My daughter did some classes at his school here in Vegas and got to meet and talk to him, such a surreal experience. Such a cool person to talk to and plan to take classes there my self soon.
As a Tracy style kenpo student, I’ll say that the school I’m attending hasn’t progressed with the times. This interview has opened my eyes to what’s possible with the system.🤙
I did kenpo from age 4-16. Wrestling 10-18. Few years of Muay Thai. And Bjj for the last 5 years. 5.0 has motivated me to get back into Kenpo and mix all of them together. I always have a deeper love for Kenpo. But there is absolutely no denying BJJ. I truly believe as a wrestler and BJJ practitioner I can take away a lot of Kenpo. And I LOVE Kenpo. Why not learn them both and be able to defend yourself even better? I highly encourage you to learn some jiu jitsu.
I was in your system in the 80s and 90s and was also training in BJJ at the dawn of BJJ ,almost 30 years ago when it was a fighting art. If you enjoy your Kenpo then do it for it's own sake, but it isn't very practical beyond a few techniques and to me was always a money making system like all Kenpo styles with silly combinations, made up names, and hundreds of techniques. Tracy Kenpo tried to align with a grappling style in the 1990s but it had little to do with Kenpo, or any effectiveness of Kenpo. BUt, I think there are some solid Kenpo techniques to learn but it only takes a few months and that is it.
Okinawans merged their indigenous arts of Tuite (gripping, limb manipulation) and Tegumi (grappling) with with several styles of Southern White Crane Kung Fu. "Before 1900, karate placed just as much emphasis on the Tegumi elements of the art as it did upon the striking. Karate training would include throws, joint-locks, chokes, strangles, grips, counters etc." - from the article, Tegumi: The Traditional Wrestling Art from Okinawa. I would encourage you to explore the roots of Okinawan karate and look for similar structures in Kenpo. Look into Shorin Ryu in particular. James Mitose taught Naihanchi Kata and the use of the Makiwara. Naihanchi kata is from Okinawan Shorin Ryu and the use of the Makiwara is unique to Okinawa. Since he was one of Ed Parker's teachers it may help to go back to the source. By watching Shorin Ryu, along with its gripping and throwing, you may see elements that complement Kenpo already as Kenpo comes from karate. Kenpo is a great art, but like all learned skills it is up to the student to explore the material taught. But many assume that exploring means only looking forward. It's always worth looking at what came before. it may very well be worth a look....this can only add more dimension to your Kenpo. Worth a look. Practical Kata Bunkai: Some Karate Gripping - th-cam.com/video/gUDbCcvmD9I/w-d-xo.html and th-cam.com/video/p5NKlicXFn0/w-d-xo.html also th-cam.com/video/peTXFjuQoUM/w-d-xo.html A Karate Grappling Drill: Pinan - th-cam.com/video/f9wVccbmvEA/w-d-xo.html Practical Kata Bunkai: Naihanchi - th-cam.com/video/r_EUcSqdeh0/w-d-xo.html Practical Kata Bunkai: How Pinan Shodan teaches how to get past our enemy’s defences - th-cam.com/video/ZNyZhpgaB1o/w-d-xo.html That is NOT Karate (Ian echos what Jeff Speakman is doing ) th-cam.com/video/22K-M7YxwYc/w-d-xo.html
I admire Mr. Ed Parker in what he did with his life to help others... I also admire Mr. Jeff Speakman for the exact same reason. A true, big bow to him, and massive respect. We need more people like this in the world. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Master Speakman is a Legend I currently co own a dojo in Orlando fl and I’m a 3rd degree black belt in TKD A brown belt in Bjj A level 2 in FCS KAli And in a couple of days I’ll be starting Kenpo 5.0 and then hopefully adding this to my Dojos curriculum one day and becoming a Kenpo 5.0 affiliate 🤘
I studied Parker Kenpo for around 10 years starting in the mid 90s. We had a black belt studying Gracie jujitsu and would randomly try that on us from time to time during sparring or technique drills just to see how it would go. I really like what Jeff Speakman has done with Kenpo 5.0 as I always felt grappling was a huge hole in my repertoire.
I’m a Filipino martial arts and Silat practitioner, but I have always respected kenpo, great interview and content over the art. It’s fascinating to see how different styles are similar
In Karate-Do Kyohan, the Master text of Original Shoto-Kan by the founder Gichin Funakoshi He says to continue to change and improve his karate methods. It's not what happened, his students just traditionalized it. I enjoyed this interview a lot. It's what all martial arts should do. Master Parker was ahead of his time. Thank You!!! Ooosss!
That's partially wrong. Gichin Funakoshi sensei was a traditionalist practitioner. He said himself that the Kata shouldn't be changed, otherwise it wouldn't be Karate anymore. That's his son, Gigo Funakoshi who changed his Shuri-te knowledge and created the Shotokan system, from his father's Shoto-ryu. But Gichin Funakoshi himself was not a master when he founded his dojo in 1939. And when he spoke about changing Karate methods, he didn't mean to change the Waza (techniques) but the teaching methods, for the purpose of enhancing its practitioners mindset. Master Ed parker wasn't the first one to be "ahead of his time". Minoru Mochizuki founded the Yoseikan dojo in 1931, which combined Aikido (learnt directly from Morihei Ueshiba), Judo (learnt directly from Jigoro Kano), Shotokan Karate (learnt directly from Gichin Funakoshi), Yagyu Shingo-ryu Jujutsu, Kobudo, Iaido, Kendo. It has evolved a lot, and it's now combined also with French and English boxing systems, Muay Thai, Kickboxing, Brazilian Jujutsu, Wado-ryu Karate/Jujutsu Kempo... The research in efficiency is already found in Chinese Wushu styles, and i can find things similar to those in American Kempo. Re-discovering things don't make them new, right ?
Appreciate what Jeff Speakman is doing to evolve his art. Danzan Ryu Jujitsu was originally incorporated into Kenpo during Mitosi, Chow Hun, and Parker’s time. So Jujutsu was originally there and it went further into a Karate direction.
As a retiring law enforcement/ corrections officer I encourage everyone to learn and study ground technics because you never know when a fight is going to go to the ground. (Edit) Glad to see Master Speakman is doing well and doing what he is passionate about, I enjoyed some of his movies in the 90'S, and wondered what he moved onto.
May I add or grappling in general to prevent yourself from being taken to the ground such as judo or wrestling. Even better, throw your opponent to the ground on concrete and then maintain top position should be high priority. Rolling on your back should be a last resort.
@@andrewl.9291 So glad you posted that. I learned that lesson 36 years ago as a young cop. I took a guy to the ground breaking up a Halloween party. I never saw the full bottle of Miller beer that was pitched from the crowd. Lights out.
This is the essence of what the martial mind should be. I studied Kenpo under Fred Brewster and Tony Sator in the seventies. At that time I had plans of training body guards. Having been influenced by Bruce Lee's philosophy I had intended to study Jiu Jitsu before Gracie became popular. Long story short I had a big sidetrack and it never came about. I also had a wrestling background which also helped me to understand the necessity of diversity. I came to realize that when someone thinks their style of martial arts is best , they become a prisoner of that system. This was spot on. Keep the torch burning bro!
Thanks for this gem of an interview. Mr Speakman is a gift to martial arts. If every head of a school or system thought the way he does, traditional martial arts would have a lot more respect. Too often traditional arts just assume things will work because that's what they were told. Once you try it live it's nothing short of an epiphany.
