Jeff Speakman is an internationally recognized martial arts and action film star who has starred in numerous films including The Perfect Weapon (1991), Street Knight (1993), The Expert (1995), Deadly Outbreak (1995), Escape From Atlantis (1997), Scorpio One (1998), Land of the Free (1998), Memorial Day (1998) and Running Red (1999), The Gunman (2004) and Striking Range (2006). Jeff got his start in the martial arts by watching the television series “Kung Fu”.
Jeff Speakman was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, where he became a All-American springboard diver in high school. He broke records in his school’s district and conference all without ever having a coach. Determined to go to college, he worked for six years and graduated with honors from Missouri State College, earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in biology.
Jeff Speakman learned American Kenpo Karate under Larry Tatum, training under Tatum from white belt to 3rd degree Black Belt. Jeff currently holds a 7th-degree Black Belt in Japanese Goju-Ryu and a 8th-degree Black Belt in American Kenpo Karate under Master John Sepulveda and a 4th degree Black Belt in American Kenpo Karate under Grandmaster Ed Parker (founder of American Kenpo Karate).
Jeff Speakman is the Founder and Director of American Kenpo Karate Systems (AAKS), an international kenpo karate organization with more than 50 schools. In 1993, Jeff was inducted into the Black Belt Hall of Fame as “Instructor of the Year.”
