Mr. Mills has been featured as one of Ed Parker's most proficient and top students in a recent book by Joe Hyam's called The Journey. His full biography along with photos when he started in Kenpo all the way to the present day.
BACKGROUND
Mr. Mills was a direct and private student of Ed Parker, tenth degree black belt, for over ten years. Mr. Mills received his black belt from one of Mr.. Parker's first generation black belts then became a direct and private student of Grandmaster Edmund K. Parker in 1980. Mr. Parker promoted Mr. Mills up through his fifth degree black belt.
Sadly, in December of 1990 Mr. Mills instructor passed away. Many in the Kenpo community were left without a leader, instructor, and friend. As Mr. Mills continued with the I.K.K.A., he had the opportunity to remain close to the Parker family by teaching Mr. Parker's son-in-law, Larry Kongaika until 2nd degree black belt. He also taught many of the high-ranking black belts in the association at that time.
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| Mr. Ed Park(Left) Mr. Paul Mills -at his third degree(Right) Photo Source: http://www.facebook.com/akkikenpo |
Mr. Mills has also started to redefine the empty hand side of the system as well. He has developed new curriculum based on his personal experiences in his nightclub, as well as some of what he was taught by Mr. Parker. He was taught how to move differently than how things were written in the belt manuals. In addition, this first hand knowledge helped him formulate the greater majority of the updates to the American Kenpo system. He has followed his instructor's example by developing and putting back into the system more than what was just taught to him. Mr. Mills studied the American Kenpo system from inside out, developing a complete and effective club and knife system based on universally true and correct concepts and principles. In this process of developing and expanding these American Kenpo systems, he had to term new concepts and principles that he identified that were not part of the vocabulary of traditional American Kenpoists. What has been developed in the AKKI incorporates some of the additions that Mr. Parker was making prior to his death. Mr. Mills has carried on the innovation process to develop the greater majority of what is taught in the association today.
In 1997 after much consideration Mr. Mills struggled with the decision to leave the I.K.K.A. Mr. Mills wanted to innovate and develop the art further as well as pursue other interests. He intended to just keep teaching American Kenpo to handful of his students. After the tremendous response from his students and others seeking him out as their instructor, a large group of people requested that Mr. Mills form his own association. In September of 1997, the American Kenpo Karate International association was officially formed. Today he is the President of the AKKI and is a 10th degree black belt. There are now over 200 schools and clubs affiliated with his association.
For the extended history on Paul Mills please go to:
Photo Sources:
