Mr. Parker had planned on creating a project titled “Speak With a Knife”. Unfortunately, Mr. Parker’s passing prevented that curriculum from ever being completed. Mr. Tommy Burks always felt that knowledge was extremely needed for Kenpo self-defense, he decided to create a Kenpo knife system based on the motion, concepts and principles of American Kenpo Karate.

In December 1990 after a second discussion about “Speak With a Knife” with Mr. Parker, Mr. Burks received from Mr. Parker the outline and all the written material that Mr. Parker had assembled up to that date, on constructing the project “Speak With a Knife”. Mr. Burks used this material to start building the outline to construct the Kenpo Tactical Knife System (also referred to as KTKS). Over the next two years Mr. Burks created the KTKS using the American Kenpo concepts, principles and motion created by Mr. Parker to create the drills, sets and techniques for the KTKS.

The Kenpo Tactical Knife System contains several divisions:

Basic Level – where a student learns basics of understanding and utilizing a knife – which includes: gripping a knife, components of the knife, tailoring the knife, how to manipulate the knife, how to carry and draw the knife, hand positions, ranges of motion, stances and maneuvers, power factors, targets, anatomy, legal and ethical, avoidance, considerations, angles of attack etc.

Passing drills 1&2

8 self-defense techniques

Beginner Level - basic understanding of: freezing up, predators, hollowing out, APS (accuracy, power and speed), controlling height, width and depth (contact and control manipulation),

Passing Drills 3 – 6

12 self-defense techniques

Intermediate Level 1

Knife Sets 1 – 4

12 Military Style Techniques (teaches offensive use of the knife)

Intermediate Level 2

Knife Sets 5-9

12 Counter to counter techniques

Advanced Level 1

10 Knife to knife techniques

Advanced Level 2

10 techniques using two knives

Advanced Level 3

Kenpo Form 8

The Kenpo Tactical Knife System is a copyrighted system and is only available by lessons directly with Mr. Burks in person or on Zoom.