March 19, 1931 - December 15, 1990
Hawaii Karate Seinenkai
Born born in Honolulu, Hawaii on March 19, 1931, Edmund ("Ed") Parker studied Judo as a child. He began his training in Kenpo Karate in the late 1940's. His first teacher was Frank Chow, who later introduced him to his brother Professor William K. S. Chow (1914-1987), one of the original students of Professor James M. Mitose (1916-1981). A third Chow brother was John Chow-Hoon, who studied both Danzan-Ryu Ju Jutsu and Kenpo. Other students under Professor William Chow included Masaichi Oshiro, Adriano Emperado, Joe Emperado, Manny Delacruz, and Ralph Castro. Parker also trained with many of Mitose's students, including Bobby Lowe, Paul Yamaguchi and Arthur Keawe.Parker moved the mainland to attend Brigham Young University. In 1954, he taught Kenpo Karate there. After graduation, he moved to California, when he established many schools. He is credited with being one of the first instructors to spread Kenpo Karate to the mainland. He also taught celebrity students, including Elvis Presley.
Adapting what he had learned from Professor Chow, and further innovating, Parker created the American Kenpo Karate system. A prolific writer, Parker was the author of numerous books on Kenpo Karate. He also also appeared in several films and videos.
Parker often returned home to Hawaii, and passed away here during his last visit.
Books By Parker:
The Hawaii Karate Seinenkai salutes Edmund Parker.
- Kenpo Karate: The Law of the Fist and the Empty Hand.
- Secrets of Chinese Karate.
- Ed Parker's Guide to the Nunchaku.
- Ed Parker's The Zen of Kenpo.
- Ed Parker's Encyclopedia of Kenpo.
- Ed Parker's Infinite Insights into Kenpo: (Volumes 1 - 5).
- Police Defensive Tactics: A Photo Lesson.
The spirit of Karate is the Aloha spirit
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