EDMOND KEALOHA PARKER
(1931-1990)
Father of American Kenpo Karate 
Edmond Parker was a pioneer teacher of karate in the United States and
was the founder of the oldest major tournament in the country, the famous
International Karate Championships, held each year in Long Beach since 1965.
He authored several respected publications on the art of karate, among them:
"Kenpo Karate", "Secrets of Chinese Karate", "A Women's Guide to Self Defense" and "Parker's Encyclopedia of Kenpo Karate".
He also wrote the Rule Book for Karate Freestyle Competition.
Parker was inducted into the Black Belt Hall of Fame as "Man of the Year" in 1976.
His system of kenpo karate is taught by affiliated schools in 18 different countries
including the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Great Britain, Germany, Spain and Australia and South Africa.
He has served as the karate technical advisor for numerous television and motion picture productions.
A native of Hawai'i, Parker graduated from Kamehameha Schools in 1949 and attended college at Brigham Young University.
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