Who deserves the real credit for adding grappling skills to American Kenpo?

Question

I see this question is a stumper. Ed Parker is the founder of American Kenpo. That is already known. And for you guys thinking the Gracies added anything to it your way off. Parker died in 1990. I started training in Kenpo in 91.There was no grappling in the American Kenpo I was taught at that time. So question remains.

And I am asking about American Kenpo, not any other version.

Answer 1

Hey

Thats a good question. I am in American Kenpo also and Ive been to some grappling seminars and such but to who brought it to the orginazation? I do not know. In my early years of Kenpo 12-20 we had NO grappling, it was not until the last 15+ years that I have seen more and more grappling in Kenpo and other arts.

So it could have been several Masters in the system that worked together and created a format or each school has it methods dependant on teacher.

Sorry I cannot tell you who should get the credit. Maybe it was his Son Ed Jr? I once watched Speakman do a grappling technique and as much as I like the guy the technique was horrible lol.

I hope you find your answer, Ill check back here and see if you found one!!

Answer 2

Our kempo school(New Zealand) has always taught take-down ,locks, holds.......fighting on the ground stuff, from when I started way back in 1985, but with our school it goes back to the 1950's because back them there were only to styles around..Kempo and Judo/Jujitsu , and the two schools held regular test so to say against each other.

But now-days i think it comes down to the popularity of the Gracie's and all the ground fighting that you see in all the competitions and alot of people seeing how effective it can be and Kenpo's natural ability to evolve and add extensions to techniques, have jumped on the band-waggon and have forged the two styles together.

I believe you cant solely credit one person to achieving this and id have to say it comes down to a multitude of people and factors.


Just to add..........

Id just like to point out that I'm not saying that the Gracie's put the grappling in Kenpo but they did make it popular and that some in Kenpo did pick up on it and added it to the American system, who I don't know!!

My school although in New Zealand was under the IKKA , and my teacher Robert Gemmell was a first generation Black Belt under Mr Parker, And at that stage was the only authority to teach his Kenpo in the pacific region.

Answer 3

There was NO grappling back in '67. It must have been added into the system by others after I left the States in '87.
D'veed

Answer 4

I believe it was the Gracie's from Brazil.
It looked to me that everyone(styles) jumped on the band wagon to try these new "wrestling" moves , and incorporate them into their techniques.

Kenpo-ist are more ( such as myself) of a street fighting combat fighters.

I know I didn't answer exactly the question, but I hope I gave you an idea of your answer.

Answer 5

i would have to say Ed Parker. that is the style i study.

Answer 6

Filipinos!