Five Swords (EPAK Orange #9)

Technique: Five Swords
Attack: Front Right Hook Punch
Attack Direction: 12:00
Web of Knowledge: Punches
Family Group: Punches
Official (24 Tech) Location: Orange #9
32 Tech Location: Orange #8
16 Tech Location: Orange #10
Form Locations: Form 4
Related Tracy Technique: Seven Swords

Five Swords is the 9th technique required to obtain your orange belt in Ed Parker’s American Kenpo.  Five Swords is a defense against a right hook punch (roundhouse punch) and is part of the Punches category in the Web of Knowledge as well as the Punches family group in the Family Groups Striking Division.

Five Swords instructs you how to deal with a right roundhouse punch from which you have no option of retreating from nor moving to the side to avoid. Instead you learn to get inside your opponent’s reach and jam him while employing a variety of handsword strikes.

Defense

Five Swords – defense for a right roundhouse punch.

  • Step 1
    • Step forward with your right foot into a right neutral bow stance facing 12:00 as you buckle the inside of your opponent’s right knee,
    • Deliver a right thrusting inward block to the your opponent’s right biceps,
    • Left hand checks high with a left extended outward block to your opponent’s right wrist.
  • Step 2
    • Deliver a right outward handsword strike to the right side of your opponent’s neck,
    • Left continues checking at your opponent’s wrist.
  • Step 3
    • Pivot clockwise into a right forward bow stance,
    • Deliver a left five-finger thrust to your opponent’s eyes,
    • Right hand cocks to your right hip.
  • Step 4
    • Pivot counterclockwise into a right neutral bow stance,
    • Deliver a right snapping uppercut punch to your opponent’s solar plexus,
    • Left hand covers diagonally above your right arm.
  • Step 5
    • Slide your left leg toward 4:30 to form a right forward bow stance facing 10:30,
    • Deliver a left outward downward diagonal handsword strike to the left side of your opponent’s neck,
    • Bend your wrist outward (pointing fingers downward) to hook the back of your opponent’s neck.
  • Step 6
    • Pivot counterclockwise into a right neutral bow stance facing 10:30,
    • Deliver a right inward downward overhead handsword strike to the back of your opponent’s neck.
    • Left hand covers low.
  • Step 7
    • Right front crossover and cover out toward 4:30

Additional Information

Name

The name Five Swords actually comes from the original version of this technique, where all five strikes after the block were done with handswords.  Due to practitioners not conditioning their hands for fingertip strikes some of the strikes were changed but the name remained the same.

Attack

In the ideal phase of attack, your opponent is directly in front of you. He steps forward with his right foot and throws a right roundhouse punch toward your face.

Basics & Maneuvers Used

  • Right Front Step Through
  • Right Neutral Bow Stance
  • Right Inward Block
  • Right Outward Horizontal Handsword Strike
  • Right Forward Bow Stance
  • Left Five Finger Thrust (spearhand)
  • Right Inverted Horizontal Snapping Punch (uppercut)
  • Left Outward Downward Diagonal Handsword Strike
  • Right Inward Overhead Handsword Strike

Targets

  • Right Inner Knee
  • Right Wrist (Radial Nerve)
  • Right Biceps
  • Right Side of the Neck (Brachial Plexus/Mandibular Angle)
  • Eyes
  • Solar Plexus, Lower Ribs, Stomach
  • Left Side of the Neck (Brachial Plexus/Mandibular Angle)
  • Back of the Neck (1st-5th Cervical Vertebrae)

Concepts & Principles Taught

  • Angle of Cancellation
  • Angle of Deflection
  • Angle of Disturbance
  • Angle of Entry
  • Angle of Execution
  • Angle of Incidence
  • Back Up Mass
  • Body Fusion
  • Borrowed Force
  • Buckle
  • Contouring
  • Detaining Check
  • Elongated Circle
  • Grafting
  • Hooking
  • Marriage of Gravity
  • Opposing Forces
  • Pivoting
  • Positional Check
  • Sliding Check
  • Stabilize Your Base
  • Torquing
  • Upside of the Circle


Considerations

  • What if …
    • your opponent throws a right straight punch?
    • your opponent throws a right uppercut punch?
    • your opponent pushes with his right hand?
    • your opponent pushes you with his left prior to punching with is right
    • your opponent throws a left punch after you block his right punch?
    • your opponent throws a left punch after your five finger thrust?
    • your opponent throws a left uppercut after your five finger thrust?
    • your opponent throws a right punch after your uppercut?
    • your opponent kicks with his right foot prior to delivering a punch?
    • your opponent grabs your right arm or lapel and tries to pull you into the roundhouse punch?
    • your opponent attempts a right roundhouse club attack instead of a right roundhouse punch?

