History of Kenpo Karate in Utah

In 1953 a man by the name of Edmund K. Parker received his black belt from Professor William K.S. Chow while on a visit to his native land in Hawaii. This was the beginning spark that would later develop into one of the most effective and practical martial arts known as American Kenpo.

Ed Parker moved to Provo Utah to attend college at Brigham Young University and began teaching a closed class of other Polynesian men. He began teaching from the “old school” philosophy of only teaching other Polynesians; which severly limited how many students were learning this dynamic art.

Times were changing and after a successful half time demonstration at a basketball game in 1954. Ed Parker started to gain more attention from non-Polynesians. As a result. he opened his class up to anyone interested in learning what he had to teach. In fact. his class became the first martial arts class for University credit in America. This would be one of many "firsts" Ed Parker would have in the martial arts world.

When Parker opened his classes. he caught the attention of many law enforcement agencies and began teaching FBI agents. prison guards. police officers. sheriffs deputies. fish and game wardens and Utah highway patrol officers. among others. (Memories of Ed Parker. L. Parker. 1997)

During this time. a fish and game warden by the name of Charles Beeder. Sr. signed up for Kenpo classes with Parker. In his line of work. he needed to be able to "take care" of himself and Kenpo was a great way for him to gain an edge. Unbeknownst to Beeder. he would later become Parker's first Black Belt ever.
Beeder was also Parker’s assistant instructor at the first commercialized studio in the USA at Roy Woodward's Body Building Gym.

Although Parker moved to Pasanda California after graduating from Brigham Young University. he still made countless trips back to Utah. He taught several seminars. private lessons and attended several tournaments and belt tests.

Parker knew that for the Kenpo system to flourish in America. it had to be adapted to suit the modern day “Western” culture. Therefore. Kenpo went through several changes over the next forty years. His quest was to develop the most effective art for the time. The system changed during the 1950’s. 1960’s. 1970’s into the late in 1980’s. Therefore many claim to teach “Ed Parker’s Kenpo” in Utah. However. not all teach the exact same curriculum because everyone teaches from a different historical standpoint.

American Kenpo stopped being innovated and updated to meet the needs of the time when Ed Parker abruptly passed away in December of 1990. It created a need for someone to continue on with the evolution of the system. This challenge was taken on by a long time protégé of Parker’s named Paul Mills. He has once again made American Kenpo modern for the times and is often referred to as AKKI KENPO.

There are many different Kenpo schools in Utah. However. not all of them teach AKKI Kenpo. The schools listed on this website all teach AKKI KENPO - a fascinating. innovative and effective system of Kenpo Karate.


Ready to get started? Find a Kenpo Karate studio near you in Utah.