Ed Parker story

Mr. Parker used to tell a story about his high school teacher who told him he'd never amount to anything. He said that single event motivated him to do something with his life. He later told me that on a trip back home to Honolulu he went and found that teacher-and he thanked him.

    When he'd tell that story he'd often talk about how he wanted to be the organ-grinder instead of the monkey. For you young-uns who have no idea what that's about, here's the deal. About a hundred years ago men would get a monkey and train it do tricks while they played a mechanical, gear-driven organ. They hoped people would enjoy the show and put money in their cup. Mr. Parker's analogy was that he'd be collecting the money instead of doing the dancing. And that, kids, is just what he did.