On tour with Elvis

(date and location unkown)

Those coats.

Sifu Jack, Ed Parker, and Richard Lamoureaux

(photo and text from richardlamoureaux.com)

Ed Parkers Midwest Regionals Tournament 1980

This tournament was held once a year and was hosted by Kenpo Instructor Lee Wedlake. I would compete in the competition and also attend Ed Parkers seminars on Advanced Karate Theorys. Parker help the Martial Arts become popular during the late 50’s and early 60’s. It was at his International Tournament in 1966 that Bruce Lee was discovered for the Green Hornet show.

Happy birthday to Al Tracy

80 years old today.

Middle knuckle strike

 

USSD roots

 

Kenpo 5.0

Make it happen

Hugo Labra, Ed Parker, and Bob Cook



 

(from Dwayne McGee's South Pacific Kenpo Karate Facebook page, 6-15-16) 

 

The man to the Left Hugo Labra worked as a Electrician on Sets also a Bodybuilder Gold's Gym Santa Monica,is whom started me in Kenpo when working on the set of the White Shadow everyone went to lunch I had a Hang over from weekend Red Onion lol I heard a sound and this Man was doing some powerful moves,I asked him what he was doing he said I train in Ed Parker's Kenpo WLA ,go try it in WLA I drove by smelled the sweat and hard training and joined that next week and never looked back Thank You Hugo for my Life.1979

Memory Lane (circa 1965) from the Santa Monica (later WLA) school. From left: professional bodybuilder Hugo Labra (lovingly called everyone "pencil neck"), Ed Parker, Bob Cook, who won the Heavyweight White Belt title at the 1964 Long Beach Internationals by beating Chuck Norris's fighter Chris Wells in overtime.

The Real Truth

Famous photo from the film The Perfect Weapon

 

Tom Connor, Ed Parker, Al Tracy and Richard Lee

 

(photos from kokungfu.com, taken at Richard Lee's Castro Valley school, 1967)

A note from Mr. Parker

(from Mr. Lee Wedlake's Facebook page, August 11th, 2015)

I wrote the preface to Volume 3 of Mr. Parker's Infinite Insights series. It came about when he asked me "How would you defend the system?" I'd been writing and publishing articles in Black Belt and Inside Kung-Fu magazines, so I guess he thought I had a grip on the system. It was an honor to be asked and included.

Tiger and dragon on kenpo crest

artwork from Ed Parker Jr.'s Facebook page

Richard Planas

(photo from Kenpo Street Fighting Academy's Facebook page)

That looks like it would hurt.

The Purpose of Kam IV

(from esparkersrkenpokarate.com 6-23-15)

 

Since the launch of our new website on March 19, 2015, conversations have taken place among Kenpo practitioners around the world. We are aware that some do not understand our intentions and, therefore, misinterpret the goals and direction of Kam IV. Over the past 24 years, since the passing of our father, some practitioners who teach his art have altered it or watered it down, yet they use his logos, his name and his system to advance their schools. Some have been promoted to the same rank as the Senior Grandmaster with no criteria for advancement. People have reprinted information from his copyrighted books and manuals for their own financial gain. Unfortunately over time, the integrity of Ed Parker’s Kenpo Karate has been tarnished. It is no wonder that new students are confused when they look for a reputable instructor.

We reiterate the purpose of our involvement, to protect the integrity of our father’s work. Those who have been true to the system for many years, with the right intentions, understand that obtaining an official license allows them to use specific Intellectual Property because they demonstrate a commitment to the integrity of the art. Those who do not fall into this category will not pass the screening by the Black Belt Board or the consultants and will not qualify for a licensing agreement. The process of cleaning things up is difficult, but we believe it is long overdue.

The goal of licensing is not a request for retroactive compensation, it is for the continued use of our father’s name and system. The cost of licensing is minimal and provides substantial benefits to the studio owner. By renewing all trademarks, copyrights, patents, etc. it allows Kam IV to put things back on the right path. There is no other way to stop the widespread degradation without this process. We are confident that we are moving in the right direction and we hope that those who understand our mission will support us in our efforts.

--------------------

http://www.edparkersrkenpokarate.com/the-purpose-of-kam-iv/