu, and Judo.




Review the biographies of our exceptional lineup of teachers!




Nicklaus Suino-Sensei



Judo, Nihon Jujutsu, Karate, Aikido, Kung-fu


Born in 1960, Suino-Sensei began training in judo at the Ann Arbor YMCA in 1968. Beginning in 1979, he studied karate, aikido, and kung-fu at the Asian Martial Arts Studio, an Ann Arbor dojo where he was a member of the instructor’s training program and taught for a total of 10 years.


After earning his BA and MFA at the University of Michigan, Suino lived in Yokohama, Japan, between 1988 and 1992, where he studied judo, jujutsu (jujitsu), iaido (swordsmanship), and kyudo (archery). He studied iaido at the home dojo of the late Yamaguchi-Katsuo, one of the greatest of the WWII generation swordsmen. In 1989, he was appointed secretary to the Foreign Department of the International Martial Arts Federation, Tokyo HQ. He was four-time All-Tokyo forms champion in iaido at his rank level between 1989 and 1992, and represented the Kanto region in the All-Japan tournament in Kyoto in 1992. He continues to visit Japan regularly, visiting and training with some of the world's most respected instructors of aikido, iaido, judo, jujitsu, karate, and koryu bujutsu.


He is widely published in the martial arts, having sold over 50,000 copies of his books, including The Art of Japanese Swordsmanship, Practice Drills for Japanese Swordsmanship, Arts of Strength, Arts of Serenity, and its revised version, Budo Mind and Body, and Strategy in Japanese Swordsmanship. He is President of the Shudokan Martial Arts Association and a Michigan Regional Director for the US branch of the International Martial Arts Federation (IMAF-Americas). He was director of ITAMA Dojo in East Lansing, Michigan, from 1993 until 2003. In 2006, he returned to Ann Arbor to open the Japanese Martial Arts Center, a traditional dojo offering classes in Jujutsu (jujitsu), judo, iaido (swordsmanship), and kendo.


Suino Sensei has been called "one of North America's foremost martial arts teachers." His personal mission is to master the most profound aspects of Japanese heritage martial arts and pass them on to his students. He believes deeply that the principles of the martial arts can have a profound effect on the lives of those who train in them.

Master Daniel B. Vigil



Taekwondo, Kenpo Karate, Hapkido


Master Vigil is a veteran of the martial arts with over 20 years of continuous training. He has earned over 80 gold medals world-wide in Taekwondo competition, including two Junior Olympics, a National championship and nine state championships. Master Vigil is known for the exceptional power of his strikes, with many of his wins coming by knock out. He has also seen action as a security professional in high risk environments. This practical experience has given him an understanding of hand to hand combat that only comes through application.


Master Vigil began his training in 1988 in Kenpo Karate under the expert tutelage of Shihan Douglas Macdonald from Hudson, Massachusetts. There Master Vigil earned a first degree black belt. In 1994 he began his Taekwondo career under future U.S Olympic Team Head Coach, Master Han Won Lee. His training continued under 7 time Korean National Champion Jae Young Kim, World Champion Joo Hwan Kim, and two time World Champion Yung Suk Jung. He currently holds a 4th degree black belt in Taekwondo. Master Vigil has traveled extensively to train with various teachers in the martial arts and security fields. Presently he is the founder and operator of “Dan Vigil’s Academy of Taekwondo” in Northville, Michigan, which is the largest United States Taekwondo Association club in Michigan.


If you are looking for a stern, authoritarian martial arts instructor, you will not find it in Master Vigil’s classroom. He is easy going, patient, and often tries to be funny.


Daniel Holland-Sensei

Jujutsu, Wrestling, Brazilian Jiujitsu, Kung-Fu




Holland-Senseis martial arts career began in 1988. He started training in Eishin-Ryu Iaido in January of 1998 under Nicklaus Suino Sensei, where he continues today. His interests in the Traditional martial arts have taken him to Aiki-Jujutsu (taught by the late Jeff Friedlis Sensei), Kodokan Judo and Nihon Jujutsu. In May of 2004, he began training in Nei Jia, the Internal Family of Chinese Martial Arts.


From 2004 to 2009, Dan Holland was the owner and instructor of the Institute of Traditional Asian Martial Arts in East Lansing, MI, where he taught Muso Jikiden Eishin-Ryu Iaido, Nihon Jujutsu, and Kodokan Judo. Currently, he teaches these arts at the Japanese Martial Arts Center in Ann Arbor, Mi, and is co-instructor of the Mixed Martial Arts Program at Dan Vigil's Academy of Taekwondo. He is also a member of the Shudokan Martial Arts Association and the International Martial Arts Federation.




Current Rankings:
3rd Dan: Muso Jikiden Eishin-Ryu Iaido
2nd Dan: Kodokan Judo
2nd Dan: Nihon Jujutsu

November 2009 - Present
Instructor, Japanese Martial Arts Center

November 2009 - Present
Instructor, Dan Vigil's Academy of Taekwondo

May 2004 - November 2009
Owner, Institute of Traditional Asian Martial Arts - East Lansing, MI

May 2004 to present
Nei Jia -- Internal Family of Chinese Martial Arts under Sifu Douglas Lawrence

2001 - March 2004
Aiki-goshin Jujutsu under the late Jeff Friedlis Sensei

1998 to present
Eishin-Ryu Iaido under Nicklaus Suino Sensei

1995 - 2003: Mid Michigan Academy of Martial Arts
2nd Degree Black belt under Instructor Steve Williams

1994 - 1999: Waverly Wrestling Team
• 1998 Team Captain and Most Valuable Player
• 1997 Team Captain and Most Valuable Player
• 1998 CAC Wrestling Champion
• 1996 Most Valuable Freshman


1988 - 1992 Children's Tae Kwon Do under Gary Voss and Pat Flotka

Sam Larioza-Sensei

Goju Ryu, Taekwondo, Krav Maga, Shorin Ryu, Wing Chun


Sam Larioza's martial arts training started in 1992 when he was lucky enough to start as a white belt in Morio Higaonna Sensei's karate dojo in San Diego. At the time he never knew that had stumbled upon one of the top karate teachers in the world. While supplementing his traditional karate training with other martial arts he appreciates being able to concentrate his karate studies under this one teacher. Larioza Sensei earned his Shodan (first degree black belt) in Okinawa in 1998 and was awarded his Sandan (third degree) in Goju Ryu Karate by Higaonna Sensei in 2005.


Larioza Sensei's travels have allowed him to also train in Chinese Wushu, Japanese Shotokan Karate, Korean Tae Kwon Do (earning a second degree black belt), Israeli Krav Maga (Phase 2 Instructor) and Okinawan Shorin Ryu with Seikichi Iha Sensei.


He opened his dojo in Fowlerville Michigan called "Ohana Karate" in 2003 and now has the largest and most successful martial arts school in Livingston County with over 325 students. He is very active in the local schools and in the community serving on the Board of Director of the Fowlerville Business Association, as a Trustee on the Fowlerville Community School Board of Education and recruiting as a "Blue and Gold Officer" for the United States Naval Academy.


*Placing this address in Google Maps, Mapquest and all Navigation systems yields incorrect directions. “Dan Vigil’s Academy of Taekwondo” is located in the “Water Wheel Building” located on the corner of Griswold and Main St. in downtown Northville. Ask your instructor for detailed directions.