Just a little update

KenpoTech on July 23, 2013

It has been quite a long time, but this venture has not been forgotten. After the new version of WordPress is released, I am going to start making some improvements to the back end of this site and get things updated to HTML5.  Once that is complete, the posting of information will resume.  I already have the next couple lined up.

Crossed Twigs (Blue #15)

KenpoTech on January 30, 2011

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Crossed Twigs is the 15th required technique to obtain your Blue Belt in Ed Parker’s American Kenpo.  Crossed Twigs is a defense against a two hand wrist grab from the rear, placing it in the grabs & tackles category of the Web of Knowledge as well as the Wrist Grabs Family Group in the Grabs category of the family groups Grappling division.

This technique was designed in order for you to appraise the merits of using a matching counter to control your opponent’s zones of protection and prevent his retaliation.  Torque and Marriage of Gravity are the sources of power for your actions and you are acquainted with the  principle of compounding by the logical insertion of an elbow strike to your opponent’s jaw. Finally a focus is placed on the flow of action and economization of motion.

The Technique

Attack

In the ideal phase your opponent is directly behind you (6:00). Your opponent grabs both of your wrists in order to restrain you; his right hand grabbing your right wrist and his left hand grabbing your left wrist.

An opponent grabbing you in such a position has several options available to him other than simply restraining you. You could be restrained as another attacker strikes you, he can pull you backward putting pressure on your shoulder joints, he could pull you backwards as he drives a knee into your lower back or it could be used as a transitional stage to put you into a more serious type of grappling maneuver (hug, hold, choke, lock).

Defense

Crossed Twigs –  defense for a rear double wrist grab.

  • Step 1
    • Counter grab both of your opponent’s wrists with your hands,
    • Step toward 1:30 with your left foot to form a right reverse bow stance,
    • Pull your opponent downward and forward with both of your hands.
  • Step 2
    • Pivot clockwise to form a right neutral bow stance facing 7:30,
    • Deliver a right outward upward elbow strike through your opponent’s right jaw as you cross your opponent’s arms (right over left).
  • Step 3
    • Pivot clockwise into a right forward bow stance facing 7:30
    • Continue the flow of action of your right arm, crossing your opponent’s arms, by pulling his right arm down and behind you.
  • Step 4
    • Release your grasp with your right hand,
    • Deliver a right inward overhead elbow strike to your opponent’s upper spine,
  • Step 5
    • Release your grip with your left hand,
    • Deliver simultaneous right and left downward heel palm strike’s to your opponent’s left kidney and left rib cage, grabbing and pinching them,
    • Execute a left upward knee kick to your opponent’s right ribs.
  • Step 6
    • Plant your left foot back to point and origin
    • Execute a right front crossover
    • Cover out twice toward 1:30.

Considerations

  • What if…
    • your opponent pulls you back?
    • your opponent forces you forward?
    • your opponent cross grabs your wrists from behind?
    • your opponent grabs your elbows instead of your wrists?
    • your opponent breaks your grip before the elbow strike?
    • your opponent breaks your grip as you are crossing his arms?
    • you are unable to step forward?

Notes

  • As you pivot clockwise, keep your opponent’s left arm below the level of your buttocks. Alternatively, you can use your buttocks to anchor your opponent’s left arm in place.
  • It is important to keep in mind that steps 2 through 4 are meant to be one continuous flow of action.
  • Be sure that when you are crossing your opponent’s arms, you do not pull the right arm horizontally.  You open yourself up to an elbow in the face. This could even occur without your opponent’s intent should you lose your grip on his wrist.
  • To maximize the effect of the right inward overhead elbow strike employ marriage of gravity by dropping into a right wide kneel stance as the elbow makes contact with your opponent.
  • Consider working on tightening your circular paths of action. See how it improves your timing and places your moves in sync; increasing the speed and force of your strikes.
  • Practice counter grabbing a partner’s wrists and get the proper feel for its application. Doing so will induce proper and successful manipulation of your opponent.
  • Compare to other techniques and determine how creating an Angle of Disturbance works in your favor.
  • Note the various types of body momentum used in this technique and how often it occurs.
  • Work on timing when applying the sandwiching effect in order to maximize its potential.

