Instructors of West Coast Regional Training Center:





Michael Robert Pick Sr is a 10th Degree Grandmaster of American Kenpo Karate. Mr. Pick is a 52 year American Kenpo practicioner and founder of the Universal Kenpo Federation. Mr. Pick is a first generation student, personal bodyguard, and lifelong friend of Senior Grandmaster Edmund K. Parker, founder of American Kenpo. Mr. Pick is a former United States Marine and highly decorated Vietnam Veteran.

While serving as a combat Marine in Vietnam, Mr Pick was forced to put his Kenpo skills to the test. He has turned those battle proven skills into a combative system founded upon universal laws and principles which are now taught through the Universal Kenpo Federation Schools.

Mr. Pick was the Chief Combative Training Instructor for the United States Military Special Forces (10th Special Forces Group, Airborne) combatives program, and is continually called upon to train the US Special Forces, law enforcement special operations units, and professional combative divisions all over the world.




Gabe Fabela is a 7th degree Black Belt, with 30+ years of training experience in the American Kenpo Karate system. He has personallly trained with Grandmaster Michael Robert Pick for over 20 years and also with Senior Grandmaster Edmund K. Parker prior to that.

Gabe is a former Law Enforcement Officer, California Department of Justice Special Operations Agent, SWAT Team Member, Narcotics Detective, High Risk Prisoner Escort, and Dignitary Protection Officer. Gabe has participated in over 1,000 high risk entries and completed thousands of felony arrests. Gabe utilized his Kenpo skills throughout his law enforcement career, and proved them superior in every physical confrontation.

Gabe has also been designated assistant training instructor to the Chief Combative Training Instructor for the United States Military Special Forces (10th Special Forces Group, Airborne) Combatives Program and was personally commended by the Municipal President of Puerto Vallarta for training the Puerto Vallarta Police Department in Special Weapons and Tactics.

Prior to his career in Law Enforcement, Gabe successfully owned and operated three American Kenpo Karate Schools on the Central Coast of California.




Michael Robert Pick Jr is a 3rd Degree Black Belt with 30+ years of training directly under Grand Master Michael Robert Pick Sr. Mike is Grand Master Michael Robert Pick Sr's first and only Black Belt taken exclusively from White Belt to Black Belt. Mike is also the Universal Kenpo Federation's first Black Belt.

Mike is a former United States Marine who served with distinction in Somalia and Burundi.








Zephaniah Pick is a former United States Marine and decorated Iraqi combat veteran. He is a Brown Belt and lifetime practitioner of American Kenpo under the strict instruction of his father 10th degree Grandmaster Michael Pick Sr. Zeph is a proven expert in the use of combative fighting and firearms, having honed his skills while surviving daily incursions on the battlefield.

Zeph is also a recipient of the Purple Heart.