Biography of Mike Stone

WAYNE TANAKA…Maui News Sports Editor

The curly-haired kid grows up.

We still remember him as the curly-haired kid from Makawao School in the Spring of 1958, who was one of the four unanimous choices of the all-star teams of the EMCA Grade School Basketball Tournament. I indeed headed the selection committee. His two teammates, Allan and Steven Karimoto, were the most outstanding players on the Makawao championship team. However, we report that we pointed out the curly-haired kid to coach Tom Kiyosaki, then the coach at Maui High, and told him, “There is your new star.” Yeah. He replied, but he is not coming to me; Lahainaluna is going to get him.” 

The Lunas did, but we still puzzle about his slow grooming. Now, almost four years later, Michael Stone has just completed second and last varsity prep football seasons as the most outstanding player of the Maui Interscholastic league.

Coach Henry Ariyoshi will be the first to admit he was blessed to have a Michael Stone on the roster in his first head coaching job—the freshman mentor found in Stone a “kid with the heart and desire to play football. 

He wasn't just outstanding. He was also Lahainaluna's inspirational force, as well as spectacular. He displayed the “natural” abilities we saw back in 1958 as an end, half-back, wing-back, and quarterback. He was invincible as a pass-receiver, devastating as a ball carrier, and destructive as a tackler. And if you think he can't pass, just let him show you sometime. The 5-foot-5-inch, 120-pound curly-haired kid is now a strapping 5'11 "170-pound dynamo.

Stone was also a valuable piece of merchandise, but in the thrilling campaign just gone by, our choice for the MVP title has to go to Roger Ishizu.

Stone had no peer at the end (11 catches for 171 yards), was third in scoring (39 points), and proved to be a tremendous halfback (6.3 average). when the Lunas needed one. A coach's “dream player,” he was a sensation on defense.

Michael Stone, Lahainaluna, Rated as one of the league's all-time best football ends in the last decade, also played two years on the varsity basketball team and developed into one of the team's top quarter-milers.

Lahainaluna's Mike stone, probably the most outstanding player in the circuit, and Manuel Aruda, Maui High end, caught 11 passes a piece to share the lead in this department. Roger Ishizu had 40 points, and Mike Stone with 39, each with six touchdowns. Outstanding for the Luna's was Michael Stone, who was not expected to be in peak strength after injuring his ankle on Wednesday evening. Unable to walk under his own power on Thursday and still limping on Friday, Stone showed no signs of his injury on Saturday night, tallying 20 points while starring as a halfback and later at quarterback.

A tough, courageous battler, Stone emerged as the game's leading ground-gainer with 95 yards with 14 carries and 21 yards in 2 pass receptions. Scoring from a one- and two-yard line in the third, he capped the evening with a 31-yard quarterback “keep” run in the final minute of play. A Hapakuka to Mike Stone was suitable for the first touchdown in the first quarter. Stone ran a lateral 65 yards for another score to give the Lunas a 12-0 lead.

Luna's top Maui, 34-14: By K. Oishi. Mike Stone scored three touchdowns, two points after TD, and passed for another extra point to pace Lahainaluna to a 34-14 victory over Maui High last night. The victory gave the Lunas second place in the Maui Interscholastic League. Stone scored twice in the second quarter; he took a pass from Alan Kawaguchi for one extra point, ran over for another, and passed to Henry Kaililaau for one more point. 

Roger Ishizu plunged over for the first Maui touchdown, and he kicked the PAT after each touchdown. Roger was held to 51 yards on 16 carries. He caught five passes in the first half and none after, with Stone keyed on him.

Expectations :

There were great expectations for me to excel in high school, both from myself and my family, relatives, friends, and coaches. However, the truth is that I did not fulfill my own or anyone else's expectations, not even remotely approaching any level of athleticism. During my first two years in high school, I only had the opportunity to play football at the end of my junior season. Our assistant football coach, Mr. Jimmie Greig, persisted in asking our head coach, Ariyoshi, to put in the game to get a bit more experience for next year's season. It was only after one of the senior receivers got injured that I was allowed to play. I played the end or receiver position, ran pass patterns, and caught the ball. Jimmie Greig was responsible for conditioning, training, and preparing the running backs and ends. With only a couple of games left in the season, he campaigned hard for me to get more playing experience.

Neither Jimmie nor I could ever figure out why Coach Ariyoshi disliked me so much. It was evident from day one. My first theory starts with the letter printed in the Maui News by Mr. Wayne Tanaka. Everyone expected me to attend Maui High School, but the newspaper discovered that I was going to Lahainaluna, a highly competitive rival in all sports. There were only four high schools on the island: Lahainaluna, Maui High, St, Anthony, and Baldwin High School.

