Grandmaster Michael Robert Pick is a 10th Degree Black Belt in Parker’s American Kenpo and founder of the Universal Kenpo Federation. Mr. Pick was a long-time student and friend of Senior Grandmaster Ed Parker, and received his First Degree through 7th Degree Black Belts personally from Mr. Parker. Mr. Parker often referred to Mr. Pick as Kenpo’s premiere knife-fighter. Mr. Pick served with the Marine Corps in Vietnam, and for seven years taught hand-to-hand combat to the Special Forces at Fort Carson, Colorado. He was recently honored as the 22nd member of the International Close Combat Instructors Association.  Mr. Pick now lives in California and is a professional blacksmith.

CKF: Mr. Pick, how old were you when you began training under Ed Parker? Was he your only teacher?

MR. PICK: I started with Ed Parker when I was 10 years old and cleaned the school until my 16th birthday for my lessons. Since there were no children’s classes, I had all my lessons with Ed Parker privately, some ten minutes and some many hours. He was my only teacher.

CKF: In what year did you receive your Black Belt in Kenpo?

MR. PICK: I received my Black Belt on March 19th, 1965 when I was 18 years old. I was honored, for Mr. Parker removed his own Black Belt and promoted me with his belt.

CKF: Was there a particular time in your training that stands out in your memory? A time when something special took place?

MR. PICK: I recall many memorable classes and time periods. One that strikes me is when Mr. Parker coined the phrase ‘Marriage of Gravity,’ and said after he created the phrase that gravity is gravity, never changes, the only thing that will change is the application.

CKF: Is it true that you sparred with Bruce Lee? If so, when was this and was it special to you?

MR. PICK: I sparred with Bruce Lee for about two years from my 16th to 17th birthday. Most of the time it was when Ed Parker was giving Lee a private lesson and I was allowed to be present as a dummy for the Old Man to show Lee what he was teaching. Using the methods learned from Ed Parker, our sparring was brisk and intense. I always found that Kenpo was a superior and effective system.

CKF: What role, if any, did you play in your life with Ed Parker? Do you miss those days with him?

MR. PICK: Ed Parker was many things to me and our relationship evolved over the years, I was very fortunate to act as his ‘bodyguard’ for 25 years until his death (in blessed memory). I miss my Monday morning conversations with him. We had those conversations for 30 years.

CKF: Who were some of the people you recall that were around in those days that are still in Kenpo today?

MR. PICK: There are not many left from when I started in 1957. Dave Hebler is still carrying the torch as is Chuck Sullivan. That’s about it. I am the youngest of the original first generation, those that started as white belts and received there black belts from Ed Parker. To my recollection, there were only about 10 that were there in the early days and just a few left.

CKF: Since the passing of Ed Parker, have you seen Kenpo change? If so, can you tell us in what direction?

MR. PICK: I’ve seen many changes in curriculum and interpretation of the original system. Many now claim direct tutelage from Ed Parker, but their timelines do not add up, and what they do does not reflect Mr. Parker’s teachings. American Kenpo is solid in my view overall on the world theatre of martial arts, and has not been subject to the cyclical offerings of many styles and systems that grab the headlines of the martial arts tabloids. American Kenpo is steady and still growing worldwide and is still the original American martial arts system.

CKF: What was your last rank that you received from SGM Ed Parker? And when was it?

MR. PICK: I was promoted to 7th degree in June 1982.

CKF: People are aware that you have never been ‘about rank,’ but more about proving yourself on the mat. Do you see martial arts today as being more about rank and less about skill and knowledge?

MR. PICK: I see rank used as a tool by many to sequester their following and keep them as minions or members of their organizations. I find that many with rank cannot muster the knowledge to perform a functional neutral bow, much less the sequential delivery of a system that brings the individual to proficiency in American Kenpo.

CKF: You formed your own organization called the Universal Kenpo Federation. In what year was this, and what is the UKF about?

MR. PICK: The UKF is a federation that allows individuals to maintain their autonomy and personal direction in life. I established the UKF as a federation for those that would like to study under me and connect to others on a like-minded path. In creating the UKF shield and logo, I made a departure from the Eastern influence of dragons and tigers and oriental language and opted for an American identity focusing on the colors of the main belts–white, brown and black. Red, white and blue are the colors of our country. As a patriot, I find the colors both appealing and meaningful.

