Alan McLuckie — Part 1: The Journey

More than five decades of martial arts. Filipino fighting systems. Serrada Eskrima. Systema. Weapons. Body mechanics. And a lifetime spent looking beyond the boundaries of individual styles.

In Part 1 of this special two-part episode of The Mind Sensei Podcast, I sit down with Mr. Alan “Al” McLuckie from Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Mr. McLuckie attained the level of Advanced Instructor in Serrada Eskrima under Grandmaster Angel Cabales and spent nine years as Head Eskrima Instructor at the renowned Degerberg Academy.

His martial journey has also brought him into contact with influential practitioners including Mike Inay, Dan Inosanto, Vladimir Vasiliev, Martin Wheeler and my own instructor, Mr. Lee Wedlake.

In Part 1, we explore the early years, the teachers, the experiences and the influences that helped shape his approach to the martial arts.

This is more than a story about styles. It is a story about exploration, adaptation and a lifetime dedicated to understanding how martial arts really work.

Listen now to Part 1 of my conversation with Mr. Alan McLuckie.

Website: http://almcluckie.com/

Facebook:   Alan McLuckie

Books:  

Jesse glover - Bruce Lee between Wing Chun and Jeet Kune Do

 Peter Ralston - Zen Body Being 

Dan Millman - Way of the Peaceful Warrior

Keywords: Alan McLuckie, Al McLuckie, Serrada Eskrima, Angel Cabales, Filipino Martial Arts, FMA, Mike Inay, Dan Inosanto, Lee Wedlake, American Kenpo, Degerberg Academy, Systema, martial arts history, martial arts podcast

#AlanMcLuckie #SerradaEskrima #AngelCabales #FilipinoMartialArts #FMA #Eskrima #LeeWedlake #AmericanKenpo #Systema #MartialArtsHistory #TheMindSenseiPodcast #mindsensei

SPECIAL DEEP DIVE TEAM EPISODE

LENGTHEN YOUR LINE

Celebrating Joe Hyams, author of Zen in the Martial Arts

In this special episode of The Mind Sensei Podcast, the Deep Dive Team explores the remarkable life and martial arts journey of Joe Hyams.

Hyams was more than the author of one of martial arts’ most influential philosophical books.

He was an early student and black belt of American Kenpo founder Ed Parker, a Hollywood journalist, a private student of Bruce Lee, and a man who helped preserve the deeper lessons behind martial arts training.

At the centre of this episode is one of Ed Parker’s most enduring lessons, preserved by Hyams in Zen in the Martial Arts:

“Lengthen your line.”

Rather than trying to shorten someone else’s line, improve your own.

We explore Hyams’ journey from Hollywood journalist to martial artist, his relationship with Ed Parker, his encounter with Bruce Lee at Parker’s 1964 Long Beach tournament, his subsequent training with Lee, and how these experiences shaped Zen in the Martial Arts.

This is not simply a biography.

It is a discussion about ego, comparison, restraint, growth and what it really means to progress in the martial arts.

Join the Deep Dive Team as we celebrate Joe Hyams and examine why “Lengthen Your Line” remains as relevant to martial artists today as when Ed Parker first shared the lesson.

The Mind Sensei Podcast

Until next time, stay mindful, stay curious and keep cultivating the art of self-discovery.

#TheMindSensei #JoeHyams #LengthenYourLine #ZenInTheMartialArts #EdParker #AmericanKenpo #Kenpo #KenpoKarate #BruceLee #JeetKuneDo #MartialArts #MartialArtsHistory #MartialArtsPhilosophy #DeepDive

🥋 J.R. Diaz – Double Dragon Kenpo | Part 3

In the concluding episode of our three-part conversation, Mr. J.R. Diaz reflects on a martial arts journey spanning more than four decades.

From beginning American Kenpo in 1979, earning his Black Belt and opening his first school in 1988, through his advanced study with Senior Master Richard “Huk” Planas, Mr. Diaz has devoted much of his life to teaching and passing Kenpo to future generations.

Part 3 explores the responsibility that comes with senior rank, the evolution of American Kenpo, preserving knowledge without allowing it to become stagnant, and what decades on the mat can teach us about being both a martial artist and an instructor.

We also look toward the future — and what Mr. Diaz hopes the next generation will carry forward.

🎧 PART 3 — LEGACY & THE FUTURE OF KENPO

Keywords: J.R. Diaz, JR Diaz Kenpo, Double Dragon Kenpo Karate, Huk Planas, Ed Parker, American Kenpo, Kenpo legacy, Kenpo history, Kenpo lineage, Kenpo instructors, traditional Kenpo, American Kenpo Karate, martial arts philosophy, martial arts history, Mind Sensei Podcast

#JRDiaz #DoubleDragonKenpo #HukPlanas #EdParker #AmericanKenpo #KenpoKarate #KenpoLegacy #KenpoHistory #KenpoLineage #MartialArtsHistory #KenpoFamily #TheMindSensei #MindSenseiPodcast

🥋 J.R. Diaz – Double Dragon Kenpo | Part 2

The journey continues with Mr. J.R. Diaz, 9th Degree Black Belt and founder of Double Dragon Kenpo Karate.

