In this post I review Jeff Speakman’s Kenpo 5.0 as it currently stands with as much objectivity as I can. Although this is all my personal opinion, I feel I can offer a unique perspective as a practitioner of Kenpo 5.0 of many years
What is American Kenpo?
American Kenpo is a martial arts system devised and popularized by Ed Parker from various martial arts including karate, kenpo and judo (Chris Crudelli, The Way of the Warrior). The art itself is promoted as primarily a self defence system (MMA Channel) but also includes form and sets (kata), basics (single movements practiced in isolation) and sparring (Ed Parker, Infinite Insights into Kenpo)
Self-defence is practiced using ‘techniques’, a pre-set sequence of movements involving a defender (the one performing the self-defence technique) and at least one attacker (Ed Parker, Infinite Insights into Kenpo) that are given names that, in some way, describe the technique, for example Attacking Mace (called Attacking Fist in Kenpo 5.0) is a defence for a step-through punch that is largely the same in both Ed Parker’s and Jeff Speakman’s Kenpo systems
The intent is that these techniques, although learned and practiced by rote, is that it allows the practitioner to combine parts of techniques as needed to adapt to attacks as they happen
What is Kenpo 5.0?
The official explanation from Jeff Speakman’s website is that
American Kenpo version 5.0 is the hybrid of the last generation version of American Kenpo taught directly from Senior Grand Master Ed Parker to Jeff Speakman and ground fighting brought into the equation by Mr. Speakman. Mr. Speakman create (sic) Kenpo answers to defending against an opponent with these skills in the street
In layman’s terms, American Kenpo is a relatively modern martial art pitched as being a self-defence system that utilizes pre-defined sequences as a teaching mechanism with Kenpo 5.0 being a more recent version that has been updated by Jeff Speakman to include ground fighting
How is Kenpo 5.0 different to other types of (American) Kenpo?
In an interview with Art of One Dojo, Jeff Speakman, said that Kenpo 5.0 is a “Kenpo ground system” that alters the previous version of American Kenpo to incorporate a “huge amount” of jiu-jitsu or MMA and use Kenpo on the ground. He says that those who are not evolving Kenpo to include ground fighting are not doing what Ed Parker wanted, which is to evolve the art. In another interview he describes it as learning to defend against “the drunk MMA guy in the bar” as MMA skills are so prevalent now
From this we can take it that Jeff Speakman pitches Kenpo 5.0 as a hybrid of American Kenpo, which he originally learned from Ed Parker, and ground-based fighting, which was not present in the original system. Specifically that this was taken, and adapted or merged, into the Kenpo system from jiu-jitsu or MMA techniques to deal with attackers with MMA-type skills
Ineffective techniques removed
In another interview with Art of One Dojo, Jeff Speakman said that Kenpo 5.0 removed techniques that were deemed ineffective, altered others and added new techniques that included ground fighting. It also introduced ‘combat models’ where techniques that were variations on each other were taught together. For example, the techniques Shielding Hammer and Five Swords are both defences against a left-jab right-cross combination. Techniques were also re-ordered to ensure that techniques in forms (kata) had already been taught in the curriculum
5.0 Fighter sparring
Sparring has evolved accordingly in Kenpo 5.0 with 5.0 fighter which is similar to MMA with some differences. Similar to MMA, fighters start standing but can go to the ground
Unlike MMA, it is a points-fighting system, where points are given for different aspects such as 1 point for a strike, 2 points for maintaining a dominant ground position and 3 points for a submission. There are fewer legal strikes than MMA. For example, elbows to the face are prohibited, as are blind spinning techniques to the head, such as a spinning back fist
What has Kenpo 5.0 done right?
Kenpo 5.0 has made some sweeping changes to the American Kenpo that puts it at the cutting-edge of Kenpo
Added ground techniques
Ground techniques have been added into the syllabus that were not present before Kenpo 5.0. For example Snapping Branch is a defence to having been taken to the ground and managing to achieve a closed guard.
This technique seems to achieve Jeff Speakman’s goal of having techniques that can be applied to someone who takes you to the ground whilst utilising strikes which a BJJ or MMA practitioner may not, such as the strike to the groin which is not permitted currently in either MMA or BJJ
Removes some suspect techniques
Techniques that have been deemed ‘ineffective’ have been removed from the syllabus. For example the technique Bow of Compulsion no longer exists.
It is unknown exactly the reason for removal but on viewing, the attack for this technique seems unlikely and ineffective. Similarly punching somebody in the knee also seems risky and an unusual target for a punch given the availability of other targets
Improves some techniques
In other cases, the technique has been retained but improved to deal with issues with the technique or additional threats that are now more likely as a result of the type of training an attacker in the street may have. For example, Locking Horns has been updated to deal with the likely intent of a guillotine choke.