Mr Speakman, I'm so proud of your job with Kenpo and its evolution. I studied Chinese Kenpo w/street fighting in Argentina for 6 years, before coming to the States in 1980.
I’ve always said that one of the signs of a true martial arts master is someone who keeps their mind open to change and the desire to go beyond what they are taught. So many people claim to be masters but truthfully they’re still following their teachers instead of reaching their full potential. Much respect to Ed Parker and to Jeff Speakman for continuing his legacy and philosophy.
I completely understand what he’s saying about going back to the beginning. After a hiatus from Kenpo, at a school doing the 16 tech system, I’ve come back into a Kenpo 5.0 school. It feels familiar enough, it still feels like Kenpo but at the same time I feel like I’m learning all over again and I absolutely love it!
I owe a debt to Master Speakman that I cannot truly repay. It was the movie Perfect Weapon that encouraged me to begin my martial arts journey almost 30 years ago.
What a great man. It's so refreshing and inspiring to hear his attitude about life and the martial arts. Always been a fan of him from The Perfect Weapon, but I had no idea he was such a passionate innovator!
Fantastic interview Mr Dan. Thank you Mr Speakman in sharing with us! One of Mr. Parkers quotes come to mind: " “An ounce of logic can be worth more than a ton of tradition that has become obsolete through the weathering of time.” - Ed Parker
I had my first (and many more) martial arts lessons in an American Kenpo school in CA. in the 70s. Life and advancement took me other places but, I got the privilege of being invited to compete at the Ed Parker Invitational in Spokane, a great treat and was able to meet and speak with him and he gave me some sound advice as a young, [capable] competitor in whom he said he "saw great potential on top of the fine skills I already had." That was a proud day with high praise from a great man.
Thank you for this video. Answered lots of questions I have had. I was a member of a studio affiliated with Mr Speakman about 20 years ago, and it is very gratifying to see that he, and others in 5.0, have carried Mr Parker's vision forward.
As a long time fan of Ed Parker and Jeff Speakman, all I can say is, "Wow!" That interview was momentous! I'll need to watch and comment again but, for now, what an amazing person and what an informative interview! Thank you again, Mr. Dan, for such phenomenal content! 🙏
Awesome interview! Thanks for this video. Its exceptional to hear from a legend like Speakman. He truly is an accomplished martial artist with a wealth of knowledge. Although I have never practiced Kenpo, my background is Goju Ryu, Shotokan, and Tae Kwon Do, I have always had respect for Kenpo practitioners and admired their quick and fluid striking capabilities. Speakman’s approach makes total sense to evolve the art to deal with the grappling issues in the modern martial arts scene. Thanks again for uploading the great interview.
I really enjoyed this in-depth interview. Evolution should be a natural progression of martial arts; it certainly was originally and somewhere down the line it became lost. Mr. Speakman definitely has the right idea.
I'm so glad to be watching you here Jeff talk about the evolution of Kempo. I've watched all your movies and have been a fan of Martial Arts and MMA since the mid 90's and I'm especially an MMA fan. I'm so thrilled to here you applaud you for helping to evolve the discipline and, the 'spirit' of Martial Arts. All the best. I've got to find one of your movies to watch now.
I am amazed at how fanaticism is everywhere. Not only martial arts. Evolving should be recognized as the natural state of things but we always have to struggle with people that don't want to think by themselves, just like Master Soeakman is doing. All martial arts originated from this kind of necessity, adapt, evolution but, as he said, they become "tradition". Thanks for sharing this with us.
Great interview, I love how Mr. Speakman is honest and seems very humble in terms of his skills in the grappling arts and his approach to implementing it into Kenpo.
I love this video, it takes a lot to look inwardly and see a lack in something that you excel in, even more so to humble yourself to fix the issue. I do not like ground fighting, and ultimately I don't want to intentionally go to the ground, however, I love that if I am going to the ground I have a literal fighting chance. Mr Speakman is an amazing martial artist, and an example of not letting pride rule your passion. Shout out to Mr Sotomayor!! If you are looking to train under Mr Sotomayor and are in or near Redlands, Ca, he is a great teacher for children and adults. TH-cam won't let me do the url here, so try searching for "5.0 evolved martial arts Redlands, ca"
I loved this. It was a long one but it's a banger. He brought up a fantastic point about folks feeling a kind of way about change. Especially if they feel like it takes from the effort the put in prior. But it happens and we stagnate if we only flex with the little bit we choose to learn.
I studied Kenpo at Tracy's in Menlo Park in the mid60s. After 4 years in the military, I returned to study at Tracy's again and went into completion. I eventually moved to Aikido. the mix was prefect. I can still recall Jeff Speakman in "The Perfect Weapon". I really related to that as I was only 16 when I started at Tracy's. My parents were concerned about my newly learned skills, just like the movie. The end result was a finely tuned weapon that entered the military with skills that gave me the confidence to move forward. I have never been on the ground since@
I was a student of Kenpo through the 80's and early 90's and left to train Submission Fighting with the Shamrock's at the Lion's Den, but always missed Kenpo. So happy to see Mr. Speakman continue Master Parker's vision of constant evolution. After having a gym in Santa Cruz, California (IMS Academy) I moved to Vegas and would love to see some of these evolutions. Is there a day that would be good to visit for that? Much respect!
As a black belt holder of Kenpo in the late 90s. I respect where Mr. Speakman has evolved Kenpo. Wish there was a school nearby, may give the online university a go and restart the Kenpo journey. Currently an Aikido practitioner and know from my Kenpo and other styles I have studied like Escrima & BJJ only improve the whole.
Seeing a lot of similarities between Ed Parker and Bruce Lee and the general philosophy that created their arts and what happened to their arts post-mortem.
@@ArtofOneDojo Bruce stayed at Parkers home on occasion, and the two definitely traded ideas. Parker helped Bruce break into Hollywood as well with Green Hornet. Definitely part of Martial Arts History of North America.
It's just like Bruce Lee once said,don't limit yourself to 1 style and I totally agree with that,your better able to defend yourself by learning different styles of martial arts.
The man is truly a living legend. What an honor to hear him speak and see what a kind humble man he is at the same time. His skill is beyond measure, hos speed and power is in the league with all the greatest in history.
My second corpsman “D” was in a bar with friends in Hawaii in the late 80’s. There was a guy in the bar, giving them a hard time. If I remember correctly, he was harassing the women. Anyway, another guy that was present, stood up to tell the jerk to leave them alone, and the annoying guy went after “D’s”. “D” told me it was over in a couple seconds. After the fight, he asked the guy what the hell was that!?The guy told him it was Kenpo. it’s usually the fighter not totally the system. Some are better than others. I think it’s what you make of it. Attitude and drive mean a lot. I so glad you had the guts and honest to enhance Kenpo. You remind me of my first karate teacher Master Gordon. Great guy. I hope We can train someday. Way to go GM Speakman.
I can totally relate to your comment about feeling a Jeff Speakman demo. About 20 years ago, he used me as an Uke for demonstrating Reversing Mace at a seminar in Loveland, Co. I felt it for a very long time. Great interview, thanks to both of you.
For me it was Shield and Mace. He did that hammer fist to the Kidney and it felt like a jackhammer went through me and bolted my foot to the floor. It was impressive to say the least.
