Crashing Wings (EPAK Orange #24)

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Crashing Wings is the 24th and final technique required to obtain your Orange Belt in Ed Parker’s American Kenpo. It is a defense against a rear bear hug with your arms free placing it in the Hugs & Holds category of the Web of Knowledge.  Crashing Wings belongs to the Bear Hugs Family Group in the Hugs category of the Family Groups Grappling Division.

In Crashing Wings we learn how to execute a double attack with added strength from gravitational marriage while following one of the shapes in the Universal Pattern. You learn how to use a cat stance to not only transition from point a to point b but to  ‘cat around’ an obstacle, in this case your opponent’s leg, to stabilize your base as well as create an angle of disturbance. We then make use of continual motion and preparatory cocking to set up a series of strikes.

Defense

Crashing Wings – defense for a rear bear hug, arms free.

  • Step 1
    • Step toward 3:00 with your right foot to form a horse stance facing 12:00,
    • Deliver right and left inward downward diagonal elbow strikes to your attacker’s forearms.
  • Step 2
    • Slide your left foot toward 3:00 to form a left transitional 45° cat stance.
    • Cock both of your hands to your right hip in a cup & saucer fashion.
  • Step 3
    • Slide your left foot behind your opponent’s right leg, toward 7:30, to form a left reverse bow stance.
  • Step 4
    • Pivot counterclockwise to form a left neutral bow stance facing 7:30.
    • Deliver a left outward horizontal elbow strike to your opponent’s face.
    • Deliver a left outward horizontal heel palm claw to your opponent’s face,
    • Cock your right fist by your right ear.
  • Step 5
    • Pivot counterclockwise to form a left forward bow stance facing 7:30,
    • Deliver a right inward downward diagonal hammerfist strike to your opponent’s bladder.
  • Step 6
    • Pivot counterclockwise forming a left neutral bow stance,
    • Left front crossover
    • Cover out toward 12:00.

Additional Information

Name

Wing is the American Kenpo term used to symbolize the elbow. In this technique you circle your wings (elbows) out and up in order to bring them crashing down on your opponent’s forearms. This crashing of your wings (elbows) into your attackers arms give the technique its name, Crashing Wings.  Incidentally the circling motion of your wings (elbows), gives the related Tracy’s Kenpo technique, Circling Wings it’s name.

Attack

In the ideal phase your attacker is directly behind you (6:00) and has both arms wrapped around your waist and your arms are free.

As with all bear hugs, the attacker using the bear hug believes himself to be stronger than you and is confident in their ability to control you with such a move. While bear hugs are often used to control, lift, throw or setup the target for another attacker, a bear hug like this makes it easier for your attacker to interfere with your ability to breathe causing great discomfort and possibly unconsciousness. It allow has a greater chance of causing damage to internal organs or fracturing ribs.

Basics & Maneuvers

  • Right Side Step Through
  • Horse Stance
  • Double Inward Downward Diagonal Elbow Strikes
  • Transitional Left 45° Cat Stance
  • Left Reverse Bow Stance
  • Left Neutral Bow Stance
  • Left Outward Horizontal Elbow Strike
  • Left Outward Horizontal Heel Palm Claw
  • Left Forward Bow Stance
  • Right Inward Downward Diagonal Hammerfist Strike
  • Left Neutral Bow Stance
  • Left Front Crossover
  • Cover Out

Targets

  • Left & Right Forearms (Medial Nerve)
  • Face (Jaw) or Solar Plexus
  • Solar Plexus, Bladder or Groin

Concepts & Principles

  • Anchor
  • Angle of Cancellation
  • Angle of Disturbance
  • Body Rotation
  • Cat Around
  • Continuity of Motion
  • Gravitational Check
  • Hugging Pin
  • Pivoting
  • Preparatory Cock
  • Solidify Your Base
  • Transitory Stance


Considerations

  • What if …
    • your opponent’s arms are at chest level?
    • your opponent picks you up off the ground?
    • your opponent doesn’t loosen his grip?
    • your opponent is pushing you forward?
    • you are unable to step to the right?
    • you are grabbed while seated?

