Sifu/Guro Michele A. Zuccollo

     Michele (Miguel) A. Zuccollo was born December 13, 1965 into an Italian family where naturally soccer was the game of “Right”, in Prince George British Columbia. He was the youngest of four children of Mr. Romeo Zuccollo and Mrs. Virginia Zuccollo. In his early years he enjoyed watching martial arts, westerns, wrestling and boxing on the family black and white television. At the age of fifteen he was introduced to Wing Chun Kung Fu by Sifu Ivan Pilcik and taken on as a private student. As his training progressed, he met Master John Ng the man who educated him in the arts of Wing Chun Kung Fu and Chinese Boxing. Being a stubborn student, Michele took many contact training sessions to feel the art taught by his Master. In 1986, he trained with Grandmaster Long Ngyuen and Master Charles Thieseen in the system of Vietnamese Shaolin Kung Fu in Prince George British Columbia Canada. In 1991, He was awarded a Black Sash in the system of Vietnamese Shaolin Kung Fu, and also given permission to open a school of Kung Fu by Grandmaster Long Ngyuen. In 1995, he started his training in Shanghai Tai Chi Ch’uan under Sifu Marilyn Judds, who exposed him to the unyielding way of Tai Chi and began teaching Tai Chi in 1996.
     Michele also began his journey in the study of Arnis in 1995, with Maestro Bernardo Fabia Salinas a direct student of the late legendary Estoque Maestro Mauricio Fabia, and with his guidance, persistence, understanding and dedication Michele excelled in the traditional methods of training in Arnis. He continues his journey with his present teacher Maestro Bernardo Fabia Salinas who has enlightened him with his wisdom and forged his body with traditional training of Sinkatan-Arnis*Estrella, Karate and Aikido.
     In 1996, he traveled to different provinces of the Philippines to continue his studies in Filipino Martial Arts, where he studied under Grandmaster Carlito Ondilo of Panay, Roxas City the art of Lightning Scientific Arnis.
     He also traveled to Manila and trained with Master Flaviano Cabuang in the arts of Aikido and Modern Arnis. In a chance meeting, he trained with Antonio “Tatang” Ilustrisimo at Luneta Park. The short period he spent with this man helped Michele realize Tatang’s fierceness and Anting - Anting ability. Tatang was and is a true warrior of the Filipino Arts and Michele is honored to have trained with him.
     His last destination of training was in the Province of Pangasinan, with the assistance of Master Flaviano F. Cabuang, where he was introduced to the family of his teacher Maestro Bernardo Fabia Salinas. He trained with Ama Saturnino Quinto Fabia Maestro Alfonso Fabia and his colleagues.
     In 1998 he returned to the Philippines with his teacher Maestro Bernardo Fabia Salinas to continue his training with the Grandmaster of the Estrella system, and Colleagues, Maestro Cipriano Rebualos, Fortunato Rebualos, and Manuel Quiros in various styles of Filipino martial arts. Michele was graded on his knowledge, his ability, and performance in demonstrating his understanding of the system. The members of the board tested and witnessed it. He was awarded the first non-family member achievement the rank of Primero Grado in Sinkatan-Arnis*Estrella. It was presented and received on May 24, 1998 in the town of Manaoag, Province of Pangasinan Philippines.
     After two years of continues training, On May 30, 2000 Michele received his second rank accomplishment “Segundo Grado” of the art in Arnis, presented by Grandmaster Ama Saturnino Quinto Fabia of the Sinkatan Arnis Estrella International in Manaoag, Pangasinan Philippines.

Honored Acknowledgements:
- Master Benny “The Jet” Urquidez (1990) GM Shou-Yu Liang (1993)
- Datu Shishir Inocalla (1995) GM George Dillman (1996)
- GM Walley Jay (1996) GM Remy Presas (1996)
- GM Dan Inosanto (1996)

Accomplishments:
- Level 1 NCCP Fully Certified Coach (Amateur Boxing)
- Level 2 NCCP Coach
- Promoter DragonFest 2000 Nationals
- BC Boxing member and Charter School
- SFMA Lifetime member and Charter School
- LSAI Lifetime member and only Chartered school in Canada

Inducted into:
- Hall Of Fame 2002 Instructor of the Year - Hawaii Martial Arts International Society Hawaii, USA
- Hall of Fame 2003 Platinum Award - Hawaii Martial Arts International Society
Las Vegas, Nevada USA

     Michele gives his Love and Heart to his Dear wife Lorna Zuccollo whom he married on July 8, 1995. “I Love you with all my heart and thank you for believing in me.” I wish to humbly and honorably thank my Father Grandmaster Salinas for all you have given me. Your fighting spirit will live through me and in me for all of my days. My victories in battle will be honorable and if I should be defeated, I will have lived without regret. “A man lives but once, his fighting spirit will live for ever.”
Love Your Son Michele A. Zuccollo