Additional Information

Name

In American Kenpo the term twig is used to represent the arms. In this technique your opponent’s arms (twigs) are crossed as part of your defense giving us the name Crossed Twigs.

Basics & Maneuvers

  • Left Front Step Through
  • Right Reverse Bow Stance
  • Right Neutral Bow Stance
  • Right Outward Upward Diagonal Elbow Strike
  • Right Forward Bow Stance
  • Right Inward Overhead Elbow Strike
  • Right Wide Kneel Stance
  • Left Downward Heel Palm Strike
  • Right Downward Heel Palm Strike
  • Left Upward Knee Kick
  • Right Front Crossover
  • Cover Out

Targets

  • Face
  • Jaw
  • Upper Spine
  • Left Kidney
  • Left Rib Cage
  • Right Rib Cage

Concepts & Principles

  • Anchoring
  • Angle of Cancellation
  • Angle of Disturbance

Concepts & Principles (Con’t)

  • Angle of Entry
  • Angle of Execution
  • Angle of Incidence
  • Backup Mass
  • Body Momentum
  • Borrowed Force
  • Continuity of Motion
  • Contouring (Fitting)
  • Control Distance
  • Detaining Check
  • Economy of Motion
  • Figure 8 Pattern
  • Gravitational Check
  • Lower Case/Upper Case
  • Marriage of Gravity
  • Matching Counter
  • Obscure Zones
  • Opposing Forces
  • Pivoting
  • Purposeful Compliance
  • Purposeful Defiance
  • Rounding The Corners
  • Sandwiching
  • Solidify Your Base
  • Torque
  • With


Related Techniques

Historical Notes

1975 Accumulative Journal

  • In the 1975 Accumulative Journal, Crossed Twigs is Blue Belt Technique #12
  • The 1975 Accumulative Journal has you; step toward 1:00 on the initial move, pivot clockwise toward 7:00, crossover and cover out toward 12:00.
  • The 1975 version has you deliver a right horizontal elbow strike to your opponent’s jaw which creates two problems; the angle isn’t correct requiring you to cock before delivering the strike and it invites you to continue the flow of motion horizontally which opens the possibility of your opponent delivering an elbow to your face.  The angle has been officially changed in future versions.

Historical Versions

CROSSED TWIGS (rear two-hand grab to wrists)

  1. With feet together and opponent grabbing your wrists from the rear counter grab both of opponent’s wrists (right to right and left to left) as you step to l o’clock with your left foot (into a left neutral bow ).
  2. Pivot clockwise facing 7 o’clock (still maintaining wrist grabs) as you cross your opponent’s arms (right over left) in the process, have your right elbow strike horizontally and outward to opponent’s right jaw and continue to pull opponent’s right arm down with your right (have your left hand which is grabbing opponent’s wrist pull down and below the level of your buttocks).
  3. Release only your right grasp and circle counter clockwise with your right looping inward overhead elbow strike down to upper spine of opponent.
  4. Release your left grasp and with your right, double heel palm, grab, and pinch opponent’s left kidney and ribs as you kick your opponent’s right ribcage with your left knee.
  5. Replant your left foot to point of origin. Right front crossover and cover to 2 o’clock.

Returning Storm (Blue #14)

KenpoTech on January 27, 2011

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Returning Storm is the 14th technique required technique to obtain your Blue Belt in Ed Parker’s American Kenpo. Returning Storm is a defense against a right roundhouse club and right outward club combination, placing it in the Weapons category of the Web of Knowledge as well as the One Man Multiple Attacks Family Group in the Multiple Attacks division.

In this technique, you will utilize rapid foot maneuvers to first seek a Zone of Sanctuary allowing your opponent to miss with the first strike but then you immediately reposition yourself to defend against the second strike as you penetrate deeply into your opponent’s obscure zone.  You will then use the momentum supplied by your opponent’s outward swing (borrowed force) in a continuous flow of action to make use of opposing forces which enables the push pull effect on your opponent’s arm as well as the spiraling stair case effect to direct him toward the ground.  Both of these control your opponent’s height width and depth zones of protection.

The Technique

Attack

In the ideal phase your opponent is directly in front of you (12:00).  Your opponent steps forward with his right foot and delivers a right inward horizontal roundhouse club strike. Upon missing he immediately follows with a right outward horizontal back hand club strike.

