"Ron" Chapél is the foremost authority on SubLevel Four Kenpo Concepts™. Since the passing of Senior Grandmaster Ed Parker, Ron Chapél has become a sought after, internationally known instructor. He began working on Advanced American Kenpo Concepts with his teacher as part of a book and video series. Ron Chapél through Mr. Parker’s teachings over the years, and his volume of personal notes, continues to develop the Legacy of Grandmanster Parker. SubLevel Four Concepts explores the side of Kenpo that few have seen. SubLevel Four curriculum includes, Control Manipulation Theory, and Cavity Presses (Nerve Strikes) with Destructive Sequencing. These are the elements of American Kenpo that were explored with him by Professor Parker throughout their almost thirty year relationship. Additionally newer developed concepts of Misalignment Technology, use of Spatial Distortion, etc.
In addition to continuing Grandmaster Parker’s teachings and developing SubLevel Four Kenpo Concepts, Ron Chapél is the Senior Master Professor of the University of Martial Science. The University reflects his commitment to furthering Ed Parker's American Kenpo, over and above “belt mills.” The University emphasizes the educational aspect of Kenpo, endeavoring to make the "school" function as a college university by emphasizing knowledge through course work over unearned “belts,” and questionable skills.
Functioning as the parent of an educational institution, the Ed Parker's Institute, requires teacher certifications over and above belt rankings of its University instructors. No one has teaching or promotion authority without specific certifications, and no one person may promote anyone. Only the University Board of Credentials grants rank and degrees, as any other academic institution. All Black Belt ranks are considered Honorary or Emeritus. The University also requires completion of specific Course work curriculum, and awards degrees accordingly. The Institute is the "Kenpo School" of the millennium. Their growth is slow because the standards are high, uncompromising, and are not driven by a need for numbers or money.
Ron Chapél has lived in Southern California since childhood. He has been in the martial arts since he was a young boy. He began his training along side Douglas Wong and with his uncle Ark Wong, Grandmaster of the Five Animal System of Kung-Fu Style. He holds Black Belt rankings or equivalent in various arts. In 1963, Ron Chapél met Ed Parker at a local tournament, and shortly afterwards became a friend and subsequent student. Quickly, their close friendship over shadowed the student teacher relationship. This relationship lasted with Ron Chapél as a best friend and private student without interruption, until Professor Parker's death. Ron Chapél also continues his 40 year relationship with the Ed Parker Legacy by promoting Ed Parker Jr. to Black Belt.
Several years before Ed Parker's death, Ron Chapél was awarded his 7th degree Black Belt Diploma after completing an assigned thesis project examining the rank structure of the IKKA. Since the passing of Grandmaster Parker, He has been awarded his 8th, and 9th ranking by the prestigious American Teachers Association of the Martial Arts, (ATAMA) founded by Shaolin Kenpo Grandmaster Ralph Castro, with Grandmaster Castro present for his 8th. Additionally, He has been awarded a 9th degree from Dan-Zan Ryu Jiu-Jitsu, a 9th degree from the World Federation of Karate-Do, and a 9th degree from the Universal Martial Arts Society. He was awarded the position of 10th degree from the University and ATAMA . He also has an Instructor ranking in W.A.R. (within arms reach) and a Black Belt in Shoto-Kan. He has studied Goju-Ryu, Shorin Ryu, Hap-Ki-Do and more. Ron Chapél has been recognized and awarded a proclamation by the City of Los Angeles City Council as a “Martial Arts Pioneer” and as the “founder of a Martial Arts Institution” in Southern California. Further, the University is the only American Kenpo school in the world certified by the World Federation of Karate-Do.
In addition to Ron Chap'el 's extensive martial arts training, he has thirty years of law enforcement experience. He has worked in law enforcement as a uniformed street cop, and as a State Police Officer. He has been assigned to Protective Services protecting the Governor and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of California, and most recently in “Witness Protection” and Judicial Security as a Special Deputy U.S. Marshal,
Ron Chapél became keenly aware of the need to be able to control the level of destruction in arrest and control situations. With Grandmaster Parker, He developed the principles of Sub-Level Four Concepts, to assist law enforcement, and for a proposed book and video series project.
Sub-level Four Kenpo is a component of Kenpo that gives a student an effective alternative in subduing an opponent not found in “motion kenpo.” Ron Chapél specifically implemented these principles in his Law Enforcement training seminars and created the "Universal Arrest and Control System" and has taught it in several police academies. He continues to teach his system to police officers everywhere.
Ron Chapél has not only earned his Ph.D. in Anatomical Physics, but has lectured and taught credit courses on college campuses, as well. Ron Chap'el was featured (along with Grandmaster Ed Parker ) in some of the very first issues of Inside Kung-Fu Magazine, and has also been featured many times in Black Belt Magazine. Most recently he has been in Black Belt Magazine discussing "Nerve Strikes."
Ron Chapél is considered by many, to be one of the foremost teachers of Ed Parker's Kenpo because of the depth of his knowledge and his continued examination and innovation of the Ed Parker System. With a strong desire to maintain a base system as a point of reference for the Kenpo world, Ron Chapél has continuously shown his teachings and interpretations to be a superior curriculum. Sub-Level Four, for some, represents the pinnacle of American Kenpo. Ron Chapél proves that American Kenpo is a dynamic, highly functional art, even with the passing of its Creator and only Grandmaster Ed Parker.
Bio written by Andrew King,
SubLevel Four Kenpo Concepts, Ohio State University
