Frank Chow

Senior Grandmaster Ed Parker Sr., The Father Of American Kenpo Karate

Ed Parker Sr. certainly influenced quite a number of martial artists and his influence continues long after he passed on in 1990. Sadly, he died of a heart attack at the early age of 59.

Grandmaster Parker grew up in Hawaii and started with Judo and Western Boxing at a very young age.

In his late teens, Frank Chow introduced him to Kenpo Master William Chow by whom he was promoted to black belt in 1953.

After moving back to the U.S. (Hawaii did not officially become a state until 1959) he opened up his dojo/karate school in Pasadena, right outside of Los Angeles, California, in 1956.

Grandmaster Parker’s studies and practice of karate were influenced by Japanese and Okinawan elements which guided him in the creation of his very practical and effective martial art and fighting system simply known as American Kenpo.

His teachings had a profound effect on numerous students who went on to become martial arts greats in their own right such as Larry Tatum, Vic Leroux and Dan Inosanto.

Interestingly enough, during the Long Beach International Karate Championships in 1964 organized by Ed Parker Sr., a young and until then unknown martial artist was given exposure to a broad audience and from which he stormed the martial arts scene in a manner never displayed before. His name?

Bruce Lee.

It was also during these days in Long Beach that Bruce Lee and Dan Inosanto met for the first time to become friends and martial arts allies that would change martial arts and the entertainment industry forever.

But back to Grandmaster Parker.

Besides teaching, writing books and promoting Kenpo Karate, helping other martial artists open their own dojos, Ed Parker Sr. was also active in the movie industry as a instructor, stuntman and actor in movies such as “Kill The Golden Goose” and one of my favorites “Revenge Of The Pink Panther”.

Senior Grandmaster Ed Parker Sr., The Father Of American Kenpo Karate.