Defense

Returning Storm – defense for an inward/outward club strike combination.

  • Step 1
    • Shuffle back with your left foot toward 7:30 into a right neutral bow facing your opponent.
    • Bring both of your arms close to your chest, fists up top, into a protective guard.
  • Step 2
    • Step forward with your left foot toward 1:30 into a left neutral bow stance,
    • Deliver a left inward block to your opponent’s right elbow,
    • Deliver a right extended outward block to your opponent’s right wrist.
  • Step 3
    • Grab your opponent’s right wrist with your right hand and pull toward your right hip,
    • Push forward against your opponent’s right elbow downward with your left forearm
    • Slide your right foot toward 10:30 into a left neutral bow stance facing 4:30
  • Step 4
    • Deliver a right front snapping ball kick to your opponent’s right rib cage.
  • Step 5
    • Plant your right foot forward into a right neutral bow stance.
    • Check your opponent’s right arm with your left hand by pushing it down past your right hip,
    • Deliver a right upward lifting stiff-arm back knuckle strike to your opponent’s face.
  • Step 6
    • Execute a right front crossover,
    • Cover out twice toward 12:00.

Considerations

  • What if…
    • your opponent does not step through?
    • your opponent is swinging the club with two hands?
    • your opponent delivers a left roundhouse club strike instead?
    • your opponent swings on an inward downward diagonal path?
    • your opponent is using a knife?
    • your opponent is using nunchaku?
    • you cannot step back?

Notes

  • When stepping forward into a left neutral bow stance, your left foot should be places to the inside of your opponent’s right foot. This will serve to buckle your opponent’s right knee to create an angle of disturbance.
  • Keep constant pressure on your opponent’s right elbow. Your rolling action on your opponent’s elbow coupled with the rotational force of your body should spiral your opponent down into your front snapping ball kick.
  • Be sure to use the Spiraling Staircase Effect learned in Sleeper to aid you when manipulating your opponent.
  • OPINION: While the official target of the kick is the right ribcage, this seems to be a very unlikely target due to the proximity and position of your opponent if the technique is done correctly, moves are kept tight and the ideal phase remains in play.  The best you will be able to do to your opponent’s right ribs would be an upward knee strike making your opponent’s face becomes the likely target of the kick.  Even then, the knee strike is more likely to strike your opponent’s chest.  Considering all the variables and potential outcomes, it would make most sense to list the target of the kick as ‘any available target’.

Variations

  • Many schools will substitute the shuffle with a left reverse step through toward 7:30 into a right reverse bow stance in order to move away from the first swing.
  • While it is not in the written description, the technique is more often than not taught with an attempted disarm to occur simultaneously with the kick.  This makes use of the disarm as a preparatory cock of the right hand for the follow up strike. Your left hand will maintain it’s position on your opponent’s right arm.
  • Some schools will teach a one of two variations where you do not plant forward after the right kick to your opponent.
    • In this case you plant your right foot back to point of origin,
    • and you disarm your opponent with your left hand as you execute a left front crossover and cover out.

Additional Information

Name

In American Kenpo the term storm is used to represent a club attack. In this technique your opponent strikes with the club but misses with the inward strike and immediately follows up with outward strike, returning along the path the strike originated from.  Essentially the club (storm) is returning for another strike giving us the name Returning Storm.

Basics & Maneuvers

  • Left Reverse Shuffle (push-drag)
  • Right Neutral Bow Stance
  • Left Front Step Through
  • Left Neutral Bow Stance
  • Right Extended Outward Block
  • Left Inward Block
  • Right Reverse Step Through
  • Right Right Snapping Ball Kick
  • Right Upward Stiff-arm Back Knuckle Strike
  • Right Front Crossover
  • Cover Out

Targets

  • Right Wrist
  • Right Elbow
  • Right Rib Cage
  • Face

Concepts & Principles

  • Anchor
  • Angle of Cancellation
  • Angle of Deflection
  • Angle of Deviation
  • Angle of Disturbance
  • Angle of Efficiency

Concepts & Principles (Con’t)

