The Perfect Weapon: Jeff Speakman's Kenpo Classic Is Awesome!

While Stallone and Schwarzenegger took the 80s by storm with their famous brand of one-man-army spectacles, the latter part of the decade would also see a new breed of tough guys branch out into a different trend of action. It wasn’t only about the ripped muscles and the gunplay and explosions. After martial arts had gone mainstream, stars such as Chuck Norris, Jean-Claude Van Damme and Steven Seagal would carve out their own little place at the box office as they brought their expertise of hand-to-hand combat to the masses.
Naturally, other studios would want to get in on the action and the best thing about jumping on this trend is the fact that there is still an aspect of originality since each star would be spotlighting a specific sect of martial arts. For example, Michael Dudikoff would showcase Ninjitsu, Seagal showcased Aikido, Phillip Rhee showcased Tae Kwan Do, and the new gun in town, Jeff Speakman, would show off his mastery in the art of Kenpo in the 1991 film The Perfect Weapon, which is the movie we take a look at in this episode of Reel Action.
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#JeffSpeakman #ThePerfectWeapon #ReelAction

[@danielmankowski922]

It’s good to see the respect this movie is getting in the comments. I actually met Jeff Speakman back in college. He was staying at a hotel I worked at and truly one of the most humble and down to earth guys . Was happy to hear he recovered from throat cancer and is still kicking butt! 😎

[@acmartialarts2227]

Throat goat

[@JV-ll1cu]

That Scott Adkins' interview with him is great

[@centrist1008]

Jeff Speakman criminally underrated.

[@sbgoldma]

I totally agree 👍 He is an amazing martial artist!!

[@JV-ll1cu]

Highly underrated movie

[@G-Thang26]

Absolutely 💯

[@JerkVegas86]

The 600 piece combo he gives that guy in the gym is insane!! 🥋

[@anthonycerulli5524]

If he was in Killer Instinct it would have been considered an ULTRA COMBO. lol.

[@LSMGinc]

Yes!! I LOVED this movie growing up. Easily one of the best martial arts movies of the 90s

[@jasonaugustine3370]

One of the best parts of the movie is the speech his master gives him about the tiger and the dragon.

[@cwrichardson3]

No... the action is much better than that garbage.

[@radeksparowski7174]

yup, one of my secret treasures, love that eras hidden gems that were around mostly on pirated VHS tapes... loren avedon, cynthia rothrock, mathias hues....good old times.......

[@deluzionconfuzion]

Love this movie, the VHS tape got passed around my dojo back in the day, Jeff got some good lines in this movie that just made him seem like such a badass. Definitely a classic action flick.

[@blockmasterscott]

Oh man, I remember seeing this in the theater. That one evening led to 15 years of Kenpo and 2nd Dan. Thank you Mr. Speakman!

[@bobbressi5414]

I forgot that James Hong AND Mako were in this movie. Love them both!

[@asifkhan4822]

A hugely underrated movie 🍿 that didn't quite get Jeff Speakman the respect he deserved. Ironically Speed was supposed to be originally the third of his deal with Paramount Pictures. It didn't quite pan out and in the end went to Fox and ended up with Keanu Reeves instead.

[@emperortrevornorton3119]

100% true comment I truly believe he should have been bigger in fame instead of a what was his name who the hell is he

[@hardattackdj]

I don’t know how this ended up on my feed, or how I accidentally tapped the video while listening to another podcast on KZbin, but I immediately was brought back to my childhood and had to watch this

[@djmexicanodetx2195]

I've got the power opening! It's one of my childhood favorites!

[@alexanderkantakusiniii8411]

Hell yeah born in 83

[@philipjacobsen8488]

Dude! I used to go to Jeff Speakman’s Kenpo Karate in the San Bernardino Mountains and I am so psyched to see this. Guy gave me a signed film still for my birthday.

[@crashingatom6755]

The Ed Parker Kenpo schools around Chicago trained up some beasts, man. I had some friends in those schools that were absolutely excellent fighters.

[@alexanderkantakusiniii8411]

Born in 83, my sensei took me to see this in the theater.

[@MrJimbofox]

Jeff would wipe the floor with 99% of the Hollywood "martial arts" experts. That dude was a legit BMF.

[@ebogar42]

Fat Steven Seagal would smash him.

[@TyeMorrisVlog]

I remember seeing this as a kid with my dad. We had already been studying kenpo for a few years together and thought it was pretty rad this kenpo guy we'd never heard of made a movie. Fast forward to the 2000s, as an adult Jeff Speakman opened up a dojo near Salt Lake City of all places. I'd been away from kenpo for a few years while studying kendo, and the Speakman Kenpo 5.0 dojo opened up right next to my community gym I'd been training at, so I gave it a shot. He would come out from time to time to check on the progress of the franchise and students and whatnot. Super cool guy!

