Paul Mills is amazing. I studied for about seven yrs and he's absolutely the best I've seen under Mr. Parker. Speed combined with whole body power and precision. Truely the best Kenpo has to offer. Watching him makes me proud to have studied.

Amen. Mr. Mills reflects Mr. Parkers form and intent so incredibly in this video. People. Take note.

I had total respect for Mr.Parker and his art, he is truly missed. Your techniques are impressive and very explosive and I like that you provide your own sound effects. Sound effects or not the techniques really work. RESPECT TO YOU SENSEI . 32 year Wing Chun practitioner.

Master Paul Mills is amazing to watch. I have never seen many in Kenpo that move like this man. A true Master of GM Parker's art. I would love to see this Master in person! I have great respect for this Master of American Kenpo

This is yet another truly awe-inspiring demonstration and exhibition of American Kenpo Karate by the great Paul Mills. Ed Parker would be immensely proud.

The sound of him slapping self (in the chest) is something that many of us Kenpo practitioners do kind of subconsciously. It acts as a counter balance, helping us move faster, and more powerfully. The same concept as when one is walking, and their arms swing opposite of their feet. But then again, some people who haven't trained Kenpo for very long might not understand it fully.

This fellow is the real deal. American Kenpo at its absolute best! You sure can see the difference between him and most other martial artist/kenpo masters! Amazing stuff.

Gm Paul Mills is a true master of the art. Mr. Parker would be proud to see that 20+ after his passing that Mr. Mills is still performing admirably. /salute

he effortlessly generates amazing speed and power!

I love Sensei Mills he is true no non-sense guy. Straight to the point, dirty kenpo fighter. No fancy crap, MMA sport stuff, just straight to the point kick ass street fighting. He may no look like like Anderson Silva with his shirt off but he is one tough old guy. Love it!

In kenpo do you always slap your chest to make loud sounds?

in a real fight would he last? can he fight? one thing to do demonstration after demonstration? but can they fight? his kenpo looks awesome.

@awoodtiger I have so much respect for the guys that help with the demonstrations too

He is a monster. I wouldnt even breathe in his general direction! what force!

awesome!.. good kenpo, power and speed....

this is true kenpo i seen some vids on youtube tho that man makes kenpo look bad but this is what kenpo really is awesome

Excellent demo

The hit is just effect, I believe, correct me if i'm wrong, that he is focusing on core movement and a solid foundation to create your power and cut distance between strikes, so longer movements aren't needed

@BLACKSTAR237 Yes, Mr. Mills actually taught at one of Jeff Speakman's camps in the 90's. I have met both of them and they have a mutual respect for each other.

Paul Mills is great. He's fantastic. I Would like he comes in FRANCE. Sorry for my english language.

not always necessary, but it does help. it helps give your body a reference point for where things are (points of reference, whipping, hammering, etc), it can help keep you from over rotating or extending (it's found in other arts like some FMA and Wing Chung), can gives your hands a "target" when they move in an arcing motion (similar to breaking boards you focus past them). "im gonna aim for my shoulder, his face happens to be in the way". self conditioning,

As he says around 1:14, its for dramatics. it also helps people keep track of the strikes, each slap = one strike.

@irishboss29 ok you pretty much have to be a black belt to even deal with this guy because he hits so hard. he IS controling the punch he is just doing a little more penetration than most. Paul MIlls and epic martial artist

very nice!!!!!

Excelent!

powerful stuff.... ends it all in 1-2 secs!!

What you see as hitting himself is a common push-pull technique. Basically you can change directions of your hands/arms more quickly by bouncing them off of your body, also involving your opposite arm in a strike adds energy to the hit. It's hard to explain to someone who hasn't had any exposure to martial arts but it's not fakery if that's what you are concerned with.

this guy is so freaking cool!

@kg7530mh totally agreed when I see GM Paul MIlls, I am truly humbled!

Very fast and power shots, good stuff, but what do the full techniques look like.What do the forms look like.Didnt see much of that.

Awesome

awesome

how does he make such loud snapping sound and also why does he strike so hard i thought part of demonstrating kenpo techniques was to also demonstrate control in movement. could someone please explain to me? by the way he seems like an excellent instructor and i think it would be interesting to learn from him.

How does he do that? Sick.

Its the concept of using his own body to change direction of his strikes without loosing speed or power, essentially he's ricocheting. Like when a bullet bounces off a wall and hits somebody.

AWESOME!

I'm pretty much a yellow belt in kenpo, it's awesome. Not quite good at it yet, but I can hit like that without the energy. Nifty shifty stuff. Hurts like hell with the energy too (no joke, it burns and you can't breathe for a few minutes).

@5treetboy He definitely does hit him. All the old school American Kenpo guys like Paul Mills, Larry Tatum, etc. when they demonstrate techniques on you, they really hit you. Not enough to seriously injure you, but enough that you'll have some serious bruises the next day.

@crooks90 not always, it has a few purposes, trapping , rhythm, balance, and yes, it sounds cool as hell..i pretty much do it as a habit now but mostly to keep my hands up in guard or support. sounds waaay better on a gi than a t-shirt tough!

There are a lot of reasons. But to give you an example, if you throw a jab or a backknuckle as fast as you can, what in the natural direction for the other arm to travel in?

