"I
come to you with only karate, empty hands, I have no weapons, but should I be
forced to defend myself, my principles, or my honor, should it be a matter of
life or death, right or wrong; then here are my weapons, karate, my empty
hands."
Senior Grandmaster
Mr. Ed Parker
Founder of American Kenpo Karate
March 1931-December 1990
Thank you for your interest. We would like to briefly introduce our founder, a 10th Degree Kenpo Master and founding President of the International Kenpo Karate Association, the late Senior Grandmaster Ed Parker. Not only was he considered one of America's foremost Karate pioneers, but Mr. Parker was also an author, publisher, director, and promoter. Some of his most notable works include "The Encyclopedia of Kenpo", "The Zen of Kenpo", and the five volume series, "Infinite Insights into Kenpo". Mr. Parker opened the first commercial Karate school in the U.S. in Provo, Utah in 1954. He established his second school in Pasadena, California in 1956. Now Mr. Parker's American Kenpo system is taught in affiliated schools worldwide. Because of his many contributions and lifelong dedication to the martial arts, he is often referred to as "The Father of American Kenpo".