[@forrestcrabbe]

I used to watch this movie all the time when i was a kid, it's great 🤘

[@jediknightjairinaiki560]

I really like "The Perfect Weapon". I rented it from my local grocery store numerous times.

[@pozzibleMovies]

I loved this movie, one of the all time greats that still holds up today, I really wanted Speakman to be up there with the best of them, and I am really happy to hear that he beat cancer

[@supahsonik]

Over a decade ago, I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Speakman while practicing Kenpo here in Australia. He was incredibly nice, down-to-earth, and truly passionate about martial arts. A friend recently recommended his early 90s action movie to me. For what it is, I found it to be a decent film-definitely better than some of the less impressive action flicks we see today.

[@ministerofdarkness]

Man dude if Speakman had hit the big screen a few years earlier, he might've made it. I remember this movie was heavily promoted, but the genre was definitely showing signs of overkill.

[@Stamatos]

I never knew there was a TV version of this... come on MVD Rewind, let's get a special edition, PLEASE!

[@thedarkknight1971]

11:23 - AND as the bowler hat flinging 'Oddjob' in James Bond - 'Goldfinger' 😏😉

[@gx12]

I think the time is right for Joblo to cover No Retreat No Surrender 1, 2, and 3. 🤘🍿

[@seancroft7939]

Wow this was a one-hit wonder back in the day! I always think of that song when I think of this movie... Jeff Speakman brought the goods in this film. It was fun to watch at the time because the style was so different than Van Damme or Steven seagal.. really chopping guys down with his hands with sticks it's pretty cool. Very grounded 2 as to fight in a dojo stands out in my mind.. he's taking his lumps.. so you're more invested in the sky because he's not invincible! This is like a tie with Rapid Fire ,another underrated solid action story with decent acting.

[@EVGriffinJr]

Very underrated popcorn movie. The plot wasn’t much, but the action was awesome!

[@brandonpage7087]

OMG, growing up, this movie was constantly playing in my home!! My dad introduced us to the Perfect Weapon, & we fell in love!! This was also the movie that introduced me to, & that I most closely associate with, "I got the power"!! Afterwards, my lil bro & I began playing movies with our action figures, & because of perfect weapon, we constantly sang "I got the power", at the end of our toy movies, LMAO!!! I still am incredibly disappointed that Jeff Speakman never became the huge star that he was destined to be!

[@Fernando_616]

As a kid in the ealry 90s, a friend of mine was in kenpo. Apparently his sensei was buddys with this guy. My friend had one of the cardboard stand-ups you would see at the video store or theater of him from this movie autographed. One of the first times I can remember being jealous as a kid lol

[@jamesmorant1406]

Watched this movie all the time on HBO as a kid loved it

[@FleetwoodTheProfit]

Was coming to say something similar. Definitely a cult classic among old school HBO viewers and martial arts movie fans.

[@jamesmorant1406]

@FleetwoodTheProfit IT was fun being a kid back then

[@FleetwoodTheProfit]

@@jamesmorant1406 Sho nuff!

[@jamesmorant1406]

@FleetwoodTheProfit We will be downstairs and watch horror movies late at night while our parents be upstairs sleeping

[@FleetwoodTheProfit]

@@jamesmorant1406 Don't be the first to fall asleep!

[@miversen2674]

My uncle George Iversen was a grand master in Iversen Kajukenbo as well as world champion in full contact karate which is primarily a variation of Kenpo karate. It was awesome to see Kenpo get it's time in the sun. I just wish Speakman was given more opportunities to showcase just how awesome Kenpo karate is. Overwhelming your appointment with a flurry of quick strikes is the hallmark of Kenpo.

[@charlesmcdermott4101]

One of my favorite movies

[@jediapostleknight]

Classic 90s action movie! Love it!

[@OperativeD]

This is hands down my favorite 90's cable action flick. Watched it a lot growing up on HBO since they showed it constantly. Too bad Jeff Speakman didn't make more of a splash in the action movie scene, but at least we got this diamond in the rough to see.

[@Aramis75]

Mako was also "Uncle Iroh" in "Avatar: The Last Airbender" cartoon series. Arguably his most defining role. He was the mentor figure to "Zuko" which was played by none other than Dante Bosco. Go figure. Pretty cool. James Hong also played Po's dad in the "Kung Fu Panda" series.