Related Techniques

  • Grip of Death
  • Captured Leaves
  • Spiraling Twig
  • Squatting Sacrifice
  • Escape From Death
  • Twirling Sacrifice

Historical Notes

  • In the 1975 Accumulative Journal this was orange belt technique #24
  • The 1975 Accumulative Journal has you slide out of the cat stance toward 7:00
  • The 1975 Accumulative Journal does not indicate the left outward heel palm claw
  • 1975 Accumulative Journal does not indicate an angle of departure

Historical Versions

1975 Accumulative Journal

CRASHING WINGS (rear bear hug — arms free)

  1. Step to your right (to 3 o’clock) with your right foot and drop into a horse.  Simultaneously strike down with both of your elbows against opponent’s forearms (after having raised your elbows).
  2. Have your left foot meet your right foot (close cat) as your left and right arms cock to the right side of your waist (right palm up and left palm facing you).
  3. Have your left foot then go around and behind of opponent’s left leg (to 7 o’clock) and into a left reverse bow.
  4. Pivot to your left and deliver a left outward elbow strike (palm down.) to opponent’s Jaw (while in a left neutral bow) and a right hammerfist to opponent’s groin (while in a left forward bow) as your left hand cocks to your left hip.

Notes

Variations

Raining Claw (EPAK Orange #23)

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Raining Claw is the 23rd technique required to obtain your Orange Belt in Ed Parker’s American Kenpo. It is a defense against a right uppercut punch placing Raining Claw in the Punches category in the Web of Knowledge as well as the Punches family group in the Striking Division of Family Groups.

In Raining Claw you start with a right smother block to your opponent’s attack as your left arm circles around into a downward claw to your opponent’s face followed by a continuation of your right arms circle into a vertical back knuckle strike.  This shows you the various blocking and striking positions of the circle as well as using one circular strike to conceal another by making use of the tracking and threading concepts.

Defense

Raining Claw – defense for a right uppercut punch.

  • Step 1
    • Step back toward 6:00 with your left foot to form a right neutral bow stance facing 12:00,
    • Deliver a right downward inward block (smother block) to your opponent’s right forearm.
    • Left hand guards high.
  • Step 2
    • Deliver a left overhead claw to your opponent’s face.
  • Step 3
    • Shuffle forward (push-drag),
    • Deliver a right vertical back knuckle thrust to your opponent’s face.
    • Left hand guards low.
  • Step 4
    • Right front crossover
    • Cover out toward 7:30.

Additional Information

Name

The name Raining Claw is based of the type of one of your counter strikes and the direction it comes from. You deliver an overhead claw strike, thus the claw is coming from above as rain would.

Attack

The ideal phase places your opponent directly in front of you (12:00). Your opponent delivers a right uppercut punch (front inverted horizontal roundhouse punch) to your abdomen or face.

An uppercut punch as with other attacks coming from this direction are more difficult to defend against and because if this an uppercut punch is usually used by someone with some fighting experience.

Basics & Maneuvers

  • Left Reverse Step Through
  • Right Neutral Bow Stance
  • Right Downward Inward Block
  • Left Inward Overhead Heel Palm Claw
  • Forward Push-Drag Shuffle
  • Right Vertical Thrusting Back Knuckle
  • Right Front Crossover
  • Cover Out

Targets

  • Right Forearm
  • Face

Concepts & Principles

  • Angle of Incidence
  • Body Momentum
  • Detaining Check
  • Orbit
  • Sliding Check
  • Smothering
  • Threading
  • Tracking


Considerations

  • What if …
    • your opponent throws a left jab before the right uppercut?
    • your opponent fakes the uppercut and throws a left punch?
    • your opponent throws a left uppercut?
    • your opponent throws a left kick followed by a right uppercut?
    • your opponent grabs your right arm and pulls you into a right uppercut?
    • you are unable to step back?

Related Techniques

Historical Notes

  • The 1975 Accumulative Journal does not indicate an angle of departure

Historical Versions

1975 Accumulative Journal

RAINING CLAW (front uppercut right punch)

  1. Standing naturally with feet together, step back to 6 o’clock with your left foot (into a right neutral bow) and deliver a right downward inward block to right forearm of opponent’s uppercut. Your left hand is guarding high to protect your head area.
  2. Immediately shoot a left overhead claw to opponent’s face while your right elbow stays close to your body.
  3. Have your right fist circle clockwise and execute a right vertical back knuckle thrust to opponent’s face while shuffling forward with your left hand checking low.

