Top notch character, through and through. Huge respect... he has EARNED that belt, no doubt. His students are very lucky.

As a Goju-Ryu practitioner, I am grateful to you for making this interview happen. The perspective and experience of the venerable Mr. Speakman in both martial arts is full of wisdom, understanding, and creativity of how the two systems benefit each other most. Furthermore, it gives me a better understanding and appreciation for Goju-Ryu and for American Kenpo. Indeed, the rooted stance and the breath technique emphasized in Goju-Ryu maximizes power delivery, and it could be applied to any martial art. Also, I would add that circular / soft redirecting techniques in Goju become paramount in intermediate and advanced curriculum, and I am very interested in how other arts use these soft technique principles originated in Chinese martial arts.

goju ryu is one of the most hardcore style right next to Uechi ryu

Goju Ryu is my main style, the style really connected with me and I always love it. I’m glad Jeff enjoyed it and applied it to his Kenpo. The kata he did in the Perfect Weapon that has Goju Ryu roots is called Tensho, the kata that embodies the soft side of Goju Ryu

Man, that was awesome! I've never done Kenpo in my life and I could listen to Jeff Speakman talk about it all day. What a wealth of knowledge and history

I wish Jeff would have had the opportunity to grow in to a major action star. Lost opportunity for the martial arts film community that he didn't blow up.

I loved the Perfect Weapon growing up. I just wish Mr. Speakman had done more movies. Another great interview.

I remember watching the perfect weapon as a kid watching Jeff Speakman do the improvised movement at the beginning and mimicking them rewinding the VHS and rewatching

In my experience Lou Angel was one of the kindest, most sophisticated gentlemen I've ever met. He was a true humanitarian.

I remember when I was a kid, we used to play and re-play The Perfect Weapon. Such an underrated movie from that era. I STILL have the VHS that we played the hell out of. (AND IT STILL WORKS.) How Jeff Speakman didn't become a huge star blows my mind. The guy had all the makings of an action star.

Hey, Jake Barrett it’s John Kane from Street Knight. Still now training 61 years in Martial Arts 🥋. I remember the first I K C in 1964 Long Beach 🏝️ California. Thanks for being my partner for my 5th Degree Black Belt, May 22, 1986. Respectively , Ed Parker’s adopted Kenpo Son. You were at my School 🏫 in 2005 for a Seminar and I had to go to the Doctor’s to take out my Staples when I torn off my right Bicep in Portugal 🇵🇹 at a Boxing 🥊 Gym. Now, 2 hips, 2 knees, and I new total shoulder; so take care of yourself and your body. Peace Be With You. 🥋🐉🦯🔪☮️❤️✝️🕊️🙋‍♂️

You do your teachers proud, Sensei Speakman. I see their teaching & honor shining through you.

Jeff Speakman is a great master. I always enjoy hearing his words

I know that there is no way I am the only one that seems Jeff Speakman life should be made into a movie

Thanks Mr. Dan for another awesome interview with Master Speakman. Having had Goju experience in my past, it was excellent to hear how Speakman entered the arts through Goju. I remember seeing the Perfect Weapon back in 91’ and was blown away by the speed and fluidity of movement demonstrated by Speakman, that movie had a lot of influence on my path in the martial arts and pretty sure for others as well. Hearing some of Master Speakman’s thoughts and philosophies was awesome and thanks again for the excellent interview and great content on the channel.

Literally interviewing one of my heroes... the first VHS that my dad brought home when I was a kid was the perfect weapon, along with Way of the dragon... it was the reason I sought out a Kenpo instructor in Indiana, arriving to a mentor and friend of mine Don Fleetwood. I earned my 1st Dan under him. Amazing information and amazing discussions!!! Brutha please keep doing what you're doing!!!

Mr. Parkers legacy continues to breathe, grow and evolve. Well after he has left us. To me, that is superhuman. Mad respect.

That taekwondo scene is classic. I'm a TKD guy. And it was awesome to see our friendly rivalry play out in a movie. The groin kicks were on point lol...

