Dynamic Kenpo with Larry Tatum

Larry Tatum demonstrates kenpo's lines and circles principle.

[@Chad01234]

I agree, but Kenpo, Kajukenbo, similar arts, etc., really show how the human body works in a combat situation. It teaches explosive movement (something you rarely see), and as Mr. Parker said, "It's not overkill, it's overskill," in regards to the flow of movements and motion that are based on physics basics. Mr. Lee stated in an interview once that karate is like a 1, 2, stop, style. Well Kenpo is a flow of movements. Sadly there are slappers out there as well. But each to their own.

[@johnjohns6181]

Thank you , Joey!

[@MindfulontheMats]

You're welcome - Joey

[@BradYaeger]

@JimKelly47 holy cow, i didn't know you were THE Jim Kelly!!!! Man, what an honor. Your part of my personal history growing up, i tried my best to copy your backfist. had the long arms, but not the speed alas..much respect sir. thank you for your contributions and class in the arts. humbly, brad

[@contumacy11]

@mattrR678 I agree to some extent that kenpo cant damage that person very well who is well conditioned in body or if a person is like a power lifter or very tall but kenpo is still deadly apart from all this , the strikes they do on your face and neck , it is really deadly my friend , I am telling this from my personal experience ,

[@pama4242]

That can happen in any system, all you can do is train in a school that is legit. Jeff Speakman talks about the rank thing a lot. I myself do not want fake rank, it leads to false confidence. You have justified what you study, in the end it's what works for you. I don't intend to give up Kenpo, I've used it, it worked. Sorry I don't have it on video. Good luck to you Sir

[@ValeTudo56]

I need to practice my Kenpo again. Awesome martial art and it's legit for a real self defense situation. Larry is one of a handful of guys that teaches Ed Parker's system.

[@Malzarin]

The man is a brilliant martial artist, end of story. In my short time seeking vidoes on kenpo I have found great ignorance, thank you for continuing the trend. I have studied kenpo for most of my life and I could still learn from this man until the day I die. It is one thing to learn reaction, it is another to understand your own reaction. That is where his power lies.

[@Kerenos93]

I have Larry's autograph!!!`

[@SuperKenster1]

I prefer not to take creative license, I knew Ed, and I studied with one of Lee's training Partners, and choreographed,static,practices are not a feature of the combat arts, as martial arts without fighting is like surgery without incisions (no such animal) and although I trained in the 1970's& 80's I am progressive enough to know that people like the MMA and various combat arts train in the true spirit of Budo as did the artist of old: in shape,technically precise, and totally martial oriented.

[@talon115]

Everyone looks fast when they are moving beside someone standing still.

[@mattrR678]

@clearcombat Finally a voice of reason. In the old days, a guy who have challenge his dojo and shown that his teachings are nonsense. But today, guys like this continue to teach nonsense till they have hundreds or thousands of students. The young kid with his left could kidney punch his guy or keeping his left guard up, and just kick him in the back of the knee ,knocking him to the ground. A slap to the side is not going to do any damage, especially if the person conditioned their abs for impact

[@SuperBlueman2]

Yes. most martial arts, or martial methods have borrowed from many sources. You have to in creating a useful method. There is no crime in doing that.

[@Tarc5150]

I've watched several videos of Larry Tatum and he is obviously a very skilled martial artist. I myself have studied Kenpo and Kempo for the last 25 years along with other arts. I mean no disrespect but does he have Parkinson's? He has tremors and shaking in his hands when he performs a technique. I've never seen that before and in the old Ed Parker videos he doesn't do that and none of my teachers ever did. Again no disrespect just wondering if he is ill.

[@slimnicki]

Uh, no, I believe your thinking incorrectly. Martial arts such as Kenpo and Tae Kwon Do are for fighting multiple people at once while standing up. You seem like the kind of person who prefers things such as MMA and Brazilian Jujutsu, which basically are on the ground. No move is unnecessary!

[@Chad01234]

@NewYorkFightClub60 When Mr Parker invited Lee to live with him, and then had Lee help him open the Longbeach tourney and demo at it, do you honestly believe Lee would have wasted 5 seconds doing this if he didn't believe there was something to learn? Lee took 1 thing from TKD - the side kick. If you saw kenpo from experience, you would see the similarities. Hence, perhaps you should be the one focusing on what you are posting. If you neglect to learn further, Ill just cease to reply.