This was an excellent interview. I applaud Mr Speakman for his innovations with Kenpo 5.0. You asked great questions as well. I've recently found your channel and I enjoy it, although I haven't practiced American Kenpo for 20 years! 🙏🥋
It was very awesome of Mr.Speakman and Mr.Parker Jr. to take time to come over my friends house many years back to meet us.Il like the constant flow of one technique to the next. I respect his belief that a fighting art needs to adapt to the current times.
The man is exactly what to look for in a master martial arts instructor. Seasoned, innovative, and humble, with a passion for his art and his students.
Jeff Speakman done really outstandingly good with developing kenpo 5.0, and returning it to its former glory. I come from the Ed Parker version and am surprised at how many kenpo guys arent doing what Mr. Speakman is doing.
I've always liked Mr Speakman.. After this interview, my respect for the man has grown 10 times. His viewpoint and his observations are so on point (and back 20 years ago when I studied I saw exactly what he is talking about when when he talks about the intractability of teachers who are studying an art originating from a man who was all about evolving and being open minded). Excellent, excellent interview
Such a great interview. Dan and Mr. Speakman are both exceptional, open-minded gentlemen in a martial arts world so filled with fragile egos and bickering. Keep up the great work!
Such a great interview! It is so good to hear a positive, certain explanation of one's craft, especially from a Master of their art/discipline. As a student of the Art, it is always refreshing to hear Mr Speakman's focus and direction, and the challenge his Art continues to provide all the way through to Senior ranks. 👊👊
Great post . Thank you for sharing this. I studied in the Kenpo system back in the early to mid 90s in Albuquerque with the late sifu Bill Packer and 4th. Degree sensi Lee Speages
I just remembered something from a Wing Chun class I was in ? And practicing a technique of Wing Chun . An assistant instructor and I was practicing a technique and for some reason ? Right out of nowhere? I immediately did an old Kenpo technique ? Where I took the instructor down . His name was Ken with Mr. Phil Romero and Mr. Romero's Wing Chun school in Albuquerque. After I did that Kenpo technique? I remember as the instructor who had a few years in Wing Chun? As he was getting up from the floor ? He was kind of stunned? But he liked the execution of the technique? I apologized for doing that to him ? And he graciously smiled ? And said? Don't be that was a great technique. I said that was my old Kenpo stuff. Now keep in mind when I stopped my training in Kenpo? I had only reached Purple belt plus? I had been away from any martial arts for at least ? A good 10 year's. In close I was shocked that I executed that technique? And even with it not exactly pretty in its form that day? It still worked . To be honest? I was pleased that I could do that ? And successfully too. I think Kenpo stays within memory and recall to where in certain circumstances? Though you may not look like your performing the technique as exactly as it's taught? The bottom line is the fundamentals of the mechanics ? Never leaves you.
American Kenpo has got to be one of the most beautiful martial arts. To use an old phrase to describe what I see when watching an AK person going through their moves , “poetry in motion.”
I love how he addressed Jiu Jitsu ! I am a purple belt and what he is saying about BJJ is right on point. BJJ will not allow you to strike almost at 95%. Excellent, I just wish there was as school here in Italy, affiliated with Speakman....
This is probably my favorite interview ever. I have watched this interview three times. I had taken Kenpo since I seen the perfect weapon in 1991. I have recently started the 5.0 system and can’t wait to get to the ground techniques. There is no 5.0 school in Oklahoma so I am doing the online academy and I can say Jenny is a great teacher. I am hoping when it comes time to take my blue belt test in this system to go test in Las Vegas in front of Master Speakman.
Amazing content! Master Jeff Speakman is one of the few humans I hope to meet someday. Love what he's done with Kenpo, how he's evolved it to the times, and just the skill with which he showcases and has passed on to his students. Very very cool and impressive! As a non martial artist, I've always had a keen interest in learning a form since my childhood, after being introduced to those Black Belt magazines back in the late 80's, and those various martial arts films from that era and before. Also, as a way of staying physically fit, martial arts have interested me greatly. Jeff's Kenpo is the most interesting to me, despite being a fan of the art of Aikido, Ninjutsu, Karate forms and so on. Truly wonderful interview.
I'm a black belt in the Ed Parker kenpo, and also a aspiring teacher of the gospal of Jesus Christ, and I agree with Jeff Speakman more then he can imagine. I heard alot at the school I went to whenever I seen some real cool new idea included in these other styles and talked about it, People who I respected and still do would tell me that's not our style, and that we don't do things like that. Tha'ts both silly and boring. If the kenpo community embraced change like Jeff Speakman talked about and took these other idea's and concepts right away imagine where we'd be at. I'll be praying for Jeff Speakman and his family, and if any Christian is reading this post I'd ask you if you could do the same.
That was a great episode! I never trained in Kenpo though i was familiar with it of course and Jeff Speakman, and i was just curious what he was up to. And man i really have to appreciate that he saw the Elephant in the room as he mentioned, and didn't let his ego get in the way, and jumped into Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu as a white belt and added it to his system. In fact i've been wanting to get back into martial arts and had thought of BJJ but i am now more interested in Speakman's system. I'm more into self defense and sadly a lot of BJJ has focused so much on a sport that they've lost a lot of their self defense aspects
Changing an art is a monumental task…. Especially 5.0 times! Change is a necessary skill to survive the evolving methods of martial arts and peoples skill sets. …that being said, there are times in which ground fighting skills are detrimental to survival. I have a saying for street survival tactics. “What goes down must come up.” When dealing with multiple attackers, this is a necessary concept. 🙏 Awesome interview Dan Sensei! 😁👍
I learned kempo in the early 90s from a couple guys in Key West. Was at the end of high school and a real exciting time for me as a martial artist in transition, having been training Tae Kwon Do. Did Kempo then found traditional Shaolin and got my fill on history. I realized I had been going backwards in martial arts then moved forward w BJJ/mma. Judo and Jiujitsu really helped me to fill in the gaps! I'm happy you guys are adding in ground fighting, the missing area of training. Be sure to be knowledgeable of mixed kickboxing and find some good tai chi/chi kung to finish things out! Effective internal arts are a product of mastery. We need a good hard style system to get by. When we're too old for all that roughness, hopefully the soft fist will kick in! Anyways, sending my support as I'm inspired by kempo and realize it's about learning from everywhere!
Its sad that such a powerful art that was created by being open minded is dealing with what many other art forms have gone through .... Master Speakman is doing the right thing .🙏
I'm a Jeff Speakman lifetime fan. Unfortunately the system isn't available anywhere near where I live. But of all the martial arts I've studied over the years Jeff is the one guy and his techniques the one system that really impressed me the most. I independently trained under Kung Fu, King Fu Toa, Goju Ryu Karate, Boxing and Aikikai Aikido over the years. But I think I like Jeff's style for the flowing movement and adaptability. Kind of like Jeet Kun do. You adapt to the opponent. It would be great if Jeff and instructors toured and put on some shows around the world. Might inspire a new generation.
"Take really well-done Kenpo and really well-done Jujitsu and harmonize them together and you have the best of both worlds." Who could argue against Speakman's excellent logic?
I was a student of Ed Parker in 1971, L.A., Cal. All martial arts are good to learn from. There is no best. It all depends on your own talent and want you can make use of form the techniques.