The original, Ed Parker’s, version assumed that the intent of the attacker was to crank the neck or hold you in position. Therefore the defence of a ridge hand to the groin may make them let go allowing you to attack further
However, with BJJ and MMA skills now more prevalent, the more likely intent is to drag you to the ground, possibly hitting your head as you land, or a knee to the face. In that case simply striking the attacker may just delay their, and your, descent to the ground or may even hasten the knee as a reaction to your strike. The defence was altered, according to Jeff Speakman, to deal with this. The 5,0 version therefore seems to neutralise this by protecting the face and taking the attacker to the ground in a more desirable position
5.0 fighter is like a safer MMA
5.0 fighter is similar to MMA in that it has both striking, including elbows and knees, and grappling. As mentioned above, it is points-based sparring so the intent is to win points not cause injury. As a result there are safety practices in place to prevent or reduce injury such as prohibiting joint strikes, elbows to the face and uncontrolled spinning techniques. However it is “controlled full contact” and therefore more like ‘real’ fighting than conducted in American Kenpo schools, or other systems such as Taekwondo or Karate, that don’t include ground fighting
What could Kenpo 5.0 do better?
However, Kenpo 5.0 still has some challenges that I feel it needs to overcome if it to achieve being a truly great self-defence based art in a world of BJJ- and MMA-trained people
Suspect techniques still exist
Not all suspect techniques have been removed from the system. For example, Flashing Mace/Fist assumes the attacker will just leave their attacking hand in place and not move at all while the defender starts doing spinning moves that wouldn’t look out-of-place in a movie
Weapons techniques also remain that I feel are highly suspect. For example Raining Lance, where the defender, when faced with a knife attack, manages to get the attacker to stab his own leg
It seems like Kenpo 5.0 should take a longer look at iself and decide if its techniques are really valid and have a good chance of success in a self-defence situation as it has done with other techniques
Some ground application is suspect
The intent, Mr Speakman says, is that [the Kenpo practitioner] wants to be is back up on their feet. The implication here appears to be that the Kenpo practitioner, knowing that the grappling isn’t their best strength, can defend against grappling and get back to their preferred striking zone, on their feet.
The above mentioned Snapping Branch appears to largely follow this ethos, in that it is not the Kenpoists choice to go to the ground, but now they are there they need to do something that isn’t attempting to out-grapple a grappler.
However, other techniques don’t seem to follow this approach. For example, Destructive Knee is a defence to a left punch that results in the defender taking the attacker to the ground voluntarily and continues on the ground, presumably, on the basis that they are confident their grappling is better than that of their attacker or that the attacker is so stunned they are unable to fight back
This seems like something an experienced grappler would do. The take-down seems legitimate but a striker would surely stand up at this point and continue from the advantageous position of being standing while their opponent is on the ground
It seems like Kenpo 5.0 should stick to its principal of not attempting to out-grapple but instead to utilise its strengths to achieve a standing position where the grappler is less comfortable
Lack of pressure testing
Kenpo 5.0 does involve something akin to full-contact sparring, as we have seen. However, this sparring is largely a combination of what looks like a tamer MMA and does not noticeably include any of the self-defence techniques taught. One might argue, as has been done so in the comments to the video Kenpo Techniques Don’t Work video that elements of techniques are useful in sparring. This does seem entirely possible, but if you watch some Kenpo 5.0 sparring it is largely ‘standard’ MMA-type attacks rather than anything recognisable as Kenpo techniques
However, this doesn’t preclude that the self-defence techniques as taught are not, and cannot safely be, practiced under pressure and instead are practiced with a compliant partner. This makes it, at best, unclear that the techniques would work in a real-world situation with a fully resisting opponent
Branded kit
To some extent, Kenpo 5.0 specifies that you must buy their branded kit. Practitioners must buy branded patches from their instructor, but not other equipment currently, although there has been talk of branded sparring equipment for example. This isn’t unusual for a martial arts system, but still represents a drawback as compared to a style where there is no specific uniform unless you are competing. There are several patches including the back patch, crest, arm rockers, kanji patch which would need to be purchased for each gi (uniform) the practitioner owned
Conclusion
I think Kenpo 5.0 has the potential to be a great self-defense system, but it needs to address these flaws. If it can do that, it will be a more effective and realistic martial art.
Here are some specific things that Kenpo 5.0 could do to improve:
- Remove the suspect techniques. These are techniques that are unlikely to be effective in a real-world situation. For example, the Flashing Fist technique seems to rely on the attacker standing still and not defending themselves. This is not realistic.
- Increase the amount of pressure testing. Pressure testing is the process of testing a martial art’s techniques against a resisting opponent. This is essential to ensure that the techniques are effective. Kenpo 5.0 could do more to incorporate pressure testing into its curriculum.
- Focus on realistic self-defense scenarios. Kenpo 5.0 should focus on teaching techniques that are applicable to real-world self-defense situations. This means teaching techniques that can be used against multiple attackers, against armed attackers, and against attackers who are using ground fighting techniques using realistic defence techniques that do not rely on compliance
I believe that if Kenpo 5.0 can address these issues, it will be a more effective and realistic martial art.
Summary
In summary, Kenpo 5.0 purports to combine BJJ-style grappling and American Kenpo into a hybrid system but isn’t fully successful in achieving this goal. It is, however, a significant improvement in ‘original’ Kenpo in that it doesn’t ignore that people have these skills that they may use in the street for attack and therefore that self-defence, including Kenpo, needs to include them
I encourage you to try out these arts for yourself and make your own decision on what you feel is the martial arts for you
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