Mr. Ed Parker was the President and founder of the International Kenpo Karate Association (I.K.K.A.).  He was also the creator of the now famous International Karate Championships (IKC’s) where Bruce Lee made his historic first public appearance.  Mr. Parker was also considered the “Father of American Karate” as he opened the first commercial Karate studio in the U.S. in Pasadena California in 1956.  He achieved the rank of tenth degree black belt – the highest level within the art.

Mr. Parker began his studies in Judo and boxing then found his way into Kenpo, under the instruction of Professor William K.S. Chow while living in his native land of Hawaii.  In addition, through exchanges and interactions with other martial artists such as Bruce Lee, Dan Inosanto, and James Lee was Mr. Parker able to experiment and formulate his ideas that would later become American Kenpo.

Ed Parker was the original developer of the art of American Kenpo Karate.  Through 40 years of experience, he built his system on principles of motion that included “Opposite and Reverse Motion”, Tailoring”, “Focus” and the use of Logic.  He developed many tools to aid his teaching with the creation of the “Universal Patten”, the “Equation Formula”, training manuals, books and video tapes.

His system incorporates linear and circular motion, with intermittent spurts of speed and power when and where necessary, with both major and minor moves.  His idea was to learn motion and principles and then tailor it to fit your body.  Later you create your style of moving, governed by principles.

He taught many celebrities over the years including Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Billy Idol and David Lee Roth – among other celebrities.  He also taught a man by the name of Paul Mills from Evanston, Wyoming – whom he would later call his ‘Secret Weapon’.

Mr. Mills was a direct and private student of Ed Parker, tenth degree black belt, for over ten years.  Mr. Mills received his black belt from on of Mr. Parker’s first generation black belts then became a direct and private student of Grandmaster Edmund K. Parker in 1980.  Mr. Parker promoted Mr. Mills up through his fifth degree back belt.

Mr. Parker would often take Mr. Mills to other schools to introduce him to different students of his.  It was during these trips that Mr. Mills earned the name and reputation as the “smiling Guillotine”.  Mr. Parker was proud of all of his student’s accomplishments and abilities.  Mr. Ed Parker was friends with many of his students that were in his association, as well as many who were in other systems and styles.  However, Mr. Mills was not only a good friend with Mr. Parker, he was on of only a handful of his protégés having trained directly at Mr. Parker’s home consistently for the last ten years of Mr. Parker’s life.

Paul Mills is the President and founder of the American Kenpo Karate International (AKKI) association and holds the rank of 10th degree black belt.  He serves as the Chief Examiner at all international tests and is the Chairman of the AKKI’s Board of Directors.  He has been consistently training in the art of American Kenpo since 1966.