Brilliant Sensei! (Very cool approach, enjoying a growth mindset) Seeking truth and gaining a ton of wisdom. Very inspiring, thank you so much! More power to you, Sir.
I'd be interested to see how the ground fighting skills are functionalized. My problem with the traditional martial arts is that they generally don't stress test their theories and skills.
The main integration is understanding the transition from standup fighting to ground, and then when on the ground the BJJ training kicks in, but mixed with the "dirty Kenpo". Eye gouging, lip grapping, throat clawing, pinching, pulling, groin strikes/grabs, and other strikes are all implemented. A lot of standup Kenpo principles are still in play such as angles of entry, power generation, borrowed force, and others. The stress test comes from the emphasis on sparring. 5.0 tries to apply pressure by making students fight harder. If you look at Kenpo 5.0 tournaments, they aren't the point based matches that much of Karate has become. It's a lot rougher.
You know what? we need a black belt Kenpo 5.0 to represent the art in MMA or UFC, as there are not enough videos about this martial art and nobody really knows about it, also at the cinema level there is a low representation. In the same way, the Gracie family did show up with only one member in the UFC, we need someone out there to show the art in practice!
There is a school in Sacramento which started out as Kenpo about 40 or so years ago. They have morphed with time and added boxing, American wrestling etc. For the majority of its history, it was in a pretty bad part of town. It's become a pretty effective street self defense school. One can see it's Kenpo roots if one looks carefully, but it definitely has evolved with its surroundings and time. Fantastic interview by the way.
It’s great hearing this and the reasoning behind it; not ego or show just solid seeking and understanding and training. This is similar somewhat to what Ed’s student Brian Adams did with IMA, which is one art I still practice in addition to original kenpo. Brian was a student of Ed’s in the 1960s and still visit our school on Mondays. After developing and working with Kenpo-Jiu jutsu, bridging striking into grappling, he began filling out the system with other things from his lifetime including kali and jet kune do to create Integrated Martial Arts. We still use original kenpo mostly to develop foundations and coordination and have fun, then IMA makes it a little more evolved and practical in some senses. Either way great art and good times. Thanks for sharing your wisdom with us.
This is an amazing and insightful interview, with Master Jeff Speakman, of which I was always wanting to learn more about him, as a martial artist and a person, beyond his action films. I most certainly agree that in many martial arts systems throughout the world, once the founder passes away and a clear successor, or appointed inheritor of the art, has not been appointed that often greed, back stabbing, financial selfishness and envious animosity tends to spread amongst the senior teachers of the martial arts style. So much so that people begin to form, their own separate associations, dismissing everyone else as illegitimate, non authentic, even disloyal to the founder and their original vision, when clearly all those senior students were taught, as well as often personally accredited by that combat style's founding master. Too often as Master Speakman has mentioned here in this interview with you Sensei Dan, many senior teachers or masters of martial arts styles, refuse to continue the evolution, improvement and further development of their self defense system, siting that going outside of their style, by going to test and learn from another martial arts school, is a betrayal and turning their back on its founder or its well established pioneers. These senior students or teachers at the helm of their own organisations, refuse to humbly put on a white belt and learn a new art, say for example Judo or Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, to add to their stand up striking art, or a weapons system such as Kobudo or Kali, because to them is like admitting to their students and everyone else in the same style of martial arts, yet of different organisations, that they are admitting at being incompetent, incomplete and inefficient in all aspects of combat and self defense. Martial arts need to continue to evolving, incorporating from other styles, what is effective and missing from their own art. Sosai Oyama Masutatsu used to say: "There is one way to do things, however if your own way works, then that is the perfect way to do it"! Meaning when learning a martial arts style as a beginner, with no prior knowledge you need to learn a logical, practical and methodical approach to doing things, in accordance to the required standards, by everyone at that same dojo. However as time goes by, with the gaining of personal experience and also individual growth and knowledge, one develops an individual way to fight, uniquely practical to themselves, regarding their individual physical strength, height, speed, reaction and their own body structure, where techniques would need to be slightly altered, to make them personally effective in combat, against others of different physical attributes, to those of our selves . Unfortunately bickering and outcasting of others, is part of the vicious cycle of martial arts politics, of various independent schools or organisations, of the same martial art. As such many or few who choose to go their own way, by staying truly loyal to their founding master and their own students, in following honourably the objectives of the founding teacher, while others pretend to do so, will unfortunately put a target on one's back, where the rest of the charlatans will use as a reason to try and justify and promote their ideals. It is good to see that Master Jeff Speakman, has decided to follow his own path and that despite, being open to working with others in American Kenpo Karate community, that he is confident and happy to go alone with his students, on their ongoing endeavour of evolution and improvement, instead bowing down to the peer pressure of some other senior masters, with their own egotistical ideals. Thank you Sensei Dan for bringing us such a great interview, with the legendary Master Jeff Speakman, Osu 🇲🇽🇦🇺🥋!
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My daughter did some classes at his school here in Vegas and got to meet and talk to him, such a surreal experience. Such a cool person to talk to and plan to take classes there my self soon.
As a Tracy style kenpo student, I’ll say that the school I’m attending hasn’t progressed with the times. This interview has opened my eyes to what’s possible with the system.🤙
I did kenpo from age 4-16. Wrestling 10-18. Few years of Muay Thai. And Bjj for the last 5 years. 5.0 has motivated me to get back into Kenpo and mix all of them together. I always have a deeper love for Kenpo. But there is absolutely no denying BJJ. I truly believe as a wrestler and BJJ practitioner I can take away a lot of Kenpo. And I LOVE Kenpo. Why not learn them both and be able to defend yourself even better? I highly encourage you to learn some jiu jitsu.
I was in your system in the 80s and 90s and was also training in BJJ at the dawn of BJJ ,almost 30 years ago when it was a fighting art. If you enjoy your Kenpo then do it for it's own sake, but it isn't very practical beyond a few techniques and to me was always a money making system like all Kenpo styles with silly combinations, made up names, and hundreds of techniques. Tracy Kenpo tried to align with a grappling style in the 1990s but it had little to do with Kenpo, or any effectiveness of Kenpo. BUt, I think there are some solid Kenpo techniques to learn but it only takes a few months and that is it.
Okinawans merged their indigenous arts of Tuite (gripping, limb manipulation) and Tegumi (grappling) with with several styles of Southern White Crane Kung Fu. "Before 1900, karate placed just as much emphasis on the Tegumi elements of the art as it did upon the striking. Karate training would include throws, joint-locks, chokes, strangles, grips, counters etc." - from the article, Tegumi: The Traditional Wrestling Art from Okinawa. I would encourage you to explore the roots of Okinawan karate and look for similar structures in Kenpo. Look into Shorin Ryu in particular. James Mitose taught Naihanchi Kata and the use of the Makiwara. Naihanchi kata is from Okinawan Shorin Ryu and the use of the Makiwara is unique to Okinawa. Since he was one of Ed Parker's teachers it may help to go back to the source. By watching Shorin Ryu, along with its gripping and throwing, you may see elements that complement Kenpo already as Kenpo comes from karate. Kenpo is a great art, but like all learned skills it is up to the student to explore the material taught. But many assume that exploring means only looking forward. It's always worth looking at what came before. it may very well be worth a look....this can only add more dimension to your Kenpo. Worth a look.
