Michael Talkington, a member of the United States Ju-Jitsu Federation Board of Directors, passed away on May 16th, 2001, after a long battle with cancer.

Michael was a true leader in the Martial Arts community and was an influential member of the USJJF. A friend and mentor to many, his positive outlook, inner strength and dedication to the martial arts was a inspiration to all who knew him. He will be greatly missed.

The Officers, Board Members and General Membership of the United States Ju-Jitsu Federation offer his family and friends our sincerest condolences and our prayers in this difficult time.

Michael's father, who was an amateur boxing champion in Illinois, started teaching him boxing in 1960, when he was four years old. When Micheal was eight years old, he began studying Judo at the Alton Illinois YMCA. Between 1964 and 1971, Michael won many tournaments and two state championships. In 1971 Michael started teaching Judo to juniors, and taking Judo and JuJitsu at Florrissant Valley Community College. He studied there under Bob Whelan and Mitch Sasa until 1976 when he entered the Navy.

Michael went on to the Nuclear Submarine Service and was stationed in and practiced Judo and JuJitsu in Great Lake, IL, Orlando, FL, Idaho Falls, ID, Groton, CT, and Kittery, ME.

Michael has studied several different styles of JuJitsu, including Kito-Ryu and Tenshin-Shinyo-Ryu and some Aikijitsu.

In 1987, Michael was medically retired from the Navy and was very ill for seven years. In 1994, he started a Judo dojo in Bloomington, IL and started taking Tae Kwon Do. In April of 1998, he started a Jujitsu club at Clinton Nuclear Power Station teaching Shihan-Ryu JuJitsu.

Michael passed away on June 16th, 2001 after a long battle with cancer.

Michael's martial arts ranks were:
Rokudan (6th Degree), Judo,
Godan (5th Degree, JuJitsu
Chodan (1st Degree), Tae Kwon Do

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