Mr. Parker was focused on gang related fighting skills and did not want to tie up his body with one person on the ground while his buddies were joining in the fight. To fight in a gang situation it is required that the kenpoist have fast movements, make quick decisions, take out his opponent at the earliest opportunity and move on to the next gang member. Everything taught in our American Kenpo sessions are based upon this situation. Because of this situational parameter; I cannot think of any changes I would make to SGMA Parker’s system that would enable me to fight better. Unlike many other martial artist who want to constantly tinker with Mr. Parker’s creation, I believe students need to more thoroughly understand the existing American Kenpo martial art. Read more »

American Kenpo is not a style of martial art – it is a standing, self defense training system.  Senior Grand Master of the Art Edmund K. Parker created his system for teaching self defense knowledge so that anyone who wanted to learn about stand up self defense would have access to the full empty handed (no weapons) fighting knowledge he had gathered, organized and assembled for himself and had taught to his personal students. Read more »

There are many so-called “experts” who claim to be able to teach you either knife fighting or defense against a knife. The problem is that most of them are just teaching regurgitated martial arts, usually from the Philippines from some sort of FMA or if you’re a Kenpo Instructor, then the so called “knife techniques”.  While I have lots of respect for the martial arts of other lands, the truth is that you live where you do. Odds are you are not in a “knife culture.” And that means that whatever you do regarding knives must: Read more »

Martial Arts has been my passion since I was a child and I have been blessed to have had the opportunity during this incredible journey to become acquainted and train with many individuals who have enriched my life. It is my desire as an instructor, to share these insights and experiences with others who have the same passion but at the same time, also to continue to remain as a student of life. Read more »

HUGE CONGRATS to all those that tested last night at MG Kenpo Academy.

Let me start off my saying that this was probably an evening that I’ll always remember the most. For one, our power was knocked out since Wednesday due to the high winds. I wasn’t sure if we were still going to be able to have the test but on Saturday morning we had partial power restoration. It wasn’t the best because the power lines were re-energizing so we barely had enough power to use a toaster. Read more »