Bio-Sibok Clay Micheau

     Sibok Clay Micheau is the most decorated of Sibok Maria Warwick's Black Belts. He began his formal training in 1978 and continues teaching to this day. He is currently recognized by the International Shaolin Kenpo Association as a 6th Degree Black Belt and holds also a 7th Degree Black Belt in International Freestyle Karate under the tutelage of Steve Curran.

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     Clay received his Black Belt from Maria Warwick in 1981 and with two other  high-ranking students (Brian Johnson and Keith Bowers) departed Aberdeen Kenpo Karate for Steve Curran's Karate in 1982. Clay was told to make a choice between training with the ISKA affiliation and training with Steve Curran. At this time, Clay's focus was on tournament competition and the ultimatum given by the ISKA assisted him in making the right decision for himself and his classmates at that time in his life. Shaolin Kenpo is in a better place now that he has returned.

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     Clay has rubbed shoulders with some of the biggest names in the Martial Arts over the course of his journey. To name but a few - "Superfoot" Bill Wallace, Joe Lewis, Chuck Norris, and Al Dacascos. Clay even had the opportunity to play a bad guy on Walker, Texas Ranger!

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     Clay was on hand for the closure of the original Aberdeen Kenpo Karate, and in fact was teaching a significant amount of the classes before its closure. Sibok Maria was dealing with some medical issues and was unable to teach in the manner her students had become accustomed to. Although she was present, her ailments would not allow her to partake in many classes.

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     Following the closure of Aberdeen Kenpo Karate, Clay, along with Brian Johnson and Keith Bowers began training 3x per week with Steve Curran in Tacoma and achieved significant success on the tournament circuit.

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     Sponsorship had been arranged for Clay, Brian, and Keith to compete professionally, but the sponsor pulled out at the last moment. This left the three without the means to travel the country competing. Clay returned to Aberdeen, Washington in 1984 and opened a school which taught a hybrid of Freestyle karate and Shaolin Kenpo. Clay utilized the kata from the Shaolin Kenpo system to round out his own unique style. Wayne Toy, Ray Warwick, and Mike Skinner Sr. would visit his school on occasion to assist with the kata instruction. This school closed in 1986 but Clay was notably the first instructor for Sam Kraft.

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     Shihan Doug Hinsley was also assisting at the school between 1985-1986 and had been taught the first couple Shaolin Kenpo Kata and its variants. However, as Doug was a Tae Kwon Do stylist, he was much more comfortable teaching kata from his system, which he would often do when work took Clay away from Grays Harbor. Eventually, Clay's work as an electrician kept him away more than he was able to be present and the decision was made to close the school. Clay did work out on occasion at Doug Hinsley's training space which was at the Harbor Health Club on State Street.

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     Fast forward to 1994...Clay began training at Pacific Shaolin Kenpo after attending the seminar put on by the International Shaolin Kenpo Association. He trained occasionally at this venue until 2000 when Pacific Shaolin Kenpo closed their doors.

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     In 2014, Clay began training in earnest in Shaolin Kenpo under the mentorship of Professor Vince Ronan. After two years of intense training with Professor Vince, Clay was promoted to 4th Degree Black Belt in 2016. He was at that time recognized by the ISKA as their Northwest representative. This role would eventually be given to John Kraft. Clay Micheau was at that time recognized as the SKMA Northwest representative. In 2022, Clay was promoted to 6th Degree(Sibok) by Professor Ronan.

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     Shaolin Kenpo representation in Washington State over the past 55 years is not as large as it could or should be, (the pandemic caused much of this) but Sibok Clay provides a valuable corner piece to that puzzle.