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.
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....
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 - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-gUDbCcvmD9I.html and ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-p5NKlicXFn0.html also ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-peTXFjuQoUM.html A Karate Grappling Drill: Pinan - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-f9wVccbmvEA.html Practical Kata Bunkai: Naihanchi - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-r_EUcSqdeh0.html Practical Kata Bunkai: How Pinan Shodan teaches how to get past our enemy’s defences - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ZNyZhpgaB1o.html That is NOT Karate (Ian echos what Jeff Speakman is doing ) ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-22K-M7YxwYc.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!
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 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!
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 ?
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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! 🙏
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!
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.
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!
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
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!
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 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.
This is a great example of history repeating itself. Not that this is bad, but worth taking note of so that people may go back to the masters. Okinawan Karate styles are, in themselves, are mixed or hybrid systems. Karate history shows that the Okinawans merged their indigenous arts of Tuite (gripping, limb manipulation) and Tegumi (grappling) 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.' - Tegumi: The Traditional Wrestling Art from Okinawa. So for Jeff Speakman to come to this conclusion was inevitable. The difference was that the Okinawans were the grapplers who adapted southern Kung fu to their arts, while here we have a striker adapting grappling to kenpo. Of course I am curious as to what Kenpo would look like if it would adapt tuite and tegumi to kenpo rather then Brazilian jujitsu (which is Kodokan judo). After all, the Okinawan masters already did that, they put in the time to synthesize these arts. Can you imagine what that would look like? The Okinawans did not teach the Japanese the correct execution of karate so how it is used is incorrect. This should not surprise anyone. These people conquered their island and robbed them of their culture, even their language which most Okinawans no longer speak. So why would they teach them the correct use of something that is a cultural treasure? So Okinawan Karate is the place to look, 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. To see the correct use of Shorin Ryu kata along with applications, check out Ian Abernethy. By watching Shorin Ryu, along with its gripping and throwing, you may see elements that complement kenpo already as Kenpo comes from karate, it may very well be worth a look....Either way, Jeff Speakman is doing what the masters of old have done before him, to advance and innovate the art. So he is in good company. Practical Kata Bunkai: Some Karate Gripping - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-gUDbCcvmD9I.html and ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-p5NKlicXFn0.html also ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-peTXFjuQoUM.html A Karate Grappling Drill: Pinan - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-f9wVccbmvEA.html Practical Kata Bunkai: Naihanchi - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-r_EUcSqdeh0.html Practical Kata Bunkai: How Pinan Shodan teaches how to get past our enemy’s defences - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ZNyZhpgaB1o.html That is NOT Karate (Ian echos what Jeff Speakman is doing ) ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-22K-M7YxwYc.html
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
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.
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. RU-vid won't let me do the url here, so try searching for "5.0 evolved martial arts Redlands, ca"
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!
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.
Jeff looks awesome. Last time I saw you was in the movie perfect weapon. I am a brown belt in Kenpo. How can I get my hands on the combat techniques ??
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
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'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.
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.
As for Goju Ryu, it is Okinawan (not Japanese) as it descends from Naha-Te. Like all Okinawan styles taught to the Japanese, the true applications were not imparted. Ian Abernethy gives a great explanation of the Gekisai Di & Seisan Kata along with applications. Practical Kata Bunkai: Gekisai-Dai (Fukyugata-Ni) History and Bunkai - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-1hZ4iOHPuGU.html Practical Kata Bunkai: Thoughts on bunkai for Goju-Ryu - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-dZ_ZPGYQQxQ.html
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.
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.
"The Proving Ground" Today is "The Octagon of MMA". The 2nd "Proving Ground" is The Streets. Lyoto Machida proved Karate's "Worth" and validity in Combat Fighting until his opponents finally figured out how to consistently beat him. And unfortunately, most of the great Streetfighting Karate Masters are passing on or have already passed on into Eternity. Krav Maga has proven its worth both in Law Enforcement and Streetfighting until a better Self-defense Streetfighting system reveals itself to the Western World. It has thus far fallen short consistently in Competition Fighting however. AKK needs to "Prove itself" once again like it did when GM Jeff Speakman revealed its theoretical effectiveness in Hollywood, in both Proving Grounds: The Streets and The Octagon! Kida/Osi!
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 say we could use a perfect weapon 2.just imagine mr.speakmen as the sensai mentoring a similar young man as his character in the original.different plot and a scean where speakman gets to go all buck on some one.
