Mike Morningstar’s 10-year career was illustrious—and, since his retirement from competition, has continued to inspire young athletes in Oakville. From 1986 to 1996, he competed globally, earning a variety of impressive titles and accolades.
Morningstar’s Taekwondo career took off in 1987, when he received his first-degree black belt. Since then, he has become a five-time Canadian and North American Champion, the 1994 All Japan Heavyweight Champion, and the 1994 World Champion. He also captained the Canadian national team at the 1994 World Championships in Malaysia, and also served as coach of the Canadian team at the 1997 World Championships in Russia.
In 1998, Morningstar was personally awarded his 5th Degree Black Belt by the founder of Taekwondo, General Choi Hong Hi. This marked the beginning of a wonderful professional relationship between the two men, with Morningstar personally assisting the General in conducting seminars in such countries as Canada, USA, Czech Republic, Sweden, Greece, North Korea and Japan. Following the founder’s death in 2002, he assisted his son, Master Choi Jung Hwa, in teaching Taekwondo across Malaysia, Australia, Russia, England, Scotland, and Greece, Argentina, the US, and Canada. In 2003, he became the first instructor since 1972 to be officially sent by the International Taekwondo Federation (ITF) to teach the sport in South Korea.
After retirement from competition, Morningstar opened his Taekwondo school in Oakville. Since this time, he has imparted the tenets of Taekwondo (courtesy, integrity, self- control, and indomitable spirit) to hundreds of students, some of whom have achieved international success.
Today, Morningstar is a certified 5th Degree Black Belt International Instructor, and is also certified by the ITF as an Examiner and Referee. He continues to give back to the community by mentoring youth— and through his charitable actions. Through demonstrations and Break- A-Thons, he has helped to raise over $45,000 for charities such as The Children’s Wish Foundation, The Heart & Stroke Foundation, The Lung Association, The United Way, and The Diabetes Hope Foundation.
For these efforts, he received the Volunteer of the Year Award from the Heart & Stoke Foundation, and the Special Event Coordinator Award from The United Way.
