Michael Billings is a 5th Degree Black Belt in Ed Parker’s American Kenpo Karate.  He is privileged and honored to be a student of Tommy Burks, a longtime private student of Mr. Parker's.   Starting Kenpo in 1979, he has trained consistently in Kenpo for over 27 years.  With 30 plus years in Chinese and American Kenpo ... and various other martial arts, including Japanese Shotokan Karate (1971) and Korean Tae-Kwon-Do (1974 with Michael Usulton and Dashiek Kim), he opened the doors on his Austin school in November 1997.

His experience as a instructor and consultant for managing aggressive behavior, have led to specializing in grafting Kenpo self-defense techniques with contact manipulation, contact immobilization, contact control, and releases. This is also reflected in his use of the clubs for similar applications.

In another lifetime he worked in a psychiatric hospital setting as a Unit Supervisor, and he was a social worker or therapist for MHMR or Child and Family Service for approximatly 11 years.  Starting in 1989 he began work with the Criminal Justice system in Texas.  He is currently the Director of Operations for the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles in Austin.

Promotion History
 

1st Degree Black Belt – 1987 Tested and promoted by Steven LaBounty, Tom Kelly, Gary Swan, and Brian Duffy, National Chinese Kenpo Karate Association (NCKKA)

2nd Degree Black Belt – 1989 Tested and promoted by Ed Parker Sr. International Kenpo Karate Association (IKKA)

3rd Degree Black Belt – 1992 Tested and Promoted by John Sepulveda and Brian Duffy (Regional Directors IKKA)

4th Degree Black Belt - 2000 Tested and promoted by the United Kenpo Systems (UKS) Board.  This included a panel of Bryan Hawkins, Bob Liles, Howard Silva, Tommy Burks, Jim Diggs, Gurujodha S. Khalsa, Frank Trejo, George Waite, Tony Martin, and Andre Sims

5th Degree Black Belt - 2005 Promoted by the American Kenpo Training System board.  This included Master John Sepulveda, Sigung Steven LaBounty, and Professor Tommy Burks, with the consent of Master Bob Liles.

Martial Arts background includes:

• Judo
• Shotokan Karate
• Tae Kwon Do
• Various Chinese Kung-Fu systems including Hung-Gar, Choy Li Fut, Tai Chi, and Ba-Gua (Pa-Kua)
• Extensive tournament experience in weapons, empty hand, and sparring divisions.
• Wally Jay’s Small Circle Jujitsu
• Instructor and Consultant for Prevention and Management of Aggressive Behavior with Austin Independent Schools System and several psychiatric hospital or residential treatment centers.
• Women's Self-Defense World Gym
• THEOS - Self-defense for older and/or impaired individuals
• Voluntered to teach Kenpo with underpriviledged youth through church organizations
• Psychology of Aggression instructor
• Training regarding the Texas Penal Code on weapons, assault, and self-defense
• Concealed Handgun Instruction
• Instructor at Association training camps
• Instructor for Joe Lansdale's Shen Chaun Annual Camp
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• Seminars & Camps with Kenpo notables:
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• Ed Parker, Sr.
• Steven LaBounty
• Tom Kelly, Sr.
• Huk Palanas
• John Sepulveda
• Frank Trejo
• Mike Pick
• Bob White
• Gary Swan
• Bob Liles
• Edward Downey
• Dennis Conatser
• Bryan Hawkins
• Dian Tanaka
• Jeff Speakman
• Ed Parker, Jr.
• Paul Mills
• Gil Hibben
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• Seminars in other Systems
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• Shen Chuan - Joe Lansdale
• JKD, Kali, Escrima, Silat - Guru Ray Parra (Danny Inosanto Senior Guru)
• Brazilian Ju-Jitsu - Machado Style
• Bill Wallace
• Joe Lewis
• Raymond McCallum
• Wally Jay
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