Shield and Mace (Blue #10)

Shield And Mace is the 10th required technique to obtain your Blue Belt in Ed Parker’s American Kenpo. Shield And Mace is a defense against a right step through punch from the front, placing it in the Punches category of the Web of Knowledge as well as the Punches Family Group of the Striking Division.

The theme of Shield and Mace begins with a double action from two points of origin, delivering a simultaneous block and strike.  You will block with your rear arm as you place emphasis on striking while moving up the circle to give greater depth of penetration.  Simultaneous offensive and defensive movements are used throughout the technique utilizing spirals and overlapping circles. You will also employ dual methods of body momentum in harmony with your dual movements.  The technique is designed to flow in a single continuous flow of action continually checking the opponent while delivering your strikes.

The Technique

Attack

In the ideal phase your opponent is directly in front of you (12:00) in a left fighting stance.  He then steps forward with his right foot as he thrusts a right straight punch toward your head.

Defense

Shield and Mace – defense for a right straight punch.

• Step 1
  • Step forward with your left foot toward 11:00 into a left neutral bow stance,
  • Pivot clockwise into a horse stance,
  • Deliver a right vertical outward block to the outside of your opponent’s right arm,
  • Deliver a left horizontal thrust punch to your opponent’s right lower rib cage.
• Step 2
  • Pivot counter clockwise into a left close kneel stance,
  • Deliver a right outward downward diagonal hammerfist strike to your opponent’s right kidney.
  • Your left hand checks your opponent’s right elbow.
• Step 3
  • Rise up into a modified close kneel stance,
  • Circle your left hand clockwise pinning your opponent’s right arm against his body,
  • Circle your right hand counter clockwise to deliver a right looping inward horizontal heel palm claw to your opponent’s face and eyes.
• Step 4
  • Drop into your left close kneel stance,
  • Continue to circle your right hand counter clockwise to deliver a right outward handsword strike to the back of your opponent’s right knee.
  • Your left hand circles clockwise to check your opponent’s elbow or shoulder.
• Step 5
  • Deliver a right snapping knife edge kick to the back of your opponent’s left knee.
• Step 6
  • Without planting your foot, execute a right front crossover
  • Cover out twice toward 7:30.

Considerations

• What if…
  • your opponent’s left leg is forward?
  • your opponent snaps his right punch back?
  • your opponent throws a left step through punch?
  • your opponent’s attack is a right roundhouse punch?
  • your opponent delivers a right spinning back knuckle?
  • your opponent precedes his punch with a left roundhouse kick?
  • your opponent precedes his punch with a right kick?
  • you cannot move to the outside of your opponent’s right arm?
  • a second opponent is grabbing your right arm from behind?

Notes

• Note the use of direct body rotation to enhance your outward block as opposed to the usual counter rotation.
• The pin in step three should be an open ended triangle.
• Practice this technique from both a left neutral bow stance and a right neutral bow stance. Each stance will require different footwork to begin the technique.
• Never send your opponent’s weapons into orbit only to have them re-orbit back to you.  Note how this applies throughout the technique.
• Study how the synchronized use of various types of body momentum increase the power of your action.

Variations

• You can pivot into a left forward bow stance instead of a left close kneel stance while delivering the right downward diagonal hammerfist strike to the kidney.  You will then begin to pivot into the close kneels stance as you deliver the right heel palm claw to your opponent’s face and settle into  the left close kneel stance as you deliver the right  outward handsword strike to the back of your opponent’s right knee.

Additional Information

Name

In American Kenpo the term shield is used to represent an outward block while the term mace is used to represent a closed fist.  The dual movement of your initial action; defense with a right outward block (shield) and offense with a left straight punch (mace) gives us the name Shield and Mace.

Related Techniques

• Twirling Wings (P-1)
• Leaping Crane (P-3)
• Shield and Sword (P-16)
• Flashing Mace (B-17)
• Circling The Horizon (B-24)
• Parting of the Snakes (3Br-19)

Historical Notes

• The 1975 Accumulative Journal lists Shield and Mace as Blue Belt Technique #8.
• The 1975 Accumulative Journal indicates 8:00 as the angle of departure.

Historical Versions

1975 Accumulative Journal

SHIELD AND MACE (front straight step through right punch)

1. With feet together, move forward and to your left with your left foot (to 11 o’clock) into a left neutral bow as you immediately pivot to your right into a horse and deliver a right vertical outward block outside of opponent’s right arm while simultaneously delivering a left straight punch to opponent’s right ribcage.
2. Pivot to your left and drop down into a left close kneel as you strike down with a right hammerfist (with your left hand guarding) to upper part of opponent’s right kidney driving the force down to the pelvic area.
3. Circle your left hand clockwise, pinning opponent’s right arm down as your right hand circles counter clockwise striking opponent’s face and eyes with a right looping inward heel of palm claw.
4. Circle your right hand counter clockwise and down even further, and strike back of opponent’s right knee with your right heel of palm to buckle his leg. (Have your left hand execute an overlapping check to same spot.)
5. Follow-up with a right knife-edge kick to back of opponent’s left knee.
6. While your right foot is still in the air right front crossover and cover out to 8 o’clock.