[@JBalderas1990]

I laughed so hard at the intro of this movie. Opening up to “I got the power” with Jeff Speakman doing martial arts was soooo 90s. But it’s awesome.

[@ralphwheat1536]

I really liked this film as well as the actor, Jeff Speakman.

[@theresidentteacher2438]

Showdown In Little Tokyo was AWESOME. ANOTHER HBO Thursday Night PRIME Gem.

[@TheSpakksen]

Loved this movie when I first saw it in the early 2000 on TV. I need to watch the youtube extended. :) Great video.

[@PhilLeotardosGhost]

Underrated film. This and Stone Cold with Brian Bosworth. Oh and I come in peace with Dolph.

[@SeanChandlerTalksAbout]

Love this movie. The gym fight is an all timer

[@starvinmarvin4038]

It was one of my favourite movies when it came out I really enjoyed it I even had it on VHS

[@chriswilson3126]

Great movie and a must watch for fans of 80s 90s MA movies. I wish Speakman could have made a few more movies.

[@jarenbigelow8606]

wadda mean lost! saw this at the theater

[@Dr_1212]

Aweeone movie Love the tiger dragon ring story 😎 I tell that to my kids 👍

[@jarenbigelow8606]

there was a run on silver rings in my town because of this film.

[@Dr_1212]

​@@jarenbigelow8606😆👍

[@UltraInstinctBattousai]

Those combos....JEEZ WYF 3:44 Captain Olivia Benson ❤❤❤❤

[@Bluboy30]

I loved this film, I've watched it on VHS many times throughout my teen years. I think the reason Speakman never became an action star like Seagal or Van Damme is because he looks like a regular suburban dad and not a bad ass or weird looking like Seagal. 😂

[@flyguy7825]

Love the perfect weapon it’s such an underrated martial arts movie Jeff speaks man really is the real deal. I’ve had friends who study Kimpo and studied under him it’s a martial art that people have completely discredited, which is a damn shame people who discredit martial art are the ones who don’t understand it and don’t get it be that as of May I wish Jeff would’ve made it bigger in the movies

[@Onegoodman68]

To quote Apollo Creed he was “lightning fast and hard to catch.“ and his kenpo karate is sharp and powerful as well

[@chris55529]

Love the John Dye clone-joke!

[@alexanderkantakusiniii8411]

"I GOT THE POWER!"

[@chrislail3824]

I took Kenpo for awhile, while it looks a little slappy in this movie it’s a fairly solid fighting style. It was geared towards real fights, so it has an element of hitting people until they stop moving.. Also a lot of practical practice, I was often made to spar against two people at once because it was a likely scenario in the street. Though I’m a bit older so my style has shifted to a simpler dirty boxing with some aspects of 52 Blocks.

[@td1516]

Kino Lorber just released a Special Edition of this movie last month. I got it on Blu ray today. Yay!

[@krono5el]

aw man i really luved Mako in Sidekicks, still remember and use the breathing techniques for running from that flick : p

[@rhinox3474]

Jeff got robbed. Awesome movie.amd a favorite of mine. He should have been a bigger star

[@shadowvessel]

This was awesome. Thank you.

[@reggiefurlow1]

This movie was tough

[@JimmyRaptis]

This movie, Big Trouble in little china, Showdown in little tokyo were staples of Australian late night tv in the 90s

[@snoo333]

i loved this movie. also realize that the movies of the 90's had that color or tint I just love. bro Mako (rip) was in Conan the Barbarian. that's what i think of when i see him. thanks

[@Lardfist0]

Cool movie 👍

[@Geronimo_Jehoshaphat]

Haven't seen this movie in 30 years, but I remember watching it a lot as a kid. Kinda like Only The Strong.

[@pingamalinga]

Good 80s flick for sure.

[@jameswelch7403]

I USED TO LOVE THIS MOVIE AS A KID WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO THIS DUDE HE WAS BAD ASS

[@UMNightlife]

The training montage is pretty dope

[@michaellutcher214]

I definitely remember that movie me and my brother rest in peace used to love the movie like everyone said it was nothing new brought to the table but still very good movie when it came out I definitely remember and have cool memories of it watching it with my younger brother

[@swst]

Loved this movie when I was younger & Jeff Speakman for some reason always reminded me of Steve Blackman from the WWE 🤣😂🤣😂

[@robg5640]

So Jeff was allied with the Fire Nation. Dante Basco and Mako - Prince Zuko and Uncle Iroh from Avatar: The Last Airbender. Cool. 👍

[@amparovillalta6465]

Can't wait to watch it!