I never went to the ground never . In street fights . Because there are no rules. You might go there , but what are the real chances this will will happen . Best to be prepared is good .
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.
Been studying kenpo and few other martial arts for years. Difficult for a black belt to humble himself and put on a white belt to study another art. Wish him much success in being a disrupter. The kenpo family is big and should be able to tolerate a lill self criticism. There will be those kenpoist who want to study exactly as Mr. Parker left it and thats great we need them. But there will be those who will want to be more rounded and we need them also.
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.
All MA will always be "traditional" IMHO if it's only studied and practiced in a school. Where veryone is friends. Vs a real world street environment/situation where there are no rules. Where no one is holding back. For Kenpo 5.0 to be non-traditional students need to compete in MMA and win....dominte...even test themselves on the street (as "improper" as that sounds...that's what needs to hapen.
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.
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.
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! 🙏🥋
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.
If I’m not mistaken Kenpo 5.0 There was a fellow by the name David German that was popular by mixing Grappling along with striking in this martial arts system PS Jeff Speakman looks absolutely nothing like what he used to look like
I m a fan of Jeff Speakman and a believer in the 5.0 system but i hear many people ask, that if Speakman himself says you wouldnt be able to match the ground game with a seasoned bjj practioner, not just a black belt but someone who has a few years experience, then why not just study bjj and maybe boxing or muay thai? Within 8-10 years you would dominate a 5.0 fighter on the ground and provide a great challenge on your feet with a kenpo 5.0 fighter. I like the forward thinking of 5.0 but the good question of why not just learn bjj which is proven on the ground and a stand up art is worth a discussion in my opinion.
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 .🙏
Nope, nothing was left out. What happened was the curriculum was shifted. In the 32 technique system, that was about 5 belts worth of material., basically up to green belt. That still left 3 brown belts and a black belt to test for. So in order to get the first brown belt, the students were SUPPOSED to go back and spend time learning deeper connection and application in their earlier material, but given the impatient nature of the West, people wanted more material so more material was added. So to get the first brown belt, the student went back to their Orange belt techniques and learned extensions of those techniques and the required form. For the second brown belt they learned extensions for the purple belt techniques, and so on. This meant that by the time the student had reached black belt, they had been through all 154 techniques, with all the extensions and all the forms. That is honestly a LOT of material. The 24 technique system shifted things. The same forms and techniques and extensions, but since there were less techniques per belt level, the student didn't get to the extensions until their third brown, and then black. The material then carried them up to 3rd degree black belt. With the 16/20 system, there are 16 techniques per belt until brown belt, and then there are 20 per belt. So when they get first degree black belt they've been through all 154 techniques. Then the extensions became the requirement for the further degrees, so now that material takes them up to 5th degree black belt. It's the same material, just got shifted around a little bit. I personally prefer the 16 tech system because it makes the student digest a little slower and spend more time on the material. There is SO MUCH information in the techniques, that you don't want to rush through them.
Only proves that if you would become better than what you are, you have to learn. To do that you must be humble. The saying goes-"A true Master will always be a student." This applies not only to martial arts but to life in general. E.g.-I am crap when it comes to math. Math has always been a thorn in my side. For me to get better or, high end goal, become a master mathematician, I would need to approach the situation with a humble attitude and seriously apply myself to math. Same thing with anything in life. If you want to excel in EVERY facet of life, not just martial arts or combat arts, approach whatever situation you are in with a serious yet extremely humble attitude and mindset.
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.
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.
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. 👊👊
Really like your RU-vid podcasts . You Might want to consider interviewing Jenny Keiper she runs the 5.0 online school for Jeff Speakman . I believe she very knowledgeable and has very informative classes.
Very cool, thank you for the suggestion! I want to swing back later on to Mr. Speakman for future interviews, she may be a good one to integrate. Keep an eye on our community posts soon, we have another big interview coming :)
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!
Anything that doesn't evolve dies off. Grand Master Speakman closed up the only hole in American kenpo its ground game. Benny the Jet Urquidez GM. Speakman Steve Muhammad and many more proved our standup game. In the early eighties Combat JJ was added to our curriculum and I haven't looked back. If you can't fight on the ground you're only half a fighter. KUDOS Kempo jutsu 5.0 🙏🏼🐉🐅👍😄
Awwww thanks. I wish I could take credit for it but it is a simple regime of color smoothing on the camera and then I splash on some zoom jpg artifacting. It works great and best of all it doesn't clog my pores!
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! 😁👍
