Hello from Australia
I have been training under Jeff Speakman for the past 4 years and I believe Dave Crouch has given the best response to this post.
Mr Parker was an innovator and Kenpo is a modified varient in itself of a traditional martial art. Martial Arts has changed significantly in the past 10 years or so with the Gracie influence and the emergence of MMA fighters.
While some of what you say is true, "martial arts" hasn't changed significantly since I began study over 50 years ago. What has changed is the information available that was much more difficult to come by. The change you seem to be speaking of, is "martial sport." But even that has not changed very much other than an amalgamation of previous existing sport concepts into a more entertaining, (depending upon personal preferences), package and exposure. I've seen nothing that hadn't already existed in decades passed.
Mr Parker's Kenpo dealt with the fighters of his day.
And still does. The fighters of his day included those with significant grappling skills. One of Mr. Parker's best training buddies and friends was Gene LeBell. Add to that Wally Jay, and a host of others from various arts and disciplines. Mr. Parker had a black in Judo before he began kenpo training under Chow, who studied real jiujitsu under Henry Okazaki and who along with Parker loved to grapple.
Modern Kenpo has to evolve with the changes that have taken place since his passing. there are many instructors out there and Kenpo is a great art.
Let's change that to the "modern kenpo" that you know. Those broad stroke statements might give someone the impression you think you know all the many different flavors of the works of Ed Parker over the years. 4 years of training with anyone won't give you that, so let's speak in terms of what you have personally been exposed to. Personally, I've seen at least six or more different perspectives, all different with various focuses and some that also happen to include grappling.
Mr. Speakman has adapted his kenpo to include ground fighting and given answers to the way of fighting with the modern MMA fighter.
I commend Jeff for doing that, and complimented him the last time I saw him on his good hard nosed work ethic with his people. No "softies" in his group and I like that. His guys will knuckle up with you.
Many people will argue about how good it is and thats up to them, but the point is Mr. Parker gave us all a set of principles that do not change.
Here's where you go wrong again. How well did you know Mr. Parker, and when did he give you these unchanging "principles? The truth is Mr. Parker gave the majority of his students "concepts," not "principles." Loads of idea to work with, but that's all they were - sophisticated ideas.
Cancelling height, width and depth, not violating point of origin, small circles, zones of sanctuary still apply. These are the important aspects of fighting.
A technique can be added to, modified, shortend and altered at any time for any reason.
Actually it can't, but that's a discussion for another day about the limitations of the perspective of "idea training." Interesting ideas that need interpretation in every infinite application. Ideas that change from circumstance to circumstance.
As long as you are moving within the principles of Mr. Parker then it is quality Kenpo. If you start moving to hit a target that is already covered or doing some BS move just because it was shown to you then I believe you are missing the point.
Maybe you're missing the point. Have you ever considered that simply because you don't understand something, doesn't mean that it isn't viable? All I'm saying is avoid these sweeping statements that may not always apply as you think. Work from your perspective, instead of assigning value to others you may not be aware of.
Anyone learning Kenpo should read the Infinite Insites series of books written by Mr. Parker and the Encyclopedia of Kenpo and really think about how they move in a fight. If what you are currently doing contradicts the base priciples of Mr. Parker then seriously look at what you can do to make them more effective. Mr Parker gave us a language that we can develop not a speech that we have to learn and cannot alter.
Well that too is wrong, but than from your perspective, you can't see it. But that's really OK, as long as you don't apply your values to others without knowledge, and work to expand your understanding of what you do to be as effective as you can make it.
Jeff's a good guy and teacher, but he doesn't speak in broad terms like that. He does however, know his own material better than anyone and makes it work for him. You can't ask for any more than that. The "modern Kenpo" most have been exposed to doesn't contain much of the information of previous versions for a reason. Keep working, and you'll be fine sir.
