Grandmaster Ed Parker gave me my nickname "BIG G" whenever I look at my trophys that I won from the Internationals. I think of him. He was truly a Great Man!
My Brother Marco Studied American Kempo he asked me to watch Ed Parker. Very clearly explained. I can see why my brother loves this study and style and GrandMaster Ed Parker way of teaching.
Thanks for the upload. I began studying Shito-ryu Karate in 1968-I was 18 years-of-age. I was fortunate to study under a true American Karate Master Ernest Lieb for a time in the mid 70s, Watching these videos, I would have enjoyed training with Kenpo practitioners. At the dojo where I trained, individuals from many different styles would come to train, exchange ideas, and/or fight. Fortunately, we did practice touch (point) Karate. We beat the crap out of each other which is the only true way to transcend violence. Train like you fight. Those who do not appreciate these videos will never develop into the an effective fighter. Fighting someone who stumbles, telegraphs their movements because of their need to set themselves before they throw a technique can be hit before their technique is even thrown-Bruce Lee. It is amazing how you can defeat a technique by simply preventing it from fully developing. If are currently training, in anything, watch how successful practitioners maintain their balance as they defend, attack, hit a base ball, swing a golf club, or a tennis racket, etc. If you train under the right people, maybe with time one can attain emotional balance along with the physical.
Hey Mr. Somma how have you been it’s Angel Dejesus I use to train at your school back in the 90s are you still teaching anywhere? Anyway I hope all is well.
I studied under Master Parker in the mid-60s at his Menlo Park, California studio. Harvey Clarey was the Sensi of the studio. I learned so much from both of them that here I am 71 years old and I can't forget the lessons that I learned. Much thanks to the Master(s)...I'd probably not be here today for the lessons learned
Real fights are chaotic loud and unpredictable. Hit them fast hard and in an area that leaves them blinded, stop their breathing and crush their mobility. Anything else is useless unless your just calmly working out
Yep. And your opponent doesn't merely stand and let you do all of these pretty combos on them. And grabbing someones wrist in a fight is an ABSOLUTE GARBAGE technique.
@@notyou8716 Most of martial arts is a joke. Only the ones that allow real combat are effective since they have been put to real use: boxing, Muy Thai, Ju Jitsu, wrestling.
@Fernando you're missing the rest of the lesson. Mr. Parker specifically includes an example of what to do if an opponent does interrupt the flow of attack... something that is surprisingly hard to do when you're being belabored by a kenpoist skilled in the art of kinetically chaining their movement into a kinetic wave of motion.
Wow Just made my Yellow Belt/working on my Orange Belt. I just got more motivated and educated on the basics. Can't build a House w/o a Foundation. Thank You Very Much.
It's a classical mess. Yes, geometry exists in hand to hand or hand to weapon combat but it must be broken to simplistic terms. I understand what he's saying but to go into all of that is just ridiculous for real life fighting. I'd rather keep it simple. Edit: Angles, linear, and circular are also things that should be broken down to simplicity.
MASTER ED PARKER WAS AMAZING.I HAD THE HONOR OF MEETING HIM AS A TEENAGER.P..S.ED PARKER WAS "ELVIS" PRESLEYS PERSONAL BODYGARD AND TEACHER AND FRIEND.NOBODY ELSE CAN SAY THAT FOR 17YRS .
I studied under Sensei George Sewell in Goldsboro, NC. He served in the Navy. When he left the Navy he was stationed in California. So when he left the Navy he studied Chinese Kenpo for sometime there. Eventually moving to North Carolina and opening Sewells Chinese Kenpo. I studied for 5 years with him. Eventually gaining my Black belt. From about 79 to 84. He passed a few years ago. His wife also passed a few years . Miss them both. He was a great teacher and individual. Thanks for the lessons and memories Sensei Sewell. Rest in peace. I salute you.
