Bio - Rick Warwick

This individual is where Shaolin Kenpo gained its foothold in Washington State. Moving from the San Francisco Bay Area in the late 1960s, Rick Warwick would set in motion a wave of Martial Artists that continue to ripple across the Northwest to this very day!

Rick Warwick, his then wife Maria (Serna) Warwick and his three children-Raymond, Richie(Joe), and Geri moved from California not long after Rick received his Black Belt from Great Grandmaster Ralph Castro in 1968 per the International Shaolin Kenpo Website (www.shaolinkenpo.com). Opening a school near the core of downtown Aberdeen, Washington would change the lives of so many people. It should be noted that Maria Warwick, who some knew as Delores, would be the first known Kenpo Black Belt promoted in Grays Harbor County, Washington in 1969.

The floor space at their original school was very limited and Martial Arts in the late 60's was very different than it is today.  It was not unusual for control to be secondary to speed and accuracy. The floor space utilized was only large enough for 12-16 students at a time. The students known to have reached the rank of Black Belt during this time: John Delia, Wayne Toy, David Wigent, Rob Ronald, John Stead and Dick Landberg. This school location was short-lived and Rick Warwick, along with his wife Maria began teaching out of their home in the Wishkah Valley.

It is said that "The family that kicks together, sticks together." Unfortunately, that was not to be the case with the Warwick family, and Rick and Maria made the decision to divorce some time around 1973. It is thought that Rick Warwick stopped teaching Martial Arts around this time, but this writer is awaiting confirmation on these dates. Between 1971-1975, his sons Ray and Joe also achieved the rank of Black Belt.

Rick Warwick was a pioneer for Shaolin Kenpo and was instrumental in bringing the popularity of Martial Arts to Grays Harbor over 50 years ago!

Sadly, Rick Warwick passed in 1992. Sir, we owe you an enormous debt of gratitude.