Fallen Cross (Blue #13)

KenpoTech on January 23, 2011

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Fallen Cross is the 13th required technique to obtain your Blue Belt in Ed Parker’s American Kenpo.  Fallen Cross is a defense against two hand choke from behind, placing it in the Locks & Chokes category of the Web of Knowledge as well as the Chokes Family Group of the Grappling division.

In Fallen Cross you will begin by using your opponent’s own force.  Using borrowed force in combination with fulcruming, you attack your opponent’s thumbs, creating a hyper-extension or break of the thumb as you move away from your opponent.  As you move away from your opponent, counter manipulation comes into play as it ties up your opponent’s weapons, cancels his height zone and aligns his arms for the elbow break.  Both fulcruming and the third hand principle play a dominant role in this technique.  The technique completes with the use of  an upper case lower case moment as you deliver a kicking combination in one count and then a sandwiching strike before covering out.

The Technique

Attack

In the ideal phase your opponent is directly behind you (6:00). He applies a two-hand choke with arms extended.  It can be assumed that your opponent is pushing forward on your neck, preventing you from stepping backward.

Defense

Fallen Cross – defense for a rear two-hand choke.

  • Step 1
    • Grab both of your opponent’s wrists with both of your hands,
    • Tuck your chin into your chest,
    • Step toward 9:00 with your left foot to form a horse stance facing 12:00.
  • Step 2
    • Turn your head counter clockwise,
    • Step toward 10:30 with your right foot into a transitional right neutral bow stance,
    • and pivot counterclockwise into a left neutral bow stance facing 4:30.
    • Cross your opponent’s right arm over his left arm, at or above the elbows.
  • Step 3
    • Pull your opponent’s arms down and outward,
    • Deliver a right right upward knee kick to your opponent’s left elbow joint,
    • Immediately follow with a right front snapping ball kick to your opponent’s groin.
  • Step 4
    • Plant your right foot toward 4:30 into a right neutral bow stance,
    • Deliver a right inward horizontal elbow strike to your opponent’s jaw,
    • Check your opponent’s arms down at the elbows with your left hand.
  • Step 5
    • Execute a right front crossover,
    • cover out twice toward 12:00.

Considerations

  • What if…
    • your opponent’s arms are bent?
    • your opponent is pulling you backward as he chokes you?
    • you are unable to step to the left?
    • you are unable to step forward?
    • you are being choked from a seated position?

Notes

  • As you step toward 9:00 with your left foot you should be pulling your opponent’s arms downward to hyper extend your opponent’s thumbs against the back of your neck.  As you settle into the horse stance, continue pulling your opponent’s arms forward but rotate his arms upwards and outward to put pressure on his elbow joints, possibly breaking them.  This will not only set his arms in a position that facilitates the next move but it creates an angle of disturbance that control your opponent’s height zone.

Variations

  • Many, if not most, schools will teach delivering a left inward horizontal heel palm strike to the right side of the jaw along with the right inward elbow strike, in place of checking your opponent’s arms, in order to create a sandwiching effect. This works under the assumption that your opponent’s arms are pinned against your body as you plant your right foot forward after your front snapping ball kick.

Additional Information

Name

In this technique you will twist or cross your opponent’s arms at the elbow and this makes the arms resemble a cross. The manipulation of your opponent’s crossed arms by pulling them downward to cancel his height zone as you deliver your knee strike resembles a falling cross or a cross that has fallen to your knee.  Thus we have the name Fallen Cross.

Basics & Maneuvers

  • Left Side Step Through
  • Horse Stance
  • Right Front Step Through
  • Right Transitional Neutral Bow Stance
  • Left Neutral Bow Stance
  • Right Upward Knee Kick
  • Right Front Snapping Ball Kick
  • Right Neutral Bow Stance
  • Right Inward Horizontal Elbow Strike
  • Right Front Crossover
  • Cover Out

Targets

  • Both Wrists
  • Both Thumbs
  • Both Elbows
  • Groin
  • Jaw

Concepts & Principles

  • Anchor
  • Angle of Alignment
  • Angle of Cancellation
  • Angle of Deviation

Concepts & Principles (Con’t)

  • Angle of Disturbance
  • Angle of Execution
  • Angle of Incidence
  • Backup Mass
  • Body Momentum
  • Borrowed Force
  • Borrowed Reach
  • Contouring
  • Fulcruming
  • Gravitational Checks
  • Guidelining
  • Jerking
  • Lower Case/Upper Case
  • Marriage of Gravity
  • Obscure Zones
  • Opposing Forces
  • Pin-Point Effect
  • Pinning Checks
  • Pivoting
  • Sandwiching
  • Stabilize Your Base
  • Third Hand Principle
  • Torque
  • With


Related Techniques

Historical Notes

  • In the 1975 Accumulative Journal, Fallen Cross was Blue Belt Technique #10.
  • In the 1975 Accumulative Journal you:
    • step toward 10:00 with your right foot.
    • pivot counter clockwise to face 4:00.
    • have a 10:00 angle of departure.