Practical Kata Bunkai: Some Karate Gripping - th-cam.com/video/gUDbCcvmD9I/w-d-xo.html and th-cam.com/video/p5NKlicXFn0/w-d-xo.html also th-cam.com/video/peTXFjuQoUM/w-d-xo.html
A Karate Grappling Drill: Pinan - th-cam.com/video/f9wVccbmvEA/w-d-xo.html
Practical Kata Bunkai: Naihanchi - th-cam.com/video/r_EUcSqdeh0/w-d-xo.html
Practical Kata Bunkai: How Pinan Shodan teaches how to get past our enemy’s defences - th-cam.com/video/ZNyZhpgaB1o/w-d-xo.html
That is NOT Karate (Ian echos what Jeff Speakman is doing ) th-cam.com/video/22K-M7YxwYc/w-d-xo.html
That's why I left in 2009
@@davidcombs2268 - Good for you! 🎉🥳 🎈 🎁 🥂🎉 👏😂
I admire Mr. Ed Parker in what he did with his life to help others... I also admire Mr. Jeff Speakman for the exact same reason. A true, big bow to him, and massive respect. We need more people like this in the world. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Master Speakman is a Legend
I currently co own a dojo in Orlando fl and
I’m a 3rd degree black belt in TKD
A brown belt in Bjj
A level 2 in FCS KAli
And in a couple of days I’ll be starting Kenpo 5.0 and then hopefully adding this to my Dojos curriculum one day and becoming a Kenpo 5.0 affiliate 🤘
Good luck you should start a channel about your progress!
@@dlowone 100% agree, yes, please teach us
it would be amazing to see more of your dojo and skills. [el'sda2].
I studied Parker Kenpo for around 10 years starting in the mid 90s. We had a black belt studying Gracie jujitsu and would randomly try that on us from time to time during sparring or technique drills just to see how it would go. I really like what Jeff Speakman has done with Kenpo 5.0 as I always felt grappling was a huge hole in my repertoire.
Grappling limited to ground techniques, not good for multiple attackers.😐🇺🇸
I’m a Filipino martial arts and Silat practitioner, but I have always respected kenpo, great interview and content over the art. It’s fascinating to see how different styles are similar
In Karate-Do Kyohan, the Master text of Original Shoto-Kan by the founder Gichin Funakoshi He says to continue to change and improve his karate methods. It's not what happened, his students just traditionalized it. I enjoyed this interview a lot. It's what all martial arts should do. Master Parker was ahead of his time.
Thank You!!! Ooosss!
That's partially wrong. Gichin Funakoshi sensei was a traditionalist practitioner. He said himself that the Kata shouldn't be changed, otherwise it wouldn't be Karate anymore. That's his son, Gigo Funakoshi who changed his Shuri-te knowledge and created the Shotokan system, from his father's Shoto-ryu. But Gichin Funakoshi himself was not a master when he founded his dojo in 1939. And when he spoke about changing Karate methods, he didn't mean to change the Waza (techniques) but the teaching methods, for the purpose of enhancing its practitioners mindset.
Master Ed parker wasn't the first one to be "ahead of his time". Minoru Mochizuki founded the Yoseikan dojo in 1931, which combined Aikido (learnt directly from Morihei Ueshiba), Judo (learnt directly from Jigoro Kano), Shotokan Karate (learnt directly from Gichin Funakoshi), Yagyu Shingo-ryu Jujutsu, Kobudo, Iaido, Kendo. It has evolved a lot, and it's now combined also with French and English boxing systems, Muay Thai, Kickboxing, Brazilian Jujutsu, Wado-ryu Karate/Jujutsu Kempo...
The research in efficiency is already found in Chinese Wushu styles, and i can find things similar to those in American Kempo. Re-discovering things don't make them new, right ?
Appreciate what Jeff Speakman is doing to evolve his art.
Danzan Ryu Jujitsu was originally incorporated into Kenpo during Mitosi, Chow Hun, and Parker’s time. So Jujutsu was originally there and it went further into a Karate direction.
As a retiring law enforcement/ corrections officer I encourage everyone to learn and study ground technics because you never know when a fight is going to go to the ground.
(Edit)
Glad to see Master Speakman is doing well and doing what he is passionate about, I enjoyed some of his movies in the 90'S, and wondered what he moved onto.
Copy that. I did 20 on the street. I have often asserted that most cops don't know how to fight, especially this current crop of over weaponized kids.
If you gonna study ground tho hit up wrestling or Jiu jitsu
Go do jiu jitsu then
May I add or grappling in general to prevent yourself from being taken to the ground such as judo or wrestling. Even better, throw your opponent to the ground on concrete and then maintain top position should be high priority. Rolling on your back should be a last resort.
@@andrewl.9291 So glad you posted that. I learned that lesson 36 years ago as a young cop. I took a guy to the ground breaking up a Halloween party. I never saw the full bottle of Miller beer that was pitched from the crowd. Lights out.
This is the essence of what the martial mind should be. I studied Kenpo under Fred Brewster and Tony Sator in the seventies. At that time I had plans of training body guards. Having been influenced by Bruce Lee's philosophy I had intended to study Jiu Jitsu before Gracie became popular. Long story short I had a big sidetrack and it never came about. I also had a wrestling background which also helped me to understand the necessity of diversity. I came to realize that when someone thinks their style of martial arts is best , they become a prisoner of that system. This was spot on. Keep the torch burning bro!
Thanks for this gem of an interview. Mr Speakman is a gift to martial arts. If every head of a school or system thought the way he does, traditional martial arts would have a lot more respect. Too often traditional arts just assume things will work because that's what they were told. Once you try it live it's nothing short of an epiphany.
Bunkai bro
Mr Speakman, I'm so proud of your job with Kenpo and its evolution. I studied Chinese Kenpo w/street fighting in Argentina for 6 years, before coming to the States in 1980.
I’ve always said that one of the signs of a true martial arts master is someone who keeps their mind open to change and the desire to go beyond what they are taught. So many people claim to be masters but truthfully they’re still following their teachers instead of reaching their full potential. Much respect to Ed Parker and to Jeff Speakman for continuing his legacy and philosophy.
I completely understand what he’s saying about going back to the beginning. After a hiatus from Kenpo, at a school doing the 16 tech system, I’ve come back into a Kenpo 5.0 school. It feels familiar enough, it still feels like Kenpo but at the same time I feel like I’m learning all over again and I absolutely love it!
I owe a debt to Master Speakman that I cannot truly repay. It was the movie Perfect Weapon that encouraged me to begin my martial arts journey almost 30 years ago.
He's a martial artist I have always admired. Not for the Hollywood part, but because of his lifetime of dedication to the art.
What a great man. It's so refreshing and inspiring to hear his attitude about life and the martial arts. Always been a fan of him from The Perfect Weapon, but I had no idea he was such a passionate innovator!
Fantastic interview Mr Dan. Thank you Mr Speakman in sharing with us!
One of Mr. Parkers quotes come to mind: " “An ounce of logic can be worth more than a ton of tradition that has become obsolete through the weathering of time.”
- Ed Parker
I had my first (and many more) martial arts lessons in an American Kenpo school in CA. in the 70s. Life and advancement took me other places but, I got the privilege of being invited to compete at the Ed Parker Invitational in Spokane, a great treat and was able to meet and speak with him and he gave me some sound advice as a young, [capable] competitor in whom he said he "saw great potential on top of the fine skills I already had."