Notes

  • The description of the initial block varies. Some say inward downward block, others will say downward inward block. In a nutshell it is a smothering block with your forearm ending in a horizontal position in front of your body. Both are technically correct and it is a matter of how you interpret it. I choose the second interpretation.
    • Inward (block traveling in a) Downward (direction) Block
    • Downward (traveling) Inward Block

Variations

Obscure Sword (EPAK Orange #22)

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Obscure Sword is the 22nd 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 rear flank. This places Obscure Sword in the Grabs & Tackles category in the Web of Knowledge as well as the Shoulder Grabs family group in the grabs subcategory of the Grappling Division of Family Groups.

This technique stresses the importance of environmental awareness due to the initial attack and defense coming from blind areas.  In Obscure Sword we will learn to use the opposite of purposeful compliance, purposeful defiance, to elicit a specific response from your opponent before using purposeful compliance to unleash our hidden strike.

Defense

Obscure Sword – defense for a right rear shoulder grab.

  • Step 1
    • Pin your opponent’s left hand with your left hand
    • Step forward to 12:30 with your left foot to form a left forward bow stance facing 12:30,
    • Cock your right hand below your left elbow in a handsword position.
  • Step 2
    • As your opponent tugs, pivot clockwise to form a right forward bow stance facing 4:30.
    • Deliver a right outward horizontal handsword strike to your opponent’s throat.
  • Step 3
    • Pivot counter clockwise into a right neutral bow facing 4:30,
    • Deliver a right extended outward block to clear/check your opponent’s left arm,
    • Left hand covers low,
  • Step 4
    • Deliver a left front snapping ball kick to your opponent’s groin, planting back.
  • Step 5
    • Right Front Crossover
    • Cover out toward 12:00.

Additional Information

Name

As we have come to learn the term Sword in Ed Parker’s American Kenpo is the term used to symbolize a handsword strike. In this technique you will deliver a handsword strike from an angle obscurity or rather from an area that your opponent is unable to view, thus the name Obscure Sword

Attack

In the ideal phase, your opponent is behind you and to the right (4:30) and grabs your right shoulder with his left hand.

While the shoulder grab itself isn’t extremely dangerous the fact that your opponent is grabbing you from a blind spot make it that much so. You have no idea what is coming next and have to rely on instinct and feel to know how to react.

Basics & Maneuvers

  • Left Forward Step Through
  • Right Reverse Bow Stance
  • Right Forward Bow Stance
  • Right Outward Horizontal Handsword Strike
  • Right Neutral Bow Stance
  • Right Extended Outward Block
  • Left Front Snapping Ball Kick
  • Right Inward Raking Hammerfist Strike
  • Right Front Crossover
  • Coverout

Targets

  • Left Hand/Wrist
  • Throat (Trachea)
  • Left Inner Forearm
  • Groin/Bladder
  • Face

Concepts & Principles

  • Angle of Deflection
  • Angle of Disturbance
  • Body Rotation
  • Borrowed Force
  • Counter Manipulation
  • Opposing Forces
  • Pinning Check
  • Pivot
  • Point of Origin
  • Purposeful Compliance
  • Purposeful Defiance
  • Solidify your Base
  • Obscure Zones
  • Object Obscurity
  • Torque


Considerations

  • What if …
    • your opponent pushes you forward?
    • your opponent follows the grab with a right punch?
    • your opponent follows the grab with a right kick?
    • your opponent grabs your right arm with his right hand at the same time?
    • you are unable to step forward?

Related Techniques

Historical Notes

  • In the 1975 Accumulative Journal this was orange belt technique #21.
  • The 1975 Accumulative Journal has you pivot into a forward bow facing 5:00.
  • The 1975 Accumulative Journal does not indicate an angle of departure.
  • Prior to 1975 a version was taught having you plant back from your kick at a further distance as the beginning of a shuffle away from your opponent.

Historical Versions

1975 Accumulative Journal

OBSCURE SWORD (flank left hand shoulder grab)

  1. With feet together, step directly forward (to 12 o’clock) with your left foot into a left neutral bow facing straight ahead with your right handsword cocked to your heart (palm up) simultaneously pin opponent’s right hand with your left hand to your right shoulder.
  2. Immediately pivot to 5 o’clock into a right forward bow while delivering a right outward handsword to opponent’s throat.
  3. Deliver a left kick to opponent’s groin and plant your left foot back to your former position with your hands in fighting position.

