INTRODUCING THE KENPO TRUST

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Dear Fellow Kenpoists,

 

Ed Parker once said, “I am not going to show you my art. I am going to share it with you.”

 

Mr. Parker visited the studio I was training at in 1964. For several hours, he shared and demonstrated his Kenpo ideas. I was mesmerized…hooked! Almost instantly I knew what I wanted to do, and spent the next 50+ years teaching and spreading the art.

 

A few months ago, I faced some health issues and felt uncertain about what lay ahead. Russell and I organized a special event for my top students and Kenpo friends, forming The Kenpo Trust to recognize their invaluable contributions. As a symbol of unity and our shared passion for the art, I presented each individual with a unique certificate accompanied by a significant gesture: my 8th-degree black belt. This belt, infused with my blood, sweat, and tears, holds deep personal significance because it is the first rank I achieved after the passing of Mr. Parker. I had Russell cut the belt into 25 sections to be mounted on each certificate. Through this small yet powerful act, we promote unity within the Kenpo community and share the art that binds us together.

 

Looking ahead, my hope for The Kenpo Trust is that it marks just the start of a more significant initiative that aims to appreciate and recognize all Kenpo lineages. The Trust is a means to establish a lasting legacy that honors the past, embraces the present, and inspires the future.

 

Respectfully,

Joe Palanzo

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FOUNDING MEMBERS OF THE KENPO TRUST

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Jim Baran

Sibora Chan

Lance Clayton

Doreen DiRienzo

Irvin Gil

Yannick Grenon

Richard Grimes

Tom Hale

Ken Herman

Tom LoVarco

Chris LoVarco

Herman Macon

Kathy Owen

Russell Palanzo

Alexander Perez

Karl Petro

Manny Reyes Sr

Mark Russo

Greg Silva

Robert Sprando

Mohamad Tabatabai

Bart Vale

Gilbert Velez

Frank Vigoroux

Lee Wedlake