That was a proud day with high praise from a great man.
To see a man with such high rank, humble himself to BJJ with intent for others is a true leader.
Thank you for this video. Answered lots of questions I have had. I was a member of a studio affiliated with Mr Speakman about 20 years ago, and it is very gratifying to see that he, and others in 5.0, have carried Mr Parker's vision forward.
As a long time fan of Ed Parker and Jeff Speakman, all I can say is, "Wow!" That interview was momentous! I'll need to watch and comment again but, for now, what an amazing person and what an informative interview! Thank you again, Mr. Dan, for such phenomenal content! 🙏
it is so nice getting Jeff's direct prespective on the 5.0 system and I wish that was taught here in Ohio.
There used to be a great Kenpo school in Warren Ohio but the instructor moved to Greece
@@ddwalker3744 that sucks. I got my black belt and I am wishing I could do the newer versions
Our school is in cortland Ohio, very close to Warren. Not kenpo but we teach BJJ and Striking.
Awesome interview! Thanks for this video. Its exceptional to hear from a legend like Speakman. He truly is an accomplished martial artist with a wealth of knowledge. Although I have never practiced Kenpo, my background is Goju Ryu, Shotokan, and Tae Kwon Do, I have always had respect for Kenpo practitioners and admired their quick and fluid striking capabilities. Speakman’s approach makes total sense to evolve the art to deal with the grappling issues in the modern martial arts scene. Thanks again for uploading the great interview.
I really enjoyed this in-depth interview. Evolution should be a natural progression of martial arts; it certainly was originally and somewhere down the line it became lost. Mr. Speakman definitely has the right idea.
I'm so glad to be watching you here Jeff talk about the evolution of Kempo. I've watched all your movies and have been a fan of Martial Arts and MMA since the mid 90's and I'm especially an MMA fan. I'm so thrilled to here you applaud you for helping to evolve the discipline and, the 'spirit' of Martial Arts. All the best. I've got to find one of your movies to watch now.
I am amazed at how fanaticism is everywhere. Not only martial arts. Evolving should be recognized as the natural state of things but we always have to struggle with people that don't want to think by themselves, just like Master Soeakman is doing. All martial arts originated from this kind of necessity, adapt, evolution but, as he said, they become "tradition". Thanks for sharing this with us.
Great interview, I love how Mr. Speakman is honest and seems very humble in terms of his skills in the grappling arts and his approach to implementing it into Kenpo.
Dan: THANKS! I have been a Speakman fan since The Perfect Weapon and I never tire of seeing presentations on American Kenpo.
Mr Speakman speaks Truth. Great interview.
The expansion is amazing! The all-round applications from this "New World"-Kenpo 5.0 seem unstoppable.
Alright Dan! You finally got Jeff Speakman on the Art of One Dojo! This is a rare treat for me.
I always love learning from other masters and teachers from various martial arts and Kenpo to hear Dan’s POV and comparisons
I love this video, it takes a lot to look inwardly and see a lack in something that you excel in, even more so to humble yourself to fix the issue. I do not like ground fighting, and ultimately I don't want to intentionally go to the ground, however, I love that if I am going to the ground I have a literal fighting chance. Mr Speakman is an amazing martial artist, and an example of not letting pride rule your passion. Shout out to Mr Sotomayor!!
If you are looking to train under Mr Sotomayor and are in or near Redlands, Ca, he is a great teacher for children and adults. TH-cam won't let me do the url here, so try searching for "5.0 evolved martial arts Redlands, ca"
Agreed.
I also will recommend Mr. Sotomayor as well.
Much respect for Mr. Speakman.
whoa. did not expect to make a video about him but at the same time, i can't believe that he would be in the video. nice
The Adkins interview is EXCELLENT. I second this recommendation.
@Jake Collins i've seen it.
@@ArtofOneDojo and did you know that yusuke recently finished watching the Perfect weapon movie. he kinda likes the film with Jeff.
I loved this. It was a long one but it's a banger. He brought up a fantastic point about folks feeling a kind of way about change. Especially if they feel like it takes from the effort the put in prior.
But it happens and we stagnate if we only flex with the little bit we choose to learn.
Always glad to see anything Jeff Speakman. Fell in love with American Kenpo all due to him in The Perfect Weapon.
"The ignorant refuse to study , and the intelligent never stop". What a brilliant, truthful comment. Such an amazing interview with Speakman
I studied Kenpo at Tracy's in Menlo Park in the mid60s. After 4 years in the military, I returned to study at Tracy's again and went into completion. I eventually moved to Aikido. the mix was prefect. I can still recall Jeff Speakman in "The Perfect Weapon". I really related to that as I was only 16 when I started at Tracy's. My parents were concerned about my newly learned skills, just like the movie. The end result was a finely tuned weapon that entered the military with skills that gave me the confidence to move forward. I have never been on the ground since@
Kenpo is one of the top martial arts, its the real deal
I was a student of Kenpo through the 80's and early 90's and left to train Submission Fighting with the Shamrock's at the Lion's Den, but always missed Kenpo. So happy to see Mr. Speakman continue Master Parker's vision of constant evolution. After having a gym in Santa Cruz, California (IMS Academy) I moved to Vegas and would love to see some of these evolutions. Is there a day that would be good to visit for that? Much respect!
Honestly, I would just call the school and ask when a good time to stop by would be. They should be pretty receptive. Tell them this video sent you ;)
@@ArtofOneDojo Good call and I will mention the video. Cheers!
Mr Speakman Passion is what makes him great.a Gem indeed.
Great talk from master that understands stagnation is death !
As a black belt holder of Kenpo in the late 90s. I respect where Mr. Speakman has evolved Kenpo. Wish there was a school nearby, may give the online university a go and restart the Kenpo journey. Currently an Aikido practitioner and know from my Kenpo and other styles I have studied like Escrima & BJJ only improve the whole.
The 5.0 fighter competition is the best thing that came out of Kenpo 5.0
Seeing a lot of similarities between Ed Parker and Bruce Lee and the general philosophy that created their arts and what happened to their arts post-mortem.
And the two of them were good friends!
@@ArtofOneDojo might be a fun episode talking about that. Compare philosophies, history, how they are interrelated. Etc.
@@ArtofOneDojo Bruce stayed at Parkers home on occasion, and the two definitely traded ideas. Parker helped Bruce break into Hollywood as well with Green Hornet. Definitely part of Martial Arts History of North America.
Bruce lived with Mr Parker for a year and half. Not alot of people know that.
It's just like Bruce Lee once said,don't limit yourself to 1 style and I totally agree with that,your better able to defend yourself by learning different styles of martial arts.
The man is truly a living legend. What an honor to hear him speak and see what a kind humble man he is at the same time. His skill is beyond measure, hos speed and power is in the league with all the greatest in history.
My second corpsman “D” was in a bar with friends in Hawaii in the late 80’s. There was a guy in the bar, giving them a hard time. If I remember correctly, he was harassing the women. Anyway, another guy that was present, stood up to tell the jerk to leave them alone, and the annoying guy went after “D’s”. “D” told me it was over in a couple seconds. After the fight, he asked the guy what the hell was that!?The guy told him it was Kenpo. it’s usually the fighter not totally the system. Some are better than others. I think it’s what you make of it. Attitude and drive mean a lot. I so glad you had the guts and honest to enhance Kenpo. You remind me of my first karate teacher Master Gordon. Great guy. I hope
We can train someday. Way to go GM Speakman.
