Ed Parker and Jeff Speakman on What is Kenpo

Master Ed Parker's (RIP) American Kenpo is explained with arguably his best and most recognized student Jeff Speakman. Both Parker and Speakman have starred or been a part of many Hollywood productions. The two collaborated on "The Perfect Weapon"

[@redbunnytail9528]

'The Perfect Weapon' was awesome. I knew I liked Speakman for a reason. His kenpo, as an older martial artist dude, looks so much like Ed Parker's. He was and maybe still is an actor, BUT he's also doing good work piecing together what he learned from his teacher. One of the best fight scenes, that is also super hilarious without being 'comical,' so like scary/funny, is Ed Parker's introduction as 'the Heavy' in 'Revenge of the Pink Panther.' Kenpo looks like a very very cool way to express combat. What Parker said in the clip, that he doesn't teach his students to 'pull' punches, but to 'control' them is very very open to a LOT of thinking deeply on his words for people with a lot of experience.

[@sbgoldma]

utmost respect to both gentlemen. Mr. Speakman still in my opinion is a fantastic martial artist 👊👊👊

[@MexicanMartialArts]

I teach Mexican American Kenpo. RESPECT!! Oos.

[@williams-wr5lg]

Jesse is a beast.....But I think even Flaco could take Ed Parker and his crazy hair

[@benitomaldonado7080]

😂

[@seankelley5409]

....Kenpo Karate is still being shared globally by those who are dedicated to the Legacy of Ed Parker's Art!!

[@tonyvalente]

Ed Parker helped Bruce Lee and so many others, No matter what his skill was or his past, he was a great guy and helped dozens of people.

[@Dragonflyjones67]

Ed Parker and Bruce taught each other (knowledge exchange). If you look at the trapping techniques in American Kenpo. You will see the similarities. Bruce borrowed and modified techniques that Ed Parker taught him too.

[@tonyvalente]

+Brett Jackson there is no kenpo in JKD. zero. all the crossing legs, backfist to the stomach, elvis front leg curled up, nota.

[@Dragonflyjones67]

Tony Valente I didn't mention anything about Jkd being apart of Kenpo. But since you brought it up. Research or look up Dan Inosanto and Chuck Sullivan's interviews! Back in Bruce's time, Ed Parker and Jun Fan Jkd always borrowed techniques from one another.

[@enzudesign]

Jeff Speakman is great to watch. Such power and speed to his movements

[@PaulOdom-r1s]

My grandmaster was Jim Mitchell 1st generation student of Mr Parker back in 70s.

[@michaelagossnitzer410]

Mister Jeff Spekman is/Was a really great person!!!And olso the best!!!It's a pitty that he's gone!!!Too early!!Like all the other good peopel(Ed Parker,Bruce Lee-Brandon Lee,etc.!!!) Good bless all of you where you are!!!!

[@Rectitude4U]

I met Ed Parker, took classes that he taught, and studied for years under three of his first generation black belts. The comments here are ridiculous.

[@strattuner]

KEMPO will save your life,it helped me,made the difference in a tight spot,train like your life depends on it

[@bluegrasssurvival9423]

A lot of people will say a lot of shit like " Hey this art is garbage, come train in my art instead." It's nothing more then complete trash. In the end it all comes down to how you train, who trains you, and if you take it seriously.

[@55Quirll]

@@bluegrasssurvival9423 You are absolutely correct. It's not which Martial Art is the best, it is which person performs the art the best who wins.

[@clintonmorris7318]

@@strattuner it's Kenpo, not Kempo 😆. Kempo is like Muy Thai.

[@strattuner]

@@clintonmorris7318 that's funny my instructor called it KEMPO and it said KEMPO OVER THE DOOR,i didn't see you there,oh well

[@33drewster]

Loved perfect weapon, kenpo is cool

[@safdarkh786]

Beautiful flow of connected movements though! 💪💪💪❤❤❤

[@dalegribble60]

I would think that Mr Parker would get along great with Mr Lee, with their thoughts of "what works best." They both think outside the martial arts box. But alas, because both are such innovators, it would prove to be quite different.

[@jeetkunedoatlanta2464]

What??? Bruce Lee and Ed Parker were good friends and exchanged many ideas over the years. I would think it says something with the fact that a lot of senior black belts left Kenpo to study with Bruce.

[@Deannatheos]

Kempo is excellent much better than most of them.

[@bratton86]

There isn't a person watching this video that could touch Jeff Speakman. At least that's what I think...