  • Angle of Entry
  • Angle of No Return
  • Back Up Mass
  • Body Momentum
  • Borrowed Force
  • Complimentary Angle
  • Contact Manipulation
  • Control Distance
  • Control Manipulation
  • Contouring
  • Counter Balance
  • Have A Back Up
  • Marriage of Gravity
  • Minimize Your Targets
  • Obscure Zones
  • Opposing Forces
  • Path of Action
  • Point of Contact
  • Point of Origin
  • Push-Pull Effect
  • Reverse Motion
  • Spiraling Staircase Effect
  • Stabilize Your Base
  • Transitional Moves
  • Twirling
  • Zone of Sanctuary


Related Techniques

Historical Notes

  • In the 1975 Accumulative Journal, Returning Storm was Blue Belt Technique #11
  • In the 1975 Accumulative Journal version you;
    • drop back to 8:00.
    • step forward toward 2:00.
    • slide your right foot toward 10:00.
    • deliver the right kick and plant forward to 4:00.
    • depart toward 11:00.

Historical Versions

1975 Accumulative Journal

RETURNING STORM (roundhouse and backhand club attack)

  1. With feet together, drop back (by shuffling back) with your left foot to 8 o’clock (into a right neutral bow) and place both of your arms close (positioning them vertically with your fists at the top) to your chest, as your opponent takes a wild step through roundhouse horizontal club strike which misses.
  2. As opponent attempts to strike with a returning backhand club strike, step forward with your left foot to 2 o’clock (into a left neutral bow) and have both of your arms strike vertically so that your left forearm strikes at opponent’s right elbow joint and your right outer wrist at opponent’s right wrist.
  3. Immediately grab opponent’s right wrist with your right hand and push vertically and out with your left forearm as you slide your right foot clockwise to 10 o’clock, keeping constant pressure on your opponent’s right elbow.
  4. Follow-up with a front snapping ball kick to opponent’s right ribcage (kick is delivered toward 4 o’clock).
  5. As you plant your right foot forward (into a right neutral bow), check your opponent’s right arm with your left hand by pushing it down and past your right hip and deliver a vertical upward stiff-arm back knuckle strike to opponent’s face.
  6. Right front crossover and cover out to 11 o’clock.

Fallen Cross (Blue #13)

KenpoTech on January 23, 2011

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Fallen Cross is the 13th required technique to obtain your Blue Belt in Ed Parker’s American Kenpo.  Fallen Cross is a defense against two hand choke from behind, placing it in the Locks & Chokes category of the Web of Knowledge as well as the Chokes Family Group of the Grappling division.

In Fallen Cross you will begin by using your opponent’s own force.  Using borrowed force in combination with fulcruming, you attack your opponent’s thumbs, creating a hyper-extension or break of the thumb as you move away from your opponent.  As you move away from your opponent, counter manipulation comes into play as it ties up your opponent’s weapons, cancels his height zone and aligns his arms for the elbow break.  Both fulcruming and the third hand principle play a dominant role in this technique.  The technique completes with the use of  an upper case lower case moment as you deliver a kicking combination in one count and then a sandwiching strike before covering out.

The Technique

Attack

In the ideal phase your opponent is directly behind you (6:00). He applies a two-hand choke with arms extended.  It can be assumed that your opponent is pushing forward on your neck, preventing you from stepping backward.

Defense

Fallen Cross – defense for a rear two-hand choke.

  • Step 1
    • Grab both of your opponent’s wrists with both of your hands,
    • Tuck your chin into your chest,
    • Step toward 9:00 with your left foot to form a horse stance facing 12:00.
  • Step 2
    • Turn your head counter clockwise,
    • Step toward 10:30 with your right foot into a transitional right neutral bow stance,
    • and pivot counterclockwise into a left neutral bow stance facing 4:30.
    • Cross your opponent’s right arm over his left arm, at or above the elbows.
  • Step 3
    • Pull your opponent’s arms down and outward,
    • Deliver a right right upward knee kick to your opponent’s left elbow joint,
    • Immediately follow with a right front snapping ball kick to your opponent’s groin.
  • Step 4
    • Plant your right foot toward 4:30 into a right neutral bow stance,
    • Deliver a right inward horizontal elbow strike to your opponent’s jaw,
    • Check your opponent’s arms down at the elbows with your left hand.
  • Step 5
    • Execute a right front crossover,
    • cover out twice toward 12:00.