OHkay im starting to understand kenpo now. There's a lot of hung gar and wing chun influence - centerline concept and footwork are the same. This makes sense because there is a science to all of these combat arts - it is just a matter of how they are applied and where the emphasis is. People might call kenpo 'american karate' but it is obvious to me that it is a style of kung fu.
gugeyewalker I know i'm replying months later but I was compelled to comment. You are right that Parker was influenced by Kung Fu and it is reflected in the motions shown in the video but Kenpo or as we refer to it as "old Kenpo" is much more like Karate strikes, blocks, and kicks with Kung Fu motion...Parker added the more flowing Kung Fu motions, the other linages (Kajukenpo, Karazenpo Go Shin Jitsu, Kenpo Karate, Cerio Kenpo, Villari Kenpo) are all much more like karate, they only share similarities with Parker's system in the foundation of movement, foundation of move combinations, the idea of multiple striking ect. The other systems look much more karate and while I have heard Parker's system referred to as American Karate, I think that distinction falls more in with the other linages of Kenpo, which all sprung from William Chow/James Mitose.
On point. Hung Gar == Blocks are defense but offensive. We use Southern Chinese Kung Fu influences and Japanese Karate. There is quite a bit of Jujitsu mixed in. Anyway there are always doubters, but no one ever saying they beat a guy that practiced kenpo ;{ Chuck Norris said kenpo opponents were the best fighters ;{
You can also look up Chinese Kempo, though kempo is though of as a Karate style it is more a Chinese/Kung Fu style hidden to look like Karate in some ways. Yes, it has many similarities to Wing Chung. Though then again how you may have learned and was taught Kemp and Wing Chung can vary greatly from person to person and teacher to teacher. Almost to the point it deviates so much to being a different style. I am almost 1/3 through the video. I get the concepts and what Mr. Parker is trying to teach here. Though I think he could have touched on these aspect much more effectively in time and method. These can be nice was of teaching concepts but in smaller chunks. It seems it is broke down so much that the point , effectiveness and application are lost. I think most people who did not know about Mr. Parker and though they knew martial arts would not understand what is going on here and would automatically dismiss everything associated with the video. For those that may think that. Please look at other videos of this man and his students that teaches well. You will find with proper attention and applying these losses from those videos are very advanced and almost impossible to find a teacher that knows these thing and to even teach them. They may seem to be small unimportant aspects. Though again these are the secrets that makes the biggest difference. Part of why they are secret is because they are so small and harder to see and notice. Example. Most people think a punch is just sticking you arm out with you hand in a fist. That is because it is the most obvious and largest movement. As you learn more a out how to punch better with power and speed you will learn smaller/finer and still more smaller/finer aspects to the punch.
American kenpo is the most complete art no excessive stances or absurd lockd or flying kicks but all the strengths put together. I did it in hs for Thursday sports wish we had more schools
@@Fardawg What is real combat ? define it ? is it a street fight ? is it a fight to death ? when somebody wants to kill You ? what do you mean by "real combat" ?
I was fortunate enough to meet in Trane with Mr. Parker in 73 or four in Indianapolis Indiana I learned a lot from this man, and Incorporated into my system up Ketsugo Ryu Kenpo Jutsu. Professor LD Hilton
While I can appreciate training aids and mnemonics, I think all of these analogies make this system more complicated than it needs to be. A clock, math symbols, letters, numbers, shapes--I'm sure it could be simplified.
It has been. The concepts are great but you are correct that it can be over complicated. I use Japanese / Western Jujitsu as my base and Kenpo is one of the arts I have added to it (Also Old School Judo, kickboxing, .weapons, military strategy). I have found that if you use the Kenpo style setups in your striking combinations, it can put you in a great position for a throw, take down or joint lock. I have found through personal combat experience and sparring against fighters from all styles, that you cannot always use insanely long striking combinations effectively. The modern MMA arena proved this. Angle off your opponents attack, damage him and finish it , which includes having good grappling skills once your in close. Kenjutai Bujutsu School
I'm grateful that I had contact with Master Parker. Too bad he passed away so relatively young. I still have my old gi with the Shaolin Temple emblem on it. That was long ago. I wonder what happened to Danny,Terry, Mills, Tony, Casey, and others?
