What is kenpo?

American Kenpo Karate is a system of self defense utilizing quick hand combinations and low kicks in conjunction with natural body movements. A very practical system of self defense, American Kenpo was pioneered by Edmund K. Parker, Sr., in the 1950s and 60s. Applying logic to traditional knowledge drawn from the mixture of cultures, Mr. Parker blended methods and techniques that could be tailored to the needs, goals, and abilities of each practitioner.

Who is Ed Parker?

Senior Grand Master Ed Parker is known worldwide as the "Father of American Kenpo Karate." Mr. Edmund Kealoha Parker was born on March 18, 1931, in Honolulu, Hawaii, where he lived until 1950. Then he moved and went to attend college in Utah. He studied and earned his Black Belt in Kenpo Karate under the late Professor William K.S. Chow, one of the world's leading Kenpo Black Belt holders and innovators of the art. Soon after he began his study of Kenpo, Mr. Parker knew that Kenpo would become a way of life for him. He opened his first private Kenpo Club in 1954 at Brigham Young University and his first public school in September of 1956 in Pasadena, California. Early in his training, Mr. Parker realized the need to further modify the Art of Kenpo to suit modern day fighting situations. Professor Chow had taught Mr. Parker a number of "Master Key Movements" which provided Mr. Parker his start to becoming a creative innovator. "The Parker System of American Kenpo" is based on principals, theoretical innovations, and logic net yet employed by other systems. Mr. Parker founded the International Kenpo Karate Association in 1956. He traveled frequently to share his knowledge of Kenpo and he was also very active in writing books, including his most famous, Infinite Insights into Kenpo.

On December 15, 1990 in Honolulu, Hawaii, Mr. Parker passed away after suffering from a heart attack. His death was unexpected and very untimely. Right at the time of his death, Mr. Parker was in the midst of completing his first series of Kenpo instructional videos and his Encyclopedia.