I can totally relate to your comment about feeling a Jeff Speakman demo. About 20 years ago, he used me as an Uke for demonstrating Reversing Mace at a seminar in Loveland, Co. I felt it for a very long time. Great interview, thanks to both of you.
For me it was Shield and Mace. He did that hammer fist to the Kidney and it felt like a jackhammer went through me and bolted my foot to the floor. It was impressive to say the least.
I got the power !
Nice to see Jeff Speakman talking about his art.
This was an excellent interview. I applaud Mr Speakman for his innovations with Kenpo 5.0. You asked great questions as well. I've recently found your channel and I enjoy it, although I haven't practiced American Kenpo for 20 years! 🙏🥋
It was very awesome of Mr.Speakman and Mr.Parker Jr. to take time to come over my friends house many years back to meet us.Il like the constant flow of one technique to the next. I respect his belief that a fighting art needs to adapt to the current times.
The man is exactly what to look for in a master martial arts instructor. Seasoned, innovative, and humble, with a passion for his art and his students.
Jeff Speakman done really outstandingly good with developing kenpo 5.0, and returning it to its former glory. I come from the Ed Parker version and am surprised at how many kenpo guys arent doing what Mr. Speakman is doing.
I love what Jeff said "the ignorant refuse to study and the intelligent never stop." 🙏🏿👍🏿🇬🇧🇦🇬
I've always liked Mr Speakman.. After this interview, my respect for the man has grown 10 times. His viewpoint and his observations are so on point (and back 20 years ago when I studied I saw exactly what he is talking about when when he talks about the intractability of teachers who are studying an art originating from a man who was all about evolving and being open minded). Excellent, excellent interview
Such a great interview. Dan and Mr. Speakman are both exceptional, open-minded gentlemen in a martial arts world so filled with fragile egos and bickering. Keep up the great work!
Yes sir Mr. Speakman, be the best we can be before we die, that is what Kenpo is for me.
Such a great interview! It is so good to hear a positive, certain explanation of one's craft, especially from a Master of their art/discipline. As a student of the Art, it is always refreshing to hear Mr Speakman's focus and direction, and the challenge his Art continues to provide all the way through to Senior ranks. 👊👊
Great post . Thank you for sharing this. I studied in the Kenpo system back in the early to mid 90s in Albuquerque with the late sifu Bill Packer and 4th. Degree sensi Lee Speages
I just remembered something from a Wing Chun class I was in ? And practicing a technique of Wing Chun . An assistant instructor and I was practicing a technique and for some reason ? Right out of nowhere? I immediately did an old Kenpo technique ? Where I took the instructor down . His name was Ken with Mr. Phil Romero and Mr. Romero's Wing Chun school in Albuquerque. After I did that Kenpo technique? I remember as the instructor who had a few years in Wing Chun? As he was getting up from the floor ? He was kind of stunned? But he liked the execution of the technique? I apologized for doing that to him ? And he graciously smiled ? And said? Don't be that was a great technique. I said that was my old Kenpo stuff. Now keep in mind when I stopped my training in Kenpo? I had only reached Purple belt plus? I had been away from any martial arts for at least ? A good 10 year's. In close I was shocked that I executed that technique? And even with it not exactly pretty in its form that day? It still worked . To be honest? I was pleased that I could do that ? And successfully too. I think Kenpo stays within memory and recall to where in certain circumstances? Though you may not look like your performing the technique as exactly as it's taught? The bottom line is the fundamentals of the mechanics ? Never leaves you.
American Kenpo has got to be one of the most beautiful martial arts. To use an old phrase to describe what I see when watching an AK person going through their moves , “poetry in motion.”
I love how he addressed Jiu Jitsu ! I am a purple belt and what he is saying about BJJ is right on point. BJJ will not allow you to strike almost at 95%. Excellent, I just wish there was as school here in Italy, affiliated with Speakman....
This is probably my favorite interview ever. I have watched this interview three times. I had taken Kenpo since I seen the perfect weapon in 1991. I have recently started the 5.0 system and can’t wait to get to the ground techniques. There is no 5.0 school in Oklahoma so I am doing the online academy and I can say Jenny is a great teacher. I am hoping when it comes time to take my blue belt test in this system to go test in Las Vegas in front of Master Speakman.
Great video.
I was with Master Speakman this weekend and we were talking about your video. Great job
Amazing content! Master Jeff Speakman is one of the few humans I hope to meet someday.
Love what he's done with Kenpo, how he's evolved it to the times, and just the skill with which he showcases and has passed on to his students. Very very cool and impressive!
As a non martial artist, I've always had a keen interest in learning a form since my childhood, after being introduced to those Black Belt magazines back in the late 80's, and those various martial arts films from that era and before. Also, as a way of staying physically fit, martial arts have interested me greatly. Jeff's Kenpo is the most interesting to me, despite being a fan of the art of Aikido, Ninjutsu, Karate forms and so on.
Truly wonderful interview.
Change in life is inevitable. The important thing is to keep freedom, sovereignty, and human rights protected in the process.
I'm a black belt in the Ed Parker kenpo, and also a aspiring teacher of the gospal of Jesus Christ, and I agree with Jeff Speakman more then he can imagine. I heard alot at the school I went to whenever I seen some real cool new idea included in these other styles and talked about it, People who I respected and still do would tell me that's not our style, and that we don't do things like that. Tha'ts both silly and boring. If the kenpo community embraced change like Jeff Speakman talked about and took these other idea's and concepts right away imagine where we'd be at. I'll be praying for Jeff Speakman and his family, and if any Christian is reading this post I'd ask you if you could do the same.
Wow Jeff speakman looks totally different today, the perfect weapon is one of the best martial art movies out there 😎👍
Amazing martial artist and actor, bless him for all his hard work 🙏
Wow🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽Been a fan since Perfect Weapon came out OSU
Me 2
See you in Vegas 🙏
Love this interview and I can’t wait to hear more on his goju ryu training! Love your videos!
awesome to hear from such a wise master.
That was a great episode! I never trained in Kenpo though i was familiar with it of course and Jeff Speakman, and i was just curious what he was up to. And man i really have to appreciate that he saw the Elephant in the room as he mentioned, and didn't let his ego get in the way, and jumped into Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu as a white belt and added it to his system. In fact i've been wanting to get back into martial arts and had thought of BJJ but i am now more interested in Speakman's system. I'm more into self defense and sadly a lot of BJJ has focused so much on a sport that they've lost a lot of their self defense aspects
Changing an art is a monumental task…. Especially 5.0 times! Change is a necessary skill to survive the evolving methods of martial arts and peoples skill sets.
…that being said, there are times in which ground fighting skills are detrimental to survival.
I have a saying for street survival tactics. “What goes down must come up.” When dealing with multiple attackers, this is a necessary concept. 🙏
Awesome interview Dan Sensei! 😁👍
Great interview. Brought back memories of going to Ed Parkers house to help move his framed Elvis cape.