[@kevjoseph9988]

kenpo to me is highly stylized and excessive

[@talon115]

Except that hitting a heavy bag actually develops power and endurance. while standing beside someone not moving while you throw your techniques does NOTHING for you.

[@pama4242]

Body type has nothing to do w/ being a self-defense man, which is what both Tatum & Parker are and were.. Sparring is not self-defense, it's sport. You are stuck in a sporting mind set. I've used Kenpo on the street against someone who was stronger & tougher and I won using kenpo.

[@martinsandl1598]

I call bullsh**. Look at anyone who fights professionaly for a living. Another thing, don´t give me the "for the streets" crap. If you can fight against a trained opponend, you can fight "in the streets", just better and more accurate. If you would have been in real fights you would know that you get hit as well, hard sometimes, unless you only fight kids, old and drunk people.

[@pama4242]

I have a challenge for you , prove Larry Tatum is gay. Why don't you just ask him, he's easy to find. :)))

[@pama4242]

I've come to conclusion your might be a hater, maybe you never had it in you to be good at kenpo. Maybe your a natural grappler. Static? Larry Tatum would make you static. Seem's like your favorite attack. The whole damn conversation w/ you was unproductive. Your sooo jealous of Tatum. I don't blame ya, he's great:)

[@SuperKenster1]

Kenpo is ridiculous, with these slap drills borrowed from Professional wrestling.

[@KingSquirtle999]

Lol cringe

[@donabeyta252]

Larry resembels a younger Robert Redford. SUNDANCE.

[@Chad01234]

@contumacy11 Feeling is believing. Just by stating this art will not tear the living crap out of someone's body through the use of proper form and power, is stating a lack of experience. WHICH IS GOOD. We don't want the entire karate world understanding this art - I personally enjoy the uniqueness of it. This is not Tae Qwon Do, or traditional karate (outdated...traditional, etc). This is the art that branched into Jeet Kun Do, and a number of advanced military techniques.

[@barnabywylde2224]

Seems like certain people can make kenpo work for them in self defense while others cannot.

[@kicklaw1061]

Same as any martial art then

[@pama4242]

Correction sir, I've seen Larry Tatum breakdown standup technique that applies to the ground. Could be looked at as BJJ. It's a small world:)

[@Lycros]

@clearcombat I think unless you feel like fighting the guy to prove your point I'd keep your opinions to yourself. You don't know nearly as much as you seem to think.

[@tamashii14]

Larry Tatum is one of the best Kenpo masters I've seen. He is very clear in his explaination of techniques and how they flow. As a practitioner of traditional karate there is alot we traditionalist can learn from thinking outside of the box. Kenpo really offers a wonderful way to combine techniques effectively with speed and power. This especially important in self-defense and when "power for power" sake doesn't work. I think to be an effective marial artist you need to open minded.

[@justinlee3419]

I gotta meet him I'm trying to get all of his kenpo dvds and and then go and meet with him

[@u31117416]

Well, that's a pretty good point you take up with people saying Brazilian Jiu Jiutsu is the best and so on. Well, if you're fighting in competitions and for example UFC you have rules and such. But if you're training to be able to defend yourself in a real life fight, there's a different. In the UFC you have rules, not on the streets. If you for example try an armbar on a guy on the street he may grab your nuts or pull out a knife or something. I say: Stay away from the ground in street fights.

[@larrywatkinsjr73]

The great thing about kenpo that it is always changing to keep pace with time!!!!!

[@humbertoarroyogarcia]

he is super fast

[@pama4242]

Brown belt, that's really deep into the art LOL. Ground fighting is in Kenpo, it was not the key focal point. Are you saying on the street, on concrete you would be able to use BJJ? What about multiple attackers?, What is more effective?, are you willing to roll around w/ some that has a knife? Try getting triangle on the street,see if you don't get bite. What you don't realize is your comparing different parts of the same art. PEOPLE LOVE TO SEE BRAWLING, IT SELLS BIG TIME.

[@KeepItFresh02]

kenpoists do those things too. you would know if you studied it and not just watched a few videos on the internet passing judgement on something you have no experience in.

