The year was 1958. Martial Arts Legend Great Grandmaster Ralph Castro opened his first commercial school in San Francisco, California. He had been trained by William Kwai-Sun Chow while living in Hawai'i to the rank of Brown Belt and received his Black Belt from Edmund K. Parker, who is considered the "Father of American Karate." The differences between American Kenpo and Shaolin Kenpo are numerous. Both are an effective means of self-protection. Among GGM Ralph Castro's initial students were Rick and Maria Warwick. Rick Warwick is listed as one of GGM Castro's first fifteen students to reach Black Belt level.

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In 1969, Rick and Maria Warwick opened Aberdeen Kenpo Karate, in Aberdeen, Washington, located on the corner of Market and "H" Street. Among their first Black Belts were Rob Ronald, John Delia, David Wigent, Dick Landberg, John Stead and Wayne Toy. During this period, Mike Skinner Sr. would also begin his training in 1969 with Wayne Toy at a 10-week Introduction to Kenpo class at Emerson Grade School. Following this, Mike Skinner Sr. began training with Rick and Maria Warwick and Wayne Toy at the Warwick home. He continued his private lessons with Wayne Toy during this period.
 

The floor space at the "H" Street  location was limited and only allowed for about 12-16 adult students at a time. As students would receive their Black Belts, life would take them away and eventually the doors at this location were required to close.  The Martial Arts revolution brought about by Bruce Lee, The Green Hornet and the Kung Fu Series had not yet piqued interest in the self-protection industry. Also, during this time, the 4th Floor of the Historic Finch Building was used as a training space, as was the space above the SPAR restaurant. All of these locations no longer exist.
 

In late 1975, Aberdeen Kenpo Karate, then under the sole ownership of Sibok Maria Warwick, began instructing out of the basement of the Weir Theatre. While the floor space at this location was an improvement, the ambience of the venue left much to be desired. Student population was booming thanks to the increase in action movies. To accommodate the need for additional space, two of Sibok Maria's students - Mike Skinner Sr. and Barry Alexander began searching for suitable training space. Classes in the interim were held at the old Community Hospital where the Health Department now stands.
 

As fortune would have it, an unfinished space was found less than a block away. Mike and Barry got to work building the interior of what was to become Aberdeen Kenpo Karate's School for the next seven years. Notable during this time, in May of 1977, Mike Skinner Sr. received his Black Belt from Sibok Maria. He was legitimately her first of many Black Belt Students! The building remains but has been boarded up for years.
 

1978-1983 - Business continued to boom, thanks largely to the exceptional character-building skills and knowledge of Sibok Maria Warwick. She promoted 17 of her students to the rank of Black Belt. Many of these Martial Artists have remained connected to Shaolin Kenpo in some way. Sadly, Maria Warwick was forced to retire for medical reasons in 1983.