Ed Parker's relationship with James Mitose

    Below is a letter from Ed Parker. In his own words he tells of his relationship with James Mitose.  After Mitose left Hawaii in 1953, Ed Parker kept up their relationship in LA when Ed opened his first studio in Pasadena in 1956. Ed was in constant contact with James Mitose until Mitose was arrested in 1973. Ed knew and was associated with James Mitose for over 20 years.
    HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:  The address of his first studio (where the Tracy brothers first studied with Ed Parker) was 1840 E. Walnut; and Ed operated under the name "Kenpo-Karate Self Defense." The studio was located on the South side of East Walnut. In 1958 Ed moved his studio one block north (and to the other side of the street) to 1713 E. Walnut St. He remained at this location until 1966/67.

Picture from the first studio located at 1840 E. Walnut. About 1967 James Ibrow (Black Belt) is performing "Thundering Hammers" on Ben Okake (Brown Belt).  Note: The patch on Ben Otake's Judo GI (No karate gi's back then). The patch of the fist is still used by Ralph Castro. Used by Ed Parker from 1956-1963/64 Note: In the first studio the Makawaras were against the back wall. In the second studio the Makawaras where outside on the back wall of the studio. From the very beginning Ed Parker always had Straw Tatami (From Japan) because of all the rolling and falling: Kenpo Jiu-Jitsu!

Picture from the 2nd studio located at 1713 E. Walnut (About 1958) James Ibrow (Black Belt) is doing the jump kick. The boards are held by Rich Montgomery (White Belt at this time and Pete - also a white belt. Besides myself Pete would become one of Ed's "Heavy Breakers". Pete did a lot of board breaking with his Finger-tips. Picture was take by Ben Otake (Brown Belt) More about Ben later.

 Ed then bought the land just North of his 2nd studio where he build his own studio at 1705 E. Walnut, operating under the name: "Ed Parker's Kenpo-Karate Studio." The studio burned down shortly before his death on Dec 15, 1990. The studio was later rebuilt; it is my understanding that Mrs. Parker has sold the building.
    I first became aware of James Mitose in 1958 when I found his book on Kenpo Jiu-Jitsu at a used book store next to the Linda Lee Movie theater in LA (Ed introduced us to this theater) where every weekend they showed "Samurai movies" - all in Japanese. (Many did not have English subtitles.)  It did not matter: all we were interested in were the sword fights. The price for the movies back then was 25 cents. If I remember correctly, I paid 50 cents for James Mitose's book.
    It was at this theater that Ed Parker would see the classis Japanese movie "Rashomon (*1950) staring Toshiro Mufune.  where the concept of seeing an event from three points of view was introduced by the Japanese author Akutagawa. . Ed was so taken by this movie and its concept that he would incorporate it into his "Kenpo Concepts".  The movies has been released on DVD for those of your who are interested in this part of Kenpo history.
    When I showed Ed Mitose's  book he just gave it a passing glance and did not make any comments. After I had a chance to read the book I became interested in our history and asked Ed where James Mitose now lived. I was quite surprised when Ed told me he lived right here in town - meaning LA. It was obvious that Ed did not want to talk about James Mitose and his relationship to Kenpo.  It would then be up to my brother, Will, to follow up on the Chow and Mitose part of our heritage in Kenpo.