Mr. Planas began his Kenpo training in Fresno, California in the sixties under Mr. Steve Labounty and Mr. Tom Kelly.  He moved to Texas to help Tom Kelly open a school in El Paso in 1969 and then moved to Pasadena, California to go to work for Ed Parker as a Brown Belt. 

He received his Black Belt and all subsequent rank through Mr. Ed Parker up to Seventh Degree; the highest non-honorary, non-political rank given by Mr. Parker in 1985.  He became the Manager of the Pasadena school for several years, as well as the Executive Vice President of the International Kenpo Karate Association for the last ten years Mr. Parker lived.  Throughout this time, Mr. Planas was also instrumental in the development of the original Kenpo manuals.  Today Mr. Planas is a 10th degree Black Belt.

Though his expertise is mainly in Kenpo he has studied many other arts, including; Judo, Tai Chi, Kung Fu, Shotokan, and Silat.

Today, Mr. Planas draws a crowd, teaching seminars all throughout the United States, including; Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticutt, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missourri, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Washington, and others.  There is also a great demand for his expertise internationally, which has taken Mr. Planas to Argentina, Canada, Cayman Isles, Chile, England, Denmark, Greece, Guatemala, Ireland, Italy, Jersey Channel Islands, Patagonia, Spain, and Sweden. 

In addition to being well traveled, Mr. Planas also has an extensive on-going collection of whips, knives, guns, guitars, mandolins and ukuleles.  And of course, he is always keeping his eye out to add to his collection.

Known as the "Instructor`s Instructor," Mr. Planas teaches the "whys" of Kenpo, not just the "hows" based on the rules and principals of motion.