Considerations

  • What if…
    • your opponent’s arms are bent?
    • your opponent is pulling you backward as he chokes you?
    • you are unable to step to the left?
    • you are unable to step forward?
    • you are being choked from a seated position?

Notes

  • As you step toward 9:00 with your left foot you should be pulling your opponent’s arms downward to hyper extend your opponent’s thumbs against the back of your neck.  As you settle into the horse stance, continue pulling your opponent’s arms forward but rotate his arms upwards and outward to put pressure on his elbow joints, possibly breaking them.  This will not only set his arms in a position that facilitates the next move but it creates an angle of disturbance that control your opponent’s height zone.

Variations

  • Many, if not most, schools will teach delivering a left inward horizontal heel palm strike to the right side of the jaw along with the right inward elbow strike, in place of checking your opponent’s arms, in order to create a sandwiching effect. This works under the assumption that your opponent’s arms are pinned against your body as you plant your right foot forward after your front snapping ball kick.

Additional Information

Name

In this technique you will twist or cross your opponent’s arms at the elbow and this makes the arms resemble a cross. The manipulation of your opponent’s crossed arms by pulling them downward to cancel his height zone as you deliver your knee strike resembles a falling cross or a cross that has fallen to your knee.  Thus we have the name Fallen Cross.

Basics & Maneuvers

  • Left Side Step Through
  • Horse Stance
  • Right Front Step Through
  • Right Transitional Neutral Bow Stance
  • Left Neutral Bow Stance
  • Right Upward Knee Kick
  • Right Front Snapping Ball Kick
  • Right Neutral Bow Stance
  • Right Inward Horizontal Elbow Strike
  • Right Front Crossover
  • Cover Out

Targets

  • Both Wrists
  • Both Thumbs
  • Both Elbows
  • Groin
  • Jaw

Concepts & Principles

  • Anchor
  • Angle of Alignment
  • Angle of Cancellation
  • Angle of Deviation

Concepts & Principles (Con’t)

  • Angle of Disturbance
  • Angle of Execution
  • Angle of Incidence
  • Backup Mass
  • Body Momentum
  • Borrowed Force
  • Borrowed Reach
  • Contouring
  • Fulcruming
  • Gravitational Checks
  • Guidelining
  • Jerking
  • Lower Case/Upper Case
  • Marriage of Gravity
  • Obscure Zones
  • Opposing Forces
  • Pin-Point Effect
  • Pinning Checks
  • Pivoting
  • Sandwiching
  • Stabilize Your Base
  • Third Hand Principle
  • Torque
  • With


Related Techniques

Historical Notes

  • In the 1975 Accumulative Journal, Fallen Cross was Blue Belt Technique #10.
  • In the 1975 Accumulative Journal you:
    • step toward 10:00 with your right foot.
    • pivot counter clockwise to face 4:00.
    • have a 10:00 angle of departure.

Historical Versions

1975 Accumulative Journal

FALLEN CROSS   (rear two-hand choke)

  1. With feet together and opponent choking you from the rear with both of his hands, step to your left (to 9 o’clock) into a horse as you grab both of opponent’s wrists with both of your hands (right to right and left to left).
  2. Move your right foot forward to 10 o’clock (into a right neutral bow) and pivot counter clockwise as you cross opponent’s arms with his right arm over his left while now facing 4 o’clock, making sure that the arms are crossed at or above the opponent’s elbows.
  3. While still grabbing opponent’s wrists, have both of your arms force your opponent’s arms down as you deliver a right knee kick up and against the left elbow joint of your opponent (opponent’s left elbow joint should be facing down at this point).   Without hesitation and with your right knee against your opponent’s left elbow, deliver a right front snapping ball kick to opponent’s groin.
  4. As you plant your right foot forward (to 4 o’clock), deliver a right inward horizontal elbow strike (or a right inward downward diagonal forearm smash from 1 o’clock to 7 o’clock, depending upon the circumstance). Have your left hand check opponent’s arms down and toward opponent.
  5. Right front crossover and cover out to 10 o’clock.

Stance Set #1

KenpoTech on January 19, 2011

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Stance Set 1 is the second set required to attain your Blue Belt in Ed Parker’s American Kenpo. Stance Set 1 illustrates the different stances used and the foot maneuvers used to get into them.

