Michael Benjamin

Born October 18th, 1969, Michael Benjamin is a native of Rockford, Illinois who holds a B.A. in History with a minor in Southeast Asian Studies. He has spent over 20 years as a social worker with juvenile delinquents, foster children, and mentally ill adults in addition to writing on esoterica and teaching martial arts.

Michael began his martial arts training in 1980 under PKA world heavyweight kickboxing champion “Bad” Brad Hefton. In his teens, he trained under Soke Rodney Sacharnoski, Grandmaster of the eminent Juko-Kai Kokusei Remmei Martial Arts Federation. He would then go on to train under Sigung Michael Knipprath in Kung-Fu and Karate, becoming his assistant master. Michael opened his own kwoon/dojo in 2000 which he still runs today.  He was also privileged to train under the Grandmaster of Modern Arnis, Professor Remy Presas. In 2012 Michael earned his Level 5 – Full Instructor’s license in Natural Spirit International under world-renowned Grandmaster Kelly Worden, hand-to-hand combat instructor for the U.S. Army’s First Special Forces Group. Michael remains Datu Worden’s sole Illinois affiliate. 

Michael is the only martial artist in the American Midwest whose articles have appeared in the legendary magazines Inside Kung-Fu, Black Belt, and Blade. He has also worked as the official hoplologist for Kelly Worden in the production of articles, newsletters, and training modules. Michael’s article, “Core Principles of the Worden Defense System” is the opening essay in Worden’s manual for the First Special Forces Group. In late 2014 Michael will be releasing two instructional videos on knife fighting and Qinna (Chinese grappling) with world-renowned publisher Paladin Press. 

Michael began creatively writing at age ten with his poem “On Death.” He has since published two collections of poetry; The Wind of Seasons (1994) and Crowsongs (1998). His work has also appeared in numerous other mediums, ranging from anthologies to newspapers, as well as The Lantern (journal of Builders of the Adytum). 

Raised in the False Church of Rome, Michael rejected exoteric misinterpretations of the Christos’ message by his teens. He would go on to become an avid student of Aleister Crowley for a quarter century, spending some time in the Ordo Templi Orientis. In 1996 he achieved his 32nd degree in Scottish Rite Freemasonry. He spent twelve years as an initiate in Paul Foster Case’s B.O.T.A. practicing that system’s Qabalah, Tarot, and Spiritual Alchemy. He has also extensively studied Gardnerian Wicca, Gurdjieff’s Fourth Way, Ramana Mahrashi’s Nan Yar, Vigyan Bhairav Tantra, Taoist Qigong, Ken Wilber’s Integralism, Huxley’s Perennial Philosophy, and the enlightened teachings of Eckhart Tolle. He is now a practicing Mahayana Buddhist, strict vegetarian, animal rights activist, and feral cat caregiver. 

Michael lives in his modest home upon Kent Creek with his beloved soul mate of 16 years, Donna, and is a proud cat-father to five beautiful rescued felines: Smokey, Mojo, Mustash, Patches, and Parker. Despite his Eastern inklings, for those who know, Michael maintains that his cairn-stone will be shaped in the form of a Cross surmounted by the Rose.