Historical Versions

1975 Accumulative Journal

FALLEN CROSS   (rear two-hand choke)

  1. With feet together and opponent choking you from the rear with both of his hands, step to your left (to 9 o’clock) into a horse as you grab both of opponent’s wrists with both of your hands (right to right and left to left).
  2. Move your right foot forward to 10 o’clock (into a right neutral bow) and pivot counter clockwise as you cross opponent’s arms with his right arm over his left while now facing 4 o’clock, making sure that the arms are crossed at or above the opponent’s elbows.
  3. While still grabbing opponent’s wrists, have both of your arms force your opponent’s arms down as you deliver a right knee kick up and against the left elbow joint of your opponent (opponent’s left elbow joint should be facing down at this point).   Without hesitation and with your right knee against your opponent’s left elbow, deliver a right front snapping ball kick to opponent’s groin.
  4. As you plant your right foot forward (to 4 o’clock), deliver a right inward horizontal elbow strike (or a right inward downward diagonal forearm smash from 1 o’clock to 7 o’clock, depending upon the circumstance). Have your left hand check opponent’s arms down and toward opponent.
  5. Right front crossover and cover out to 10 o’clock.

Cross of Destruction (Purple #23)

KenpoTech on September 6, 2010

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Cross of Destruction is the 23rd required technique to obtain your purple belt in Ed Parker’s American Kenpo. Cross of Destruction is a defense against two hand choke from behind, placing it in the Locks and Chokes category of the Web of Knowledge as well as the Chokes Family Group in the Chokes and Locks category of the family groups Grappling division.

Cross of Destruction takes advantage of the fact that your opponent’s thumbs are unable to resist the weight of your body twisting against them when a proper fulcrum (your shoulders) is applied. In the first part of the technique your hands and neck/shoulders to twist and lock your opponent’s thumbs where in the latter part of the technique you will use your opponent’s arms to twist, lock and break his elbow joint. Through the course of the technique will will disturb balance, create temporary pain and inflict lasting damage.

The Technique

Attack

In the ideal phase your opponent is directly behind you (6:00). He applies a two hand choke with his arms fully extended.

With your attacker’s arms fully extended you are unable to properly perform Circling Wing. This technique serves to fill that gap, providing you with with an alternative option.

Defense

Cross of Destruction –  defense for a rear two-hand choke.

  • Step 1
    • Tuck your chin into your chest,
    • Grab your opponent’s wrists with both of your hands,
    • Step toward 9:00 with your left foot to form a horse stance.
  • Step 2
    • Slide your right foot back toward 7:30 into a left neutral bow stance facing 1:30.
    • Cross your opponent’s left arm over your head, crossing his left arm over his right.
    • Pull your right arm toward your right hip
  • Step 3
    • Deliver a right front thrusting ball kick to the inside of your opponent’s right knee cap.
  • Step 4
    • Plant your right foot forward toward 1:30 to form a right neutral bow stance.
    • Pull with your left arm and push with your right arm to twist the opponent’s arms breaking or dislocating his elbow(s).
  • Step 5
    • Right front crossover and cover toward 10:30.

Considerations

  • What if…
    • your opponent’s arms are bent?
    • your opponent’s elbows are anchored against your shoulders?
    • your opponent’s right leg is forward?
    • your opponent’s left leg is forward?
    • your opponent pulls his arms as you attempt to cross them?
    • you are unable to step to the left?
    • you have something in your hands?

Notes

  • Dropping into your horse stance just before grabbing your opponent’s wrists will allow more reach to grab them.
  • Anchoring your elbows after the grab will help break the thumb.
  • When practicing this technique have your partner alter his attack then act accordingly with either Twirling Wings, Circling Wing or Cross of Destruction.
  • Note the possibility of flipping your opponent at the end of the technique. USE EXTREME CAUTION WHEN PRACTICING THIS WITH A PARTNER.

