My sensei was a British karate champion named Brian Fitkin. He was my mentor and because I had a hard relationship with my dad, he became a father figure to me.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
I'm a trained martial artist. My parents were both martial artists.
My father was raised with brothers, he was a football player and a boxer, he was a chief petty officer in the Navy, he was a man of his times.
My father's a character.
I had my father, and he was an amazing man and an amazing role model, so I always wanted to mirror that.
Thomas was my true name but everyone knew me as Mick, except my mother, who knew me as definitely Michael.
My father was one of the first Tae Kwon Do Masters to come to the states in the '60s. He had one of the first all-African-American fighting teams, and I was basically raised in a karate studio since I was 3. It's part of my blood, competing, and all that stuff was responsible for a lot of me just growing up.
My father was my teacher. But most importantly he was a great dad.
My father was murdered when I was two. Duane, even though he was only a year and 18 days my elder, he became a father figure to me. I would have done anything for my brother - I loved him so much.
My father, obviously, and my mother were inspirations. My uncle, Frank Harper, he was an absolute mentor for me.
My dad was my best friend and greatest role model. He was an amazing dad, coach, mentor, soldier, husband and friend.