There are certain names in the martial arts that carry more than rank. They carry gravity. When people mention John Sepulveda in American Kenpo circles, there’s a certain respect that comes with it. Not because of flashy marketing or loud claims, but because decades of hard-earned skill, knowledge, and dedication have built that reputation brick by brick.

John Sepulveda represents a branch of Kenpo that many practitioners deeply admire because it stayed connected to the concepts and principles that made Ed Parker’s Kenpo unique in the first place. Speed, precision, angles, economy of motion, flow, adaptability, and controlled aggression. His movement has often been described as explosive yet smooth, technical yet practical. The kind of motion where you can tell there are thousands upon thousands of hours behind it.

As the founder of AKTS (Advanced Kenpo Training System), he became known for taking the foundations of Parker Kenpo and pushing deeper into concepts, transitions, spontaneous motion, and real application. He didn’t approach Kenpo like a frozen time capsule. He approached it like a living system that still had room to grow while honoring its roots. That mindset resonates strongly with people like me who believe martial arts should remain practical, adaptable, and effective.

One thing I respect about Mr. Sepulveda is that he has never carried himself like someone trying to convince the world who he is. The skill speaks. The movement speaks. The longevity speaks. In martial arts, time exposes everything. Pretenders fade when pressure, years, injuries, and life hit them. Men who truly live the art remain standing long after trends come and go.

Another thing that stands out is how many high-level Kenpo people hold him in genuine regard. In Kenpo, respect from knowledgeable peers matters. This is an art filled with strong personalities, different branches, and different interpretations. To consistently earn admiration across generations says something important.

I’ve always believed the best martial artists are the ones who never stop being students, even while teaching. From everything I’ve seen and heard over the years, John Sepulveda embodies that spirit. Not just preserving techniques, but pursuing understanding.

That’s the heart of real Kenpo.

Not memorizing movement. Understanding motion. Understanding timing. Understanding human reaction. Understanding controlled chaos.

People outside the arts sometimes think martial arts are about belts and trophies. The deeper truth is that martial arts are really about refinement. Refining your movement. Refining your mind. Refining your character under pressure. Men like John Sepulveda helped shape that understanding for a lot of practitioners whether directly or indirectly.

In a world where everybody wants shortcuts, instant mastery, or social media fame, it’s important to recognize the people who built their reputation through decades of consistency, training, teaching, and living the art every single day.

Much respect to Mr. John Sepulveda for the knowledge he’s shared, the students he’s influenced, and the mark he’s left on American Kenpo.

Respect in Kenpo,
Ice Young


About John Sepulveda
Our Association’s president is John Sepulveda, who has over 50 years experience in Kenpo and holds a 10th Degree Black Belt (Senior Master of the Art). Mr. Sepulveda was one of a very few who was a direct student of Senior Grandmaster Parker before his untimely passing. Mr. Sepulveda is featured prominently in Tom Bleecker’s recent book, The Journey and the International Journey, which profiles prominent students of Ed Parker. He is also included in the book “Kenpo Perspectives, The Diversity of American Kenpo” written by Michael Miller. To the uninitiated, this is a singular honor.

Mr. Sepulveda has actively and successfully competed in many Open, National and International tournaments and has many junior and senior students who have also competed successfully at the same levels of competition. His students are known for their speed and explosive power as well as their character. Mr. Sepulveda has also appeared on television, and in national and international martial arts magazines, and has written numerous articles on the art of Kenpo as perpetuated by Senior Grandmaster Ed Parker.

Mr. Sepulveda is the founder of the “Advanced Kenpo Training System”™. This organization boasts member schools in the United States, from coast to coast. We are proudly affiliated with Ed Downey’s European Kenpo Karate Association at http://www.europeankenpo.com.
Mr. Sepulveda is one of the founding members of the “Senior Council” which boasts some of the best Kenpo practitioners worldwide. He has been recognized worldwide for his committed efforts in promoting Kenpo, which has included receiving many awards, including the California Karate League’s “Official of the Year Award,” and the Associated Teachers Association of the Martial Artists (ATAMA) “Hall of Fame Award.” In 2007 he was inducted as a Charter Member of the Kenpo Hall of Fame, in 2008 he was inducted into the World Martial Arts Masters Association Hall of Fame, and in 2009 he was inducted into the World Master’s Hall of Fame. In 2015, he was inducted into the Master’s Hall of Fame and received the Mike Stone Leadership Award for his contributions to the martial arts community. At the present time there are over 50 schools affiliated with Mr. Sepulveda throughout the United States, Europe, South America, and Mexico