Leaping Crane (Purple #3)

KenpoTech on July 23, 2010

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Leaping Crane is the 3rd required technique to obtain your purple belt in Ed Parker’s American Kenpo. Leaping Crane 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 in the family groups striking division.

Leaping Crane introduces you to two new basics, a leap as a raking middle knuckle strike. In the first move you will couple a foot maneuver (leap) with a cross check (inward parry) to evade the attack. With the nature of the leap, it is vital to properly gauge your distance if you wish to properly control your opponent.  It also shows you how to maneuver directly into a transitional stance that properly lines up your next move by putting your right foot at the proper angle of delivery.  From that point onward it s a matter of controlling your opponent with each strike to set him up for the next.

Defense

LEAPING CRANE – defense for a right straight punch.

  • Step 1
    • Leap to to your left toward 9:00-10:00 forming a left one-leg stance,
    • Deliver a left inward parry to the outside of your opponent’s right arm, above the elbow.
    • Deliver a right inward horizontal raking middle knuckle fist strike to your opponent’s right lower ribs.
  • Step 2
    • Maintain a positional check on your opponent’s right arm with your left hand,
    • Maintain a positional cock with the right hand,
    • Deliver a right snapping knife edge kick to the outside of your opponent’s right knee.
  • Step 3
    • Plant your right foot toward 1:30, inside your opponent’s right leg, to form a right neutral bow stance,
    • Deliver a right outward downward diagonal back knuckle strike to your opponent’s left kidney.
  • Step 4
    • Deliver a right inward horizontal elbow strike to the right side of your opponent’s head (mastoid, face or jaw).
    • Simultaneously, deliver a left inward hooking heel palm strike to the left side of your opponent’s head (mastoid, face or jaw).
  • Step 5
    • Right front crossover and cover out toward 7:30.

Additional Information

Name

The initial defensive move of this technique has you leap away from the attack. Upon landing you land on one foot only into a one-legged stance which in many systems is called a crane stance as it resembles a very common pose of the crane. Therefore, the leaping action into the crane stance is what gives us the name Leaping Crane.

Attack

In the ideal phase your attacker is directly in front of you (12:00). Your opponent steps forward with his right foot as he delivers a right straight punch to your head or body.

A step through punch provides your opponent with more power behind their punch due to body momentum and backup mass from the actual forward motion.  While this can be advantageous it can also be detrimental.  If enough force is thrown into the strike while moving forward, there is a point of no return that once reached commits the attacker to the strike.  If you are no longer in the Line of Attack, your opponent can be easily controlled, redirected or taken off balance.

Basics & Maneuvers

  • Right Leap
  • Left One Leg Stance
  • Left Inward Parry
  • Right Inward Horizontal Raking Middle Knuckle Strike
  • Right Snapping Knife Edge Kick
  • Right Neutral Bow Stance
  • Right Outward Back Knuckle Strike
  • Right Inward Horizontal Elbow Strike
  • Left Inward Horizontal Heel Palm Strike

Targets

  • Outside the right arm
  • Right lower ribs
  • Outside of the right knee
  • Left Kidney
  • Right side of the head (mastoid, face or jaw)
  • Left side of the head (mastoid, face or jaw)

Concepts & Principles

  • Aiming
  • Angle of Deflection
  • Angle of Deviation
  • Angle of Disturbance
  • Angle of Incidence
  • Back up Mass
  • Body Momentum
  • Borrowed Force
  • Contouring
  • Gauging
  • Marriage of Gravity
  • Minor-Major Concept
  • Opposing Forces
  • Positional Check
  • Reverse Motion
  • Sandwiching
  • Solidify Your Base
  • With


Considerations

  • What if …
    • your opponent does not step through with the punch?
    • your opponent steps with the left leg instead?
    • your opponent throws a right kick before the punch?
    • your opponent throws a left jab before the punch?
    • you are unable to move to your left?

Related Techniques

  • Gift of Destruction
  • Hugging Pendulum
  • Shield and Mace
  • Gathering Clouds
  • Circling the Horizon
  • Destructive Fans
  • Prance of the Tiger

Historical Notes

  • In the 1975 Accumulative Journal this was purple belt technique #5
  • The 1975 Accumulative Journal has you hop toward 9:00 incorrectly “into a right one leg (crane) stance with your right foot cocked…”. It should be a left one-leg stance as the stance is determined by the supporting leg.
  • The 1975 Accumulative Journal has you plant forward toward 1:00

Historical Versions

1975 Accumulative Journal

LEAPING CRANE (front step through right punch)

  1. With feet together, hop to your left (to 9 o’clock) into a right one leg (crane) stance with your right foot cocked to the inside portion of your left knee as your left hand parries inward and your right middle knuckle fist rakes horizontally (toward yourself) , striking your opponent’s right ribs in the process, if possible. End the move of your right hand by having it cock horizontally across your waist with your right fist clenched, palm up, and to the side of your left hip.
  2. Deliver a right snapping knife-edge kick to outside of opponent’s right knee to buckle him (in and toward himself).
  3. As you plant your right foot (toward 1 o’clock) between opponent’s legs, deliver a right back knuckle to opponent’s left kidney, utilizing marriage of gravity.
  4. Immediately deliver a right inward elbow strike to opponent’s head as your left heel of palm strikes to opposite side of opponent’s head thus causing a sandwiching effect.

Notes

  • Although the kick is a right snapping knife edge kick, you do not want to snap the kick back as you are planting forward and you want to make sure you buckle your opponent’s knee which would technically make the kick a right thrusting knife edge kick.

Variations

  • This technique is often taught with an additional step after the sandwiching heel palm and elbow strikes which is as follows:
    • Grab your opponent’s head, hair, shirt, collar or shoulder,
    • Deliver a right inward downward diagonal handsword strike to your opponent’s throat or the right side of your opponent’s neck.

