June 18, 2025

Episode 65 – Frank Soto

1 hour 4 minutes

Host: Reggie Darden Guest: Frank Soto, Master of American Kenpo Karate and Police Instructor, host of Coffee and Martial Arts

In this episode of My Empty Hands, host Reggie Darden sits down with Master Frank Soto to discuss his extensive journey through martial arts, from his early days in Korean Karate to becoming a Black Belt under Grandmaster Larry Tatum and developing his own Kempo thesis, Kinetica.

Episode Highlights

Host’s Background [01:06:00]: Reggie Darden shares his start in Chinese Kempo (Tracy’s curriculum) in the mid-90s, inspired by The Perfect Weapon, and his cross-training in arts like Capoeira, Hapkido, and Taekwondo.

Frank Soto’s Beginnings in Martial Arts [02:50:00]: Frank discusses starting martial arts in ’84 and Kempo in ’94, driven by his childhood hero, Caine from the Kung Fu TV series [04:29:00].

The Path to Kempo [06:05:00]: Originally practicing a Korean style (Tang Soo Do/Hwarangdo), Frank felt the need to use his hands more and was introduced to Kempo, which eventually led him to train directly with Grandmaster Larry Tatum in Pasadena [03:16:00].

Life Under Larry Tatum [17:43:00]: Frank describes the intense training at the Pasadena studio, including an agreement to receive a weekly private lesson from Mr. Tatum in exchange for studio management. He recounts training with high-level practitioners like William Glenn and Michael Bagwell [18:20:00].

Opening a Dojo and Kinetica [28:54:00]: Frank details the success of opening his first commercial dojo in ’98. He discusses his later involvement with police instruction [30:51:00] and the creation of his Kempo thesis, Kinetica.

Kempo’s ‘Shades of Gray’ [33:50:00]: Frank explains that Kinetica moves beyond Kempo’s traditional “peace mode” or “war mode” (black and white thinking). His system incorporates the “Use of Force” principles (legality, proportionality, etc.) to give the civilian practitioner more options than just “go to jail or die” [38:00:00].

The Effectiveness of Kempo [41:15:00]: Frank argues that the art of Kempo is highly effective for battle and survival. He asserts that any perceived ineffectiveness is due to a lack of proper training or technique on the student’s part, not a flaw in the art itself.

Coffee and Martial Arts [46:02:00]: Frank talks about how his personal podcast started during the 2020 lockdown, eventually becoming a platform where he interviewed major martial artists, including Bill Wallace and UFC champion Alexa Grasso.

Lightning Round Favorites

Favorite Technique: Thunder Hammers [53:30:00]

Favorite Form/Set: Form 5 and Striking Set [54:01:00]

Favorite Weapon: Kempo Clubs (Sticks) [54:27:00]

Historical Figure to Train With (besides Ed Parker): Sean Katsu [55:20:00]

Where to Find Frank Soto

Frank encourages listeners to connect with him through his show Coffee and Martial Arts and on social media using the name “Master Frank.” He also mentions his upcoming book project, Kempo Origins, which delves into the previously untold history and origins of the art [56:03:00].

...more