October 24, 2025

Episode 82 – A.C. Rainey

52 minutes

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 1970s while he was focused on college football and wrestling.

The Challenge: After a tough wrestling match, he was at the gym when Dave Hebler and Paul Dy put on a Kempo demonstration and challenged anyone to fight (00:02:06).

Accepting the Challenge: Paul Dy’s challenge prompted him to accept, and he used his wrestling skills to take down the first two opponents (00:04:12).

Dedication: He was invited to their school and began what he calls a “love affair” with Kempo. Alongside his roommate Paul Dy, he devoted 16 hours a day to practicing, earning his Black Belt in a remarkably fast 22 months (00:07:49).

Air Force and Teaching: After his school closed, he joined the Air Force and has been teaching Kempo ever since, tallying over 50 years in the art (00:08:28).

Key Mentors and Influences

A.C. Rainey credits a small group of individuals for grooming and advancing his art.

Jim Thompson took charge of his technical development, even leading to stories of “pissing blood” from intense training sessions (00:05:53, 00:30:19).

Ron Chappelle (Sefu) was the main person to improve his fighting skills (00:06:54, 00:33:28).

Phil Kanti, a Golden Gloves boxer, helped him understand the aggressive, fighting side of the art (00:29:42).

Dion Steckley is described as the “fastest man in Kempo” that A.C. Rainey had ever met (00:32:00).

He also recalls being introduced to Ed Parker early on, at the Blue Belt level (00:12:56).

Philosophy on Training and Martial Arts

The conversation delves into A.C. Rainey’s strong opinions on specialization and the core principles of Kempo.

Against Ground Fighting: He expresses his strong dislike for ground work, believing it’s impractical in a real fight, and calls the sport of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu flawed because opponents won’t willingly go to the ground (00:17:56, 00:21:47).

Specialization vs. Cross-Training: He considers himself a “one-martial-art guy” and believes cross-training is a “fad.” He argues that attempting to be great at multiple arts is often driven by ego and prevents one from becoming truly superior in a single discipline (00:23:08, 00:24:45).

The Genius of Ed Parker: Mr. Rainey asserts that Ed Parker was always ahead of his time but that many instructors struggled to pass on his full teachings (00:37:47).

Kempo Principles: He stresses that Kempo is not about the “big motion” but about the small motion and the “tiny things that go into creating power” (00:39:55).

Memorization is Flawed: Mr. Rainey explains that Mr. Parker did not want students to memorize techniques (00:41:08). His greatest difficulty was “not understanding how to break down the memorization of motion,” a problem he only solved through teaching (00:42:01).

Final Regret: He shares that he spent the last 15 years relearning the principles that Mr. Parker wanted, noting that Kempo practitioners’ egos often prevent them from going back to the basics (00:45:32).

Lightning Round Favorites

Anyone to Train With (besides Ed Parker and Danny Inos): Bruce Lee (00:44:44)

Favorite Technique: Destructive Twins (from BKF) (00:43:29)

Favorite Form/Set: Long Form Six (and TND Set Number 2, which he teaches to all students) (00:43:56)

Favorite Weapon: Knives (00:44:32)

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By Reggie Darden

66 ratings