Although starting martial arts at 9 years old, Chiefmaster Orndorff didn’t begin continuous training until his mid 20’s, when he studied Tae Kwon Do as well as BJJ (Brazilian Jiu‍-‍Jitsu). He began teaching martial arts in 1993 and opened his first martial arts school in Norwalk, OH circa 1994 with Don Walters, which later evolved into the North American Martial Arts Institute (NAMAI). He was also involved with opening a second NAMAI location run by his business partner, Eric Jones, in his hometown of Sandusky in 2009. A third school, located in Toledo, was opened in 2016, but was closed during the pandemic shutdowns. Attaining his highest rank in TKD (8^th DAN), he is also certified in other areas, such as EZ Defense & Active Shooter Response programs. A professional martial artist at heart, he has served in several capacities with noted organizations, like NAPMA (National Association of Professional Martial Artists), School Support Network, as well as representing athletic gear distributors prevalent in martial arts circles, e.g. IKON & Century. A longtime supporter of GM Rudy Timmerman, CM Orndorff is one of a select few, operating as an ambassador for the Korean Martial Arts Masters Hall of Fame, founded by GM Timmerman in 2014.

On August 9th, 2025 at the Warrior Weekend in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, GM Timmerman appointed CM Orndorff as one of the newly designated NKMAA Regional Directors, specifically, Director of USA – responsible for teaching the art of Tae Kwon Do.

You can connect with CM Orndorff on facebook by clicking on the following hyperlink: