The late-great Mr. Ed Parker was the foremost authority and instructor of Kenpo Karate in the United States and was known worldwide as "Mr. Karate". He was the "Founder of American Kenpo", the president and founder of the Ed Parker Kenpo Karate Studio chain, as well as the International Kenpo Karate Association. He was the Father of American Karate having originated the first American version of Karate. In 1954, he commenced teaching professionally in Provo, Utah and went on to open his first professional Karate studio in the United States in Pasadena, California in 1956.

Because of the dynamic nature of both Kenpo and Mr. Parker's nature, he was featured in many National and International magazines, some of which are below:

• Time
• Look
• Iron Man
• Action Karate
• Black Belt
• Karate Illustrated
• Official Karate
• Inside Kung Fu
• American Karate
• Karate/Kung Fu Illustrated in newspapers

Mr. Parker was well known for his exciting demonstrations at: high schools, colleges, civic clubs, clinics, tournaments, church groups, youth groups, etc. He was a highly sought-after speaker and his Karate demonstrations are famous in the United States and worldwide. He was in great demand throughout the world to put on his blinding demonstrations of speed, skill and power along with his picturesque analogies when explaining the Art so all can understand.  It is this speed that has become a trademark of Kenpoka with most advanced grades being able to hit opponents rougly six times in a second!

He frequently travelled giving Seminars and Demonstrations in Australia, England, Spain, Ireland, Chile, Venezuela, and Greece and has many worldwide government officials as his students.

Throughout the years Mr. Parker authored many books:

• Basic Karate Book
• Kenpo Karate
• The Women's Guide to Self Defence
• Secrets of Chinese Karate
• A Guide to Law Enforcement
• Home Study Karate Workshop Course
• A Guide To The Nunchaku
• Infinite Insights into Kenpo (Volumes 1-5)
• The Zen Of Kenpo, Kenpo In The Streets
• Speak With A Knife
• Speak With A Club
• Everyday Gestures That Can Save Your Life
• Answers To Multiple Attacks On The Street
• Inside Elvis
• Accumulative Journals (Yellow - 5th Black)

He was a graduate of Kamehameha High School (1949), Honolulu, Hawaii where he was born and raised. Mr. Parker has a B.S. Degree from Brigham Young University (1956) with a Major in Sociology and Psychology, and a Minor in Political Science.

Mr. Parker founded the world's largest and foremost Karate tournament, the International Karate Championships in Long Beach, California. Mr. Parker was also a consultant and advisor to numerous other Karate tournaments worldwide.

Mr. Parker's uniqueness rests in his continuous efforts to combat traditional restrictions binding progressive thinking. He was truly a creative genius because of his incredible ability to discover the problems within the Martial Arts. His contributions and innovations are endless; encompassing logic and reasoning not yet employed by others. His four decades of experience, contributions, and endeavours establish him as the Master of our system, the author of our training material, and the final voice of approval.

In 1990 Grand Master Ed Parker was untimely taken from this world and his many thousands of students around the world mourn his passing.

One, usually unknown fact is that Mr Parker was a devout Mormon and that his religion shaped the image of Kenpo. One example of this is the way in which belts are worn to the side instead of the front (as in more 'traditional' styles). Indeed, when he was buried many thought that he was buried in his Kenpo Gi. Instead he was buried in Mormon clothing.

Source Unknown - Subedited by Matthew Sylvester