Reversing Mace (EPAK Orange #19)

KenpoTech on July 6, 2010

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Reversing Mace is the 19th technique required to obtain your Orange Belt in Ed Parker’s American Kenpo. It is a defense against left step through punch from the front thus part of the Punches category in the Web of Knowledge and the Punches Family Group in the Family Groups Striking Division

In Reversing Mace you will move up the circle and employ the double factor principle in order to move out of your opponent’s line of attack as well as negate his ability to follow up with another strike. In your counter attack you will reverse the motion of your right arm’s defense turning it into an offensive maneuver and finally you will redistribute your weight as you pivot away from your attacker to provide ample support, range and power for your kick.

Defense

Reversing Mace – defense for a left straight punch.

  • Step 1
    • Slide your left foot toward 4:30 to form a right neutral bow stance facing 10:30,
    • Deliver a right inward parry to the back of your opponent’s left elbow,
    • Deliver a left vertical outward parry to the back of your opponent’s left elbow,
    • Execute a right outward back knuckle strike as you settle into your stance.
  • Step 2
    • Deliver a right inward downward looping roundhouse kick to the back of your opponent’s left knee.
  • Step 3
    • Without planting your foot, execute a right front crossover and cover out toward 4:30.

Additional Information

Name

With the Kenpo term ‘mace‘ used to represent the closed fist in conjunction with the use of reverse motion, by reversing your mace that you blocked with to deliver a counterstrike, you get the name Reversing Mace.

Attack

In the ideal phase your opponent is directly in front of you (12:00). Your opponent proceeds to step forward with his left foot as he delivers a left punch toward your face.

This attack does not necessarily have to be an active step through punch. Your opponent may be in a left neutral bow stance and throwing a left hand punch from this position.  With a left punch being most commonly used to set up another, more powerful, strike your it is important to negate your attacker’s ability to follow up.

Basics & Maneuvers

  • Left Reverse Step Through
  • Right Neutral Bow Stance
  • Right Inward Parry
  • Left Vertical Outward Parry
  • Right Outward Horizontal Back Knuckle Strike
  • Right Inward Downward Looping Roundhouse Kick
  • Right Fright Crossover
  • Cover Out

Targets

  • Back of the Left Elbow
  • Left Floating Ribs
  • Back of the Left Knee (Peroneal Nerve)

Concepts & Principles

  • Anchoring
  • Angle of Deflection
  • Angle of Deviation
  • Complementary Angle
  • Continuity
  • Double Factor
  • Opposite Motion
  • Pivoting
  • Positional Check
  • Reverse Motion
  • Upside of the Circle
  • Weight Distribution


Considerations

  • What if …
    • your opponent does not step through?
    • your opponent throws a roundhouse punch instead (hook punch)?
    • your opponent throws a right punch instead?
    • your opponent fakes with his left and follows with a right punch?
    • your opponent throws a left kick before his left punch?
    • your opponent follows his punch with a right outward spinning back knuckle strike?

Related Techniques

Historical Notes

  • In the 1975 Accumulative Journal, Reversing Mace was the 17th required technique for orange belt.
  • Prior to the 1975 Accumulative Journal a right snapping knife edge kick (side kick) was used to buckle the attacker’s left knee.
  • In the 1975 Accumulative Journal, instructs you to move your left foot toward 5:00 instead of 4:30
  • The 1975 Accumulative Journal has you defend with blocks
  • The 1975 Accumulative Journal indicates the Angle of Departure as 5:00
  • The 1987 IKKA Studio Manuals have you defend with parries

Historical Versions

1975 Accumulative Journal

REVERSING MACE (front straight left punch)

  1. From a right neutral bow, slide your left foot counter clockwise to 5 o’clock; simultaneously use a right inward and left vertical outward block outside of opponent’s left punch. Without any loss of motion, the right inward block continues and becomes a right horizontal outward back knuckle as it strikes to opponent’s left ribcage.
  2. Immediately shift your weight on to your left leg and delver a right looping downward roundhouse kick to back of opponent’s left knee complimenting the angle of your opponent’s thigh. (As this kick is executed, kick with the instep of your right foot and make sure that your right ankle is locked straight out.)
  3. Right front crossover and cover out to 4 o’clock.

Notes

Variations

Obscure Wing (EPAK Orange #18)

KenpoTech on July 5, 2010

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Obscure Wing is the 18th technique required to obtain your Orange Belt in Ed Parker’s American Kenpo. It is a defense against a left hand shoulder grab from the right flank and part of the Grabs & Tackles category in the Web of Knowledge.  It also belongs to the shoulder/lapel grab group of the Grabs category in the grappling division.