In Part 2, we move deeper into Mr. Diaz’s development as an instructor and his connection with Senior Master Richard “Huk” Planas, one of the important first-generation figures in the Ed Parker American Kenpo lineage.

We explore the principles behind the techniques, the importance of understanding why Kenpo works, and how decades of training, teaching and continued study have shaped Mr. Diaz’s interpretation of the art.

This is a conversation about more than rank — it is about knowledge, principles, lineage and passing the art to the next generation.

🎧 PART 2 — PRINCIPLES, LINEAGE & HUK PLANAS

Keywords: J.R. Diaz, JR Diaz, Huk Planas, Richard Huk Planas, Double Dragon Kenpo, American Kenpo, Ed Parker, Parker Kenpo, Kenpo principles, Kenpo concepts, American Kenpo lineage, Kenpo self defence, Kenpo history, Mind Sensei Podcast

#JRDiaz #HukPlanas #DoubleDragonKenpo #EdParker #AmericanKenpo #KenpoPrinciples #KenpoConcepts #KenpoLineage #KenpoHistory #KenpoKarate #MartialArts #TheMindSensei #MindSenseiPodcast

🥋 J.R. Diaz – Double Dragon Kenpo | Part 1

Welcome to another exciting episode of the Mind Sensei podcast

Today’s guest is a true pillar of the American Kenpo community—Sifu

JR Diaz. Beginning his Kenpo journey in 1976, marking his 50th year in

the martial arts as of 2026, he earned his 1st Degree Black Belt in 1988

under David Perez and has since risen to the rank of 9th Degree Black

Belt under the legendary Senior Master of the Arts, Richard “Huk”

Planas.

Sifu Diaz earned the Huk Planas patch in 1993, studied with Ed Planas

(Huk’s brother) in Kabaroan Eskrima and holds the title of Guru in that

art. 

He opened his first school, Lemoore Kenpo Karate, shortly after his

black‑belt achievement and now serves as Chief Instructor at Double

Dragon Kenpo Karate in Sanger, California, where he emphasizes

professionalism, discipline, honor, and loyalty in every class. He also

serves as a Kenpo Girls instructor, working with Jesalyn Harper, and

helped inspire the Kenpo Girl blog.

A respected voice within the Parker‑Planas lineage, he was honored to

be invited as a featured instructor at the inaugural Huk Planas Legacy

Seminar 2025, sharing his knowledge alongside other senior masters

such as Marty Zaninovich, Chuck Epperson, and Scott Halsey.

Please join me in welcoming Sifu JR Diaz to The Mind Sensei Podcast.”

In Part 1 of this special three-part series of The Mind Sensei Podcast, I sit down with Mr. J.R. Diaz, 9th Degree Black Belt and founder of Double Dragon Kenpo Karate in Sanger, California.

We begin at the start of Mr. Diaz’s martial arts journey — entering American Kenpo in 1979, his early training under Mr. David Perez, earning his Black Belt in 1988, and beginning a lifetime dedicated to teaching and preserving the art.

We explore the people, experiences and lessons that shaped his approach to Kenpo and ultimately led him toward the lineage and teachings of Senior Master Richard “Huk” Planas.

🎧 PART 1 — THE BEGINNING OF THE JOURNEY

 J.R. Diaz, JR Diaz Kenpo, Double Dragon Kenpo, Double Dragon Kenpo Karate, American Kenpo, Ed Parker Kenpo, Huk Planas, Richard Planas, David Perez Kenpo, Kenpo Karate, Sanger California, American Kenpo history, Kenpo lineage, Mind Sensei Podcast

#JRDiaz #DoubleDragonKenpo #AmericanKenpo #KenpoKarate #EdParker #HukPlanas #KenpoHistory #KenpoLineage #MartialArtsHistory #MartialArtsPodcast #TheMindSensei #MindSenseiPodcast

Facebook:   https://www.facebook.com/doubledragonkenpo/

Welcome to another episode of The Mind Sensei Podcast. I'm your host, Mr. Peter Tas, and today it's my pleasure to welcome Senior Professor Jed Lewis.

Episode 79c is part 2 of a 3-part conversation with Jed Lewis.

Martial arts theory meets the realities of military and police service.

Lineage connects us to the past—but leadership determines what we pass forward.

In the concluding part of this three-part series, Senior Professor Jed Lewis explores his American Kenpo journey through Bobby Lawrence, Senior Grandmaster Paul Mills and Senior Master Herb Padigimus.