Great interview. Respect to GM Jeff Speakman for all that he has accomplished and also for giving my late teacher, GM Lou Angel, much love and respect. Good to see my photo being used in the video that I took when GM Lou Angel stood at my house in California and I took him down to GM Speakman's office in L.A. with Jeff Langton. Before that we took him to see a film that I was in "Maximum Force". Anyway, great job with your interviews and videos. Much love and respect to GM Speakman. Osu!

Jeff Speakman is one of the most under rated artists in the public genre, movies, etc.. I tell people about hom whenever the topic is appropriate. I'd like to meet him one day but I fear those times are behind both of us.. I'm not getting around and he's got a world of responsibilities which he handles greatly. I'm impressed with the way he's picked up the torch and carried on. I had taken Kenpo in the bay area in the early 70s, then Tang Soo Do from a Norris school and had the privilege of meeting Ed Parker when I competed at the Ed Parker Invitational in Spokane in '80.. A very electric personality. I, too, have been fortunate.

Trained under Teruo Chinen for a few years. Started off as a college class, then I attended his Dojo. When I saw Perfect Weapon I recognized the Goju-Ryu techniques in the kata. Sensei Chinen was fantastic to train under. Soft spoken but very traditional and structured during the class. He was also great with training children. RIP Sensei Chinen. Goju-Ryu makes you a better person all around.

I want one of those Kenpo Karate shirts because I just started Kenpo Karate this months I understand how Mr.Speakman is saying Everytime I go to the class and I am a beginner. Under Mr. Max Panther Kenpo and he is 5th Dan. And I came from Tang Soo do and Kokikkai Ryu Aikido he said he wanted me there to put my stuff together with Kenpo Karate.

Simply put: OUTSTANDING JOB SIR!!!

I have not watched a more refreshing, uplifting, heart warming, informative, and positive interview. Mr. Speakman epitomizes what a martial arts master should be and characteristics to demonstrate. Wisdom, strength, and kindness. American Kenpo Karate fan or not I do not understand how a human being could disrespect Mr. Speakman or yourself. Thank you for the fantastic interview and video.

Hi Miss Jeff Speakman’s I haven’t been in school since 2007 because my mom passed away of COPD massive castrate a coronary disease Through that it got me very very depressed and that’s why I left but I wanna go back so bad because the love that he taught me through Kenpo Karate 5.0 I trained with Tim Cucuzza sensei Cucuzza that’s what I’m trying to say and other judges for when I was competing against another school or my own school for my belts through testing I miss my school it was so fun thank you Jeff Speakman’s I hope I can come back again I live in Phoenix Arizona you only have one school but they’re out in Gilbert Arizona too far for me I wish there was one closer to Phoenix so I can go back again I miss your school much respect to you master sensei Jeff Speakman’s thank you for giving me the power 🔥

Masaichi Oshiro got his kenpo black belt from Mitose and Chow and trained beside Ed Parker, I have seen the photos. He formed his own style Te ken Jutsu, and later became a Goju Kai instructor, bringing his students with him. A small group went from kenpo to goju. Of that group there were some Goju legends. Their goju was different because the kenpo had already made them strong. one was a legendary fighter, and had strong kata. enough he gained the respect of the okinawans and japanese. If you know you know

I spent several years following Kenpo and I loved it. I had to stop due to physical issues which has always frustrated me as I wanted to continue. Tons of love and respect to you Master Speakman

what an in depth interview ,much respect to Mr. Speakman.Good to see the traditional arts get the respect they deserve.

Great interview Sensei Dan. Thank you Master Speakman. I studied for two years under Goesi Yamaguchi the son of Gogen Yamaguchi at San Francisco State University and also visited the Dojo on 18th and Collinwood. Later after graduating returned to Sacramento and Studied Tae Kwon Do in Sacramento. I later competed in the Police Olympics and the guys in the film master Speakman spoke in the Tae Kwon Do Dojang one Samoan Guy was the heavy weight Gold Meadelist and I won a bronze meadel. The team that was the strongest was the LAPD Karate team. All these years later I am a Fist Dan Okinawan Shorin Ryu and a recomended first degree in Tae kwon Do. All this being said I am scheduled for surgery 64 years old and hope to continue my martial arts journey.

