Daniel J. Cardona, M.D.
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He was born and raised in Saginaw, Michigan, and began formal fitness training at age 12 as a swimmer, excelling in the backstroke, and continued throughout high school. He gained additional experience and training on the track team, excelling in the mile run. He trained year round, with swimming competition in the winter months and running competitions in the summer and fall.
At Michigan State University, he completed the pre-medical curriculum and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry in 1982. After graduation, Daniel worked as an organic chemist in a research lab at the Michigan Molecular Institute. At the University of Michigan Medical School he received his M.D. degree in 1987. He completed his Psychiatry Residency and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship in 1992.
He joined a Child and Adolescent Psychiatry office practice in Newport News, Virginia, in 1992 and moved to Paris, Kentucky, in late 1993 where he was recruited to be Medical Director for a newly-opened adolescent psychiatry inpatient unit at a local hospital. After approximately 14 years, Daniel finally closed his private practice in Paris, KY, April 2007 and now practices in a community mental health clinic part time in order to devote more time to his martial arts, native American spiritual practices and entrepreneurial endeavors. Daniel is ABPN board-certified in Adult Psychiatry and Child/Adolescent Psychiatry.
During the years as a college student, a research chemist, a medical student, and currently as a board-certified pediatric psychiatrist, Daniel has continued intensive endurance training, during which time he has had time to deeply study the effects of strength and flexibility on endurance.
In 1990, Daniel began his study of martial arts, which had been a dream and quickly became a passion. He began with Okinawan Karate for 3 years and then began his study of Ninjutsu. 18 years later, he has earned a 4th degree black belt (Yondan) in Toshin-Do (Ninjutsu) under Anshu Steven K. Hayes and a 1st degree black belt (Shodan) in Aiki-Ninjutsu under Doshu Thomas Maienza. Currently, Daniel is also a Yukyusha in Aikido.
Daniel and his wife, Patricia, are also students of Matt Furey, a Zen Master, who is also a master instructor in business, martial arts, physical fitness, and spirituality.
Daniel and his wife, Patricia, began studying under Mayan Elder Hunbatz Men in 1996, and at his request created the Cosmic Mysteries School in 1997. Daniel and Patricia continue to travel to the Yucatan Peninsula on a regular basis to study and practice Mayan ceremony with Hunbatz Men. Daniel and Patricia have also traveled to Mexico several times to study with Master Nazul (Miguel Angel Vergada), Central America with Mayan Elder Don Alejandro and Peru to study teachings of the Inca under Master Willaru. They have also studied with several Native American elders in the United States and several Asian masters in Chi Kung and Ninjutsu.
Daniel and his wife continue to study the “inner aspects” of the mind and body through direct experience of the energies at sacred ceremonial sites in North America, Central America, South America, and Europe.
Currently living in northern Kentucky with their two cats, in their spare time Daniel, an instrument-rated pilot, and Patricia, a private pilot, enjoy flying the friendly skies to visit friends and family.
Daniel is also the author of Jungle Cat Flexibility.
The Ninja Doctor sits among 13 ancient crystal skulls at Serpent Mound in southern Ohio