Ed Parker was Elvis Presley's bodyguard as well as sensei. Ed Parker's brown belt students often than not beating other styles' blackbelts. You cannot graduate unless Ed thinks that you can effectively protect yourself under realistic attacks.
It's crazy seeing Ed Parker since I am very good friends with Ed Parker Jr. He teaches his new style 'pactual arts' every Saturday at my karate school.
Grand Master Parker gave me a hershey bar when I was ten right after I was kicked in my groin. I really wasn't in the mood for candy. Later that day I won the IKKA east coast karate championships in the peewee division.
I remember kenpo from an old movie, like u hit someone and it causes a movement then u hit and it causes another, in theory a few may work like that, but so many variables, its cool though seeing all these old style vids, wing chung, aikido, judo, bjj and so on are pretty cool to mix and match from.
I don't know, but I agree that his death was tragic. What an amazing source of information and creativity. And that Gi must be a sight to see! :D I love antique gis. I keep my old one as well from before my school switched to a different style
This is very informative, thanks for posting this video. One question are these videos still for sale (both basic vol 1&2) and if so do you know where i can purchase them?
Those who submitted negative comments it is only due to a lack of understanding of American Kenpo and perhaps a threat in the form of being insecure about the art they practice. Mr. Parker was realistic in developing his art for no nonsense street survival self defense. The MMA craze has a lot of people Dazed and Glazed in the misconceptions of a street fight. Whereas MMA competition has well conditioned and skillful participants, nevertheless, it is still a sporting event with rules, regulations, a referee with a physician at ring side. There are no referees and Doctors on to regulate and minimize possible life threatening danger that can result in a street confrontation. In the ring there are forbidden targets such as the eyes, strikes to the throat, groin, etc. In the ring there is no threat of being attacked with weapons such as a blade/knife, a club/bat, or a gun. The contest in the ring is against one opponent whereas on the street one could have to successfully defend himself or herself against multiple attackers. The rear naked choke which is a "staple" in MMA is an awesome technique but while applying it on the street to an attackers, his homeboys can beat you into LA LA LAND by beating you over the head with baseball bats, crow bars, tire irons, etc. Street defense is Not tournament! Mr. Parker created American Kenpo with "Street Survival" in mind. Put that in your cup and sip it slowly so you can savor the flavor of Truth in Street Combat and Survival in Self Defense. "I come to you with only Karate, empty hands" First sentence in a quote by Master Ed Parker..."Ohs"... Selah!!!
The Old Man certainly loved to dissect the science of movement and the theory of body mechanics but beyond all that he could kick ass at an elite level. Much of the system he designed was direct adaptations from the street fighting techniques he used in Honolulu back in the day. In a bad neighborhood Ed Parker was a bad dude. These days what passes for his system might not bear much resemblance to its fighting roots but there are still a few bad-ass dudes around that grew up in his system.
I started Kenpo Karate has well it is a very systemic form of Karate I came from Tang Soo do and I ain't Never experience anything like Keep Karate it's worth it's weight in Gold 💯💯💯💯💯💯💯
I'm skeptical that any of this would actually work but it's all really interesting and fun to think about. I took some Kenpo as a kid and got my ass kicked by my friend who did judo. Never really knew what Kenpo was all about. I can see now why people find it appealing.