Jed discusses his progression to 7th Degree Black Belt, his role with the UIAKA, his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training under Carlos Machado and the work he continues through Lewis Martial Arts alongside his son Connor.

https://www.lewismartialarts.net/

facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lewismartialartschool

Jed Lewis, American Kenpo lineage, Bobby Lawrence, Paul Mills, Herb Padigimus, AKKI, UIAKA, Carlos Machado, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Lewis Martial Arts, Kenpo leadership, martial arts legacy

#TheMindSenseiPodcast #PeterTas #JedLewis #AmericanKenpo #KenpoLineage #EdParker #PaulMills #HerbPadigimus #BobbyLawrence #AKKI #UIAKA #CarlosMachado #BJJ #LewisMartialArts

Welcome to another episode of The Mind Sensei Podcast. I'm your host, Mr. Peter Tas, and today it's my pleasure to welcome Senior Professor Jed Lewis.

Episode 79b is part 2 of a 3-part conversation with Jed Lewis.

Martial arts theory meets the realities of military and police service.

In Part 2, Senior Professor Jed Lewis takes us inside a life devoted to protecting and serving others. He discusses his military experience, deployment to Iraq, nearly three decades in law enforcement and his work training police officers in defensive tactics and firearms.

How does real-world experience change the way someone understands timing, awareness, decision-making and self-defence? This conversation offers a thoughtful perspective on leadership, responsibility and training under pressure.

⁠https://www.lewismartialarts.net/⁠

facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/lewismartialartschool⁠

police defensive tactics, military martial arts, law enforcement training, Jed Lewis interview, Iraq veteran, police leadership, firearms instruction, realistic self-defence, American Kenpo applications, Peter Tas

American Kenpo, Ed Parker, American Kenpo Karate, Kenpo Karate, AKKI, UIAKA, Paul Mills, Herb Padigimus, Bobby Lawrence, Jed Lewis, Lewis Martial Arts, Kenpo Podcast, Martial Arts Podcast, Self Defence, Self-Defense, Defensive Tactics, Police Training, Law Enforcement Instructor, Firearms Instructor, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Carlos Machado, Leadership, Personal Development, Martial Arts Leadership, Martial Arts History, Kenpo Lineage, Martial Arts Journey, Martial Arts Education, The Mind Sensei Podcast, Peter Tas.

#TheMindSenseiPodcast

#AmericanKenpo

#Kenpo

#EdParker

#MartialArts

#KenpoKarate

#SelfDefense

#MartialArtsPodcast

#Leadership

#PeterTas

#JedLewis

#LewisMartialArts

#AKKI

#UIAKA

#PaulMills

#HerbPadigimus

#BobbyLawrence

#CarlosMachado

#BrazilianJiuJitsu

#BJJ

#LawEnforcement

#PoliceLeadership

#DefensiveTactics

#PoliceTraining

#MilitaryVeteran

#USArmyNationalGuard

#USMarineCorps

#ServiceBeforeSelf

#LeadershipDevelopment

#PersonalDevelopment

#Resilience

#Discipline

#Character

#Mindset

#Confidence

#GrowthMindset

#MartialArtsLife

Welcome to another episode of The Mind Sensei Podcast. I'm your host, Mr. Peter Tas, and today it's my pleasure to welcome Senior Professor Jed Lewis.

Episode 79 is a 3-part conversation with Jed Lewis.

Mr. Lewis brings with him a lifetime of experience that extends well beyond the dojo.

He is a 7th Degree Black Belt in American Kenpo, a board member of the United International American Kenpo Association, a respected law enforcement lieutenant with nearly three decades of service, a military veteran who served in Iraq, and a Brown Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Carlos Machado.

Like many martial artists, his journey began with adversity. As a young boy searching for confidence and a way to overcome fear, he discovered Ed Parker's American Kenpo and found far more than a method of self-defence—he found a lifelong path of personal growth, service, and leadership.

Throughout his martial arts career, Mr. Lewis has trained under respected instructors including Bobby Lawrence, Senior Grandmaster Paul Mills, and Senior Master Herb Padigimus. Today, he continues to preserve and teach American Kenpo while integrating the practical realities of law enforcement, modern self-defence, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu through Lewis Martial Arts, which he operates alongside his family.

In this conversation, we'll explore his remarkable journey—from overcoming childhood challenges, serving his country and community, to building the next generation of martial artists and leaders. We'll discuss the importance of lineage, the evolution of American Kenpo, the realities of applying martial arts in the real world, and why leadership and character remain at the heart of everything he teaches.

Senior Professor Jed Lewis has lived a life of service—in uniform, in the military, and on the training floor—and I'm looking forward to sharing his story with you.

Please join me in welcoming Senior Professor Jed Lewis to The Mind Sensei Podcast.

