My Friend Is Gone:
Dear Friends,
It is with the utmost sadness that I relay to you the passing of my dear friend, Mike Mrkulic. Mike died in a car accident very early this morning on the N.J. Turnpike.
Mike was a very successful stock broker who left Wall Street to create his own Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy. While studying Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, Mike displayed a tremendous determination to constantly improve and reach his full potential. His tenacity was always on display when he competed as his list of accomplishments, below, incredibly demonstrates.
But more important than all his medals and all his successful students, is the influence he had over others. His positive outlook on life was refreshingly intoxicating. He refused to accept negativity and made a point of laughing and smiling so that you would have to enjoy your moments with him. Mike wanted you to remember that life was not a struggle, but rather, an opportunity to experience joy and friendship. His emotion was wonderfully contagious.
Mike was the very first person who told me that I could become a World Champion in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and insisted on training me and taking me to Brasil. Well, it took several times but eventually Mike was there both times I was awarded First Place and he was there smiling and standing on the podium next to me for the photos and medal ceremony.
Mike was aware that my brother had passed a very long time ago and yet, he insisted on calling me "Brother" despite already having 2 of his own. I think he knew what that meant to me and that was his way of always making me feel better.
Quite some time ago, Mike asked my help in securing a very fast Lexus for him through my friend who owned the dealership housing this car. I helped Mike in terms of vouching for his character but asked him not to continue to drive so fast. It wasn't just because he was raising both his daughters by himself, but because I didn't want to lose a friend to a pattern of recklessly fast driving which terrified me. He promised me he would slow down. But he didn't.
I represented Mike shortly thereafter in a courtroom where the Judge actually asked Mike, after seeing the plea agreement I arranged from the Prosecutor, "What is your relationship with your attorney because you certainly could not have paid him enough money for this deal?" As we walked out the courtroom, Mike was infectiously laughing during my entire admonishment against continuing to drive so fast.
Some time last winter, Mike came by to see my new Ferrari and proudly told me that he was expecting the arrival of yet another very fast car, an Audi R8. I told him that I wasn't happy to hear this news as I was concerned he would not temper his driving habits. He promised me he would be more careful.
About two months ago, Mike picked me up in the Audi so that I could again represent him in Bay Ridge, N.Y. for driving 92 miles per hour in a 55 mile per hour zone. Just as I had the Prosecutor willing to dismiss the entire matter, the Judge screamed "Are you crazy? Look at this speed" and then set the matter down for June, 2016. Mike seemed stunned even as I tried to explain to him that driving at such speeds is dangerous. He laughed the entire way out of the courtroom and then bought me 2 belts from some street dweller and then laughed the whole way home. I did tell Mike that come June of next year, his father would have to drive us to court as I was too scared to be a passenger while he drives. He smiled proudly, laughed and said he would acquiesce to my, what he perceived as, ridiculous demand.
This past November, I was honored to watch Mike be awarded his Third Degree as a Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu from one of our professors, Vitor Terra who came from Brasil to compete and teach at Mike's academy.
I learned of Mike's passing today and selfishly wondered which car had he been driving during the accident. Shamefully, I was somewhat relieved to learn it was the Audi and not the Lexus for which he needed my assistance to purchase. I then found myself alone in my own car, pulled over in violation of some parking rule, crying to the thought of Mike not laughing any more; not smiling until you yourself had to break out smiling; not reminding me of some crazy moment he and I shared in Brasil just to remind me that life sometimes calls for bizarre or even excessive moments of joyful frivolity.
That is how Mike lived, excessively. He was an excessive friend, He was an excessive teacher. He was an excessive producer of warmth and laughter. Mike knew how to display his appreciation for your friendship. I wish I had told him more often just how much I appreciated him and just what he meant to me.
And now, like so many after thoughts, I wish I had spent more time being rained upon by Mike's jovial nature, his insistence on just simply being a joy to be around. His sunshine is sorely missed.
Deeply,
Harley
Mike's Achievements
1999 Champion-NAGA-North American Grappling Championships GI Flyweightt
1999 Champion-NAGA-North American Grappling Championships NO-GI Flywt
1999 Champion-Royler Gracie Championships Lightweight GI
2000 Champion-NAGA Matt Madness Lightweight GI
2000 Champion-GQ NYC Grappling Challege NO-GI Lightweight
2000 Champion-Grapplers Quest Kimono Kombat Lightweight
2000 Champion-Royler Gracie Championships "Superfight"
2000 Champion-NAGA-NAGC Flyweight GI
2000 Champion-NAGA-North American Grappling Championships Flywt NO-GI
2001 Champion-Royler Gracie Championships "Superfight"
2001 Champion-US Jiu Jitsu Open Lightweight NO-GI
2001 Champion-US Jiu Jitsu Open Lightweight GI
2002 Champion-NAGA-NJ State Championships Flyweight
2002 Champion-Arnold Classic Gracie World Lightweight Submission
2002 Champion-Copa Atlantica Lightweight Purple Belt
2002 Champion-US Jiu Jitsu Open No-GI Lightweight
2002 Champion-Grapplers Quest World Submission Flyweight
2002 Champion-NAGA-North Amer Grappling Champ Brown/Black Belt Litewt GI
2002 Champion-NAGA-North American Grappling Champships-Master Ltwt NO-GI
2002 Champion-NAGA-North American Grappling Champships Adult Flywt NO-GI
2003 Champion-Grapplers Quest World Submission Flyweight
2003 Champion-NAGA-North American Grappling Champships-Adult Flywt NO-GI
2003 Champion-Las Vegas Grappling & Jiu Jitsu Flyweight
2003 Most Technical Fighter-Award Las Vegas Grappling & Jiu Jitsu Championships
2003 Bronze Medalist-Pan American Jiu-Jitsu Championships-SuperFeatherWt
2003 6th place-Abu Dhabi World Submission Wrestling Championships (66kg)
2003 4th place-World Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Championships
2004 Silver Medalist-Abu Dhabi CC Submission Grappling Open, Florida
2005 Bronze Medalist-World Brazilian JiuJitsu Championship Featherweight Division - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
2005 Awarded Black Belt-Gracie Humaita Academy; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
2008 Awarded1st Degree Promotion on Blackbelt
2015 Awarded 3rd Degree Promotion on Blackbetl