[@gugeyewalker]

lol thats so funny watching ed parker talk like ancient chinese sage lol

[@Bladestar7]

They dubbed his voice.

[@lauriecaspoli5001]

I would welcome any critic of any Martial Art to step in and try t get a hand on any of these gentlemen. good luck

[@christofl6523]

I would crush them.

[@raksh9]

Ed Parker's fight scenes in the Pink Panther movie were shot very, very badly. Imagine if he'd had the benefit of Jeff's director in The Perfect Weapon.

[@michaelanthonyg3851]

Jeff speakman was the weapons instructor for the guards at pelican bay one of the worst prisons in the world

[@deadeye339]

sorry correction Thomas young promoted chow to BB and signed his cert. Chow later promoted himself to 10th Dan

[@terrythefatshark3971]

I just realized he said the name backwards because Kenpo is the Japanese term and the Chinese one is kempo. Also respect, i havent seen an American kempo yet.

[@Shadowman9348]

The Chinese term is "Chuan-Fa" the Japanese term is "Kempo" - they both mean "fist law" when translated.

[@SuperKenster1]

Sam Chow Ed's teacher said Ed was never a Black Belt...Oh and Bruce Lee was never influenced by Kenpo that distinction belongs to Gene Lebell

[@kaldesjarlais375]

+Dennis Curtis unless ed parker knew christ as his saviour,,,,,, hes not in a good place

[@jasonsmith915]

slimmy thompson yes he was influenced bother to read the history chuck norris was to they all trained together bother to read the history and if you bother to read documented arriticals by Bruce he studied with other artist like Ed Parker so he was influenced by others as well

[@scarred10]

slimmy thompson he can't be influenced by more than 1 person ? Gene only taught Bruce grappling and there's very little emphasis on it in jkd

[@christofl6523]

Who cares what color belt he wore? Kenpo is junk regardless.

[@SamCobb]

@@christofl6523 It's not junk, it just works diffrently from other styles like MMA. Kenpo is for a scientific mind and for a smart guy, MMA is about aggresion and strength.

[@sosaix3545]

FGM Ed Parker's one mistake was not clearly giving his first generation black belts an order of succession to continue teaching his art after his passing. This is why you see so many masters like Dennis Conatser, Jeff Speakman, and others create their own schools, each claiming to be the true heir to Ed Parker's teachings.

[@c.i.8317]

GM Parker spoke against the art being traditionalized!!! He said that was his biggest concern. He wanted it to evolve with the individual as they grew within the CONCEPTS Of Kenpo not all the lineage crap that sometimes misleads people into thinking that's what makes a great martial art! Parker and his student have proven over decades that being able to kick ass no Matter the system is what counts. The bad guy will NOT give a shit about your lineage

[@jakeredmond3287]

I was lucky enough to go to kenpo camp and meet ed parkers son ed parker jr. I am a 3rd degree brown belt at gl kenpo

[@elvispresley536]

Ed parker is a master little bit respect please

[@MikeJones-uq4zj]

No! Bruce Lee did not. In fact the old students first met Bruce when he visited the dojo and said everything they were doing was wrong. All these years later they admit he was right. Bruce didn’t train with Ed Parker.

[@KaptainCanuck]

Speakman was, primarily, trained by Larry Tatum if the flow of Kenpo history can be believed.

[@c.i.8317]

Also Speakman lived with Parker a few years as well. You don't think there were things Parker taught and mentored him on? Shut up!!! Tatum stole from Parker which is why he can't use the Parker name but he was taught by Parker. Because of his lack of integrity you don't see Speakman giving a bunch of credence to Tatum because of what he did to the "Old Man" !!!! Speakman NEVER asked Tatum to be anywhere near The Perfect Weapon set or movie project! Do your homework people!!! Also, most of the karateka that are talking dumb stuff nowadays never opened their mouths when GM Parker was alive!! The only reason many of us masters and ranking Black Belts don't always respond TODAY is because we can still kick that ass the way we were trained and true to American Kenpo!!!! 'Nuff said!

[@Djee2007]

@@c.i.8317 Amen brother 🤜🤛

[@davidsonh29]

Elvis Presley did this type of karate. Its cool with me.

[@JackDaniels267]

Davidson Harly Ha ha ha ha have you seen the clips??? He is crap. You clearly have zero knowledge of martial arts. This is bullshit.

[@PaulOdom-r1s]

I have photo that he signed for me.

