MICHAEL EVANGELISTA
MICHAEL’S STORY
Like most kids, Michael was fascinated with martial arts.
Bruce Lee, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Steven Seagal, and Jackie Chan were a few early inspirations.
His family couldn’t afford to send him to training so he improvised: mimicking movements he would learn from movies and practicing them with his twin brother. While in high school, Michael was able to enroll himself in a local Tae Kwon Do school in San Francisco, CA.
Afterward, Michael began to dabble in Boxing, Kickboxing, Capoeira, Karate, Wing Chun, and Jujutsu, but not staying long enough to fully master any single discipline.
In 2004, after a ten-year hiatus, Michael’s friend asked him to become a high school assistant wrestling coach. With no experience in wrestling, Michael accepted the position, and the challenge. He was a quick study of the sport.
In 2008, Michael took over the high school wrestling program as Head Coach. The wrestling program exploded and the school became a major contender within their district and neighboring districts by producing city championship winners and state qualifiers in California.
In 2009, Michael stumbled upon Roy Dean’s instructional videos on the art of BJJ. While competing in Grapplers Quest, Michael sustained several injuries, followed by multiple surgeries. This set Michael back for 2 years from his own martial arts training, but he continued to coach wrestling with the help of his assistants.
In 2013, Michael began training Seibukan Jujutsu back in Emeryville, CA, and started the Uchideshi program under the instruction of Renshi Som Pourfarzaneh.
Michael was awarded his Shodan black belt in 2014.
At the Seibukan Tai Kai in 2014 hosted by Kancho Julio Toribio in Monterey, CA, Michael met Roy Dean for the first time.
Forced to stop training in 2016 due to unforeseen circumstances, Michael set aside his training for another 4 years. During this time Michael began instructing and coaching working professionals and started his coaching career.
As of 2020, Michael joined Patriots Martial Arts Academy in Arizona, learning Machida Karate, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and Kickboxing under Professor William R. Sandoval.
Michael and Sabrina Evangelista are the owners of My Style Martial Arts located in Queen Creek, Arizona, and welcome you to their studio if you’re in the area.
Impressed by Michael’s flexibility and kicks, the instructor moved him to train with higher belts immediately, jump starting his martial arts journey and his love of the history, culture, movements, and evolution of combat sports.
After a couple of years as a wrestling coach, Michael was introduced to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and in 2006 joined Charles Gracie Academy in Daly City, CA.
In 2011, Michael relocated with his family to Arizona.He finally picked up his training at Watashi No Dojo, led by Sensei John Rich. Sensei Rich taught Okinawan Karate, Aiki Jujutsu and Professor Darrel Taylor instructed Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Michael was later awarded his BJJ blue belt in 2012 by Professor Taylor.
Already following Roy Dean’s videos, Michael felt aligned with Roy’s teachings and philosophies in martial arts. All of which helped Michael develop and continue his BJJ journey.