Notes

Variations

Having just kicked your opponent in the groin, forcing them to bend over it is quite common to toss in an additional move before executing a crossover or as you execute the crossover. The common variations are:

  • Right Inward Raking Hammerfist Strike to your opponent’s face.
  • Right Roundhouse Punch (hook punch) to the left side of your opponent’s face.
  • Right Inward Striking Claw to the left side of your opponent’s face.
  • Right Inward Collapsing Heel Palm Strike to the left side of your opponent’s face.

Twisted Twig (EPAK Orange #21)

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Twisted Twig is the 21st technique required to obtain your Orange Belt in Ed Parker’s American Kenpo. It is a defense against a front wrist lock to you right wrist.  Twisted Twig is part of the Locks & Chokes category in the Web of Knowledge and is a part of the Locks family group in the Chokes and Locks category of the Grappling Division of  Family Groups.

In Twisted Twig, your arm is twisted into a wrist lock you will learn how to use the flow of action to turn this disadvantaged position into an advantageous position that opens new targets on your opponent while neutralizing his weapons.

Defense

Twisted Twig –  defense for a right bent wrist lock.

  • Step 1
    • Pin the opponent’s left hand with your left hand.
    • Step toward 11:00 with your right foot to form a right neutral bow stance, buckling the inside of your opponent’s right knee,
    • Deliver a right upward elbow strike to your opponent’s chest or face.
  • Step 2
    • Pivot counterclockwise to form a horse stance.
    • Deliver a right outward elbow strike to your opponent’s solar plexus.
  • Step 3
    • Pivot counterclockwise to form a right reverse bow stance.
    • Deliver a right back hammerfist strike to your opponent’s groin
  • Step 4
    • Right front crossover toward 7:30
    • Cover out toward 7:30.

Additional Information

Name

The term ‘twig’ in American Kenpo is a symbolic term that represents an arm. In this technique your arm (twig) is being twisted at the wrist by your opponent, thus the name Twisted Twig.

Attack

In the ideal phase your opponent is directly in front of you (12:00). The attacker grabs your right hand and applies a front outward wrist lock to your right wrist.

A wrist lock is a good indication that your opponent is skilled thus it is important to pay close attention to everything going on around you and get out of this hold as quickly as possible.  As wrist lock can be used to control, inflict pain or cause a wrist break.  A wrist lock specifically like the one you will see here could be used to throw you to the ground or even dislocate your shoulder.

Basics & Maneuvers

  • Right forward Step Through
  • Right Neutral Bow Stance
  • Right Upward Elbow Strike
  • Right Fighting Horse Stance
  • Right Outward Horizontal Elbow Strike
  • Right Reverse Bow Stance
  • Right Back Downward Hammerfist Strike
  • Right Front Crossover
  • Cover Out

Targets

  • Right Inner Knee
  • Face or Chest (Sternum)
  • Solar Plexus
  • Groin

Concepts & Principles

  • Anchoring
  • Angle of Alignment
  • Angle of Entry
  • Continuity of Motion
  • Counter Rotation
  • Hugging Check
  • Flow of Action
  • Fulcrum
  • Join Locks
  • Obscure Zones
  • Opposing Forces
  • Pivoting
  • Sandwiching
  • Solidify Your Base
  • Torque


Considerations

  • What if …
    • your opponent pulls you forward?
    • your opponent throws you to the ground?
    • you are grabbed across an object?
    • you are grabbed while sitting down?

Related Techniques

  • Obscure Wing
  • Circling Wing
  • Thrusting Wedge
  • Gift of Destiny

Historical Notes

  • In the 1975 Accumulative Journal this was Orange Belt technique #20

Historical Versions

1975 Accumulative Journal

TWISTED TWIG (front wrist lock)

  1. With feet together and both hands of opponent applying a wrest lock on your right wrist, step forward and to your left (to 11 o’clock) with your right foot into a right neutral bow as you deliver a right upward elbow strike to your opponent’s solar plexus and/or jaw. Your left hand is placed on top of opponent’s right wrist for purposes of checking.
  2. Pivot counter clockwise into a horse as you deliver a right outward elbow strike (palm up)to opponent’s solar plexus.
  3. Follow-up with a right downward hammerfist to opponents groin as you shift into a right reverse bow.  Have your left hand check at shoulder height.

Notes

Variations

Thrusting Prongs (EPAK Orange #20)

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Thrusting Prongs is the 20th technique required to obtain your Orange Belt in Ed Parker’s American Kenpo. It is a defense against front bear hug with arms pinned. Thrusting Prongs is part of the Hugs & Holds category in the Web of Knowledge and belongs in the Bear Hugs family group which is part of the Hugs & Holds category in the Grappling Division of Attacks.

