My Empty Hands

This episode of My Empty Hands features host Reggie Darden talking with Kempo veteran A.C. Rainey about his extensive journey in martial arts, from his unexpected start in Kempo to his candid views on training, and the mentors who shaped his career.

The Start of the Kempo Journey

A.C. Rainey describes how Kempo found him in the 19...

Host: Reggie Darden Guest: John Sepulveda URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lq5U2MSC9r0

Reggie Darden sits down with Kempo Black Belt John Sepulveda to discuss his journey in the martial arts, the evolution of his teaching philosophy, the intellectual concepts of Kempo, and the importance of preserving Ed Parker’s legacy.

Show ...

In Episode 80 of My Empty Hands, host Reggie Darden sits down with martial artist Jeff Grant for an insightful Kenpo Conversation. Jeff takes us through his decades-long journey, starting from watching Bruce Lee movies as a kid in Germany to finding his true martial arts home in the comprehensive system of Kajukenbo.

Listen as Jeff shares his unique experience cross-training across multiple disciplines—from Texas Blood and Guts...

This episode of “My Empty Hands” features an interview with martial artist Sal Luciano, who discusses his journey and insights into the martial arts, with a specific focus on Kempo. The conversation covers his background in Judo and Aikido, his transition to Kempo, and his philosophy on training and teaching.

Discussion Points:

[49:45] Criticism of chasing rank over genuine skill and self-improvement.

[00:37] ...

In this episode of “My Empty Hands,” host Reggie Darden interviews Evan Wiley about his journey in martial arts. The discussion covers Evan’s start in Kenpo, his long-term relationship with his teacher, and his evolution from student to teacher and opening his own school, 519 Combatives.

Discussion Points:

[50:16] A lightning round where Evan shares his favorite techniques and forms.

[00:30] Introduction...

In this episode of “My Empty Hands,” host Reggie Darden interviews Paul Britton. They discuss Paul’s martial arts journey, including his early experiences with Taekwondo and his transition to Kempo. Britton shares his teaching philosophy, which is heavily influenced by his 25 years as a police officer, and his thoughts on the future of Kempo.

Discussion Points:

[56:47] Britton shares his thoughts on the evo...

In this episode of “My Empty Hands,” host Reggie Darden interviews Mark Gallagher. They discuss their respective martial arts backgrounds, with a focus on Kempo. The conversation covers how they got into the art, their philosophies on training, and their experiences with competition and teaching.

Discussion Points:

[50:07] A lightning round where Mark shares his favorite techniques, forms, and inspirations.

[0...

This episode of “My Empty Hands” features an interview with guest Frank Vigoroux. The discussion focuses on his martial arts journey, from his beginnings in Kempo in Chile to moving to the United States and opening his own studio. Frank also shares his philosophy on Kempo and the values he feels are important in martial arts.

Discussion Points:

[01:01:30] Frank shares his inspiration, citing movies like Rocky and...

In this episode of “My Empty Hands,” host Reggie Darden interviews Gary Wilson. The conversation covers Mr. Wilson’s journey in martial arts, from his early days in Michigan to discovering Kempo in California. They also discuss the challenges and growth of his martial arts school and the development of his own Kempo system, “Original Kempo Karate 4.46.”

Discussion Points:

[01:06:32] A “lig...

In this episode of “My Empty Hands,” host Reggie Darden interviews Tony Capone about his background in martial arts. The discussion covers his journey from wrestling to Kempo and other styles, his real-world experiences as a bouncer, and his return to martial arts competition at the age of 71.

Discussion Points:

[44:38] He shares his experience returning to competition at 71 years old.

[00:41] The host introdu...

In this episode of “My Empty Hands,” host Reggie Darden interviews Carly, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner and competitor. The conversation covers her journey into martial arts, her experiences with training and competing, the challenges she has faced within the martial arts community, and her future aspirations.

Discussion Points:

[01:00:02] She clarifies that she has no interest in opening her own academy but...