In Obscure Wing we will use a pin to control your opponent’s left hand, then we will make use of contouring and tracking to find our targets from point of origin in obscure zones. You will find that this technique is for the same type of attack as Sword and Hammer.  In Sword and Hammer you go after your opponent’s upper zone first, in Obscure Wing you can assume that the upper zone is protected thus you need to attack the mid or lower zone first instead, making this an effective backup technique for Sword and Hammer.

Defense

Obscure Wing – defense for a right flank shoulder grab.

  • Step 1
    • Pin your opponent’s left hand with your left hand,
    • Step toward 3:00 with your right foot to form a right fighting horse stance,
    • Deliver a right rear elbow strike to your opponent’s solar plexus.
  • Step 2
    • Continue pinning your opponent’s left hand,
    • Deliver right downward back hammerfist strike to your opponent’s groin,
    • Grab your opponent’s groin.
  • Step 3
    • Rip your opponent’s groin upward,
    • Deliver a right upward snapping obscure elbow strike underneath your opponent’s chin.
  • Step 4
    • Right front crossover and cover out toward 10:30.

Additional Information

Name

As mentioned in the last technique, wing is the Kenpo term for an elbow. In this technique you will use an elbow (wing) strike that will travel through a space your opponent can’t see, a blind spot, called an obscure zone.  Put this together and and you are essentially delivering an obscure wing to your opponent, thus the name.

Attack

In the ideal phase your attacker will be directly to your right at the 3:00 position. Your opponent will then grab your right shoulder with his left hand. It is assumed that your opponent is protecting his upper zone.

Basics & Maneuvers

  • Right Side Step Through
  • Right Fighting Horse Stance
  • Right Rear Thrusting Elbow
  • Right Downward Back Hammerfist
  • Right Gripping Claw
  • Right Ripping Claw
  • Right Rear Upward Snapping Obscure Elbow
  • Right Front Cross Over
  • Cover Out

Targets

  • Left hand/wrist
  • Solar Plexus/Abdomen
  • Groin
  • Underneath the Chin

Concepts & Principles

  • Angle of Cancellation
  • Back Up Mass
  • Borrowed Force
  • Continuity of Motion
  • Contouring
  • Getting the Upper Hand
  • Marriage of Gravity
  • Obscure Zones
  • Pinning Check
  • Stabilize your Base
  • Settling
  • Torque


Considerations

  • What if …
    • your opponent grabs your shoulder with his right hand instead?
    • your opponent grabs your shoulder with both hands?
    • your opponent throws a right punch while grabbing your shoulder?
    • your opponent grabs your right bicep with his right hand while grabbing your shoulder?
    • your opponent grabs your right wrist with his right hand while grabbing your shoulder?
    • your opponent pulls your toward him?

Related Techniques

Historical Notes

  • In the 1975 Accumulative Journal, Obscure Wing was Orange Belt Technique #16
  • The 1975 Accumulative Journal does not indicate an angle of departure

Historical Versions

1975 Accumulative Journal

OBSCURE WING (flank left hand shoulder grab)

  1. With feet together and opponent’s left hand grabbing your right shoulder, step to your right(to 3 o’clock)with your right foot as you drop into a horse. Simultaneously deliver a right back elbow to opponent’s solar plexus as your left hand pins and checks opponent’s left hand to your right shoulder.
  2. Deliver a right back hammerfist down to opponent’s groin and follow-up with a right hand grab to opponent’s testicles.
  3. Immediately follow-up with a right snapping obscure elbow strike to opponent’s chin; making sure that your right arm follows the contour of your opponent’s body.

Notes

Variations

Locked Wing (EPAK Orange #17)

KenpoTech on July 4, 2010

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Locked Wing is the 17th technique required to obtain your Orange Belt in Ed Parker’s American Kenpo. It is a defense against a rear right hammerlock placing it in the Chokes & Locks category in the Web of Knowledge and a member of the Locks family group in the Chokes & Locks category of the grappling division.

In Locked Wing you turn your opponent’s perceived upper hand against him, after which you discover how a little torque can create a lot of power before catapulting your opponent into a sandwiching knee.

Defense

Locked Wing – defense for a right hammer lock.

