Sigung Stephen LaBounty began his martial arts journey in 1958 at a local Judo school in Forth Worth, Texas under the instruction of Sam Namajura. In 1961, after earning his brown belt, Mr. LaBounty traveled to San Francisco for work and began looking for a Judo school in which to continue his training. In the phone book, he found three karate schools and figured they could point him the correct direction. Instead, Mr. LaBounty watched the class at the Ocean Ave. Tracy Kenpo school and became hooked on Kenpo from the beginning.

Mr. LaBounty began his beginner training under Mr. Steve Fox and moved through the ranks rather quickly and began to teach the beginner classes at the Ocean Ave. location. He soon after helped the Tracy brothers teach at their new San Jose location, a school which gave start to many: Mr. Tom Connor, Mr. Harvey Clary, and Mr. John Sepulveda.

Mr. LaBounty also began competing in the tournament circuit. He won three heavyweight championships and had a couple of third place finishes at the International Karate Championships; and two third places, a second place, and a first place at the California state championships.

In addition to the martial arts, Mr. LaBounty has also taken an interest in accupressure and shiatsu to aid in developing his yin side. He has also made his own medicines: dit da jow and yak jow. He now has his Kenpo students take a class in basic shiatsu, and be certified in CPR.

Mr. LaBounty now gives seminars and chats with fellow Kenpoists on the KenpoNet Forum.