As I mentioned, I did nothing to warrant the hype of the newspaper article. I believe it was in 1960 when Bruno Ariyoshi was transferred to Lahainaluna as head coach of our football and basketball teams. Bruno Ariyoshi coached under Mr. Oda, who retired in my junior year. Coach Ariyoshi brought in Jimmie Greig as one of his assistant football coaches. 

JIMMIE GREIG

I loved Jimmie's and his mentality; he was very much like my boxing coach and trainers - no nonsense, no excuses, no alibis. A person must put in the effort and work if they want to win.

Jimmie was around 30 years old when he coached me. During my junior year summer break, I decided to stay and work on the campus and boarding department. One day, while in downtown Lahaina, I ran into Jimmie. He offered to help me get ready for the upcoming football season and would stop by the school after his work, late in the afternoons, every day. I was very casual in my accepting his generous offer, thinking it was only cheap talk. We set a time and place, and sure to his work, not only did he show up nearly every day of that summer vacation, but he helped me in all areas of playing the game of football. We began by completing our regular conditioning, strength, and stamina exercises. Then, they proceeded with catching techniques, including holding onto the ball, hanging onto it, and carrying and protecting it once caught. He taught me how to see, throw, punt, hold, carry, block, and tackle without getting hurt. By the end of summer vacation, I was ready to play offense and defense for an entire game. When we started spring practice at the end of summer vacation, I was in excellent condition. After the end of our third week of practice, Alan Kawaguchi, our quarterback, and I were named co-captains of the team. Alan and I were also selected as co-captains of our school's basketball team.

There are only four high school football teams on the island. We played two pre-season games before playing our six regular-season games. In my senior year, I played a total of 8 football games. When the year ended, I was selected as an All-Star at the End position. I also had an opportunity to play quarterback, halfback, and fullback, which ended in a winning game in which I scored three touchdowns.

All of this was a direct result of Jimmie Greig's help, but most importantly, his trust, faith, and belief in me, and in my character, to persist, never quit, and never give up. That was the type of character Jimmie was. Within four years after I graduated from high school and did three years in the Army, I returned to Maui to hear Jimmie was dying of brain cancer. I flew over to Oahu to visit him at Kaiser Hospital. It was so great to see him again. We shared a special bond and greeting. Whenever we met, I would have to prepare for his killer handshake. One of the hand-strengthening techniques he taught me was to spread out a full page of a newspaper. Lay it flat on the floor and place my wrist and heel of my palm at the end of one corner. Then, I put my hand on the paper, spread my fingers as wide as I could, and began to crumple the entire sheet into the palm of my hand without ever lifting my wrist off the floor. I had to do that with ten sheets of newspaper before doing it again with my left hand. Jimmie said it would develop a strong hand for catching and holding onto the ball. He also said I would develop an incredible handshake grip. After the football season, whenever we met, we'd have a handshake contest or an arm-wrestling contest. I visited Jimmie at the hospital; he had lost a lot of weight and muscle mass, and Jimmie looked much older than 33 years, pale, thin, i.e., and fragile. 

He was shocked to see me. I told his wife, Josephine, not to tell him I was coming to see him. He was genuinely happy to see me but didn’t seem surprised. He was upbeat, positive, and confident and told me how he was going to kick cancer's ass. Visiting him at the hospital did not change his competitive spirit. Despite his weakened condition, he still challenged me to an iron-grip handshake. I was surprised by his strength.

I finally had the chance to thank him for all he did to change my life and for the powerful, positive impact he still has on it. Jimmie died a day after my visit. I would hate to live with the regret of never thanking him or being with him in the last of his life. 

Many years later, when I decided to write poetry, one of the first poems I wrote was about Jimmie. On one of my vacations to Maui, I asked Josephine if I could stop by her home for a few minutes to give her a copy of the poem I wrote about Jimmie. I had framed and signed the poem because she mentioned that she would have it mounted on their living room wall. It was only then she “confessed” that when she first told me of Jimmie's condition, doctors felt he might have only a few days. I had told Josie not to tell Jimmie I was coming to see him, but she told him anyway; she believed that telling Jimmie it would lift his spirit. It did. Jimmie died the day after I visited him. Josie said she wanted me to meet her first child. Jimmie named his firstborn me. Michael walked into the room. I could immediately see the resemblance. He was also tall, dark, strong, and handsome, just like his father, Jimmie Greig.

MIKE STONE THE EARLY COMPETITIVE KARATE TOURNAMENT DAYS

Mike’s life and his experiences

Mike's life and experiences are varied and far-reaching, spanning his long and successful career in athletics, the movie industry, and the entertainment business, as well as his roles as a writer, promoter, sports instructor, inventor, bodyguard, and personal fitness trainer. These experiences, after years of introspection and reflection, have enabled him to develop a comprehensive and dynamic program that empowers anyone to make significant, positive lifestyle changes. His renowned seminar program, “Living Your Dreams Now,” has transformed the lives of those who have heard him and applied the simple yet effective principles. The program involves the trilogy, which comprises the aspects that define who we are as human beings — the body, mind, and spirit or soul. It focuses on the four primary aspects that impact upon every person’s daily life; specifically love energy, time, and money. Mike Stone lives on what excites his imagination – poetry, art, music, dog training, and playing tennis and golf, among others. He has published books on diverse topics and has masterfully applied the very ideas he espouses in his seminar talks and writings to his own life.