[@StrangeTimesNear]

When I saw The Perfect Weapon I was like dam mm who is this dude

[@christofl6523]

You do realize that was a movie with special effects, right?

[@scsu5085]

Hate to burst bubbles but, Kenpo does not do those high flashy kicks shown in spearman’s film clip. It’s against Kenpo principals of zone management Bit the movie had done great Kenpo in it, including the disco brawl. Btw, that background song “I Got Power” is so obnoxious and overplayed

[@ForeverStokeley]

I just met Jeff speakman irl.

[@thelastmotel]

ITT a lot of people who are so angry, you can see it in their barrage of typos lol

[@clintonmorris7318]

It's easy when it's all planned out....but real life don't work that way. They wouldn't last a second in a real street fight.

[@SamCobb]

It's all meant to be utilized as a whole, your suposed to let it all mix. Like a master at the shoalin temple said, don't think of what technique or form you'll do, just hit him.

[@danteaurelio5596]

In my opinion Kenpo is the same as Kung fu. The same meaning,the same pronounciation.but written differently.

[@NightFight164]

R.I.P. Ed parker

[@howardstern5669]

I was in the school before in Arizona Phoenix with Mr. Timothy Cucuzza and Mr. Speakman I want to go back to school again I made it up to a purple belt this is the best martial arts in the world Jeff Speakman's American Kenpo karate 5.0 system

[@meigelted]

I was taught this in new york many years ago

[@datawolf2318]

John let himself go.

[@MoeMoe-nu7vt]

Very handsome man

[@safdarkh786]

Isn't it tode (Chinese hand!). When did they(okinawans) called Chinese martial arts taught to them as kenpo ?!

[@ReddKumaJaxon]

🔥🔥🔥👌👌👌👍👍👍

[@alexandermartes1806]

Is Jeff Speakman ok?

[@BrettMorin]

Still bitter Speakman didn't get to do more movies. Goes to show good actors and martial artists can get in Hollywood purgatory under weird contract disputes and never get to do movies.

[@ericte2400]

Parker was influenced by Bruce Lee obliviously. Speakman just showed a wing chun move on Parker in the video. Parker said the okinawans studied with the Chinese, Never happened!! Chinese taught the okinawans, and they developed their own style .

[@AGC828]

Amazes me how many people. Respected MA people. Still use Bruce Lee's name to sell their style. Or themselves. Lee was a charismatic (for his time...early 70's) on-screen personality. That's it. His MA credentials are spotty. The man never competed on any level in MA. There isn't a shred of evidence the famous fight with Wong Jack Man happened. No newspaper articles, photos or film clips. ZERO. We also know Lee never finished studying ANY MA. Yet millions literally to this day continue to worship his image and treat him like he is a God. Considered a "MA icon". How can this be?? He's UNPROVEN. UN-documented as some mega talented martial artist. So what if he looked good on film. It's one thing to be able to do flashy kicks in a pre-planned choreographed fight sequence VS a fight that comes to you suddenly. e.g. street fight. Not even video tape of the attacker to study for months like a professional boxer. MA is "fitness or sport". "Self Defence" is an illusion and income for MA schools. Trying to get people to believe they will be able to take care of themselves in a real situation. No matter how many attackers there are and how much stronger and/or well armed they are. :) Most aren't aware of the variables in a REAL situation...who have never been in a real fight. It's almost never a "one on one vs attacker of similar build/strength/speed"...usually don't see the attack coming...giving you time to get into a Jeff Speakman-Perfect Weapon "fighting stanc/grin"...

[@mortgagefinancing5558]

This art was great in the 19080's when people didnt really have a clue of what real fighting was. Nowthe ultimate fighting people realize that Kenpo is just nonsense wouldn't do anything in a real fight

[@brandona.deimel5155]

I wouldn't necessarily say that is true however due to MMA/UFC etc people are now aware of many aspects of fighting. At some point it all blends.

[@vetteluvnh]

I was a Kenpo student for 10 yrs. Then I went into corrections & bouncing and found out it's almost useless in real world application.

[@Gado3ken]

You mean the Ultimate Fighting people who use weight classes, time limits, and rules? Yeah, OK man.......

[@SamCobb]

Everything we use in Kenpo is from a wide veriety of styles and is a smelting pot of alot of things, and when you read in between the lines is built on a incredible scientific frame work. It is more out dated now days since MMA is involved now, but just try doing what Jeff Speakmen did and mix in BJJ and think about how to defend against multiple attacks. I can garantee you that no matter what people say, that nothing in Kenpo is worthless.