I learned kempo in the early 90s from a couple guys in Key West. Was at the end of high school and a real exciting time for me as a martial artist in transition, having been training Tae Kwon Do. Did Kempo then found traditional Shaolin and got my fill on history. I realized I had been going backwards in martial arts then moved forward w BJJ/mma. Judo and Jiujitsu really helped me to fill in the gaps! I'm happy you guys are adding in ground fighting, the missing area of training. Be sure to be knowledgeable of mixed kickboxing and find some good tai chi/chi kung to finish things out! Effective internal arts are a product of mastery. We need a good hard style system to get by. When we're too old for all that roughness, hopefully the soft fist will kick in! Anyways, sending my support as I'm inspired by kempo and realize it's about learning from everywhere!
Amazing interview. I have learned a lot for Karate shotokan master from Cameroon, Africa. Keep up the good work brother
My Idol Jeff Speakman.One of the BEst Actors in 90tys!Sorry for my Bad English!One of the best Fighter in the World!
Its sad that such a powerful art that was created by being open minded is dealing with what many other art forms have gone through .... Master Speakman is doing the right thing .🙏
You are not abrasive at all. It’s truth everyone needs to hear!
A True Legend Great Grandmasters Edmond Parker Jeff Speakman
Thanks
I'm a Jeff Speakman lifetime fan. Unfortunately the system isn't available anywhere near where I live. But of all the martial arts I've studied over the years Jeff is the one guy and his techniques the one system that really impressed me the most. I independently trained under Kung Fu, King Fu Toa, Goju Ryu Karate, Boxing and Aikikai Aikido over the years. But I think I like Jeff's style for the flowing movement and adaptability. Kind of like Jeet Kun do. You adapt to the opponent. It would be great if Jeff and instructors toured and put on some shows around the world. Might inspire a new generation.
"Take really well-done Kenpo and really well-done Jujitsu and harmonize them together and you have the best of both worlds." Who could argue against Speakman's excellent logic?
I was a student of Ed Parker in 1971, L.A., Cal. All martial arts are good to learn from. There is no best. It all depends on your own talent and want you can make use of form the techniques.
Brilliant Sensei! (Very cool approach, enjoying a growth mindset)
Seeking truth and gaining a ton of wisdom.
Very inspiring, thank you so much! More power to you, Sir.
I'd be interested to see how the ground fighting skills are functionalized. My problem with the traditional martial arts is that they generally don't stress test their theories and skills.
The main integration is understanding the transition from standup fighting to ground, and then when on the ground the BJJ training kicks in, but mixed with the "dirty Kenpo". Eye gouging, lip grapping, throat clawing, pinching, pulling, groin strikes/grabs, and other strikes are all implemented. A lot of standup Kenpo principles are still in play such as angles of entry, power generation, borrowed force, and others.
The stress test comes from the emphasis on sparring. 5.0 tries to apply pressure by making students fight harder. If you look at Kenpo 5.0 tournaments, they aren't the point based matches that much of Karate has become. It's a lot rougher.
You know what? we need a black belt Kenpo 5.0 to represent the art in MMA or UFC, as there are not enough videos about this martial art and nobody really knows about it, also at the cinema level there is a low representation. In the same way, the Gracie family did show up with only one member in the UFC, we need someone out there to show the art in practice!
Just joined kenpo 5.0 best decision and best martial arts system I've ever participated in
Awww snap, my man, the PERFECT WEAPON himself, Jeff Speakman.
This was an incredibly eye-opening and enjoyable interview. Real top notch. Great questions and wonderful and educational responses from Mr. Speakman.
There is a school in Sacramento which started out as Kenpo about 40 or so years ago. They have morphed with time and added boxing, American wrestling etc. For the majority of its history, it was in a pretty bad part of town. It's become a pretty effective street self defense school. One can see it's Kenpo roots if one looks carefully, but it definitely has evolved with its surroundings and time. Fantastic interview by the way.
It’s great hearing this and the reasoning behind it; not ego or show just solid seeking and understanding and training. This is similar somewhat to what Ed’s student Brian Adams did with IMA, which is one art I still practice in addition to original kenpo. Brian was a student of Ed’s in the 1960s and still visit our school on Mondays. After developing and working with Kenpo-Jiu jutsu, bridging striking into grappling, he began filling out the system with other things from his lifetime including kali and jet kune do to create Integrated Martial Arts. We still use original kenpo mostly to develop foundations and coordination and have fun, then IMA makes it a little more evolved and practical in some senses. Either way great art and good times. Thanks for sharing your wisdom with us.
This a great interview and a on point history of American Kenpo. OSS 🤙
Fascinating. I’ve been training under Cooper: Kenpo w/ additional Muy Thai, Japanese Jiujitsu, Judo, and Lua. Kenpo is a very cool discipline
This is an amazing and insightful interview, with Master Jeff Speakman, of which I was always wanting to learn more about him, as a martial artist and a person, beyond his action films. I most certainly agree that in many martial arts systems throughout the world, once the founder passes away and a clear successor, or appointed inheritor of the art, has not been appointed that often greed, back stabbing, financial selfishness and envious animosity tends to spread amongst the senior teachers of the martial arts style.
So much so that people begin to form, their own separate associations, dismissing everyone else as illegitimate, non authentic, even disloyal to the founder and their original vision, when clearly all those senior students were taught, as well as often personally accredited by that combat style's founding master.
Too often as Master Speakman has mentioned here in this interview with you Sensei Dan, many senior teachers or masters of martial arts styles, refuse to continue the evolution, improvement and further development of their self defense system, siting that going outside of their style, by going to test and learn from another martial arts school, is a betrayal and turning their back on its founder or its well established pioneers. These senior students or teachers at the helm of their own organisations, refuse to humbly put on a white belt and learn a new art, say for example Judo or Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, to add to their stand up striking art, or a weapons system such as Kobudo or Kali, because to them is like admitting to their students and everyone else in the same style of martial arts, yet of different organisations, that they are admitting at being incompetent, incomplete and inefficient in all aspects of combat and self defense. Martial arts need to continue to evolving, incorporating from other styles, what is effective and missing from their own art.
Sosai Oyama Masutatsu used to say: "There is one way to do things, however if your own way works, then that is the perfect way to do it"! Meaning when learning a martial arts style as a beginner, with no prior knowledge you need to learn a logical, practical and methodical approach to doing things, in accordance to the required standards, by everyone at that same dojo. However as time goes by, with the gaining of personal experience and also individual growth and knowledge, one develops an individual way to fight, uniquely practical to themselves, regarding their individual physical strength, height, speed, reaction and their own body structure, where techniques would need to be slightly altered, to make them personally effective in combat, against others of different physical attributes, to those of our selves .
Unfortunately bickering and outcasting of others, is part of the vicious cycle of martial arts politics, of various independent schools or organisations, of the same martial art. As such many or few who choose to go their own way, by staying truly loyal to their founding master and their own students, in following honourably the objectives of the founding teacher, while others pretend to do so, will unfortunately put a target on one's back, where the rest of the charlatans will use as a reason to try and justify and promote their ideals. It is good to see that Master Jeff Speakman, has decided to follow his own path and that despite, being open to working with others in American Kenpo Karate community, that he is confident and happy to go alone with his students, on their ongoing endeavour of evolution and improvement, instead bowing down to the peer pressure of some other senior masters, with their own egotistical ideals. Thank you Sensei Dan for bringing us such a great interview, with the legendary Master Jeff Speakman, Osu 🇲🇽🇦🇺🥋!
Awesome interview. Big thanks to Mr. Speakman.
Thank you very much for this interview. Greeting from Chile 🇨🇱