[@87gloria13]

Does anyone know why Larry Tatum was excommunicated from kenpo by Parker ?

[@jarluccio]

Haha good luck with that "street MMA style" Outdated self defense system? Because obviously people are better fighters now than in the past. Interesting theory. Maybe you should talk to your instructor before you make dumb comments about how he could "totally kill Larry Tatum, bro" And if he does run around talking about how he could take this person or that person then you are undoubtedly wasting your money because you aren't actually learning anything martial arts teaches except punching.

[@clearcombat]

All of this nonsense will get you killed on the street. People retract their arms after they punch someone. The best thing to do is use footwork to keep the fighter guessing, then by moving your head and striking you confuse the fighter. I teach Clear Combat Fighting System and we train like MMA fighters but are street conscience. We use a lot of spear hands, head butts, kicks to the groin and a lot of chokes. We use strenght and conditioning with agility drills to keep use loose and flexable.

[@user-rq4ry9ch8e]

@Tarc5150 .. but that does not diminish in the least power of the technique except in your brain, your comment on my rant does not make me, as I discover you feel that I understand things better than you, no desire to offend you, but you are part of the lot, sorry if offended you, it was not my intension, just want to tell you the truth, bye.

[@pama4242]

A boxer would not be able to touch Mr. Tatum, I feel sorry for any boxer that attacks this man. I've never even heard anybody use the word gay & Larry Tatum in the same sentence. You woul'nt want to get hit by this man, he capabil of generating great force w/ the smallest of movements. People that don't understand kenpo think it's hocus pocus. Whatever you say keyboard warrior

[@texabara]

martial arts are only tools. is the person that matters. what about two persons of the same style and rank? one have to win the other loose. one day one person with one style win, another day other. do u know that the first japanise judoka in the US was taken down by a football player with a huge takle?

[@KENPOFISTLAW]

i DONT THINK YOU UNDERSTAND THE CIRCLE AND THE LINE. YOU CREATE THE OPENING AND THEN YOU TAKEOVER WITH YOUR DEFENSIVE MAN. IF YOU BLOCK THE FIRST PUNCH IN A FIGHT AND THEN ATTACK. THE FIGHT IS OVER. THESE ARE CONCEPTS THAT TEACH SITUATIONS. ONCE YOU HAVE THE TOOLS YOU USE THEM THE WAY YOU SEE FIT. KENPO HAS NEVER FAILED ME IN A STREET FIGHT!! JUST MY 2 CENTS!

[@pama4242]

All I hear is MMA, MMA, you sound like you might be one of those califlower ear steroid manics. Real fights don't have rounds, don't have referee' s, no cages, they don't last 3 or 5 min rds. Fat or body type have nothing to do w/ knowegle or level of technique.

[@pama4242]

In the cage , no Mr. Tatum would not win. That is sport, but believe me on the street he's going to be able to poke your eyes kick your groin, hit your throat, then slam you down and stomp you in almost the same breath. By the way he is married and loves women. NO MR. TATUM IS NOT GAY, PLEASE

[@pama4242]

Nerdswers, you keep bringing up the static uke. If Parker or Tatum hit people full force it would more than likely be fatal. You really don't believe that these two masters couldn't hurt you? That's intellectually dishonest at best, foolish at worst

[@pama4242]

Biting is also an art, a little know art that I won't get into. I won't educate you on that, you don't deserve it. Fat has nothing to do with it, Body dynamics and superior technique it the key.

[@pama4242]

A 10th degree black belt in any system, is extremely dangerous, all system's of martial arts must be respected, they all have something to offer.

[@glasson65]

Dude if you cannot tell the power, speed and accuracy of these strikes you know nothing about any martial art or any kind of fighting.

[@SuperBlueman2]

Michael where did you come across the account of Lewis' telling that Master Tatum was not tough? I have personally met Larry Tatum and can tell you from fact the man is not only tough but every bit as dangerous as Mr. Lewis was. As far as the techniques working, they are like everything else in the fight world, only as useful as the person using them. It is easy to sit back and judge until you face a situation where what you have learned and practiced is called forth to be used.

[@soliskenpo]

Very nicely put mr. Tatum :)

[@pama4242]

Keyboard warrior , what have you proven, who or what are you? answer , nobody:)

[@michaeljovan9957]

Awesome display of power!

