Sensei Likens began his study of judo in 1983 while living in western Nebraska. He then began his karate training in Indianapolis
under world champion Mike Kincaid in 1987. He continued his training up to brown belt under Renshi Kincaid. He then continued his
Shorei goju ryu training with Shihan Doug Adamson. He received his 1st degree Black belt under Shihan Adamson in 1991 and worked for
that organization for several years as a head school instructor in Carmel Indiana. During this time Sensei Likens ranked 3rd in the
State of Indiana in tournament fighting.
While teaching full-time, he found the time to begin his Kung-fu training under Master Steven St.Pierre. Master St.Pierre was gracious
enough to accept Sensei Likens as a student of his Kempo (the Japanese pronunciation of chuan’fa) system. Master St.Pierre is a disciple
of Grandmaster Tsai. That system is Mei-wa, a Shaolin plum flower kung-fu art.
Under Master St.Pierre’s tutelage, Sensei learned the devastating art of Iron Palm. In 2002, after 10 years of training in Iron Palm,
Master St.Pierre certified him to teach it to others.
In 1995, Sensei Likens quit teaching for Shihan Adamson and took a few private students. His full-time job was a police officer and
he did not have the time to devote to a full-time dojo. In 1996 he opened a store front dojo in Noblesville Indiana and operated that
school for 3 years. Once again the demands of full-time law enforcement won out and he closed that dojo. He continues to teach a select
few private students from that school and most are low or mid-ranked black belts.
During most of his martial career, he has worked as first a bouncer and then as a police officer. He currently is a Sergeant for the
Indianapolis Housing police. He is also a reserve officer for the Indianapolis police department and has in the past been detailed
to the IPD training academy to assist in defensive tactics training of new recruits.
The experiences he has had as a bouncer and as a police officer have given him “real life” feed back on his technique and training methods. One can read a thousand books on swimming, but until you leave the bathtub and try the ocean you cant be sure you know how to stay afloat.
In 2003, he received his 5th degree (masters) rank from Tsai’s Kung-fu international. A feat he feels is one of the greatest accomplishments he has made in combat training. Over the years he has met and trained with some of the highest ranking black-belts in North America. He is skilled with firearms, long-range traditional weapons, edged weapons, kicking, punching, trapping, and ground fighting.
In 2005 He recieved his 6th degree (masters) rank from his teacher Steve St.Pierre.