Awesome, thanks for posting! Great for you, a fellow Kenpo practitioner to be able to interview such a legend.

Mr. Speakman, in 1990 I trained at Barbara Hale's Ventura Kenpo. She drove the two of us down to the West Los Angeles studio to watch Entertainment Tonight film you and Mr. Parker. The ventilation system in the studio was not working and ET had their very hot studio lights shining on you. The studio became so unbelievably hot that one of the lights caught on fire. Regrettably, Barbara was not able to introduce me to either yourself or Mr. Parker.

Awesome interview Dan Sensei! It is very encouraging to see such positivity from Jeff Speakman. He is an excellent spokesman for all martial arts….just as you are Dan my man! 😁👍🙏 Osu!

This was a great interview with some really good history and training perspectives. Mr. Speakman was great to listen to. Thank you

Cool interview. Speakman is definitely not a guy you want to pick a fight with. I appreciated his positive message.

Love hearing stories from students of Gogen Yamaguchi. I train under Joseph Lopez, who trained Goju under Gogen/Gosei Yamaguchi and ran the New York Goju Kai in the 1960s/70s.

As a Goju Ryu practitioner with an appreciation for Kenpo, this was a pleasure to watch.

This man speaks truth, shows respect 🙏🏻

Awesome. I just discovered your channel. I don’t do Kenpo but am fascinated by it. Loved the Perfect Weapon still do! Now I know the stick things was just Kenpo not FMA. I always figured it was FMA or something

Goju Okinawan style and Karate is a great style for POWER TRAINING, Kenpo by Ed Parker is a modernized form of Chinese Kung Fu with American flashy fluid movements mixed with Filipino Martial Arts = Perfect Weapon / Jeff Speakman movie style.

Jeff is the real deal

Just loving this second round with Jeff S. My original art is HQ in Elgin, IL, near where Jeff grew up. I am very familiar with the Joplin area and MSSU, and I recall reading about Lou Angel in the martial arts mags I constantly read in the 80s and 90s.

Mr Speakman is a great man & the BEST in his talents!

I am beyond impressed! I have no more words than those. I can feel his love for the world.

Many thanks for this great interview with such an amazing master :)

Excellent interview, delightful information on the subject. Fantastic work as normal!! 10 stars out of five!!

The kali in kenpo came from Guru Dan Inosanto . He is the second of Ed's famous students , Elvis being the first .

Hats off to you Mr Sanz, another informative video. I don't know enough about Goju Ryu, but I am going to have to watch your deep dive on it, it is on my list, just didn't have the time for anything till recently. There is so much information in these videos, I had to watch it twice :D

What a great interview!

So I'm hype for these because Goju and Kempo have been big on the self defense scene for a long time. This series just has so much heart. It pays so much respect to folks who put in work and helped build the roads that we are able to enjoy today.. And these heros are so damn human and these videos help. Speakman definitely of master class.

The more I listen to him the more admiration I have for Mr. Speakman. Respect!

My respect always. When he said respect, he caught my heart. As an artist it makes me feel happy.

Jeff is the best inside and out. You did an excellent interview

Thank you Master Speakman! I wished I could remember all the different kata’s from white to orange belt just to stay fit!

