10th Degree Black Belt

Senior Master of the Arts

Founder of Bob White's Kenpo Karate Studio

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(1949 - 2023) Senior Master Bob White has contributed to the art of Kenpo, in particular, the fighting arts, for over 50 years as a competitor, teacher, and coach. Senior Master Bob White won numerous state, national, and international fighting championships. Bob White fought on the first International Kenpo Karate Association’s team, defeating the Chuck Norris team for 1st Place at the International Karate Championships. He fought on the National All-Star Black Belt Team which went undefeated in 1973 and 1974. During this time, he competed with and against some of the great champions of our sport such as the Urquidez Brothers, Brian Strain, Bob Alegria, Tom Kelly, Steve Fisher, Steve LaBounty, Howard Jackson, Darnel Garcia, Bob Mitchell, John Natividad, Ron Marchini, and many more.

 

In 1968, Senior Master Bob White began teaching Kenpo at the Ed Parker School in Garden Grove, California. In 1972, he opened his own school and he has consistently turned out some of the world's finest Kenpo fighters. During the 1990s, his students accounted for at least one of the Black Belt Grand Champions at the International Karate Championships. Bob’s school has won more than 1500 trophies at the International Karate Championships.

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In the mid-1980s Senior Master Bob White advised and acted in Columbia Pictures’ movie, The Karate Kid, and was also hired by the then Los Angeles Rams to teach Kenpo to players. He continues to work with many professional athletes.

 

Senior Master Bob White teaches seminars on a wide range of Kenpo-related subjects including sparring, and he does special self-defense presentations. Along with Captain Ron Sanchez, a long time student and veteran police officer whose personal career started in 1990, Senior Master Bob White offers a seminar series on Urban Predators.

 

Senior Master Bob White has his headquarters in Costa Mesa, California but he has affiliated schools all over the U.S. and teaches Kenpo all over the world.

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Senior Master Bob White passed away on May 21st, 2023. 

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Though I did not have a tremendous amount of time or communication with Mr. White, he earned my respect and admiration on a level that only a select few have. I am glad to have had the opportunity to know him.

 

Mr. White is the type of person that legends are made of, the world is a better place for his existence.

 

~ Andrew Pilch