@lococavasa Finally someone speaks the truth! I try telling people this exact quote all the time...Right on bro

Good question. There are lots of Kenpo principles that can be seen in MMA, however, for the most part, Kenpo is not designed for that type of competition, most techniques/weapon/target are not allowed in MMA competitions.

wow thx m8 very well explained ;) *****

Nice

where did kenpo come from?? and wht is the main thing about kenpo e.g judo - throwing, bjj - ground work and submissions,wing chun - speed, etc.......

@silvetea come "to" France my friend..the other is a bit difficult, but not impossible.

Very interesting and thought provoking.

that bald guy has got i high ass tolerance for pain thats ridiculous

sorry I had to...Its "Smiling Guillotine". I love the fact that he live in Evanston and I see him all the time.

man those punches so remind me of my systema training...

and in many cases to recoil off of the body rather than re-engage the arm to re strike. would you rather return a tennis ball with a racket, or catch it and throw it? there are many uses of just "slapping yourself" in martial arts in general beyond kenpo.

Is there a reason why he slaps himself every time he lands a strike? A reason beyond the impressive snapping sounds it makes, I mean.

I'd like to know why this gentleman is hitting himself as well as the opponent. Can anyone explain that please?

4:24 WOW!!!

Actually that's not correct. It's not that he's immune to it, or has the ability to 'take it'. It's because Mr. Mills was pulling back. You can demonstrate without actually damaging your dummy. That's what I love about Mr. Mills, his ability to 100% control his technique and still prove his point.

Man he's so damn fast...and I got hired at his hotel so I work for him now. I don't think I'll ever steal money. O.O

@lococavasa I've always believed that it's not the art but the artist who makes an art great or not. To me MMA is nothing more then legalized street brawling of blood matches, still illegal in some country. You speak the philosophy of Bruce Lee," Develop that which is useful and discard the rest" A good philosophy.

this guy's pretty fast xD

3:52 great

Just asking with respect: Has Paul Mills EVER met and sparred with JEFF SPEAKMAN and LARRY TATUM? Just curious on that? Will all these guys ever make a make a martial arts action movie together? To further promote their art?

@lococavasa Finally someone speaks the truth! I agree

4:24 WOW

I have NO idea how he did that at 4:36 fucking incredible

Also, an addendum, the bald guy is not a higher ranking student, I think a second or third black. The people are being hit are Mills' higher ranking students, 5th degree and higher.

The bald guy is probable one of his higher up students, with energy training of his own. Probably he is use to it and knows how to take it.

good ending hehe!

@killerkravist they explain it.

Wonder why the energy transfer works on some of the guys but the bald guy seems to be immune. Everyone else falls down like they are shot with a gun yet he seems to be unaffected by any of them on that level.

Again, Paul Mills is pretty sick.

This guy is a freaking bully. No need to beat the crap out of people (just because you can) in a demo.

3:56 ouch.

Larry Tatum has some good speed, but the power is there. Trejo is tough and can hit, but I don't think he has this precision. When I have seen him, he has kind of a Kenpo brawler style. Tough guy for sure. I think like Mills, Trejo can really fight, I don't think that is the case with Tatum.

@chilenex Mr. Parker had a fallen out with Larry Tatum over a instructional book and money,So Mr. Parker taught 1 form of Kenpo to the California crowed and taught the new ever learning art to Paul Mills,Mr.Parker had a sister in Wyoming and visited alot to get away from California, Where Paul Mills's father owned and ran the hotel and bar.Mr.Parker taught Paul Mills in the Hotels basement converted into a studio.They had a very special understanding of on another and of the Art of Kenpo.

@killerkravist It's not necessary but a by-product of using opposing forces. Listen to what Mr. Mills says about it and watch how his hands moving in opposite directions generate power, often times causing him to slap himself with the opposing force of action. The 'sound effects' generated are just side effects of the primary intended movement.

Its ricocheting, like a bullet bouncing off a wall and then hitting someone.

Yeah, this guy is the real deal. I think it would be messy for someone to want to fight him.

i havent trained in kenpo yet but i immagine its cause he trains to get beaten on like muay thai for physical conditioning

He hit his diaphram or top of his liver, pretty fuckin cool.

It is called the art of bouncing he is bouncing his strikes off his own body

@killerkravist yes it's necessary because he is doing his moves almost to full speed and what he's doing is he's slapping at different times to stop himself from hitting the other guy... It actually is common in all martial arts. Don't be ignorant young tadpole.

poor dude

@ 2:52 that looks like professor Scott, ouch!

poison hands

Why does every Kenpo 'Master' slap himself or make those 'sound effects' when doing techniques? Seriously, is it necessary?

@bushantichrist People conform to styles then the style becomes law that is just ignorant and blind. I do not wanna hear another mma fan talk about how kung fu enc sucks. Because i agree there good and bad in all martial arts however that should not discredit every traditional style know to man. Here lies there ignorance. Conform and conforming. Adapt to whatever works. Thats what it means to be a true martial artist to do what works for you and not conform.

As far as I know, kenpo came from Okinawa. I believe the slapping oneself and making sound during attacks are all psycological aspects of the system. I don't know much of it but I had a freind that practiced for a long time.