Gail Lawler – 5th Degree Black Belt
My journey in Kenpo started in early December of 1990, just before Mr. Parker’s passing. An athlete in high school and a competitive Bodybuilder in college, I wanted to find a sport encompassing mind and body as well as to learn how to defend myself. A friend invited me to try American Karate Studio in Wilmington Delaware, I did – and I was hooked.
As I trained, I could feel the sadness of the instructors and students who knew Mr. Parker personally and I knew that he had to have been amazing to have had such an impact.
As I trained there, I was so impressed at the practicality, principals and physics as well as intellect that Mr. Parker put into developing American Kenpo. I could really tell a difference in the instructors who had this strong foundation behind their application like my future husband Mark Lawler. He had been training there since 1978 and was the head instructor
I competed in tournaments, and with my husband trained in boxing with former national heavyweight champion Henry Milligan, Inayan Escrima with the late Suro Mike Inay, and Gracie Jiu Jitsu.
I also assisted my husband in developing the curriculum for his accredited self defense course for West Chester University of PA; Kinesiology department.
In Kenpo, I have trained with such Masters as Dennis Nackord, Pat Caputo, Huk Planas, Frank Trejo, Dr. Maung Gyi, and Joe Palanzo. In 2022, I was the first woman to teach at an International Kenpo brotherhood camp.
I have been a professional vascular access nurse at Riddle memorial hospital in Media, PA for the last twenty years. I also own and operate a pet sitting business, and I am very involved in animal rescue in the Philadelphia area.
I was promoted to fifth degree Black belt in June of 2021