Yet again another enlightening interview with Master Jeff Speakman, where he continues to shine the light, regarding his martial arts journey and his purpose of spreading the wisdom and knowledge that he has gained from his masters. How wonderful, selfless and exemplary of Master Lou Angel, to have written a referral letter for Master Speakman, to Grandmaster Ed Parker, asking him to take his former student, to continue to further his martial arts journey. Not many masters if hardly any would have had the humility, the selfless virtue to have recognised, that their student or students at some point, would be individually suited to go and study under someone, in order to be able to achieve their own individual full potential. Likewise is was wonderful and admirable to see, that Grandmaster Ed Parker was benevolent in welcoming, his good friend Lou Angel's former student, to further his martial arts journey. It was amazing to see that both Master Speakman and his teacher, Grandmaster Ed Parker were both able to work together in the fighting choreography of The Perfect Weapon movie, which was then successfully introduced through the film entailment medium to the rest of the world. I myself was surprised to see that in the film, Master Jeff Speakman was doing partially a segment of the Tensho Kata, which we ourselves in Kyokushin Karate have inherited from Goju-Ryu Karate, as one of our martial arts foundations, aside from Shotokan Karate. I however never knew that Master Speakman was originally a Goju-Ryu Karate practitioner, whom he had wanted to showcase such small segment of the Tensho kata, so as to honour his first martial arts mentor, Master Lou Angel from his Goju-Ryu Karate days. 剛柔流空手道 (Gōjū-ryū Karate-Do) are the Kanjis (Japanese/Chinese) characters embroidered on Master Jeff Speakman's belt, that he was showing when Sensei Dan asked him about the significance of the colours of his belt. 'The Way Of The Hard-Soft Style Karate' is the loose translation of those Japanese/Chinese Kanjis (characters) if someone might be wondering regarding its meaning, which in terms reaffirms what Master Speakman mentioned in the previous video interview, then here once again regarding his philosophy of focusing on power, soft, hard, linear and ultimately circular motion of execution, regarding his martial arts techniques. Thank you Master Jeff Speakman, also Sensei Dan for both yielding your valuable time, to bring us a further insight into the art of American Kenpo Karate, as well as its enigmatic founder, the late Grandmaster Ed Parker, Osu🇲🇽🇦🇺🥋🙏!

Well done interview Dan with Master Speakman !!Oss

ive wanted to train in american kempo ever since i saw the perfect weapon, i love the movements and how they flow, plus all the strikes at all the different angles and stuff like that. i dont care to get into a fight i just would love to learn the art itself

loved this interview!

Big admirer of Mr Jeff Speakman!

Outstanding interview.

This interview is so beautiful man

Very interesting video!! Thanks for bringing such high quality content to us!! As an Okinawan Goju Ryu practicioner it is a very interesting to hear the point of view of Master Speakman, it actually sounds like Kempo is closer to my style of karate than Japanese Goju Ryu. PD: HUGE fan of Perfect Weapon

Even more respect - great details and interview!!

Goju ryu was my first style and honestly it was my favorite. Sadly, my school closed down and there were no other teachers around me.

Shout out from Joplin, MO. If you want another take on the Goju/Kenpo crosstraining consider interviewing Ray Kellison here in Joplin. He actively trains and competes in both. He was in Black Belt Magazine a few months ago. He trained under Lou Angel and Lee Wedlake.

Amazing interview. Wow

Glowing words about Goju and martial arts in general!!!! Very cool.

Amazing jeff speakMan. ❤️ your presentation.

Great interview!

I also love that the style takes the best of other forms and incorporates it into its doctrine.

Great interview! 🥋🙏

Great interview

After master J. Tripoli instructed me in Okinawan Shorin ryu kobayashi kenpo for 3 years he sent me to an Aikijustsu school a COMPLETELY different system and style but I understood that he had nothing else to teach me. Aikijustsu easily mated with the Kenpo, Kwon bop moo duk Kwon and JJ I already was being taught and would be taught. GM Speakman is MORE than a visionary or movie star he is a martial scientist like Grand Professor Parker. GM.Speakman is a TRUE successor of Sijo Parker. Osu and respect for sound fight science. Where ALL styles are ALIKE is a punch is a punch a kick is a kick an elbow is an elbow etc etc. 👍🙏🏼🐉🐅

Looking good Jeff❤❤

I was a personal student of Mr Parker and also trained some along with Jeff. One of my longtime black belts is a Goju-Ryu black belt also. My school back In Delray Bch FL was often visited by Goju Ryu black belts, and Isshin Ryu too, for Sparring. Our ealier years starting training directly with Joe Lewis was a huge help. We all benefitted and fought with each other at tournaments or kickboxing matches. Lol. The toughest crew! Riviera Bch to Miami! Salute to Goju.

Love this video

Sir! This is a great one!

The video was very impressive Thank youuuuuu❤❤❤

thanks to Sensei Speakman for sharing ,I wanted to ask if he ever trained or met Sensei Guy Kurose of seattle wa , he passed away 20 yrs ago he was a college karate champion in Japan a practitioner of Japanese Goju Ryu 6th dan

loved thisim gonna check out speakmans gym tommorow

The gym fight scene is probably one of the top 3 movie fight scenes of all time.

