Male Co-competitor of the year (1990) Michael Bernardo By Marian K. Castinado

It has gotten to the point where about your only chance of beating Michael Bernardo in weapons forms competition is to hand a disreputable desk clerk a Jackson to forget Bernardo's wake up call the morning of the eliminations. Before Bernardo arrived on the scene, it was an open tournament circuit where even the best hard stylists were considering wushu and wearing satin gi pattered after the American flag just to get the judge's attention. Then, in to this world of kata performed to Like a Virgin came Bernardo, attired in a simple hakama wielding a plain wooden bo and delivering a kiai that ripped through the deepest recesses of the auditorium. After that first moment no one was surprised when he won.--and won again.

"Soft stylists have an instant advantage, because their movements can be so dramatic," reasons Bernardo, a shorin-ryu karate stylist. "To win I had to take a bo form, blend in some flashy movements and spins, but still emphasize the essence of what hard style is; which is strong direct movements."

Bernardo has achieved the top national weapons ranking in two out of the only three years he has competed on the open tournament circuit and in 1990 he won the weapons forms grand championship at the battle of Atlanta, the U.S. open and the Diamond Nationals-- perhaps the three most prestigious tournaments in the United States. Most competitors would have been content with such accolades, but Bernardo instead sought new challenges and decided to enter sparring divisions as well.

"I used to do all three: empty hand forms, weapons forms, and fighting- locally, but when I decided to compete nationally I decided that my best chances were with the bo, so that's what I really concentrated on. Then I worked on my empty hand forms, and after last year I guess I wanted a new challenge so I started fighting." The London, Ontario, Canada resident had allot in his favor, right from the start. Having taught for 10 years and owned his own school for five his dedication to the martial arts is obvious.

He describes himself as motivated, but it's taken an extraordinary amount of discipline and talent to reach number one in such a short time --and stay there. Now in his forth year of competition he continues to maintain top rated status in weapons and American open forms, and he has also reached number three in fighting. In spite of his success Bernardo remains unassuming, a trait that seems unlikely to change following his induction in to the Black belt hall of fame as the 1990 male co-competitor of the year.

The gray strands in his hair give and added look of wisdom to his 27 years but it's not just appearance. There really is a maturity and focus to this competitor's life; the calm mind of a Kurosawa warrior. Weather Bernardo continues to compete on the tournament circuit or seeks new challenges it seems certain that he will meet and triumph against each test he faces.

(click the pic to see the real article from the magazine)