[@mortgagefinancing5558]

@@SamCobb Jack of all trades master of none...the kenpo part doesnt work in a real fight. You would be better off mixing the BJJ with boxing

[@paulocesardossantosmatos4284]

Lutava com Elvis Presley Ed Park

[@r.c.2144]

do you know who help bruce lee? it was Mr. Parker they discuss thing in great detail and learned from one another. Mr. Parker sent his students to tall with him.like Dan inosantos.

[@angryalanrants9574]

Is pink panther the only footage that they could have used ? Hahaha

[@Mediaworkscpv]

Ohh - oh yeah yeah don't forget to name drop Bruce Lee.. as an Ed Parker student 🙄

[@HarPlayer]

I like that song

[@howardstern5669]

Only one they have I've been told is out in Gilbert Arizona it's too far for me please someone let me know if there's a closer one in Phoenix thank you

[@jomess7879]

look up apsk or acs. they teach american, polynesian and chinses kempo as well as other arts. they are very good.

[@matthewhansen9423]

Dude I'm with ya...the one in Gilbert is too far for me too. There used to be a place off of I-17/Thomas and 43rd/Cactus, but they have closed. Sucks.

[@AGC828]

HEH! With all due respect to Jeff Speakman...Notice how he resorted to using Bruce Lee's name to help promote American Kenpo. :) Tells you something about the weight of Bruce's name in the martial arts community. Even Segal used Bruce/Brandon Lee's name to promote himself...Bruce Lee, as far as I know, WAS NOT HEAVILY INFLUENCED BY AMERICAN KENPO..might have studied some with Ed Parker. Might have known Ed Parker briefly having appeared at his tournament in Long Beach back in the day...don't think there was much interaction beyond that.

[@jaytkister]

I am a kenpo blackbelt!

[@christofl6523]

You must be a savage!

[@chrismoore4496]

All this politics is stupid only the techniques is what matter the movements is fantastic .

[@christofl6523]

The Kenpo techniques are crap and will get you knocked out or killed in a real fight.

[@christofl6523]

The techniques do not work against a resisting opponent. Hitting a stationary Uke might look badass but what does it look like against a trained fighter?

[@mattp4079]

Kevin Pollack, Stop with the kicking

[@jjesse8707]

dont see Jim Mitchel here

[@zimroy8544]

Sadly Jim Mitchel passed away a few years ago, He was a good man, I started training in 1978 under Rafugio Flores and still train everyday at 62. GM Ed Parker was the real deal !!! RESPECT !!!

[@deadeye339]

And Parker also was NOT the first to bring martial arts to america.... Robert Trias was. Trias was light years ahead of Parker

[@DONTHATETHEPLAYA321]

actually that's incorrect, Steve Armstrong, Don nagle, Harold Long, and Jim advincula naturalized okinawan Kenpo and coined essentially American Isshinryu karate, they were all United States Marines, and brought it back...so that guy.you listed was mad late.

[@deadeye339]

Steve Armstrong was one of Trias student. I didn't say the only one,,, I said One of his students. And YES O Trias Sensei WAS the FIRST. I don't read this stuff in books, I learn from those who were actually there in the tournaments at the Time!!!

[@myboigeorge5576]

+deadeye339 You shouldn't be waisting your energy fighting in the comments it makes you look unwise, what you should be doing instead is train and not waste your time here arguing with people on KZbin.

[@Petey0707]

What a cop out comment, Stormtrooper. xD

[@scarred10]

Phenom Azure those guys were second generation, triad is known to be the first

[@vonrechner9618]

F Jeff Speakman. He screwed over Ed Parker.

[@williams-wr5lg]

LOL Ed Parker's hair......hahahahaha

[@derickb9687]

Kempo is nothing more than a choreographey of dance moves

[@jxmb_nike5698]

Derick B Perhaps you’d like to “dance” with either one of these gentlemen, and tell us what you think of their moves. 😜

[@Fastjimmy041]

So fast

[@deadeye339]

Here is a piece of info to you all,,,, Mitose only permoted chow and all his black belts to 1st. dan. and mitose didnt sign ed parkers certificate... Thomas Young actually did. He nor chow had authority to sign it. So all of American Kenpo is not ligit. Just saying...... Its true...

