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Members of
Shaolin Kenpo Martial Arts of Olympia
SKMAO operates as a club, and not as a commercial school. In the business sense, what that means is that we require no memberships to be a part of our group. We do not formally charge for lessons but operate on a "donation only" premise. If you feel what you receive has value, simply donate a small amount to the chief instructor. All improvements to training space and additional requirements learned and taught come about as a result of these donations. At this time, we do not have plans to commercialize.
Sibok Clay Micheau
Sibok Clay Micheau currently holds a 6th Degree in Shaolin Kenpo within the ISKA. He also holds a 7th Degree in International Freestyle Karate under Steve Curran.
His journey began in 1978 under the tutelage of Sibok Maria Warwick, earning his initial rank in 1982. He was one of the final instructors at the H Street location of Aberdeen Kenpo Karate prior to its closure in 1983.
Sibok Clay was an avid tournament competitor in the 1980s, with a National Forms Title on his Martial Arts resume.
He has worked in the film industry and appeared on an episode of Walker, Texas Ranger.
He has taught Shaolin Kenpo uninterrupted for the last eleven years.
Sifu Ben Galeana
Sifu Ben Galeana holds a 4th Degree within the International Shaolin Kenpo Association.
His initial foray into Shaolin Kenpo was in 1978 where he earned a Purple Belt from Maria Warwick. He returned to training in 1992 under the tutelage of Mike Skinner Sr., where he earned the rank of Green Brown Belt.
In 1994, Ben chose to train again in closer proximity to his initial instructor, Maria Warwick, at Pacific Shaolin Kenpo. He earned his Black Belt in 1996 from Sifu Sue Messenger and Sifu John Kraft. Ben was also on hand during the rebranding from Pacific Shaolin Kenpo to Aberdeen Shaolin Kenpo Karate in 1998.
Ben earned his 3rd Degree, and the title of Sifu, in the year 2000, and was awarded his 4th Degree in 2016.
Sifu Sue Messenger
Sifu Sue Messenger is currently recognized as a 3rd Degree Black Belt in the International Shaolin Kenpo Association.
Her journey in the art began in the late 1970s, earning her Black Belt in 1981 from Maria Warwick, and then being promoted to 3rd Degree in 1995 by Great Grandmaster Ralph Castro, the system founder.
Sifu Sue was one of the final instructors at the H Street location of Aberdeen Kenpo Karate, an instructor for the children's class at Aberdeen Kenpo Karate's Market Street location and was co-owner and primary instructor at Pacific Shaolin Kenpo until she stepped away from the art in 1997.
Love for the art brought her back in 2024, and we are grateful to have her level of determination, wealth of experience, and penchant for precision technique back in the fold.
Mr. Bob Alexander
Mr. Bob Alexander trained for a short time in Isshinryu Karate as a young child. As an adult, he transitioned to Shaolin Kenpo, starting in 1992.
He trained to the rank of Blue Green Belt with Mike Skinner Sr. before transferring his skills to Pacific Shaolin Kenpo in 1994. He earned his 1st Degree Black Belt in 1996 in the International Shaolin Kenpo Association. He departed that school sometime around 1998.
Mr. Alexander then renewed his dedication to Shaolin Kenpo in 2014, earning his 2nd Degree Black Belt in 2016.
He also holds a Black Belt in Daito Ryu Aikido under Fred Fraase.
Mr. Rob Ronald
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There have been 46 individuals in Washington State who have reached the rank of Black Belt in various iterations of Shaolin Kenpo as created by Great Grandmaster Ralph Castro. In Washington State, Rob Ronald was the first.
Earning his Black Belt in 1973 from the late Rick and Delores (Maria) Warwick, Rob has raised four daughters, became a grandfather, and built his own home in coastal Washington.
After nearly 50 years away from the art, Rob has returned to Shaolin Kenpo to stay in shape, and to retrain his brain to again enjoy something he loves immensely.
Needless to say, we are thrilled with the amount of history that Mr. Ronald brings to the table.
Mr. Mike Skinner Jr.
Mr Mike Skinner Jr. began his training when Aberdeen Kenpo Karate was still being held in the basement of the Weir Theatre. His first day on the floor was sometime in 1975, a full 50 years ago.
He has been in and out of involvement in the Martial Arts since that time. Far more active than not. He has trained to varying levels in Taekwon Do, Combat Jujitsu, Aikido, Krav Maga, and Qigong.
Mr. Skinner has approximately 10 years of experience teaching Shaolin Kenpo and operated the Market Street location for Aberdeen Kenpo Karate from 1998 until its closure in 2001.
In 2025, Mike Skinner Jr. published a book chronicling the rich history of Shaolin Kenpo in Washington State. He also maintains www.shaolinkenpo-wa.com and www.skma-olympia.com .
He is currently recognized in the ISKA as a 1st Degree Black Belt, which he received at Aberdeen Kenpo Karate on Market St in December of 1992.
Mr. Al Carter
Al Carter began training in Shaolin Kenpo in 1995, joining Aberdeen Kenpo Karate in the Market Street location to work out alongside his son Ian.
Mr. Carter trained with Mike Skinner Sr. and Mike Skinner Jr. to the rank of Green Brown Belt before the closure of Aberdeen Kenpo Karate in 2001.
Mr. Carter then finished up the initial leg of his journey in 2005 when he received his Black Belt in Shaolin Kenpo from Sifu Ben
Galeana.
A former Project Manager at LAMB Grays Harbor, Grays Harbor County Commissioner, and Safety Officer for Ocean Companies, Mr. Carter shows exceptional determination in retraining his body and mind in Shaolin Kenpo.
Mr. Mark Skinner
Mr. Mark Skinner began training at the opening of Aberdeen Kenpo Karate on Market Street in Aberdeen in September of 1992. He trained diligently to the rank of Green Belt under his father Mike Skinner Sr. until 1995 before life and post-graduation interests took him away from Shaolin Kenpo.
Mark began training again in January of 2024 and earned his Black Belt in Shaolin Kenpo in May of 2025 under Sibok Clay Micheau.
He is an avid musician, enjoys traveling with his wife, and has nearly completed his bucket list item of visiting all 30 Major League Baseball Parks.
Mark's hands are nearly as fast as his wit, and almost as sharp.
He is a great addition to our team at Shaolin Kenpo Martial Arts of Olympia!
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