American Kenpo, Ed Parker, American Kenpo Karate, Kenpo Karate, AKKI, UIAKA, Paul Mills, Herb Padigimus, Bobby Lawrence, Jed Lewis, Lewis Martial Arts, Kenpo Podcast, Martial Arts Podcast, Self Defence, Self-Defense, Defensive Tactics, Police Training, Law Enforcement Instructor, Firearms Instructor, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Carlos Machado, Leadership, Personal Development, Martial Arts Leadership, Martial Arts History, Kenpo Lineage, Martial Arts Journey, Martial Arts Education, The Mind Sensei Podcast, Peter Tas.

#TheMindSenseiPodcast

#AmericanKenpo

#Kenpo

#EdParker

#MartialArts

#KenpoKarate

#SelfDefense

#MartialArtsPodcast

#Leadership

#PeterTas

#JedLewis

#LewisMartialArts

#AKKI

#UIAKA

#PaulMills

#HerbPadigimus

#BobbyLawrence

#CarlosMachado

#BrazilianJiuJitsu

#BJJ

#LawEnforcement

#PoliceLeadership

#DefensiveTactics

#PoliceTraining

#MilitaryVeteran

#USArmyNationalGuard

#USMarineCorps

#ServiceBeforeSelf

#LeadershipDevelopment

#PersonalDevelopment

#Resilience

#Discipline

#Character

#Mindset

#Confidence

#GrowthMindset

#MartialArtsLife

Spotify Episode Description – Part 2Part 2 | Danny Thiel – The Legacy of Paul Mills Kenpo Continues

How did Senior Master Paul Mills transform Ed Parker's American Kenpo into a system renowned for its flow, continuity, and explosive movement?

In Part 2 of this exclusive interview, Mr. Peter Tas continues his conversation with Mr. Danny Thiel, a 5th Degree Black Belt under Senior Master Paul Mills and one of his long-time students.

Drawing on more than 45 years of martial arts experience, Danny provides an insightful look into Paul Mills' philosophy, teaching methods, and the principles that made his interpretation of American Kenpo unique while remaining true to the mechanics established by Senior Grandmaster Ed Parker.

Throughout this episode we discuss:

• The philosophy behind Paul Mills Kenpo
• Motion, flow, continuity and counter-balancing
• Lessons learned from training directly under Senior Master Paul Mills
• The evolution of Ed Parker's American Kenpo
• Preserving Kenpo history and lineage
• Personal stories from decades of martial arts training
• The future of American Kenpo

Whether you're an American Kenpo practitioner, martial arts instructor, or simply passionate about the history and evolution of the art, this episode offers valuable first-hand insight from someone who lived it.

🎙️ Listen now on The Mind Sensei Podcast.

American Kenpo, Ed Parker, Paul Mills, Paul Mills Kenpo, Danny Thiel, Peter Tas, The Mind Sensei Podcast, Kenpo Karate, Kenpo Podcast, Martial Arts Podcast, Kenpo History, Ed Parker Lineage, Martial Arts Interview, Self Defence, Traditional Martial Arts.

#TheMindSenseiPodcast #AmericanKenpo #Kenpo #KenpoKarate #PaulMills #EdParker #DannyThiel #KenpoHistory #MartialArts #MartialArtsPodcast #Lineage #PeterTas #TraditionalMartialArts #SelfDefense #KenpoLineage

Part 1 - Danny Thiel – The Legacy of Paul Mills Kenpo American Kenpo History

What was it like to train during the evolution of Ed Parker's American Kenpo and witness the development of Paul Mills Kenpo firsthand?

In this special two-part episode of The Mind Sensei Podcast, host Mr. Peter Tas welcomes Mr. Danny Thiel, a 5th Degree Black Belt under Senior Master Paul Mills whose martial arts journey began in 1979.

Danny shares his experiences training under Lee Wedlake, attending seminars with Ed Parker, Richard Planas, and Frank Trejo, before becoming a dedicated student of Senior Master Paul Mills. Together, they explore the principles of motion, flow, continuity, counter-balancing, and explosive movement that made Paul Mills' interpretation of American Kenpo unique.

In this two-part episode you'll discover:• The history of American Kenpo in Chicago• Training with Lee Wedlake and Frank Trejo• Seminars with Ed Parker and Richard Planas• Meeting Senior Master Paul Mills• The evolution of Paul Mills Kenpo• Motion, flow and continuity in Kenpo• Stories from over 45 years of martial arts training• Preserving the history and legacy of American Kenpo

If you're passionate about American Kenpo Karate, Ed Parker lineage, Kenpo history, martial arts philosophy, and the evolution of the art, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

American Kenpo, Kenpo Karate, Ed Parker, Paul Mills, Paul Mills Kenpo, Danny Thiel, Peter Tas, The Mind Sensei Podcast, Kenpo lineage, martial arts podcast, Kenpo history, self-defence, martial arts interviews.