In Thrusting Prongs, you will learn to use a new hand strike against a front target of your opponent from an obscure zone. From here, you maintain control of your opponent’s width and depth while you throw another obscure strike to open him up and then complete the technique.

Defense

Thrusting Prongs – defense for a front bear hug, arms pinned.

  • Step 1
    • Step back slightly toward 6:00 with your right foot to form a modified left forward bow stance,
    • Deliver right and left thrusting prong strikes into your opponent’s groin/bladder area.
  • Step 2
    • Check your opponent’s right arm with a left crane hook,
    • Execute a right thrusting knee kick to your opponent’s groin,
    • Deliver a right rear elbow block.
  • Step 3
    • Without planting your foot, deliver a right knife edge kick to the inside of your opponent’s left knee.
  • Step 4
    • Scraping your right foot down your opponent’s left shin,
    • Deliver a right downward stomp to your opponent’s left instep.
    • Deliver a right inward elbow strike to your opponent’s face.
  • Step 5
    • Execute a right front crossover
    • Cover out toward 7:30.

Additional Information

Name

Prongs is a symbolic reference to the protrusion of your thumbs from your fists during the initial move. You actually thrust your prongs (thumbs) into your opponents bladder area, an obscure zone, thus providing the name Thrusting Prongs.

Attack

In the ideal phase your opponent is directly in front of you (12:00) and stepping forward with his right foot puts you in a bear hug with your arms pinned to your sides. Your attackers arms will be wrapped around your upper arms, approximately at biceps level.

A front bear hug is usually attempted only by someone who confident that he is physically larger and stronger than you. While completed bear hugs can be defended against, the ability to do so is often hindered by the attacker’s planned follow up. Upon completing a bear hug, your attacker may pick you up off the ground, throw you to the ground, run you into an object, head butt you, crush your ribs and more. Therefore, as with any attack it is in your best interest to react and neutralize your opponent before the bear hug is completed.

Basics & Maneuvers

  • Right Reverse Step Through
  • Left Forward Bow Stance
  • Twin Thumb Thrusts (front underhand thrusting thumb strikes)
  • Right Upward Thrusting Knee Kick
  • Right Rear Elbow Strike
  • Right Thrusting Knife Edge Kick
  • Right Downward Stomp Kick
  • Right Inward Horizontal Elbow Strike
  • Right Front Crossover
  • Cover Out

Targets

  • Groin or Bladder
  • Right Arm
  • Groin, Bladder or pubic bone
  • Left Inside of the Knee
  • Left Inside of the Shin
  • Left Instep
  • Left side of the face or ribs

Concepts & Principles

  • Anchoring
  • Back Up Mass
  • Contouring
  • Hugging Pin
  • Marriage of Gravity
  • Obscure Zones
  • Point of Origin
  • Preparatory Cock
  • Torque


Considerations

  • What if …
    • you are unable to step back?
    • your opponent lifts you off of the ground?
    • your opponent attempts to throw you to the ground?
    • your arms are pinned in front of you?
    • your opponent steps forward with his left foot?

Related Techniques

Historical Notes

  • In the 1975 Accumulative Journal this was Orange Belt Technique #19
  • The 1975 Accumulative Journal and the 1987 IKKA Studio Manuals incorrectly state that you deliver your elbow strike to the right side of your opponent’s face or rib cage. It should read left side.
  • The 1975 Accumulative Journal does not indicate an Angle of Departure

Historical Versions

1975 Accumulative Journal

THRUSTING PRONGS (font bear hug — arms pinned)

  1. Step back with your right foot (to 6 o’clock) into a left modified for ward bow, having only your right foot move back and not the upper body. Simultaneously thrust both of your thumbs (keeping thumbs together) up and to opponent’s groin.
  2. Strike opponent’s groin with your right knee as your left hand circles over and on top of opponent’s right arm (forming the shape of the crane) and pins (with the assistance of your anchored left elbow) your opponent’s right arm to you, while cocking your right hand to your right hip.
  3. With knee in groin immediately deliver a right knife-edge kick (to 2 o’clock) to the inside of opponent’s left shin.
  4. Scrape opponent’s shin with your right foot and convert the scrape into a right stomp to opponent’s right instep while simultaneously delivering a right inward horizontal elbow strike to right side of opponent’s face or ribs (depending on the size of your opponent).

Notes

Variations