OK, so I sent a request also - (I feel like this would be a great thing for the Parker family and Kenpo.) But was somewhat self-conscious in requesting it, we don't even know if the Parker estate would consider doing a piece like this.
Anyway, this is what I sent.
I am an American Kenpo Karate instructor in Austin, Texas. Reference my web page:
http://www.kenpo-texas.com.
I would like to submit my teacher's teacher for the Biography channel's consideration. A little about myself, I was a senior student of Brian Duffy, (a 7th Degree Black Belt), from 1979 until 1993. I then trained with Tommy Burks, a direct student of Ed Parker. He and Mr. Duffy, both were my teachers from 1990 – 1993. Then Mr. Burks became my sole instructor through the present. I am a Hearing Analyst for the State of Texas, (administrative law judge) for the Board of Pardons and Paroles.
Mr. Parker is internationally known and respected by Martial Artists of all styles. He was Elvis Presley's instructor and you frequently saw his association patch on Elvis's guitars or clothing. He introduced Bruce Lee to the United States in the early 1960's and Martial Artists like Chuck Norris and Joe Lewis acknowledge his place in the Art. Producer Joe Hyams just completed a new book regarding the legacy Ed Parker left behind. He appeared in numerous movies including the Pink Panther sequels and was the primary instrument in Jeff Speakman's "The Perfect Weapon."
A brief excerpt from Bob White:
A Biography of Edmond Parker Sr.
by Bob White, visit his website
http://www.bwkenpo.com/
Senior Grand Master Ed Parker is known worldwide as the "Father of American Kenpo Karate".
Mr. Edmund Kealoha Parker was born on March 18, 1931 in Honolulu, Hawaii where he lived until 1950, when he left to attend college in Utah. He studied and earned his Black Belt in Kenpo Karate under the late Professor William K.S. Chow, one of the world's leading Kenpo Black Belt holders and innovators of the Art.
Soon after he began his study of Kenpo, Mr. Parker knew that Kenpo would become a way of life for him. He opened his first private Kenpo Club in 1954 at Brigham Young University, and his first public school in September of 1956 in Pasadena, California. Early in his training, Mr. Parker realized the need to further modify the Art of Kenpo to suit modern day fighting situations. Professor Chow had taught Mr. Parker a number of "Master Key Movements" which provided Mr. Parker his start on becoming a creative innovator. "The Parker System of American Kenpo" is based on principals, theoretical innovations, and logic not yet employed by other systems. Mr. Parker founded the International Kenpo Karate Association in 1956 (albeit, the Kenpo Karate Association of America). He traveled frequently to share his vast knowledge of Kenpo, and he was also very active in writing books (most notable are his five volume series in Infinite Insights into Kenpo).
On December 15, 1990 in Honolulu, Hawaii, Mr. Parker passed away at the age of 59. That was a very sad day for Kenpoists all over the world. His death was unexpected and untimely. At the time of his death, he was in the midst of completing his first series of Kenpo instructional videos and his Encyclopedia of Kenpo. Thousands attended his funeral to pay their respects to one of the world's greatest innovators of Kenpo.
Although Mr. Parker has gone, his spirit carries on, and the many hundreds of Kenpoists who were fortunate enough to have known and studied with Mr. Parker, continue his legacy.
His family retains control of the Association he founded, the International Kenpo Karate Association (IKKA), and Lealani Parker, his widow, is the head administrator or president. Their website is
http://www.ikka.us
I am affiliated with the United Kenpo Systems,
http://www.uks-kenpo.com and have been training in the Martial Arts since 1971. I have trained in Kenpo since 1979 and would love to see a well-researched Biography on the Founder and one of the greatest influences on the Martial Arts in the Modern World.
Sincerely,
Michael Billings
Senior Instructor