Related Techniques

  • Delayed Sword
  • Raining Claw
  • Charging Ram
  • Obscure Claws
  • Detour from Doom
  • Twirling Hammers
  • Dance of Darkness
  • The Ram and The Eagle
  • Bowing to Buddha

Historical Notes

  • In the 1975 Accumulative Journal, Five Swords was Orange Belt Technique #8
  • The 1975 Accumulative Journal indicates moving toward 11:00 on the initial move, sliding the left foot toward 4:00 during the outward downward handsword strike,  delivering a left heel palm strike to the jaw instead of the handsword strike to the left side of the neck
  • The 1975 Accumulative Journal does not indicate an angle of departure.

Historical Versions

1975 Accumulative Journal

FIVE SWORDS (front roundhouse right punch)

  1. While standing naturally with feet together, step forward and slightly to your left (to 11 o’clock with your right foot (still in a neutral bow) and deliver a right Inward strike to Inside of opponent’s right punch using your left hand to check.
  2. Immediately strike to opponent’s right neck with your right outward chop.
  3. Left finger thrust (palm down) to opponent’s eyes as your right hand cocks to your right hip. This is done while you pivot into a right forward bow.
  4. With left hand now guarding horizontally and open (palm down), deliver a right uppercut to opponent’s solar plexus as you pivot to a right neutral bow.
  5. Immediately have your left foot slide counter clockwise (to 4 o’clock) into a right forward bow as your left heel of palm strikes to left jaw of opponent (striking in an outwardly fashion). Without hesitation and while shifting into a right neutral bow have your left hand hook and pull opponent’s head down as you deliver a right overload downward handsword to back of opponent’s neck.

Infinite Insights Into Kenpo, Vol 5

FIVE SWORDS (Front right step through roundhouse punch)

  1. While standing naturally, have your right foot step forward into a right neutral bow (facing 12:00), checking the inside of your opponent’s right knee with your right knee.  In the process, execute a right inward block to the inside of your opponent’s right wrist, while using your left hand to check high.
  2. Immediately strike to the right side of your opponent’s nect with a right outward handsword.
  3. Pivot into a right forward bow (facing 12:00) as you execute a left horizontal finger thrust (palm down) to your opponent’s eyes while your right hand cocks to your right hip (fist clenched and palm up).
  4. Having caused your opponent’s head to move away from you, pivot into a right neutral bow as you strike with a right uppercut punch to the stomach.  In the process your left hand becomes a cocking check (it is guarding horizontally, palm down near your right bicep).
  5. With your opponent now bent over, immediately have your left foot slide counter clockwise (to 4:00) into a right forward bow as your left outward handsword strikes to the left side of your opponent’s neck.  Your right hand acts as a check for potential danger from your opponent’s left arm during your circular wind-up for your next move.
  6. Without hesitation, and while pivoting into a right neutral bow, have your left hand hook around the left side of your opponent’s neck, pulling his head down, followed by a right inward handsword to the back of your opponent’s neck.
  7. Right front crossover, covering out between 4:00 and 5:00.

Unfinished Orange Belt Manual by Ed Parker

FIVE SWORDS (Front right step through roundhouse punch)

  1. While standing naturally, step forward with your right foot into a right neutral bow (facing 12 o’clock), and check the inside of your opponent’s right knee with your right knee. Simultaneously with your right neutral bow, execute a right inward block to the inside of your opponent’s right forearm, while your left hand checks high at your opponent’s wrist. (The effect of both actions is to expose the width of his body.)
  2. Immediately strike to the right side of your opponent’s neck with a right outward handsword. (This action should help to nullify the Height, Width, and Depth Zones of your opponent.)
  3. Pivot into a right forward bow (facing 12:00), as you execute  a left five-finger thrust (palm down) to your opponent’s eyes, and your right hand cocks at your right hip (fist clenched and palm up). (The effect of this poke should snap your opponent’s head back and away from you.)
  4. Having your opponent’s head to move away from you, and his midsection to jut forward, take advantage of this anticipated response by (1) pivoting into a right neutral bow, (2) executing a right uppercut punch to your opponent’s stomach, as (3) your left hand becomes a COCKING CHECK (guarding horizontally and palm down) near your right biceps. (This action should result in your opponent bending over at the waist.)
  5. With your opponent now bending over, immediately slide your left foot counterclockwise toward 4:30, and into a right forward bow (facing 10:30), as you execute a left outward handsword strike to the left side of your opponent’s neck. (Your right hand acts as a positional check against any potential danger from your opponent’s left arm.) have your left hand (during the interim) hook to the left side of, as well as on top of, your opponent’s neck, to aid you in pulling his head down if necessary.
  6. Without hesitation, and while pivoting into a right neutral bow,have your left hand hook around the back of your opponent’s neck (to force his head down), followed by a right inward handsword to the back of his neck.  At the time your right handsword strikes, your left hand should be checking low.
  7. Right front crossover, and cover out toward 4:30.

Notes

Variations

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