Shielding Hammer (EPAK Orange #15)

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.

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

• Sword of Destruction
• Clutching Feathers
• Gift of Destruction
• Unfurling Crane
• Fatal Deviation

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