Ed Parker's Infinite Insights Into Kenpo 1: Mental Stimulation

by Ed Parker

With the accumulation of over thirty years of practical Martial Arts experience the Sr. Grandmaster of American Kenpo Karate Ed Parker Sr. decided to document and share his findings in a monumental series of books. Writing with the intent to expound upon the merits of his American KENPO Martial Arts system, he wrote of it's many facets as, "a discipline, a way of life, a philosophy, and an art and a science." With each book intended to offer a unique and exciting adventure into KENPO knowledge, he called the series of five volumes " Infinite Insights Into Kenpo." Early in 1982, Mr. Parker completed and published the first book in the "Infinite Insights Into Kenpo" series, titled "Mental Stimulation". He wrote, "I was sensitive to the need of innovations during my early years of training. Analyzing the methods of fighting in Hawaii, the place of my birth and early rearing, verified the unquestionable need for an updated approach to the Martial Arts." Mr. Parker broke the bonds of tradition and experimented with more logical and practical means of combating modern day methods of fighting. What emerged was, in his own words, "my own interpretation of the Art." It was this perspective that he introduced in this initial volume and developed and expanded upon through his subsequent works. Mr. Parker introduced an unparalleled number of combative predicaments, indicating the need for several viewpoints. Thee mystic "Universal Pattern", introduced to the public for the first time some twenty years earlier, was put into context. In an effort to develop and articulate definable qualities in the Martial Arts, he sought to set the backdrop for the unknown to become known, the intangible to become tangible and for the mysticism to disappear.

Genres: Martial Arts, War, Nonfiction

122 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1982

Reviews

[Adam Richmond · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite insightful and makes a lot of important points clear, as well as offering a lot of historical context to martial arts. However, ironically the author's big ego shines through with whole sections of namedropping that are really out of place for a book telling you to not be egotistical.

[Shane Clune · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's always useful when studying any discipline to understand the reasoning and biases of the author or originator. This book is super useful for any student of Kenpo if for no other purpose than to clarify the biases of Ed Parker. I also happen to think that the martial philosophy he lays out is applicable to studying the martial arts in general. At any rate it's a good primer to Parker's general writing style and should prepare you for the more substantial works on the particular philosophy and practice of Kenpo outlined in the later books.

[David Trowbridge · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is mostly pseudo-eastern philosophy and a chronicle of who was where when. Probably interesting to American Kenpo students but not as "Mentally Stimulating" as promised. Fortunately, it's short and leads into the better Volume 2 quickly.

[Ken Barrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dated but a good read

I’ve trained in martial arts for nearly 60 years, and although a 7th Dan black belt in taekwondo, I found this book interesting. It’s unwise to become too comfortable in the familiar, growth only happens when we push at the edges of what we know.

[Nathan Wilson · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is, in 2020, a VERY simple introduction to the martial arts; especially if you’ve studied Kenpo, the insights at this point aren’t “infinite.” Parker gives a history of martial arts, featuring Kenpo in a way I’ve never before seen. A big part of this is a discussion of how, “we don’t really know a lot” of early history, and how things are currently. Parker was a precursor to and contemporary of Bruce Lee, and he gives himself a lot of credit (perhaps rightly) for Lee’s rise. But he also argues against some of Lee’s tenets. He makes a lot of analogies to how learning happens that are familiar, yet not necessarily parallel. Finally he lays out the skills or precursors (“preparatory considerations”) that will help one master the martial arts, and though one can dispute the order of their importance, the ideas are sound.

[Ben Dial · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must-read for Kenpo practitioners.

[Andrew Hoare · Rating 5 out of 5]

very interesting first volume, as stated a lot of useful insights into the art of Kenpos beginnings and history as well as basic theory, nice!

[J. Lawrence Hawkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential reading for American Kenpo practitioners.