  • Step 1
    • Slide your foot back toward 4:30 with your left foot as you counter grab your opponent’s right hand with your right hand.
    • Pivot counter clockwise into a left neutral bow facing 6:00,
    • Deliver a left outward horizontal elbow strike to your opponent’s face.
  • Step 2
    • Continue moving your left arm counter clockwise over and under your opponent’s right arm,
    • Pivot clockwise into a right forward bow facing 10:30,
    • Deliver a left uppercut strike so that your left inner elbow hits your opponent’s right outer elbow.
  • Step 3
    • Step back toward 4:30 with your right foot to form a left forward bow facing 10:30,
    • positioning your opponent in front of you.
  • Step 4
    • Maintain your hold on your opponent’s right arm with your left arm as you release your right hand,
    • Deliver a right upward knee kick to your opponent’s chest,
    • Deliver a right inward overhead heel palm strike to the back of your opponent’s neck.
  • Step 5
    • Plant your right foot toward 10:30 to form a right neutral bow stance,
    • Push your opponent away with both hands.
  • Step 6
    • Right front cross over and cover out toward 4:30.

Additional Information

Name

The term wing in American Kenpo is synonymous with the elbow joint. In this case the attacker is applying a right hammerlock on your right elbow (wing), thus the name Locked Wing.

Attack

The ideal phase places your opponent directly behind you. Your opponent then grabs your right wrist with his right hand (palm up) and pushes your wrist up your back.

A hammerlock can be applied several ways, with the palm up method being the most common.  A hammerlock is mostly used to subdue and control the victim. While in a hammerlock you need to be aware of an additional attacker or being run up against an object such as a wall.  By itself, the hammerlock can cause excruciating pain in the shoulder, tear the muscles, tendons, cartilage as well as dislocate the shoulder.

Basics & Maneuvers

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

Targets

  • Right hand/wrist
  • Face
  • Right elbow
  • Solar Plexus
  • Back of the Neck

Concepts & Principles

  • Angle of Deflection
  • Angle of Disturbance
  • Catapult
  • Counter Manipulation
  • Detaining Strike
  • Fulcrum
  • Hugging Check
  • Launching
  • Launching Effect
  • Leverage Points
  • Leveraging
  • Pivot
  • Preventative Motion
  • Sandwiching
  • Torque


Considerations

  • What if …
    • your opponent applies the right hammerlock with his right palm down?
    • your opponent applies the right hammerlock with his left hand, palm up?
    • your opponent applies the right hammerlock with his left hand, palm down?
    • your opponent puts you in a left hammerlock with his left hand?
    • your opponent’s grabs your left shoulder with his left hand while you are in a right hammerlock?
    • your opponent grabs your right wrist with both hands?
    • your opponent pulls you while you are in the hammerlock?
    • your opponent pushes you against a wall?
    • your opponent applies painful pressure to your right arm?

Related Techniques

  • Spiraling Twig
  • Flight to Freedom
  • Defying the Storm
  • Crossed Twigs
  • Wings of Silk
  • Broken Ram
  • Securing the Storm

Historical Notes

  • In the 1975 Accumulative Journal, Locked Wing was Orange Belt Technique #15
  • The 1975 Accumulative Journal has you you pivot into a right neutral bow facing 10:00
  • The 1987 IKKA Studio Manuals have you step back toward 6:00 with your right foot to form a right neutral bow stance facing 12:00.
  • Both the 1975 Accumulative Journal and 1987 IKKA Studio Manuals have your plant your right foot toward 11:00.

Historical Versions

1975 Accumulative Journal

LOCKED WING (hammerlock)

  1. With opponent locking your right arm, step back and to your right (between 4 and 5 o’clock) with your left foot into a right neutral bow (with your head still looking forward to 12 o’clock) as your right hand counter grabs your opponent’s right wrist. (Try to place your left leg inside and against opponent’s right leg.)
  2. Immediately pivot your entire body counter clockwise into a left neutral bow (facing 6 o’clock) or horse depending on circumstance, as you deliver a left back horizontal elbow strike to opponent’s jaw.
  3. Circle your left arm over and under opponent’s right elbow as you pivot to your right (toward 10 o’clock) in a modified horse.
  4. While still applying pressure on opponent’s left elbow, drop back with your right foot (between 4 and 5 o’clock) and form a left forward bow.
  5. Immediately release your right hand as you deliver a right knee kick to opponent’s chest with a right overhead heel of palm strike to the back of opponent’s neck thus causing a sandwiching effect.
  6. Follow through by stepping forward toward 11 o’clock with your right foot into a fighting stance.