[@Captain-Palsy]

This was a staple on HBO 4 me.

[@HiddenSoulsMusic]

Jeff Speakman is one of the few martial artists Steven Seagal actually had respect for. I'm a fan of The Perfect Weapon.

[@Pseedholm]

You shouldn’t put any stock into seagals opinion of anyone. He counts Lukashenko as one of his friends and considers him a “good person”

[@Axolotl_Mischief]

Yeah Speakman's great but Seagal's opinion isn't worth anything in the minds of most people, and for good reasons.

[@MetalNeverDieswithMarkA]

That was his best movie. I remember Street Justice as well. I don’t know too much after that one. I remember him in another later movie but he looked chubbier. Great movie either way

[@CentralOSurvival]

I love this channel!!

[@BooboosANDBloodshed_95]

Appa would sneak attack and obliterate those goons easily 😅😅😅 this is off-topic, but I love Kim's Convenience old cheesy martial arts films 😅😅

[@Onegoodman68]

Jeff Speakman can move at light speed as far as I’m concerned

[@a.freeland179]

As kid I stretched out my VHS copy of this....haha

[@mizukarate]

Things worked out. He has Kempo 2.0

[@ericseitzler81]

How can you do this whole video and not mention his ring??that idea was awesome!

[@BooboosANDBloodshed_95]

O my love, this movie has both Uncle Iroh and Zuko? ??😅😅

[@jarenbigelow8606]

seventh yes!

[@MarioLamRedRebel]

A classic American martial arts movie 🎬🎥 one of a few because the Hong Kong movies are still the best 🥋 OSU 🥋

[@vonifictuos999]

The kata looks like long form 4

[@Tonedogg24]

I got the Power!!

[@FleetwoodTheProfit]

Definitely a cult classic. My friend group in elementary school watched this and thought it was awesome.

[@RyuDaBurninator]

Zuko and Uncle Iroh were together before Avatar. Lol

[@ranger51262]

"You're Not That Big"- Jeff Sanders

[@uniqueflowsnake]

11:08 MOTHEREFFIN SHANG TSUNG AND IS THAT EFFIN RUFIO!? 11:49

[@kj6446]

No offense to Linden Ashby but Jeff should have played Johnny Cage in the Mortal Combat film (1995).

[@Koexistence13]

Did Speakman compete?

[@Koexistence13]

I always felt bad for the guy in the gym getting hit/slapped multiple times in for real to make the shot look good in this flick

[@jarenbigelow8606]

you forgot BladeRunner but he just did eyes

[@theresidentteacher2438]

HBO Thursday Night PRIME Mofos!!!!

[@ZakEmber]

I was a big Van Damme fan as a kid... until I saw Rumble in the Bronx and The Perfect Weapon. At that point, I lost all respect for JCVD's fight scenes. Jeff doesn't get enough credit in this film. No, the acting isn't great, the story is very good, and the budget was pretty subpar. BUT... his fight scenes more than made up for it, especially next to the trash fights Van Damme had in his movies! If Speakman had been slightly better as an actor and the timing had been different, I think he would have been a bigger name. As it is, He's one of the first two guys who really got me curious about martial arts and ruined me completely for all of Van Damme's fight scenes. Once you watch Jackie Chan's films and their choreography, or the speed that was being put into Speakman's, you just can't look at Segal or Van Damme the same way again.

[@emperortrevornorton3119]

Jeff is to under rated for being a martial artist entertainer he might be a small fry compared to some of the greats like Jackie or Bruce

[@jarenbigelow8606]

"those aren't slaps"

[@migovas1483]

this movie came too late by 1991 ...probably the non stop Hollywood machine giving so many martial arts movies that got worse each time did not help... and this had not much to differentiate.. would have come 2-3 years earlier , would have been different.. Van Damme was almost on his way out.. and Steven Seagal was also, too sad. The landscape was changing, it was either Comedy, or 'Deep' investigation, lawyer, military movies, also the X-Files wave was still high, and the conspiracy trend was building up, Special effects were getting higher, now we had more 'serious' sci-fi too.. so no need to rely on 'action' as in martial arts...this movie is probably the closer we get to a 'end of an era'..

[@psilva2462]

This movie was awful even at the time

[@metalmocha5118]

Excellent eye. I've seen this movie countless times and played every MK game countless times, but I never really made that connection. He does resemble Lui Kang.

[@ministerofdarkness]

Man dude if Speakman had hit the big screen a few years earlier, he might've made it. I remember this movie was heavily promoted, but the genre was definitely showing signs of overkill.