To me, Kenpo is too rigid & karate-like. Not a bad art to start with since they focus on self-defense, but I'd lean more toward Krav Maga (I have done Kenpo, btw). Krava maga, a good stick fighting art & jiu-jitsu and you're set. :-)
I am noticing alot of tie chi movments in the way the body moves in the kempo style it is not the same thing however yet there is alot of the same body movments
at 17:21 he talks about different arrangements of a set of 4 moves. He seems to imply that if you have 4 possible moves and you perform a combination of 5 moves that what you do is multiply 5x24 for a result of 120 possible combinations. I'm not great at math but I know that that is basic combinatorics and is actually found by taking 4^5 for a result of 1024. If he is omitting repeated moves, the number of 120 isn't right.
so that's the basic of an old style created in 60's by ed parker ...🕵️♂️( when i say old it's not old like wing chun or wrestling) . hem.. i remember one things ed parker had ties with hawaian kempo as well as bruce lee . We can see wushu influence in his work. Thanks to his friendship with mr lee who exchanged some techniques with ed parker and trained regulary with him
I studied Kenpo for a few years, but that was 35 years ago. I had lunch with Mr. Parker once and he was a really nice guy. Nevertheless, if I had to do it all over, I would find a legitimate BaGuaZhang instructor. Or maybe Wing Chun.
In checking out machado used shotokan karate and kodokan judo training to win during his time on the UFC so this Kenpo has something useful information but in reality no one punches and holds the punch out is when you demonstrate the Kenpo movements it’s not natural and no one cross your legs during a real fight and if you check out the Japanese Version of real Shorin ryu Kempo hand to hand combat style of training it is way different and it’s the type that teach in the Japanese special forces and in the universities and private dojo’s
Dan Inosanto studied with Ed Parker.....applied Bruce Lee's theory of adapting what is useful and rejecting what is not (which, of course is his opinion) .............
That is a ubiquitous characteristic of Kenpo - possibly it's defining element. It's why there's so many Kenpo styles. Anyone who spends long enough in it eventually develops their own.
1:22:00 Landing on the guy's kidneys is already extreme, but if you actually do the following moves, you're going to prison. Study the self-defense laws in your country. Nowadays, the attacker has more rights than the victim.
Any situation you have to determine as to its validity of life or death. Self defense is not about just physically striking someone. It also includes elements of awareness and knowing when to engage or walking away. It really boils down to the reason behind the situation. Can you walk away? If not, can you talk your way out of it? A situation, that is life and death you may have no choice but to apply lethal intent. At the time of such you cannot think of the legal consequences. For if you do then you may not be alive for the police to arrive.
@@jimlowe5433 no but i would be arrogant then a mug, towards the potential ignorant bad Ass knowing that I will hurt a potential gang banger or some girls badass boyfriend. And let them believe that i could be assaulted and then surprise my badasses with the embarrassing ass whippin ever
me gustan los conceptos del kempo!!! .... pero es facil combinar esos movimientos ante un adversario inmovil, y es sumamente dificil hacerlo cuando este se mueve... por ello no lo pueden adaptar a la practica deportiva ( kick, mma etc) y no funciona ante otro practicante de artes marciales ( de los buenos) ... péro es un exelente sistema de defensa personal ( cuando el atacante no lo espera, sus tecnicas son desvastadoras, cuando este se pone en guardia, ya no funciona)
no amigo, no comprendiste la técnica del kenpo. el kenpo funciona cuándo sea y ante cualquier arte marcialista (claro, ningun arte marcial es mejor que otra) y no tiene que ver con un adversario inmovil o movil, ¿quien no se mueve? las tecnicas de kenpo estan pensadas para terminar con el oponente en segundos atacando sus puntos vitales y siguiendo las secuencias que estos podrían hacer, y si lograran esquivar la tecnica siempre hay muchas opciones. ademas las tecnicas de kenpo no estan pensadas para hacer solo esas si te agredieran, son solo movimientos que te enseñan para que puedas usar en cualquier situación, sería muy dificil recordar una tecnica paso por paso en una situación real y hacerla rápida. y por supuesto que funciona cuándo se pone en guardia; tendrías que entrenarlo para darte cuenta. es un mal entendido comun para no practicantes de kenpo karate que piensan que solo aplican para adversarios inmoviles, o que dicen "es una estúpidez, nadie se queda inmovil cuando lo golpean", el problema es que no han entrenado kenpo y en sus dojos no les enseñaron disciplina y humildad. saludos.
