1/. Can you tell us about your martial arts back ground?
I started Kenpo in 1964 at Ed Parkers W. LA Studio

2/. What drew you to Kenpo
in the first place? I saw a little guy control a bigger guy. The smaller guy had the big guy on the ground in a flash. He could have kept punching, instead he asked the bigger guy if this was enough, who said OK its enough. By using technique and restrain he stopped this from being the typical barroom brawl.

3/. When and where did you first meet Mr. Parker?
It was into the first week into my training under Danny Inesanto.

4/. What were your first impressions of Mr. Parker?
This is hard to explain. I was surprised of how a man of that size could walk so softly. I was also impressed with his friendly smile. When I saw him move on the mat for the first time, I knew that he would be my Master in the Arts.

5/. You worked very hard in promoting Kenpo in Europe in the late seventies and early eighties. Can you outline for our readers what you did for Kenpo back then?
I started a first a club in Germany. Soon thereafter I was contacted by Roy McDonald from Jersey if I would be willing to come to Jersey to teach and to hold seminars. This was followed by Bob Rose from Plymouth, Hans Hesselmann from Holland, Ambrose Molloney from Ireland and Louis Gonzales Lopez from Spain. I traveled all these countries an a regular basis 3 to 4 times a year and usually stayed from Friday to Sunday. I also started the IKKA Europe which was registered in Germany in 1982.

6/. What seperates Kenpo from the other arts in your opinion?
The man that started it, Ed Parker! Kenpo is an Art that fits the individual and not the other way around. It is also a living Art constantly changing and adjusting to different enviorments and mentalities.

7/. What were your impressions of the standards of Kenpo in England when you were our European Director for the I.K.K.A.?
I was impressed by the desire to learn and the fighting spirit. It was easy to make most of the students understand what Kenpo was all about. Of course there are always some individuals who try to reach the level of Black Belt without putting in the extra effort. In the end we all know who they are. The most impressive student in England was Gary Ellis. As a brown belt already as good as many black belts I had seen.

8/. You still have students in Germany. How is that group doing?
The group under Christian Springer is doing just great. Dian Tanaka and Bob Liles who did a recent seminar in Germany said quote: "These guys remind me of the old days in Pasadena and W. LA, hard hitting and fast moving. " unquote.

10/. Do you think that Kenpo has evolved since Mr. Parker's passing?
Kenpo has taken different turns. Some for better some for worst. There are enough Black Belts out of the first generation still teaching and explaining what Kenpo was meant to be. Like Frank Trejo says in his Home Page: the color went out of Kenpo after Mr. Parker died, it is up to us to put the color back in!

11/. What does it mean for you to be an Ed Parker Black Belt?
This is a hard question to answer, but after he died I vowed not to accept another stripe on my Balt from anybody. I know that I don't know it all and still learn every day, but Mr. Parker was my Instructor and I will not accept another. I guess I am to old for this anyway.

12/. How do you want to see Kenpo progress in the future?
As long as guys like Huk Planas, Frank Trejo Lee Wedlake and many others are teaching and as long as we have our Ambassador of Kenpo Edmund Parker jr., Kenpo will keep its rightful place in the Martial Arts Community.

13/. In your opinion what are the most important aspects of Kenpo which should be adhered to?
Honesty, integrety and not being like the man on the bottom of the well who thinks that all he sees of heaven is all ther is!

14/. What do you think Ed Parker wanted from his Black Belts?
See last answer!

15/. Do you think Mr. Parker was right not to name a successor to take over the Kenpo system?
Yes. Who could follow his footsteps?

16/. What value do you place on the forms?
See the forms like a compendium of techniques. I have seen fantastic fighters who would never win a trophy in forms competition and great form runners where you would ask: But can he fight? And there are guys like Frank Trjo for instance, who could do both.

17/. Did you ever study weapons?
Yes, Guns.

18/. What is your favourite Kenpo technique?
Of the top of my head I would say Thundering Hammer. Whatever works!