American Kenpo Karate
Larry Frye 2nd Degree Black
Larry Frye was born on
October 3, 1949, in Rocksprings, Wyoming. Christened Lawrence Robert Frye,
Larry was the fourth of five children born to Archie & Deloris Frye. Larry
graduated from Pacific Christian High School in Los Angeles in
1967 and went on to receive two college degrees. In 1982, Larry began a
career in Law Enforcement, and has worked for several departments; the City of
Chino Police Department, the City of Redlands Police Department, the County of
San Bernardino Marshal’s Office, and currently the San Bernardino County
Sheriff’s Department assigned to the Victorville Court Services Division as a
Deputy Sheriff.
In 1968, Larry was introduced to the Ed Parker’s American
Kenpo Karate System. He took private lessons with his brother Ken from First
Generation Black Belt Ray Tillery in Ray’s back yard with a piece of carpet
rolled over the dirt. When Ray began teaching at the Dave Hebler Kenpo Karate
Studio in Glendora, Ca., Larry followed. In November of 1974, Larry was awarded
his black belt from Ed Parker personally at the Pasadena studio under the direct
instruction of Dave Hebler. In the Ed Parker Kenpo Karate Family Tree, Larry is
listed as a Second Generation Black Belt under Dave Hebler’s name. When Mr.
Hebler was hired to be a part of the security team for Elvis Presley, Dave asked
Larry to manage his newly opened West Covina studio. Due to the position Dave
had with Elvis, Larry was also privileged to help provide security at several
Elvis concerts at the Las Vegas Hilton Hotel. Larry has also been the personal
bodyguard for singer Vikki Carr. Mr. Frye has trained under some of
the very best: Ed Parker, Dave Hebler, Jim Thompson, Roger Meadows, Jim “Yosh”
Furuya, Richard “Huck” Plantas, and many others.
Currently, Larry is the senior black belt for an American Kenpo Karate studio in Victorville, Ca., where he proudly carries on the tradition for Senior Grandmaster Ed Parker by teaching the same Ed Parker’s Kenpo Karate he was taught. On Friday nights, Larry travels to Glendora where he works out with other black belts under the instruction of Jim “Yosh” Fuyura. Larry is married and has two daughters, four step-children, and two grandchildren.