Adriano Directo Emperado Bio
adapted from Wikipedia Adriano Directo Emperado (June 15, 1926 – April 4, 2009) was one of five martial artists who developed the kajukenbo self-defense system. Childhood and Young Adulthood Emperado had a very difficult childhood living in Honolulu. He was born to Filipino-Hawaiian parents in the poverty stricken Palama/Kalihi section of Honolulu. Like many poor [...]
Lee Wedlake Bio
by Zoran Sevic Martial Arts History Mr. Wedlake began his martial arts training Judo in 1967 at the Shindo Kan school in Chicago, IL. where he achieved the rank of Brown belt. In November 1972 he initiated study of Chinese Kenpo at a school in Evergreen Park, IL. He achieved the rank Brown belt before [...]
James Mitose Biography
adapted from Wikipedia James Masayoshi Mitose (born Masayoshi Mitose, (December 30, 1916 — March 26, 1981) was a Japanese American martial artist who brought the art of Kempo to the United States starting in the late 1930s. Mitose was and remains a controversial figure in the history of Kenpo in America. Many Kenpo teachers trace [...]
Edmund Kealoha Parker Biography
adapted from Wikipedia Edmund Kealoha Parker (March 19, 1931–December 15, 1990) was an American martial artist, promoter, teacher, and author. Life Parker was born in Hawaii, and raised a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He began his training in the martial arts at a young age in judo and later [...]
Zoran Sevic
Zoran Sevic is a 5th degree black belt in Saviano’s White Tiger Kenpo and EVP of the American Kenpo Karate Association, originally founded by John McSweeney. He currently teaches at the White Tiger Kenpo school. Martial Arts History Zoran Sevic began his martial arts training in Parker’s Kenpo under Lee Wedlake in early 1981 when [...]
Tom Saviano Bio
from Saviano’s White Tiger Kenpo Tom Saviano is the founder of Saviano’s White Tiger Kenpo and president of the American Kenpo Karate Association. Currently holds the rank of 10th degree black belt. Martial Arts History Tom Saviano began his martial arts training in March of 1964, in the art of Goju Shorei in Chicago, Illinois. [...]
Dr. Ron Chapél Bio
adapted from KenpoNet.com Martial History Dr. Ron Chapél is the foremost authority on Advanced American Kenpo Concepts, and Sub-Level Four. which he began working on Advanced American Kenpo Concepts with his teacher as part of a book and video series. Dr. Chapél, through Mr. Parker’s teachings over the years, and his volume of personal notes, [...]
Stephen LaBounty Bio
adapted from the KenpoNet Martial History: Sigung Stephen LaBounty began his martial arts journey in 1958 at a local Judo school in Forth Worth, Texas under the instruction of Sam Namajura. In 1961, after earning his brown belt, Mr. LaBounty traveled to San Francisco for work and began looking for a Judo school in which [...]
Ralph Castro Bio
Ralph Castro is from Hawaii and started his first experience in martial arts in boxing under his father at a young age. He began training in Kenpo in the mid 1950’s under William Chow and was promoted to black belt by the same. Some time in the 1960’s, he moved to San Francisco, California and [...]
The Tracy Brother
by Scott H. Martial History: The Tracy brothers began their martial training in fencing, boxing, and wrestling. They embarked on their study of Kenpo with Ed Parker and one of his first Black Belts, James Ibrao, in 1957, while attending college as pre-law students. Over time they developed a close relationship with Mr. Parker, and [...]