Variations

Additional Information

Name

In Ed Parker’s American Kenpo the term ‘destruction‘ has something to do with the left side.  The term ‘cross‘, in this instance, indicates the position your opponent’s arms will be put in. In this technique you will cross your opponent’s arms and use this crossed position to dislocate or break your opponent’s left elbow, thus the name Cross of Destruction.

Basics & Maneuvers

  • Left Side Step Through
  • Horse Stance
  • Right Reverse Step Through
  • Left Neutral Bow Stance
  • Right Front Snapping Ball Kick
  • Right Neutral Bow Stance
  • Right Front Crossover
  • Cover out

Targets

  • Wrists
  • Thumbs
  • Right Knee (inside)
  • Elbows

Concepts & Principles

  • Anchoring
  • Angle of Cancellation
  • Angle of Deviation
  • Angle of Disturbance
  • Angle of Incidence
  • Body Momentum
  • Buckle
  • Contouring
  • Counter Manipulation
  • Fulcrum
  • Gravitational Check
  • Marriage of Gravity
  • Opposing Forces
  • Pinning Check
  • Solidify Your Base


Related Techniques

  • Thrusting Salute (O-4)
  • Twirling Wings (P-1)
  • Flight to Freedom (P-24)
  • Fallen Cross (B-13)
  • Twist of Fate (B-16)
  • Gripping Talon (B-20)
  • Escape from Death (G-6)
  • Twirling Sacrifice (G-17)

Historical Notes

  • In the 1975 Accumulative Journal, Cross of Destruction was Purple Belt technique #19.
  • The 1975 Accumulative Journal indicates;
    • moving your right foot back towards 8:0o.
    • a crossover and cover out toward 10:00.

Historical Versions

CROSS OF DESTRUCTION (rear two-hand choke)

  1. With feet together and opponent choking you from the rear with both of his hands, step to your left (to 9 o’clock) into a horse stance as you grab both of opponent’s wrists with both of your hands.
  2. Move your right foot back to 8 o’clock (into a left neutral bow) as your left hand crosses your opponent’s left arm over his own right arm. At this point, your left arm pushes forward as your right pulls in and toward you.
  3. Deliver a right front slap ball kick to the inside of opponent’s right knee cap.
  4. As you plant your right foot forward, after the kick, toward 2 o’clock, pull in with your left arm as you push out with your right arm to cause opponent to break his left elbow with his own right arm. (Make sure that in the process your right hand executes the above mentioned action similar to a right vertical back knuckle thrust.
  5. Right front crossover and cover out to 10 o’clock.

Circling Wing (Purple #12)

KenpoTech on August 14, 2010

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Circling Wing is the 12th required technique to obtain your purple belt in Ed Parker’s American Kenpo. Circling Wing is a defense against a two hand choke from behind, placing it in the Locks and Chokes category of the Web of Knowledge as well as the Chokes Family Group in Chokes & Locks category of the Grappling  division.

In Circling Wing you check your opponent and take advantage of the fulcrum created with his grabbing your neck to force an easy release of your neck.    With the importance of protecting your throat and time of essence, making use of the “with” principle will help economize time as you counter strike at various heights and depths while controlling your opponent’s zones of protection.

Defense

Circling Wing – defense for a rear two-hand choke.

  • Step 1
    • Turn and tuck your chin down and to the right side of your chest,
    • Step toward 1:30 with your left foot to form a left forward bow stance,
    • Cock your fists at your left hip in a cup & saucer fashion ( left palm up, right palm in).
  • Step 2
    • Pivot clockwise toward 7:30 into a right neutral bow stance,
    • Deliver a right outward overhead elbow strike onto your opponent’s right arm,
    • Continue pivoting into a right forward bow stance facing 7:30,
    • Deliver a left four finger thrust to your opponent’s eyes.
  • Step 3
    • Pivot counterclockwise into a right neutral bow stance.
    • Deliver a right upward elbow strike to your opponent’s chin.
    • Slide your left hand down your opponent’s right shoulder and arm checking at his elbow
  • Step 4
    • Pivot counterclockwise toward 1:30 into a right reverse bow stance.
    • Deliver a right back hammerfist strike to your opponent’s groin.
    • Left hand covers high.
  • Step 5
    • Right front crossover and cover out toward 1:30.