[@deadeye339]

ok conrad artchannel, good comment however BJJ's roots is actually from japanese Tai jitsu. Helio Gracies uncle, i forget his name, along with hi grandfather who were ranked in the system taught helio. Then helio americanized it and formed his own system. Yes no one promoted him in Brazilian JJ. But what people dont always understand is that a GRAND MASTER title or professor trtaditionally meant the head of the organziation. Such as a leader. Not necissarly the "know it all" of the art. And i never said it isnt a real martial art! i simply said its not legit. Becuase YOUR so called founder of kenpo CHOW was not officially or rightfully promoted and signed as a black belt in that art. A brown was as high as he achieved. It was more or less a self promoted rank!

[@KajukenboPortugal]

deadeye339 Ed Parker is a founder...he studied with Prof Chow when Sijo Adriano Emperado(Kajukenbo founder) was Prof Chow's most senior instructor...Altough Mr. Parker didn't stay too much training with them he did a very good job in his version of Kenpo and the development of all Kenpo styles born in Hawaii. Mahalo nui

[@deadeye339]

Yes i know that Kajukenbo Portugal. I stated that above. The point i am making is Chow was never permoted officially to a black belt. Therefore, HE had no authority to promote anybody including Parker to a black belt level. But its all political anyhow

[@KajukenboPortugal]

Who promoted MITOSE then? :-) it is what it is...

[@rachelbeaulac4567]

I've seen American Kenpo at its finest nothing beats it when the vessel is strong. Not to mention that kenpo is immensely dangerous when reaching levels higher than black belt. I personally have seen a man rip the heart of a bull out using the teachings of kenpo, as would be similar to the Human chest. as for Ed parker the man was brilliant and developed skills much greater than even most "tenths" could hone

[@cluman1]

I see Jeff doing his Seagall impression as he gets older....lay off the ice cream guys.

[@siquan]

Kempo is one chi fart from akido

[@bluegrasssurvival9423]

Actually when the UFC began a Kenpo guy took on a really big dude much larger and stronger then himself, used the guy's weight against him and kick his damned tooth out.I know that everyone thinks that BJJ is the end all be all but it seems to me that if you get jumped you are screwed. While you are rolling on the ground with one guy the others are stomping your freaking head in. Don't get me wrong BJJ is great in a 1 v 1 situation, but being able to fight on your feet is a skill that's not truly appreciated these days.

[@Patriot2332]

You can't even spell it right dumbass! I have Blackbelts in 2 other systems and I'm currently taking Kenpo, Kenpo is a legit Martial arts! My Kenpo Master who has 6 other Blackbelts will tell you the same! Idiot

[@toddjohnson1294]

he is God to me.phenomal

[@eduardoribeiro1855]

American Karate is the fake karate... The life isnt a Hollywood movie

[@jessiewalker6918]

Eduardo Ribeiro wait you mean transformers and gremlins are not real, shit, thanks for letting me know this info you grand wizard

[@jaytkister]

Then clearly you dont understand

[@bundy4prez462]

I don't see much difference between this and the other striking arts. Fancy punching and kicking with blocking strikes.

[@lylesuperfoot]

Bruce used zero kenp o in jkd, kenp o based on dead energy, dissecting a dead corpse throwing step through punches ???????? Every been in a real fight Parker ????

[@markhartman6339]

Do your history. My master is joe palanzo I was taught pure kenpo and not Hollywood bullshit. Kenpo teaches u how not to be afraid. Van dame past his legs and he is done. No hands. I also learned wing jung and these two together is explosive. Tae jung and tae sut If u know anything, tell me what this means

[@brianhornbuckle9911]

Street fighter in Honolulu? LOL

[@reygarcia9169]

kenpo is no a Chinese word another charlatan

[@christofl6523]

Trained in this garbage art before realizing I was wasting my time. 90% of the Kenpo techniques don't work at all in a real fight as well as all the forms. Learn to box, Muay Thai kicks, wrestle, Judo throws with BJJ submissions instead.

[@davidbailey6397]

Yessir. You are correct,sir.

[@Kamingo170]

Idk man, I'm a 4th degree in American Kenpo and I do street sparring and I've gone against guys that did 'muay thai' and I've literally kicked their asses

[@christfollower6772]

I read that Ed Parker never actually earned a black belt, but instead wrote or forged his own credentials to make himself a blackbelt.

[@SuperKenster1]

+Christ Follower True

[@fartsare2023]

r u serious? omg what a fraud.

[@rickc16]

he made his own. belt color doesn't mean shit anyway.

[@SamCobb]

The creator of tracey Kenpo said himself that Ed Parker really did earn a third black belt from his teacher William Chow. Dont believe that locker room gosip that says he didnt earn a black belt.