Notes

Variations

Striking Serpent’s Head (EPAK Orange #16)

KenpoTech on July 3, 2010

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Striking Serpent’s Head is the 16th technique required to obtain your Orange Belt in Ed Parker’s American Kenpo. It is the defense for  a front bear hug with arms free placing it in the Hugs & Holds category in the Web of Knowledge and in the Bear Hugs family group in the Hugs and Holds category in the family groups grappling division.

In Striking Serpent’s Head we initiate our defense with a less on reverse motion with a reverse hammerfist, reverse body momentum and reverse back up mass. In addition to all the reverses, despite being in front of our opponent, almost all of our defense comes from your opponent’s rear. These movements are in an obscure zone teaching you that you can strike in areas your opponent cannot see while being right in front of their face.  The ending of these technique focuses on anchoring, control, and contouring.

Defense

Striking Serpent’s Head – defense for a front bear hug, arms free.

  • Step 1
    • Step back toward 6:00 with your right foot to form a left neutral bow stance facing 12:00,
    • Deliver a left inward reverse hammerfist strike to the base of your opponent’s skull,
    • Right hand cocks in a palm up half fist position near your chest.
  • Step 2
    • Grab the opponent’s hair with your left hand and pull his head back and down,
    • Pivot counter clockwise into a left forward bow stance buckling your opponent’s right knee,
    • Deliver a right snapping half fist strike (palm down) to your opponent’s throat.
    • Pivot clockwise into a left neutral bow stance, facing 12:00
  • Step 3
    • Left front crossover and cover out toward 4:30.

Additional Information

Name

The final move of the base technique, the half-fist strike to the throat, resembles the head of a serpent making a strike thus the name Striking Serpent’s Head.  It is believed that this type of strike (half-fist) was traditionally called a serpent’s head strike along with being called a leopard’s fist/claw/paw.

Attack

The ideal phase places your opponent directly in front of you (12:00) who applies a bear hug around your torso with your arms free.

When you are grabbed in a bear hug and your arms are still free, you are left with significant advantages and a wide array of options thus in a technique like this you have plenty of leverage still.  As discussed earlier in yellow belt a bear hug is commonly used in the streets to give the attacker an advantage.  This advantage enables the attacker to pick you up and throw you, hold you down for others to attack you, squeeze you causing pain, discomfort and injury or simply to intimidate you.

Expanding on this, the person most likely to attempt putting you into a bear hug is someone who believes they are stronger than you and most likely they are physically larger than you as well.  It is important to practice often to develop a quick response to attacks in order to minimize the chances of your attacker ever completing the hold.

Basics & Maneuvers

  • Right Reverse Step Through
  • Left Neutral Bow Stance
  • Left Inward Inverted Hammerfist Strike
  • Left Hair Grab
  • Left Forward Bow Stance
  • Right Snapping Half Fist Strike
  • Left Front Crossover
  • Cover out

Targets

  • Base of the Skull (Mastoid Bone)
  • Hair
  • Throat (Trachea)

Concepts & Principles

  • Anchoring
  • Angle of Disturbance
  • Contouring
  • Fulcruming
  • Leveraging
  • Point of Origin
  • Preparatory Cock
  • Stabilize your Base


Considerations

  • What if …
    • your opponent is driving you back?
    • your opponent continues to push forward after you strike him with the reverse hammerfist?
    • your opponent is pulling you forward?
    • your opponent lifts you off of the ground?
    • you miss the reverse hammerfist?
    • your opponent tries to hit you with his right hand after the reverse hammerfist?
    • your opponent tries to hit you with his left hand after your reverse hammerfist?
    • your opponent is taller than you?
    • your opponent is shorter than you?
    • your opponent applies unbearable pressure?
    • you cannot step backwards?

Related Techniques

Historical Notes

  • In the 1975 Accumulative Journal this was Orange Belt Technique #14

Historical Versions

1975 Accumulative Journal

STRIKING SERPENTS HEAD (front bear hug — arms free)

  1. Drop back with your right foot (to 6 o’clock) into a left neutral bow. Simultaneously hook your left hand around and back of opponent’s head so that your left knuckle or left inner wrist bone strikes to opponent’s left temple or mastoid while your right hand cocks into a half fist at chest level.
  2. Immediately have your left hand grab and pull opponent’s hair back (above the forehead)as you shift into a left forward bow (toward 12 o’clock) and execute a thrusting half fist to opponent’s throat, immediately returning to your left neutral bow after the half fist strike.

Notes

Variations

Shielding Hammer (EPAK Orange #15)

KenpoTech on July 3, 2010

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Shielding Hammer is the 15th technique required to obtain your Orange Belt in Ed Parker’s American Kenpo. Shielding Hammer is for a defense against a  left roundhouse punch from the front placing it in the Punches category in the Web of Knowledge as well as the Punches family group in the family groups striking division.