[@pama4242]

TKD, did you say Take ones Doe? Your confused , go back to school nerd boy:)

[@tony28k]

i met him a few times

[@mathewgladden8914]

What the hell is a linear line? You mean a line?

Please upload it complete

[@SHAKA-NEU-LU]

I️ studied keno for 6 yrs and moved to capoeira and bjj to become versed as many fighting forms have holes. Yes he’s fast. But one thing, most vids are not realistic. The student is mostly standing there allowing the sifu to go into technique-combos. And let’s get real, kenpo is designed for many opponents and streets. But what STREET fighter throws a straight punch? These vids need to show that. Non straight punching. Techniques that actually go wrong

[@soliskenpo]

If uninformed people could understand the foot work and hip rotation and speed behind those strikes, they would realize it's not a slap but a bone breaking strike.

[@freedomajp]

He is still very fast!

[@JunkTiger-js3jh]

Awesome 👌

[@njtr]

I do Shotokan. Out of curiosity I checked this out. Man, he's fast.

[@MajorWiener]

haha joey got his ass kicked

[@stevearce1498]

😭😭😭😭🎄😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

[@sbalak]

Hey it's Robert Redford

[@pama4242]

Larry Tatum was challenged many times when he first began his first studio. Ed Parker started out on the streets of Honolulu. Grandmaster Al Tracy who left him in the earlier sixtys said Parker was threated by a guy that was about 6'8. Parker knocked him out and drug him out of the studio, nobody knew if was even dead. Was it on tape, no. Was every fight Bruce Lee was in on video, of course not, does that mean it didn't happen?

[@slimnicki]

Ya I realize that. I do watch UFC but I never really had a thing for stuff like that, therefore I dont know much. I much prefer the other stuff like Drunken Fist and Taekwondoe, ninjutsu, ect. I dunno......... People always say MMA and brazilian jujutsu is better, and, me being stubborn, I wish to prove that its all equal. But, I thank you for pointing out my mistake.

[@Tarc5150]

@wwwTombroker I'm sorry I don't know what you are reffering to. I am not offended by anything posted on this video and thought I was very respectful in regards to this video. I'm a 3rd degree black belt in Kenpo, I have nothing but respect for Kenpo/Sensei Tatum/ and all arts. Please explain.

[@SuperKenster1]

Ed, like Emperado, Okazaki and Sam Chow had a fascination with the Polynesian Art "LUA", but due to Ed's Morman orientation (which disdained Polynesian culture), Ed and others took the indirect route with Chow, in Kenpo thus Ed could never actualize the fighting application that is partially represented in the Polynesian "HAKA dances, however to speak of (Parker Kenpo) without Hawaiian reference is to speak of Israel without mentioning the Jews!

[@Tarc5150]

@shiloh123321 Do you know what's up with the shaking and tremors? I've watched tons of Kenpo videos and been a member of 4 schools in the Los Angeles and Orange County area and I've never seen that. I'm wondering if that's like a nervous habit or something, like people who constantly have eye twitches. Either way I guess it doesn't matter he still knows his stuff.

[@BradYaeger]

@JimKelly47 not to mention they can from some of the roughest areas of the islands, where if you had a "beef", it was on. tough cats, all of them. i have tried to research the yoshida clan, from which mitose learned, but it's pretty cloudy.

[@SuperBlueman2]

It is not the method but the person that counts. The method is merely the vehicle used to get the person from here to there. To fuss and argue over the method is a foolish waste of time. Your car might be flashy and loud, but it is the person driving it that makes the mark on driving. In the hands of an amateur the car can only do so much. In the hands of the more experienced the car drives like a dream.

[@pama4242]

Kenpo is a hybrid art dum dum, it is a complete art, standing, on the ground and in between. Everything matters and everything depends on something else:) Take care Sir

[@Chad01234]

Ha feeling is believing. We have some pretty hard core lifters in our group, one is a husband wife couple that has won multiple awards for fitness competitions. Here's the issue: You are correct, because I will guess that as I have learned, there are many terrible kenpoists, and our own instructors get pissed about the slappers and sloppy non-explosive guys who wear the Ed Parker Patch. But a few of the guys, 2 of which are ex navy seals, love how most folks don't have a clue. And thank god

[@ValeTudo56]

It also gave me my speed and power(in my punching) for my kickboxing.