CKF: Your rank today is a 10th Degree, which illustrates the level of Grandmaster. Who, if anyone, recognized this rank for you?

MR. PICK: Over the years, I have had many individuals, both in and outside of the Kenpo world, give their accolades to my acceptance of rank. Grandmaster Tino Tuiolosega officiated at the ceremony for my tenth degree at Tom Garriga’s school in Salt Lake City. Tom is a first generation Parker Black Belt and was the manager of the Pasadena school for four years in the late 60′s to early 70′s. Many of the prominent seniors studied under his tutelage. Ed Parker basically quit teaching regular classes at the Pasadena school when he was traveling with Elvis Presley, so the bulk of the teaching fell to the manager and a number of others, including Dave Hebler, Dion Steckling, Roger Meadows, myself and a few others.

CKF: There has been talk about a ‘Kenpo Alliance" being formed and you have been a big influence in this movement. What is it all about?

MR. PICK: I believe that this alliance is a positive gathering of people of likemind to gather and collect their energy toward a united Kenpo front. The purpose is not to establish rank or position of organizations, but to add the authenticity of a governing body to restore truth and lineage, as well as ethics and morals. This is not a based a religious dogma pursuing ethics and morals, but rather on ideals of basic decency of that will promote growth in the martial arts and focus on the many positive things the martial arts should provide.

CKF: You recently retired from teaching the Special Forces. Could you give us your position with them and what you did?

MR. PICK: I was the Chief Combatives instructor for the 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) for seven years. I conducted daily classes for the entire group in "A" teams to support units. I was able to extract from my early teachings from Ed Parker aspects of the ancient system of Lua and my own experience as a Marine Rifleman in Viet Nam and create the American Kenpo Combatives System. In this system, every engagement goes to the physical kill.

CKF: Who are some of the people out there who have recently come to you looking for your mentorship, guidance or knowledge? Why do you think this happening?

MR. PICK: In the military and special operations world, I am very busy with instruction and am involved with SWAT teams around the country. To answer the question with candor, I am who I am, without fanfare, I have always been obscure and have taken a backseat and have watched many exploit Ed Parker and heard their claims of positions with him. I have chosen a different path that suits my lifestyle. I will be 59 years old in October, and when I reach 60 I will have 50 years in American Kenpo, I think that many wish to seek my time and grade and my own personal evolution in Kenpo. As the senior with Ed Parker on the mats, and having an obscure position in the Kenpo community, I think many just want to find out what I am doing.

CKF: You attended the 2006 Florida Kenpo Camp. What was it like?

MR. PICK: I found the gathering excellent and with many different practitioners sharing information on their own paths in the martial arts. The unity and fellowship, without pomp and ceremony to herald a single individual’s prowess, was very rewarding. In my belief, the focus was on offering a spectrum of talent and lifestyles that can be witnessed to the gathered showing what the Kenpo experience has done for them.

CKF: At that particular camp there were other Kenpo legends, including Dave Hebler, Frank Trejo, Steve LaBounty, Larry Tatum, Rainer Schulte, and Ed Parker, Jr. Do you see an ‘Alliance’ forming with these people to come together more often for seminars and other events?

MR. PICK: I see an energy that the CKF has established for many decades to come, providing a well rounded range of instructors from many arenas to create a view for the gathered to explore and implement their own pursuit of the martial way.

CKF: Mr. Pick, what do you think will take place in the community of Kenpo within the next 10 years?

MR. PICK: I see a growth in the Kenpo community of sincere authenticity, those seeking out ones that have the authentic credentials to lead the next generation and to have a mindful diligence to bring the joy of personal development and unity to those that are united.

CKF: Do you see yourself as one of the ‘Seniors" passing the torch on to the next generation the way Ed Parker would have liked?

MR. PICK: From what I learned in my many conversations with the Founder of American Kenpo, I am with deep respect fulfilling my obligation, empowered by him, to the entire Kenpo community, I am honored to be a part of it.

CKF: You had stated in the last interview, “Concepts should be arranged in regards to expanding the domination of the outer rim principle, creating a dominating matrix.” Could you explain what you mean by this?

MR. PICK: A set based system is a system that maintains a network of overlapping blocks and strikes that invades the outer rim principle. Grafting in the three phase equation relies on the ability to conjoin elements of techniques and the relationships of these techniques dependent on the web of knowledge arranged according to belt levels in a sequence of sophistication as one advances through the system.