The greatest respect comes out a heart of love.

This is better than great. This is perfect.

thanks for sharing

My sensei for Kenpo was an Axxhole, so I switch to Gojo Ryu. But Kenpo was better for street fights so I went to mma

Great video kenpo can help builds one character so much.

Kakie, like Tuite & Tegumi (Gripping, locks, throws, and grappling) is largly missing from modern karate. Kakie is the sticky hands (Wing Chun) or push hands (Tai Chi) of karate. Kakie is translated as pushing hands. There are kenpo schools who use hubud drills from Filipino Kali/Escrima to gain the same skill for Kenpo. Goju Ryu kakie does give some insight as to why this is an important skill to learn which will only enhance techniques. As 'blocks' are not always 'blocks' so much as they are ways of contact, thus contact reflex drills. If Kenpo developed their own sensitivity drills, what would Kenpo 'Kakie' look like? Why Kakie: Goju Ryu Taira Masaji Sensei - kzfaq.info/get/bejne/Zsl7bJmeqqfIqWQ.html Kakie (Pushing Hands) - Max Beddow Sensei - kzfaq.info/get/bejne/qKyegNh-nKrIZ58.html Kakie-Goju Ryu - kzfaq.info/get/bejne/aLSWi9GXsNe0ZKs.html Hubud Lesson - Level 1 - Hubud Lubud - kzfaq.info/get/bejne/ZrF6rdd3sLmsZ6M.html Hubud Drill for Kenpo (Example) - kzfaq.info/get/bejne/pqiIf6iZ2d_Oko0.html

Your right in the sense that every Kenpo teacher you go to they teach you the techniques have the same name but taught differently by different black belts'.

Very cool

@The Art of One Dojo I recently spoke to "Kenpo" Joe Rebelo. I asked him if the "finger break" that Jeff Speakman performs in the gym scene of The Perfect Weapon was in Ed Parker's curriculum. Master Rebelo said that Ed Parker demonstrated the finger break "on him", and nearly broke his fingers.

I really enjoy these videos of Jeff Speakman, he came to our intertournament at John Conway Sr’s Dojo, Mr Speakman was a awesome man. Have you ever thought of interviewing John’s Son or Kris Adrian?

I think the perfect weapon was a great movie it showed the world kenpo is a complete art of self defense Jeff Speakman was excellent in the movie hope his health continues to get better he is great teacher of the art

The biggest advantage that Kenpo 5.0 has over Goju Ryu Karate is that Kenpo 5.0 constantly evolves for the Modern-day while Goju Ryu Karate does not. Both Fighting Styles are highly effective for Standup Fighting but only one "Might!" be effective for the Ruthless Streets of Today's World and against Hybrid Martial Art Systems such as MMA, NHB, Combatives, JKD, Kajukenbo, etc.

my foundation is ED Parker based who taught Marge, who Taught Sifu Shergold who taught at Simon's Karate who is also a Lohan of Bak Fu Pai which I am learning now

Wow, again!

Shalom Speakman.

I attended a seminar in Chicago area under grandmaster Saviano. Was amazing to work with u

Just WOW

Lot Angel received his yodan, fourth degree black belt from Master Urban who he started with in 1959.

I'm a 7th gen Shodan from Robert A Trias, Shorei Kempo Karate, very related to Shuri-ryu. I don't know much about Kenpo. Is it rehearsed movements? I find the techniques creative, but I'm having trouble seeing how something rehearsed would work in a street scenario when in karate we are taught not to think or calculate moves.

Hybrid Kempo with Jiu Jitsu is the Original Kempo Jiu Jitsu of Hawaii and Kajukenbo of Parker’s teacher Joe and Adriano Emperado who were also the Kali influence of hand techniques. The Kempo Jiu Jitsu Ko Sho of James Masayoshi Mitose was the influence on both. So to reinfuse Jiu Jitsu into Kempo is the Specialized Kenpo being rejoined with the specialized Jiu Jitsu is the original system of James Masayoshi Mitose.