04/18/2026
GILLIAM’s KARATE-HAPKIDO:
https://www.facebook.com/THEKARATEBUM123
This is Professor-Sabumnim Gilliam’s regular page-
Traditional minded old school American Karate and Hapkido. Ed Parker American lineage, with traditional Korean credentials & old-school training philosophy.
We teach Master Gary Cox’s version of American Karate. Master Cox’s system also included Parker Kenpo Karate, Japanese karate, Filipino Kali, internal Chinese concepts, and military combatives. With his permission, Mr Gilliam added his Korean-Muay Thai background into how he expresses and teaches it. He has extensive training under Korean, Japanese, Polynesian, and American military martial arts instructors.
Our weapons training is a Military Karate System with Korean, Japanese, Filipino, Indonesian, and Polynesian influences.
DISCLAIMER: We teach an American Karate system- some of our techniques and principles are different than more orthodox stylists.
“I consider myself an American karateka. My primary art is Kenpo Karate, but my movement is heavily shaped by Japanese/Okinawan kihon, Korean military Taekwondo-Hapkido, Polynesian combatives, and old military fighting methods. So while the system is American Karate, it contains a serious classical backbone and a strong combat-realistic edge...
"My base is hard-technique Parker-family Kenpo plus Korean TKD–Hapkido. I’ve used extensive cross-training in Japanese/Okinawan kihon, Chinese internal/external methods, and Kali weapons concepts to refine mechanics, timing, and weapon-range transitions. These arts are natively organic to Kenpo Karate. I also integrate Muay Thai stancework, shin kicks and knees-elbows.but I keep my teaching identity rooted in Kenpo and Korean.” (Professor-Sabumnim Gilliam).
We include the Kihon of Japanese-Korean Karate, Thai Concepts and are not an orthodoxy of American Kenpo-We are very clear about that. If you want orthodox American Kenpo we can recommend various teachers .
1. Professor–Sabumnim Gary R. Gilliam teaches two interlocking martial arts that function as one system:
•KIAI KARATE: INTEGRATED FIST — This is Ed Parker American Karate, refined through Grandmasters Robert Hermansen and Gary Cox, and expanded through Japanese, Okinawan, Chinese, Thai, Filipino, and Polynesian influences that sharpen its realism and expand its adaptability.
•HAPKIDO — A Korean striking, joint-control, and weapons system that includes Changhun (ITF) Taekwondo training within its curriculum.
Both KIAI & HAPKIDO are taught together.
The Karate side provides structure, linear precision, and counteroffensive striking;
the Hapkido side provides circular power, joint mechanics, and weapon integration.
⸻
2. KIAI KARATE: INTEGRATED FIST
Lineage:
Ed Parker → Tom Garriga → Robert Hermansen → Gary Cox → Gary R. Gilliam (Ed Parker American Karate Lineage)
Ted Tabura → Steve Spry (not a formal teacher: Master Spry didn’t train him—he recognizes and honor Professor Gilliam’s rank) → Gary R Gilliam (Okinawa Te-taught as part of KIAI KARATE: Integrated Fist).
Character:
KIAI Karate retains the Parker Kenpo structure but integrates the best elements of other native arts.
Influence
Contributing arts:
Arts that we trained in, but are organic to Ed Parker American Karate (not considered separate).
Japanese/Okinawan Karate (Shotokan, Wado, Shorin, Uechi, Kyokushin)
Kihon discipline, stance stability, short-power striking, and REI (respect).
Chinese Chuanfa / Neijia / Hungfist
Bridge-hand principles, limb destruction, internal–external balance, flowing intercepts, and trapping sensitivity.
Filipino Kali / Eskrima
Timing, angles, weapon awareness, zoning, and flow.
Polynesian Lua, Lima Lama
Nonlinear rhythm, graceful circularity, and spiritual holism.
Military Combatives
Directness, practicality, finishing instinct, tactical realism.
Arts that are incorporated into all of our systems
Muay Thai-Western Boxing
3. TKD-HAPKIDO
Lineage:
Hee il Cho → James Benko → Derman Hodge (not a formal teacher: They didn’t train him—they recognize and honor Sabumnim’s rank-he trained in Taekwondo with many instructors for years) → Gary R Gilliam (Changhun Military Taekwondo).
Kwanjangnim An (Kidohae) → Choi In Hyuk → Frank Clay (not a formal teacher: Master Clay didn’t train him—he recognizes and honor Sabumnim’s rank)→Gary R Gilliam (Hapkido).
Paul Holley & Eric Laino→ Gary R. Gilliam (Tonghapkwan Hoshinsul-NOTE: we are no longer formally affiliated with Tonghapkwan, but we still use concepts from them in our Korean arts).
Composition:
• 80% striking (hands, feet, elbows, knees)
• 20% joint locks, sweeps, throws, and takedowns
• Integrated Mugisul weaponry (knife, stick, staff, sword, nunchaku)
• Changhun Taekwondo forms and basics taught within the program
Policy:
Students automatically learn Changhun (ITF) Taekwondo material as part of our Hapkido.
However, if a student wishes to earn a formal Changhun Military Taekwondo rank, they must also learn and demonstrate the Taegeuk forms to meet full TKD certification standards.
⸻
4. HOW THEY INTERLOCK
Power & Striking
Parker Kenpo combinations, Thai structure
Korean kicks, elbows, and circular striking
Structure & Basics
Japanese/Okinawan kihon precision
Korean stances and fluid motion
Joint/Locking
Kenpo checks and Chinese bridge-traps
Advanced Hapkido locks, throws, and sweeps
Weapons
Filipino / Polynesian concepts
Korean Mugisul and AHI systems
Spirit & Etiquette
Japanese–Okinawan REI
Korean Dojang discipline
Mindset
Military realism and adaptability
Spiritual balance and composure
Professor Gary Gilliam’s approach to American Karate is rooted in deep respect for the legacy of Ed Parker, whose Ed Parker American Karate emphasized practicality, adaptability & structured self-defense. Gary’s direct lineage traces to Ed Parker through two of Grandmaster's direct personal students—Tom Garriga (9th Dan in Ed Parker American Karate-through Master Parker Directly) & Robert Hermansen: a senior black belt with over four decades in the Parker system (trained & ranked under both masters Parker & Garriga).
They were both instructors of Mr Gilliam's main teacher Gary L Cox-a combative karateka & military veteran. He was like a second father to him. Professor Gilliam trained directly under Masters Hermansen & Cox for 22 years of hands-on training (Master Hermansen is symbolized by the Dragon & Master Cox the Panther: Both men related to these icons. The Eagle is Professor Gilliam's favorite animal). Gary has preserved the essence of Parker’s teachings while organically blending in additional influences. The art of Sungmookwan Hapkido is taught in conjunction with this Karate system.
His system honors the original Japanese-Okinawa Karate roots of Kenpo by integrating the hard, linear power of styles like Shotokan, Wado Kai, Oyama Karate, Shorin & Shuri Te, along with the compact-efficient motion of Uechi Ryu. These traditional frameworks ground his striking and movement principles in strong body mechanics and practical application. At the same time, Gary incorporates refined layers of Filipino Kali, Muay Thai (knees & elbows, as well as legkicks), Boxing, Internal Chinese systems (Neijia)-Xingyi & Pakua & Southern Chinese styles.
While his art is expansive, Gary describes it simply as “Ed Parker American Karate concepts”—a respectful nod to the Hawaiian model of hybrid martial evolution & a reflection of his humble, simplicity minded philosophy. His Hapkido is always taught in.