[@chinesekenpohapkido]

UFC is cage fighting, the octagon is a cage, and as far as the rest of what you said goes....is that not exactly what i said?

[@chinesekenpohapkido]

MMA and UFC are different.....UFC is cage fighting, it is possible to study a MMA without being a cage fighter.

[@SuperKenster1]

You sound like someone with fighting expirience, and yes, you are right, these strikes to the trunk are useless, so much so, that the average fighter can take countless blows to the trunk without effect.

[@SuperBlueman2]

The use of the lunge punch in karate like you see is merely an exercise to teach a beginner, or even someone with a little more experience timing and distancing in the practice of a pattern of movement. In reality, once the technique is practiced then it is time to take it in more real world application.

[@Chad01234]

Study both for a while and you'll see the similarities. It's actually quite cool and I respect both developing arts, whether American Kenpo and its endless variations, or Jeet Kun Do with its endless variations between instructors. That's the fun of martial arts: it's constantly in development, each art borrows from each art, and so forth. I suppose the only truly unique art out there is probably Systema. It's at least a "fairly" unique variation on melee.

[@Tarc5150]

@MrsFistie Interesting, I guess that makes sense. I've been teaching or studying some form of kenpo/kempo for 26 years now and I have never done that or seen any of my instructors do that. I was more concerned that Sensei Tatum might have gotten ill. Thanks for the info.

[@rentz46]

Come one Larry teaching is one thing but to prove it in real life in another.

[@shiloh123321]

@Tarc5150 thanks for not being a jerk. and to the best of my knowledge he is not

[@contumacy11]

@contumacy11 OTHER THING KENPO STRIKES CAN BREAK YOUR RIBS AND STERNUM TOO

[@ratonL]

¿Is that an N-Sync song?... not that I would know... :)

[@GBlues1]

Is it just me or does he remind of you of splinter? Cool!

[@tangsoodoarnis4life]

He needs to get a new uniform.

[@Chad01234]

I have to research this. Thank you! And yes, it makes total sense.

[@user-rq4ry9ch8e]

@clearcombat Im a grapler and kenpoist

[@metalmania7778]

oh the kinfe? sounds pretty intense

[@glasson65]

Oh your instructor but not you, lol!

[@marleyboyformer]

its funny how he hits the guy

[@TrussellZ71]

I've always had an interest in this style of martial arts. Now if only there were dojo's in northeast Alabama.

[@mathewgladden8914]

Go do bjj at 10p Decatur or Huntsville. Don’t waste your time on this nonsense.

[@talon115]

No, they don't.

[@phatnitude]

lol "joey" looks like he's having the time of his life

[@MindfulontheMats]

It was a blast - Joey

[@pama4242]

Was MMA around when Parker was alive?, I like to see you try and tackle Larry Tatum, you'd go back to your cage fighting where you safe. No small circle joint locks, no throat shots, nerve strikes, The list is endless. It seems the the bottom line is your very jealous of Larry Tatum. Bruce Lee was no good either because he did not do MMA, right? your a joke:)

[@clearcombat]

A CLEAR COMBAT MOMENT: Try that against a grappler, Larry.

[@lylesuperfoot]

So everything here is nonsense as those who have experience street fighting know no one throws a punch like that laughable nonsense

[@pama4242]

I agree w/ the some of bloated ranks, Tatum is hardly in that catagory:) You stopped way too early in the game. As done in the ring MMA type fighting cannot help the average man in a self-deense situation,. So you must do an art the works w/ little strength and is effective. Wing chun, Kenpo, Okinawan karate, just a few.

[@dawgyv72]

wait so people take this guy seriously!?! lmao I thought everyone knew it was a meme

[@readynow12345]

This all great in the movies, but in real life yea right.

[@talon115]

@chimibert I agree with you! "Hitting and sparring" which aren't being done in this particular video do help with timing, speed and distance. If they were doing that in this crappy video it would be great, but they aren't so it sucks. I have 28 years in the martial arts. I was also a police officer, bodyguard and night club security. Not that that makes me an expert but it does give me some insight.

[@michaelvendick2785]

After I do a line, I run around in a circle. Does that mean I'm doing Kenpoop?