Ed Parker

I don't think I've run into any posts here mentioning Ed Parker. I've read his book and liked what he had to say.

Does anyone have an opinion on whether he was a good friend to Elvis. Elvis seemed to have quite a lot of respect for Ed.

Diane

I don't know very much about him. I've never read his book. I'd be interested in reading any replies that are posted here by people that have some opinions of him or know some things about him.

he was a friend he could count on. He saw some guys doing things he did not quite agree on at all. In fact he was shocked. He cared a lot about Elvis

Wasn't he one of the guys that came in the group towards the end? When did he enter the group, does anyone know?

He was one of Elvis' karate teachers and had a very high reputation in that field. My son was in karate in high school and said Ed Parker was very well known as one of the countries top karate experts.

I have to read his book again but at the moment all my books are packed up ready for the move so it will have to be later. Does anyone remember why he decided to be a bodyguard for Elvis off and on?

Gayle, he is the one with the longish grey hair. I've always liked his face, his expressions seem deep and kind.

I got the feeling that he was very protective of Elvis and not just as a bodyguard but as Riley said, worried about what affect some of the entourage had on him.

Thanks Leroy I was glad to hear that. There seemed to be something really good about Ed Parker.

I know that I'm gonna sound very ditsy here but.... who is Ed Parker *Bites Nails of embarrassment*

This may help you.

There is lots more if you google a bit with his name;)

Ed Parker

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Edmund Kealoha Parker (March 19, 1931 - December 15, 1990) was an American martial artist, exhibitionist, and teacher, perhaps most famous as the founder of American Kenpo.
Parker was born in Hawaii on March 19, 1931, and raised a devout Mormon. He began his training in the martial arts at a young age in Judo and later boxing. Some time in the 1940's, Ed Parker was first introduced to Kenpo by Frank Chow. After some time Frank Chow introduced Ed Parker to William K. S. Chow. Mr. Parker trained with William Chow, while serving in the Coast Guard and attending Brigham Young University. It was 1953 that he was promoted to the rank of brown belt by William K.S. Chow.
By 1956, Mr. Parker opened his school in Pasadena, California. One of his first black belts was James Ibrao, although there is debate that a Charles Beeder was his first black belt. In either case, the other black belts in chronological order up to 1962 were; Rich Montgomery, Rick Flores, Al Tracy, Jim Tracy, Chuck Sullivan, John McSweeney, and Dave Hebler. In 1962 one of Mr. Parker's black belts, John McSweeney, opened a school in Ireland, which enabled Mr. Parker to create the International Kenpo Karate Association.
Mr. Parker was well known for his skills as an instructor and his business sense. He helped many martial artists to open their schools. He was also well known in Hollywood where he trained a great many stuntmen and celebrities; most notable was Elvis Presley. He also helped Bruce Lee gain national attention by introducing him at his International Karate Championships. He served as Elvis Presley's bodyguard during the singer's final years, did movie stuntwork and acting, and was the Kenpo instructor of martial arts action movie actor Jeff Speakman. He is most well known to Kenpoists as the founder of American Kenpo and is referred to as Senior Grand Master.
Parker had a minor career as a Hollywood actor and stunt man. His most notable film was Kill the Golden Goose [1]. In this film, he co-stars with Hapkido master Bong Soo Han.
Edmund K. Parker died in Honolulu of a heart attack on December 15, 1990. His widow Leilani Parker passed away on June 12, 2006.

Thanks Riley for posting the article on Ed Parker. I've read something similar before but enjoyed this article too.

Now unless my memory is off was Ed Parker the instructor who forbade Priscilla to come into class wearing the white karate outfit. Elvis had earned the privilege to wear it by the amount of time he had studied karate but that Priscilla had not. Apparently this caused a riff between her and Ed and Priscilla went to another instructor for her lessons and carried a dislike for Parker even since?

It's something I remember reading and wondered if anyone knew more about what happened there.

Diane

that happened indeed;)

I respect the man for his profession and being a true friend fo Elvis,and I liked his book as well..Ed Parker sure is a man who has strong sprituel insight, which let Elvis and him to be more close friends than any other7/24 so called friends..

He was a great guy.
I once saw an interview with him and I think he was one of the few people who geuinely loved Elvis for himself and not the money, he said he was his friend and he wasn`t someone who would tell Elvis what he wanted to hear, he said he was always straight with him.

Thank you Riley and Joanne that was my impression of Ed Parker too. Too bad there weren't more like him around Elvis. Things would probably have turned out quite differently for him.

Thank you Riley for that article because I didn't know who in the world was Ed Parker. I am enlightened.(y) :clap:

you're welcome:D

Thank you Leroy, I wasn't sure of the colour of the karate suit that Priscilla wasn't supposed to wear. I have the book Child Bride so I probably read about it in there as well.