                                                          "Mike Stone "A Unicorn"                   "The Legend of Mike Stone"

                                                     The Untold Story of the Greatest Martial Artist You've Never Heard Of

Panglao, Philippines – Mike Stone is not just a martial artist; he's a cultural phenomenon—a man whose legendary life reads like a blockbuster

movie script. Known as "The Unicorn" for his once-in-a-lifetime achievements, Mike Stone's undefeated record in martial arts competition and

groundbreaking contributions to global combat sports have earned him a unique place in history.

Stone has remained one of the most intriguing figures in martial arts and Hollywood for decades. He's a pioneer, innovator, and icon whose

exploits have shaped the martial arts world and inspired generations. With nearly 400 million combat sports fans worldwide, the time is ripe for

his story to be told.

                                                                                 The Man Behind the Legend

• Undefeated Champion: Mike Stone is the only martial arts competitor in history to have retired undefeated in both kata (forms) and Kumite

(fighting). He never placed below first in any competition.

• Black Belt in Six Months: At age 20, Stone earned his black belt after just six months of training—a feat unheard of in the martial arts world.

• Hall of Fame Legend: Stone has been inducted into 14 Martial Arts Halls of Fame, including three separate honors from Black Belt Magazine:

Fighter of the Year (1971), Instructor of the Year (1994), and recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award (2024).

• Innovator and Inventor: In 1968, Stone introduced the first safety gear for martial arts competitions, revolutionizing the sport. He also created

the Golden Fist Awards, the martial arts world's answer to the Oscars.

• Hollywood Pioneer: Known as the "Godfather of American Ninja Movies," Stone wrote the original screenplay for Enter the Ninja, sparking a

worldwide craze and working on several sequels to the ninja film genre. He also choreographed martial arts fight scenes in multiple films.

• Celebrity Insider: Stone's life intersected with pop culture in extraordinary ways—Priscilla Presley left Elvis to live with him for four years, he

stood in the same room as The Beatles during their final gathering, and he served as a bodyguard for music producer Phil Spector during the

height of Spector's fame.

• Martial Arts Friendships: Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris, Benny “The Jet” Urquidez, Bill “Superfoot” Wallace, Jeff Smith, Joe Lewis. Stephen Hayes.



                                                                                      A Once-in-a-Lifetime Talent

Mike Stone is a true sports unicorn—a title reserved for athletes who defy all odds. While modern sports legends like Tiger Woods, Tom Brady,

and Floyd Mayweather experienced losses at some point in their careers, Mike Stone never lost a single match in the competition. His

accomplishments are unparalleled:

• Awarded 17 10th-Degree Black Belts in One Night (2023) – An unprecedented honor from martial arts organizations across the United States

and the United Kingdom.

. Set a Guinness World Record title for a seven-foot flying sidekick while breaking two one-inch boards at heights of 5.5 feet, 6 feet, 6.5 feet, and

 7 feet on the television game show The Guinness Game in Los Angeles, CA.

• 13,000 Consecutive Jump Rope Skips without a miss at Age 63 – Setting an endurance record in just over two hours.

• Played 751 Tennis Matches at Age 60 – winning 187 out of 198 singles matches and 338 out of 553 doubles matches.

The Docuseries: Unicorn: The Legend of Mike Stone

In collaboration with elite producers, the story of Mike Stone is being developed into a premium audio podcast and docuseries. The project has

attracted interest from top industry figures, including Emmy-winning producer Steven Leckart and No Smiling producers Sean Cannon and

Heather Schroering is known for successfully adapting podcast mini-series into streaming docuseries and premium cable television. Curtis

Petersen of PPI Films, a veteran with over 200 film credits, is also on board.

This limited series will reveal the untold stories behind Stone's extraordinary career and personal life—a journey marked by action, drama, and

profound cultural impact. The docu-series aims to blend the energy of martial arts with the emotional depth of a modern-day Forrest Gump tale.

                                                                                              About Mike Stone

Beyond martial arts, Mike Stone is an accomplished writer, poet, actor, stuntman, producer, and artist. He has authored five books: The Poet, The Philosopher, The Observer, Living in Paradise, American Eclectic Karate, My Time with Priscilla, and Lisa Marie Presley. His unique art form, PenSword Art, combines Japanese calligraphy with sword choreography. Stone continues to inspire and innovate, proving that true legends never fade.