American Kenpo Karate was developed by Ed Parker after studying first judo and then kenpo karate from William K.S. Chow in Hawaii.  Chow had included many elements of Chinese kung fu that he learned from his father.  Parker took what he learned from Chow and modified it further, testing it and refining it.  It is now a very practical style that combines very fast hand strikes with the controlling moves typically seen in jujitsu.  Most of the kicks are sweeps or kicks below the waist.

Ed Parker was an inovator.  He brought karate to America, opening the first commercial studio in 1956, first in Provo, Utah, then in Pasadena, CA.  Kenpo caught the eye of many Hollywood stars and Ed Parker helped bring the martial arts to the big screen.  Grand Master Parker taught many well known screen personalities including, Robert Wagner, Blake Edwards, Robert Culp, Robert Conrad, George Hamilton, Warren Beatty, Dick Martin, Elke Sommers, Joe Hyams, Joey Bishop, the late Elvis Presley, Audie Murphy, Jeff Speakman, and many others.  Parker introduced Bruce Lee to the karate world at his International Karate Championships in Long Beach in 1964 and then helped him find work as Kato on the Green Hornet TV show.

Among Parker's top students were Bob White and Lee Wedlake.  I trained first under one of Mr. Bob White's top students, Dave Brock starting in 1972.  I finally earned my black belt under Bruce Meyer, one of Mr. Wedlake's students, in 2006.  I earned my 2nd degree black belt in April, 2009.

The American Kenpo I teach is as close to what Mr. Parker taught as I know how to make it.  Mr. Wedlake is a true historian of Kenpo and at each of his seminars I learn more of the history and development of the art.  I've compared what I've learned from Dave Brock, Mark Lennon, Skip Hancock, Marc Sigle, and Bruce Meyer to what Larry Tatum and Huk Planas have captured on film.  I do my best to keep the art true to what Grand Master Parker taught and expect my students to do the same.

American Kenpo recognizes development in the art through a belt ranking system.  Each belt requires the practicioner to demonstrate proficiency in basics, techniques and forms.  Basics are the building blocks of the art, the simplest element.  Techniques demonstrate principles used against specific attacks.  Each technique builds on anticipated responses to strikes and controlling moves.  Forms are an encyclopedia of motion.

American Kenpo belt ranks are:

Yellow

Orange

Purple

Blue

Green

Brown (3rd, 2nd, and 1st degree)

Black

For more information contact me at:

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505 Gahagan Rd.