Edmund Kealoha Parker (March 19, 1931 – December 15, 1990) was an American martial artist, who founded and codified the art of American Kenpo. [1] Born in Honolulu, Parker began training in Judo [2] at an early age and later studied boxing.

American Kenpo Karate (/ ˈkɛnpoʊ /), also known as American Kenpo or Ed Parker's Kenpo Karate, is an American martial art [2][3] founded and codified by Ed Parker. It is synthesized mainly from Japanese and Okinawan martial arts such as karate and judo, [1] with influence from Chinese martial arts. [4][5] It is a form and descendant of Kenpō.

Dec 14, 2024 · Hailed as the "Father of American Kenpo," Parker was a groundbreaking martial artist whose influence extended far beyond the dojo. A visionary teacher, tournament pioneer, and innovator, he brought martial arts into the mainstream, shaping the way it is practiced and perceived today.

When kenpo karate master and martial arts pioneer Ed Parker died on December 18, 1990, so did a particular era in the history of American martial arts. Black Belt thought it would be appropriate to give some of his friends and students a chance to tell others about the Ed Parker they knew.

Dec 15, 1990 · Ed Parker is often credited with opening the first commercial karate school in the continental U.S. in the 1950s, and his International Kenpo Karate Association is one of the most successful martial arts organizations worldwide.

The history of American Kenpo Karate begins with founder Senior Grandmaster Edmund Kilaloha Parker (1931-1990). Mr. Parker was born in Hawaii and began training at a young age in judo and later boxing.

PARKER, ED (1931-1990) American karate pioneer, promoter, actor, instructor, and author. Parker founded the first commercial karate school on the West Coast, in Provo, Utah, in 1954. A student of William K.S. Chow, he left Hawaii in 1951.

Mr. Ed Parker is the foremost authority and instructor of Karate in the United States today and is known world-wide as "Mr. Karate". He is the Founder of American Kenpo, the president and founder of the Ed Parker Karate Studio chain, as well …

Dec 15, 1990 · Senior Grandmaster Edmund K. Parker is the undisputed "Father of American Karate" and the Founder of American Kenpo Karate. He was a native of Honolulu, Hawaii and began teaching Kenpo Karate commercially in 1954 at a gymnasium in Provo, Utah. Mr. Parker graduated in 1956 from Brigham Young University (BYU) with a B.S. in Psychology.

Although pre-dated by others who essentially transplanted Asian arts with cultural accoutrements intact, it is clear Parker was the first to approach the arts from an American point of view. From an American historical perspective, this makes him a pioneer of quite significant proportions.