The Set/Form

OPENING: Attention Stance, Bow, Informal Salutation,

  • Section 1 (2 moves)
    1. Slide your left foot toward 9:00 into a training horse stance facing 12:00
    2. Place your open hands on hips to help coordinate proper upper body alignment with your stances.
  • Section 2 (5 moves)
    1. Step back toward 6:00 with your left foot into a right neutral bow stance facing 12:00.
    2. Drag your right foot back toward 6:00 into a right 45° cat stance facing 12:00.
    3. Step out toward 3:00 with your right foot into a horse stance facing 12:00.
    4. Step back toward 6:00 with your right foot into a left neutral bow stance facing 12:00.
    5. Frag your left foot back toward 6:00 into a left 45° cat stance facing 12:00.
  • Section 3 (4 moves)
    1. Slide your left foot back toward 6:00 into a right front twist stance facing 12:00.
    2. Pivot counter clockwise into a right neutral bow stance facing 12:00.
    3. Slide your right foot back toward 6:00 into a left front twist stance facing 12:00.
    4. Pivot clockwise into a left neutral bow stance facing 12:00.
  • Section 4 (5 moves)
    1. Pivot clockwise to form a left reverse bow stance facing 12:00.
    2. Pivot counter clockwise to form a left forward bow stance facing 12:00.
    3. Switch step into a right neutral bow stance facing 12:00
      • Slide you right foot to your left foot into a concave stance.
      • Slide your left foot back toward toward 6:00 into your right neutral bow stance.
    4. Pivot counter clockwise into a right reverse bow stance facing 12:00.
    5. Pivot clockwise into a right forward bow stance facing 12:00.
  • Section 5 (4 moves)
    1. Pivot clockwise into a right front rotating twist stance facing 12:00.
    2. Step forward with your left foot toward 12:00 into a left fighting horse stance facing 12:00.
    3. Pivot counter clockwise into a left front rotating twist stance facing 12:00.
    4. Pivot clockwise into a left neutral bow stance facing 12:00
  • Section 6 (3 moves)
    1. Slide your left foot back toward 6:00 into a left 90° cat stance.
    2. Step out toward 9:00 with your left foot into a training horse stance facing 12:00.
    3. Slide your left foot toward 3:00 into an attention stance facing 12:00.

Closing: Informal Salutation, Bow.

Contains

  • Stances
    • Attention Stance
    • Training Horse Stance
    • Neutral Bow Stance
    • 45° Cat Stance
    • Front Twist Stance
    • Reverse Bow Stance
    • Forward Bow Stance
    • Concave Stance
    • Front Rotating Twist Stance
    • Fighting Horse Stance
    • 90° Cat Stance
  • Foot Maneuvers
    • Forward Step Through
    • Reverse Step Through
    • Pivoting Stance Change
    • Switching Stance Change
    • Step Out (Side Step Through)
    • Step Back
    • Drag/Slide

Teaches

  • Proper weight distribution for specific stances.
  • How to increase distance when retreating.
  • How to increase distance when advancing.
  • How to cover target areas with stances.
  • How to utilize transitory stances when advancing or retreating.
  • Continuity in stance changes.
  • How to coordinate proper upper body alignment with a stance.
  • How to feel your way along the ground.
  • How to maintain the proper Center of Gravity when moving from one stance to another.
  • How to bring into sync the various types of body momentum, working singularly or together, when moving from once stance to another.
  • Horizontal (forward or reverse) momentum
  • Rotational momentum (Torque)
  • Vertical and/or diagonal momentum (Marriage of Gravity)

Notes

  • Make a list of environments to practice this set.  The practice of this set in various environments and predicaments will add greatly to your chances of survival on the street.
  • Practice this set with various rhythms:
    • mechanically (slow and fast)
    • fluid (slow and fast)
    • hard and fast
    • super fast
  • Practice the other side of the set.
  • Practice the set on a stairway.
  • Practice the set with various breathing patterns.
  • Wear various types of shoes when practicing the set.
  • Practice the set to various types of music.
  • Have a partner grab hold of your belt to provide resistance as you move through the set.  This will greatly increase your knowledge of how to properly use your lower body for power.