Subject: I remember,Mr Parker
Date: Mon, Dec 15, 1997 17:13 EST
From: KENPOJOE1
Message-id: <19971215221301.RAA19184@ladder02.news.aol.com>
It will be seven years today,that you left us "to be reborn into another sphere and await the day that you will exist in a degree of "greater" glory"...
I miss you so very much...a day cannot go by without thoughts of you...I cannot do what I love without remembering you...you were a teacher,a mentor,a guide,an inspiration,and a second father to me....
you used Jesus as an example of your approach to teaching your art...and I followed you like an apostle, you taught me,guided me,...punched,kicked,and struck me...
and i felt, and i believed...and I "preached" your"gospel" to all that would listen...Because I knew it to be true.
I swore before god that i would stay loyal to you and your art, and that I would "take upon myself all obligations and responsibilities deemed sacred to my god,family,country and association" out of love,honor,and respect for you....
And now,seven years later,I sit here in my school,where I proudly teach your art....and I weep like a child,because even now, i still miss you....there's so much i wanted to say to you,so much more i need to know...and i can't, because you're gone.
once you hugged me goodbye....and I would give anything to have that moment back again...to tell you,to let you know how much you meant to me, to show you how much you did for me. I can never in all the days of my life, thank you enough for all the things you've done,not just for me,but for so many others....But,I will try...
and i love you "Dad"
IN LOVING MEMORY OF MY "BELOVED" INSTRUCTOR
EDMUND KEALOHA PARKER
DIED DECEMBER 15,1990
" YOU WILL ALWAYS BE "KEALOHA" [BELOVED] TO ME"
Joseph P. Rebelo II (KENPOJOE1)
Date: Mon, Dec 15, 1997 18:45 EST
From: YITZKENPO
Message-id: <19971215234501.SAA29253@ladder02.news.aol.com>
MOURNING THE LOSS AND GAIN OF MR PARKER
Today, December 15th, 1997, is the 7th anniversary of the passing of Senior Grandmaster Ed Parker, founder of American Kenpo Karate. There are many people out there who knew him much better than I did although I had met him on many occasions. Therefore I will not spend too much time telling you about Mr Parker but rather I will spend time telling you about how he affected me and my life.
Let me first start at the lowest and work my way up. I owe Mr Parker my livelihood. He has created a system of martial arts than will allow me to successfully run a karate studio. A combination of a phenomenal martial art and great teaching methods has allowed me to teach hundreds of students over the past years. For my career I thank you, Mr Parker.
Through Ed Parker's creation of Kenpo which contains many levels of controlling an opponent - I have learned judgement - the ability to choose the right answer at the right time. In the studio when dealing woith "problem" students or on the street dealing with encounters or in life dealing with friends and relative; judgement and levels of control of myself and those around me are a key factor in leading a happy successful life. The ability to judge what is right and what is wrong has carried me through many tempting situations. Having met Mr Parker and heard him talk about values has stuck in the back of my mind and is always there as a reminder of where priorities are and should be.
Mr parker also taught me not to accept things at face value but that there are many levels of understanding. He has helped me learn to analyze and dissect and then put back together thoughts and ideas. He used to say, and I am not quoting directly, that it wasn't his Kenpo - it was our Kenpo; he just wrote it down first to make it easier for us. He said the work was nowhere near complete and that we are the future of American Kenpo Karate. It is up to us to take it further. He would constantly say THINK - DOES THIS MAKE SENSE TO YOU??? Dont just accept - it dissect it. For the ability to think better - I thank you
Due to the non-traditional, practical, scientific, and realistic approach of Kenpo - I now have the ability to protect my life as well as those I love and those who cannot protect themselves. I have needed Kenpo before in altercations and it has helped me escape from those altercations either by applying the tiger of kenpo or the dragon; either the scholar or the warrior; sometimes walking away without fighting sometimes walking away after the fight - for teaching me the ability to save my life - I thank you.
Due to the sophistication of American Kenpo - patience is a necessary ingredient to understanding the principles of each technique and form. You need patience to have the time to ingrain physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, the material needed to protect yourself. Patience in all aspects of my life has increased thanks to Kenpo. I am patient when teaching, when learning, with family, and with friends. More importantly - I am patient with those who seek to do me harm - so I can diffuse the situation and show them the error of their ways.
There are too many ways in which Mr Parker has affected my life so please forgive me for leaving any out. I may continue this in the next couple of days. As it is, I am writing this through the blur of tears. There are not enough words for me to express my feelings but I did my best.
Thanks for listening. Please feel free to add on to this or to email me.
I wish I knew of a better way to pay tribute to this great man who has affected my life second only to god and family. I have spent the day crying and listening and watching videos of Mr Parker and will hopefully have great classes tonight and my students and I will watch videos of Mr Parker tonight.
Mr. Parker - thank you for everything you have done for me. I will try each day to pay you back but I will never be able to. You are hear in my heart and soul everyday. Thank you for your support. <<< FULL SALUTATION>>>
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