Shielding Hammer teaches you how to defend, reverse your motion to counter and finish all with the same arm in one continuous motion. You learn how to strike on a circular path while using that path to build power and momentum that will be delivered in a straight line as well.

Defense

Shielding Hammer – defense for a left hook punch.

  • Step1
    • Step back toward 6:00 with your left foot to form a right neutral bow stance facing 12:00,
    • Deliver a right extended outward block to the inside of your opponent’s left forearm,
    • Left hand covers low.
  • Step 2
    • Deliver a right inward downward raking back knuckle strike across the bridge of your opponent’s nose,
    • Continue the motion until your fist is at your left shoulder,
    • Left hand cover moves from low to high.
  • Step 3
    • Shuffle forward (step-drag),
    • Deliver a right outward thrusting elbow strike to your opponent’s solar plexus.
    • Left hand covers high.
  • Step 4
    • Right front crossover and cover out toward 7:30.

Additional Information

Name

The term shield in American Kenpo refers to an extended outward block, in this technique the extended outward block is delivered in a outward hammering fashion. Now imagine holding a hammer in your hand and shielding yourself with it by performing an outward block with it, there you have Shielding Hammer.

Attack

The ideal phase for Shielding Hammer placed your opponent directly in front of you at 12:00. Your opponent then steps forward with his left foot while delivering a left roundhouse punch (hook punch) toward your face.  Hook punches while usually telegraphed deliver a lot of power behind them. A properly placed hook punch can render you unconscious and with serious injury.  Most times a hook punch will be followed by another punch so maintain guard at all times, even when you believe that you have neutralized the danger from the hook.

Basics & Maneuvers

  • Left Reverse Step Through
  • Right Neutral Bow Stance
  • Right Extended Outward Block
  • Right Inward Downward Diagonal Raking Back Knuckle Strike
  • Shuffle (Step-Drag)
  • Right Horizontal Outward Elbow Strike
  • Right Front Crossover
  • Cover Out

Targets

  • Inside of the left forearm
  • Left eye socket/bridge of the nose
  • solar plexus/diaphragm

Concepts & Principles

  • Angle of Cancellation
  • Angle of Deflection
  • Backup Mass
  • Body Momentum
  • Contact Penetration
  • Continuous Flow of Action
  • Contouring
  • Fitting
  • Point of Origin
  • Positional Block
  • Positional Check
  • Solidify Your Base


Considerations

  • What if …
    • your opponent delivers a straight punch?
    • your opponent throws a left hook followed by a right uppercut?
    • your opponent throws a left hook followed by a right hook?
    • your opponent throws a left kick followed by a left hook?
    • your opponent throws a right punch followed by a left hook?

Related Techniques

Historical Notes

  • In the 1975 Accumulative Journal, Shielding Hammer was the 12th Orange Belt Technique.

Historical Versions

1975 Accumulative Journal

SHIELDING HAMMER   (front hooking left punch)

  1. Standing naturally with feet together, step back with your left foot to 6 o’clock into a right neutral bow as you deliver a right extended outward block to the inside of opponent’s left hooking punch at his forearm as your left hand guards your right ribcage.
  2. Immediately deliver a right inward raking back knuckle strike to opponent’s bridge of nose.
  3. Shuffle forward while continuing the counter clockwise motion of your right hand and follow-up with a right horizontal dipping outward elbow strike to opponent’s solar plexus as your left hand checks high for a possible heel palm and claw to opponent’s face.

Unfinished Orange Belt Manual by Ed Parker

SHIELDING HAMMER (Front step through hooking left punch)

  1. Standing naturally, step back with your left foot toward 6 o’clock into a right neutral bow (facing 12 o’clock) as you deliver a right extended outward block to the inside of your opponent’s left forearm. Your left hand should be in a POSITIONAL CHECK off near your right ribcage.
  2. Immediately deliver a right inward raking back knuckle strike diagonally in and down across the bridge of your opponent’s nose (striking toward 10:30 to insure depth of penetration). (This action should turn your opponent’s head clockwise to his right.)
  3. Shuffle forward while continuing the counterclockwise motion with your right hand and follow-up with a right horizontal dipping outward elbow strike to your opponent’s solar plexus. Your left hand should be checking high. (This should cause your opponent to lose his wind and bend forward at the waist.)
  4. Execute a right front crossover, and cover out toward 7:30.

Notes

Variations