A technique based system works on a pre-arranged system that relies on the stimuli to conditioned response as the pre-arranged technique unfolds anticipating failure to what if and then formulate. In an attack the attack mindset reliance on the stimuli is removed from the equation and the mindset is shifted from a defensive mode of reaction to an offensive invasion.

The sets create an overlapping matrix such as block set establishes the sight picture of the outer rim principle; everywhere the block set does not go the strike set goes; everywhere the strike does not go the elbow set goes; everywhere the elbow set does not go the finger set goes and so forth. To establish domination of your attack and invasion using variable expansion in connection to articulation of shoulders, elbows and wrists, hips, knees and ankles, penetration of the spinal ring creates the ability for your attack to control the ebb and flow of the confrontation. Stances and maneuvers maintain the magnitudes of energy from inertial, rotational and gravitational engagement. The same matrix is also applicable in lower body weapons from stance sets, maneuver sets, employing twists and crossovers creating the same dominating matrix of the four rings.

CKF: How do you maintain the stability of engagement in combat?

MR. PICK: In my belief the main requirement is to remove balance from ones established curriculum, harnessing the entire mass in action where you attack and support your body alignment with proper anatomical arrangement. Bear in mind the axiom, ‘In order to move the mass you must engage the mass; in order to engage the mass you must distribute your mass according to your natural anatomical alignment.’ Focus becomes the ability to capture your entire mass in action going through the attack and not just to it. Many I see are simply out of range, staying on the peripheral of the opposing body and not establishing contact penetration which creates impact manipulation staying in a point fight range without a lot of expected damage on targets. Target creation verses target availability would be the opposing polarities of intent.

CKF: Please explain the four rings?

MR. PICK: The four rings is a training aid I created in a mat form that measures ones range from elbow, knee, fist and foot. I believe in a hostile encounter is when an attack enters your four rings, critical range through the stages of engagement. Out of range, in range, contact penetration, impact manipulation, contact manipulation, contact maintenance, contact release and contact extraction. Sub-headings of these stages involve further definitions.

CKF: It has been said that it takes 20 years to perfect your neutral bow. Could you explain how you teach a neutral bow and explain the weight distribution from ball to heel of the foot?

MR. PICK: Neutrality is a state of mind. The neutral bow in my belief must bring one to a physical state of omni-directional stability, having the ability to maneuver in an attack sequence. Physical mass engagement is the prerequisite for distribution of the mass as alluded to further up in this expose’. I coined that phrase many years ago while traveling around the country teaching and witnessed many high ranking black belts that did not and could not establish a neutral bow in full attack or in practice.

The foundation of primal man is his gait and delivery, to move and secure his safety, to travel about with the necessity of living. In my view the upright nature of man personifies his value and projections. The basic stance in my view should consider many elements; this is just one. In my view, when the body is stressed and ramped up in real combat, the infusion and escalation of endorphins, adrenaline, etc. overrides the conscious ability to perform in a non stressed arena. The moment stress and fear enter into the equation we can lose up to 30% of our consciousness. To override the reduction, lung expansion, erect carriage and proper basics will win the day; intent and mindset fortify one’s ability to be victorious.

The standard distribution of the neutral bow is, 50-50, leg to leg, 60-40, ball to heel. To engage the mass, the mass must be over the greatest shift of distribution, empowering the body to accelerate through the stages of engagement following the magnitudes of energy. In my belief, the nomenclature of the neutral bow should be based on a natural step. To paraphrase the great sword saint Miyamoto Musashi in his “Go Rin No Sho,” the book of five rings, he made it clear that your everyday stance is your fighting stance and your fighting stance should be your everyday stance. When addressing the two explanations of the neutral bow, toe heel alignment for width, knee heel alignment for depth, the height of the stance was only considered as what was comfortable. To explain comfort was a negotiated explanation in my view and missing the physiology of the body in use of flexors and extensors and the relationships of how they support the body and move the mass. Thus, I coined a term that I could understand and explain while teaching—the angle of articulation—which captures the natural articulating angle of the knee in motion and implant with the other two and you complete the equation with all three physical dimensions of the body: depth, width and height, which corresponds to the magnitudes of energy—inertia for depth, rotation for width and gravity for height. Bear in mind that each connected magnitude and dimension creates multipliers that exponentially increases power and acceleratio