A follow up

Lessons with Ed Parker is now available on Kindle. You can go to http://www.amazon.com/ and visit the Kindle store.

Comments on Lessons with Ed Parker

I receive e-mails about my books from time to time. This week I got two I'd like to pass on. When I wrote the book, these two gentlemen are exactly the type of people I had in mind when describing Mr. Parker to their generation of kenpoists. Their feedback, like that of others, reinforces that my concept came through.

This is from Sean Carey in Colorado. His full review is linked in his writing below.

I would like to say that I just finished reading "Lessons with Ed Parker". I found it to be an amazing read, and I wish to thank Mr. Wedlake for sharing his personal experiences, and allowing those of us who were not Mr. Parker's personal students, a glimpse of what it was like to study with SGM Parker. I met him three times at seminars, and feel privileged to have done so, but "Lessons with Ed Parker" is on my 'to read once each year' reading list, and gives me lots of material to use in my own classes. I recently posted a review (VERY positive) of the book on the website http://www.kenpotalk.com, and used a few quotes from the book to demonstrate the style of the book (with page number's referenced), I hope that is acceptable, as I directly quoted and gave credit and reference.

A full salute to Mr. Wedlake for sharing his journey with the rest of us.

Sean

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Sean J. Carey
Head Instructor
Front Range Kenpo Karate
(303) 587-6486
http://www.coloradokenpo.com
info@coloradokenpo.com

This one is from David McVey in Georgia.

I just wanted to let you know that, I like many other Kenpoists have gone without ever meeting Mr. Parker and a book like this offers a perspective many of us never had the opportunity to see. Not only do you provide valuable information about Kenpo, but it also gives us a brief glimpse into history and what it was like to train with Mr. Parker. When I started many years ago back in the mid-nineties in San Antonio TX, fellow students and I would joke “Wouldn’t it be neat to get kicked by him?” Or one other student even said, “It’d be great to get a scar, nothing serious, but just a scar or an accidental cut and say – ‘yeah I got this from Mr. Parker at the such ‘n such seminar’.” I guess the equivalent to that would be comparing battle wounds with the guys. That’s how feverish we were then to gather as much information as we could that lead back to the source. With the advent of the internet today and the myriad of youtube videos, this helps to satiate that appetite but nothing beats the written word, in my opinion. I guess because it’s tangible.

When this book was released, I spent some time reading it and making my own notes. I found it very informative and very enlightening. Mr. Mathews and I would often discuss certain aspects of it too and it made me wonder, why haven’t other books like this have been published? On your website you stated that you had found an additional tape and was considering doing a second volume in the LWEP series. I think it’d be a wonderful addition to your library and I am sure that many of us would appreciate the information that you would provide and hear your thoughts about with Mr. Parker.

In closing, I also would like to say that I truly enjoy the lessons you provide on your books and I thoroughly enjoy the seminars I’ve attended that you’ve conducted and look forward to more.

Sincerely,

David M. McVey

Once again, thank you all for supporting my writing habit.

Guess what I found?

If you look carefully at the dates of the seminars in the table of contents of my book, Lessons with Ed Parker, you'll see there is a gap in 1983. I had Mr. Parker in to teach every six months. I found the video of his seminar in May 1983 in a box recently. So I have another 4 hours of instruction from the master. I've been considering a second book in the LWEP series with stuff that was left out and thoughts and experiences with him (their lessons from him) from other seniors in the system who trained with him. I'd like your thoughts on the idea. E-mail me at lee@leewedlake.com.

A story omission

I recently reconnected with one of my Chicago black belts, Bill Roma. I had sent him a copy of Lessons with Ed Parker since he had been there for many of the events in the book. He said "You left the best part out" regarding the story in the book about being in a Chinese restaurant one night with Mr. Parker and a group of my students. The entertainer there was a Hawaiian man who recognized Mr. Parker and acknowledged him. What Bill reminded me of was that the man said, 'You white guys, when you were young, wanted to grow up to be Roy Rogers. In Hawaii, we wanted to grow up to be Ed Parker."
Also, the man pointed out that the author of On Golden Pond was there as was the mayor of Gary, Indiana. All in this cheesy place in Tinley Park, Illinois on a Saturday night. Who'd have thought?

Book feedback

It seems that my latest book, Lessons with Ed Parker, has taken quite some time to get delivered to people who pre-purchased. I started sending them about two weeks ago and I'm getting reports that they just arrived. I don't know why but at least they're getting there. Here is some feedback on the book from two men who knew him.


I just received your book yesterday. I took it home to read and had a dream that I was at a seminar with Mr. Parker. Which doesn't surprise me because your book gives that feeling of being there; not to mention it has a ton of information and reminders. I also wanted you to know that on a number of occasions I have had students ask me something about a form and I would say that's a good question let me check Mr. Wedlake's book and 99 percent of the time the answer to some obscure transition or hand position answer will be found. So I just want to thank you for all the time and effort you have put into your books. I don't think their could be any better way of expressing your respect to Mr. Parker.
Thanks, Steve

Hi Lee,
The book you wrote was great. It was like walking down memory lane.
When I was reading I could hear Mr. Parker talking, and see him moving like it was this morning. I remember him with the black gi that did not need ironing and his wrist bandaged up. Also the stories he told standing with one leg braced against the wall, brushing his hair away from his face with his hand, at first with the grey spot in the front and later with all grey hair.I remember him doing moves on us and how it felt.
I did not know it at the time but being there for all those seminars was part of history being made I am glad I was there. We learned a lot from him and he became a friend as well. He was great at making everyone feel welcome no matter what walk of life you were from.

My next book

It's almost done! Lessons with Ed Parker is almost ready to go to print. It's close to 200 pages of his concepts, stories, ideas, insights into his personality, my experiences with him, and photos. I'm hoping to get it out by Christmas. The cover was done by Ed Parker Jr.

Watch this spot and my website for updates.