Additional Information

Name

The term wing in American Kenpo refers to the elbow.  In this technique you will circle your elbow (wing) over top of your opponent’s arms in order to escape, thus the name Circling Wing.

Attack

In the ideal phase your opponent is directly behind you (6:00), and your opponent grabs your neck with both hands while keeping his elbows bent.

In a choke like this most of the pressure will be applied with your attacker’s thumbs. This pressure is adequate to prevent blood, the carrier of oxygen, from getting to and from your brain.  As with any attack that impairs your breathing and/or blood  flow in the neck it is important to ensure that your airway is clear and that you negate the attack immediately. The inability to breathe and prolonged restriction of blood flow will quickly cause unconsciousness and ultimately death.

Basics & Maneuvers

  • Left Front Step Through
  • Left Forward Bow Stance
  • Right Neutral Bow Stance
  • Right Outward Overhead Elbow Strike
  • Right Forward Bow Stance
  • Left Four Finger Thrust
  • Right Upward Elbow Strike
  • Right Reverse Bow Stance
  • Right Back Hammerfist Strike
  • Right Front Crossover
  • Cover Out

Targets

  • Right Wrist
  • Right Elbow/Arm
  • Eyes/Face
  • Chin/Jaw
  • Groin

Concepts & Principles

  • Anchor
  • Angle of Cancellation
  • Angle of Disturbance
  • Angle of Manipulation
  • Borrowed Force
  • Changing of the Guard
  • Closing the Gap
  • Continuity of Motion
  • Contouring
  • Frictional Pull
  • Hugging Pin
  • Marriage of Gravity
  • Pivoting
  • Pressing Check
  • Purposeful Defiance
  • Reverse Motion
  • Sliding Check
  • Torque
  • Transitional Moves
  • With


Considerations

  • What if …
    • your opponent’s arms are straight and locked out?
    • your opponent is pushing you forward?
    • your opponent is pulling you back?
    • your opponent’s right leg is forward?
    • your opponent’s left left is forward?
    • you are unable to step forward?
    • you are being choked from behind while seated?
    • you are being choked from behind while on the ground?

Related Techniques

Historical Notes

  • In the 1975 Accumulative Journal, Circling Wing was purple belt technique #7
  • The 1975 Accumulative Journal has you pivot clockwise toward 7:00 ending in a right neutral bow stance facing 8:00.
  • The 1975 Accumulative Journal has you pivot counter clockwise into a horse stance when delivering the upward elbow strike and does not mention the sliding check but rather has you cover your ribs with the left hand.
  • The 1975 Accumulative Journal has you pivot toward 1:00 in the final move but does not indicate an angle of departure.

Historical Versions

1975 Accumulative Journal

CIRCLING WING (rear two-hand choke — arms bent)

  1. With feet together, have your left foot step forward and to your right on a 45°angle (between 1 and 2 o’clock) into a left neural bow as your right arm cocks horizontally across your waist.
  2. Pivot clockwise (turning toward 7 o’clock) as you circle your right elbow over and down (right outward overhead elbow) on to the right arm of your opponent to hurt and pin that arm. Complete the pivot into a right forward bow (facing 8 o’clock) while delivering a left four finger thrust to opponent’s eyes.
  3. Pivot in place to your left into a horse as you deliver a right upward elbow strike to opponent’s chin. Your left hand should be guarding close to your right ribs.
  4. Pivot again to your left (toward l o’clock) into a right reverse bow as you strike with a right back downward hammerfist to opponent’s groin with your left hand guarding.

Notes

  • Make sure that you protect your throat on the first move.
  • Be sure to circle your right arm high over your opponent’s arms and pivot rapidly to ensure that you break your opponent’s grip.
  • Take notice that with your attacker’s elbow’s bent you are unable to step backwards for one of two reasons; he is either pushing you forward preventing you from stepping back or is too close for you to properly execute the technique with a step back.
  • Ensure a continuous flow on all of your strikes
  • Try and note the use of Reverse motion, especially in the extended version.

Variations

  • A common variation, that works depending on your attacker’s grip type,  is to pin your opponent’s right hand to your right shoulder as you step forward with the left foot. The steps would look like this;
    • Step 1
      • Pin your opponent’s right hand to your right shoulder with your left hand,
      • Step toward 1:30 with your left foot to form a left forward bow stance,
      • Cock your right arm horizontally across your arm.