Episode 113 – Ian Lauer

Episode 113 – Ian Lauer

From My Empty Hands by Reggie Darden

May 7, 2026 · 1h 10m

About this episode

In this episode, Reggie Darden interviews Ian Lauer about his journey in martial arts and acting.

My Empty Hands Podcast: Episode 113 – Ian Lauer In this episode, host Reggie Darden sits down with Ian Lauer, a multi-disciplined martial artist, actor, and school owner. Ian shares his journey from watching Kung Fu movies as a child in Ohio to training with legendary instructors in Los Angeles and eventually returning home to build a thriving martial arts community. Host: Reggie Darden Guest: Ian Lauer (Ian Lauer’s Kempo Karate) Key Moments & Discussion Points [ 01:19 ] Introduction: Reggie introduces the episode and shares his own background training in multiple arts, including American Kenpo, Hapkido, Capoeira, and BJJ. [ 02:39 ] The “Pringles” Effect of Martial Arts: Ian discusses how he started with arts like Kazak Karate and Taekwondo, driven by early inspirations like The Karate Kid and Bloodsport . [ 08:11 ] From Ohio to Hollywood: Ian recounts moving to Los Angeles to pursue acting and how his search for “audition-ready” skills led him to Master Brian Hawkins’ studio. [ 10:48 ] The White Belt Mindset: Both Reggie and Ian reflect on the ego-bruising but rewarding experience of putting on a white belt in a new system after already…

People in this episode

Host: Reggie Darden

Guest: Ian Lauer

Topics covered

  • martial arts
  • acting
  • personal journey
  • training
  • community building

Keywords

  • martial arts
  • acting
  • Kempo Karate
  • Taekwondo
  • Kung Fu movies

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Ian Lauer’s Kempo Karate

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