Thrusting Prongs (EPAK Orange #20)

KenpoTech on July 10, 2010

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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

Glancing Salute (EPAK Orange #8)

KenpoTech on June 20, 2010

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Glancing Salute is the 8th technique required to obtain your orange belt in Ed Parker’s American Kenpo.  Glancing Salute is a defense against a right hand cross push to your right shoulder, placing it in the Pushes category of the Web of Knowledge and the Pushes family group of the Family Groups Striking division.

Glancing Salute specifically deals with a cross push and shows you how to react in such a scenario using a pivoting action to nullify your opponent’s push while once again using frictional pull to control your opponent.

Defense

Glancing Salute – defense for a right hand cross push.

  • Step 1
    • Step toward 11:00 with your left foot and slightly pivot clockwise to form a left neutral bow stance facing 1:00.
    • Pin the opponent’s right hand against your chest with your right hand.
    • Pivot clockwise into a right forward bow stance facing 3:00,
    • Deliver a left thrusting forearm strike behind your opponent’s right elbow joint.
  • Step 2
    • Hook inside your opponent’s right elbow joint with a left crane hook,
    • Pivot counterclockwise to form a left forward bow stance facing 12:00,
    • Pull down on your opponent’s right arm down and push it against his body,
    • Deliver a right thrusting heel palm strike to your opponent’s jaw.
  • Step 3
    • Slide a right crane hook behind your opponent’s neck, from their right side,
    • Pull the opponent’s head down with your right hand.
    • Deliver a right upward knee kick to your opponent’s stomach.
  • Step 4
    • Plant your right foot forward to check your opponent’s right knee,
    • Deliver a right inward horizontal elbow strike to your opponent’s face.
    • Left hand checks low.
  • Step 5
    • Crossover & cover out toward 6:00.

Additional Information

Name

As previously stated a salute is the Kenpo term used to represent a heel palm strike.  In this technique your heel palm strike (salute) will essentially glance off of your opponent’s jaw becoming a right crane beak that will hook around the right back side of his neck.  This glancing action of your salute is what gives the technique its name, Glancing Salute.

Attack

The ideal phase of attack positions the aggressor directly in front of you who then steps forward with his right foot and pushes your right shoulder with his right hand.

This type of push is typically used to nullify your dominant arm (usually the right) while setting you up for a left cross or hook punch.

Basics & Maneuvers Used

  • Left Forward Step Through
  • Left Neutral Bow Stance
  • Right Forward Bow Stance
  • Right Hugging Pin
  • Left Thrusting Forearm Strike (Hammering Inward Block)
  • Left Crane Hook
  • Left Forward Bow Stance
  • Right Thrusting Heel Palm Strike
  • Right Hooking Crane Head
  • Right Upward Knee Kick
  • Right Neutral Bow Stance
  • Right Inward Horizontal Elbow Strike

Targets

  • Right Wrist
  • Right Elbow
  • Jaw
  • Eyes
  • Stomach/Bladder/Groin
  • Right Inner Knee
  • Face

Concepts & Principles Taught

  • Anchoring
  • Angle of Departure
  • Backup Mass
  • Borrowed Force
  • Buckle
  • Fulcruming
  • Glancing
  • Hugging Pin
  • Hyper Extend
  • Jamming
  • Leverage
  • Marriage of Gravity
  • Opposing Forces
  • Pinning Check
  • Pivoting
  • Pulling Check
  • Salute
  • Slipping
  • Solidify your Base
  • Torque
  • Zones of Protection


Considerations

  • What if …
    • your opponent grabs your right lapel and pulls you?
    • your opponent pushes with both hands?
    • your opponent throws a left hook after the push?
    • your right hugging pin slips off your opponent’s right wrist as you execute the forearm strike?
    • your opponent slips away from your heel palm strike?

Related Techniques

Historical Notes

  • In the 1975 Accumulative Journal, Glancing Salute was Orange Belt Technique #7
  • The 1975 Accumulative Journal ends this technique with an option of either planting forward after the knee kick to check your opponent’s knee or to plant your foot back into a left neutral bow; nor does it indicate an angle of departure.

Historical Versions

1975 Accumulative Journal

GLANCING SALUTE (font right hand cross push)

  1. Standing naturally while opponent pushes your right shoulder with his right hand, step forward and to your left to 11 o’clock with your left foot (into a left neutral bow) Immediately pivot to your right (to 3 o’clock) into a right forward bow as your right arm pins opponent’s right wrist to your right chest and your left forearm strikes out and against the joint of your opponent’s   right elbow to cause a break.
  2. Pivot to your left (to 12 o’clock) into a left forward bow as your left hand pins opponent’s right arm to his body and your right heel of palm strikes to opponent’s law.
  3. Hook the back of opponent’s neck with your right hand as it forms the shape of the crane. Pull opponent’s   neck down (having your right elbow hug your right ribcage in the process) as your right knee kicks to opponent’s stomach. Plant forward (having your right knee check your opponent’s right leg m the process) or back into a left neutral bow.

Unfinished Orange Belt Manual by Ed Parker

GLANCING SALUTE (Front right hand cross push)

  1. Standing naturally, while your opponent pushes your right shoulder with his right hand, (1) step forward and slightly to your left (11:00) with your left foot into a left neutral bow (facing 12:00), (2) pivot to your right into a right forward bow toward 3:00 (to ride the force of your opponent’s push) as (3) your right arm pins your opponent’s right wrist to the right side of your chest along with (4) the execution of a left inward vertical forearm strike against the joint of your opponent’s right elbow to cause a break. (This action should cause your opponent to turn counterclockwise, as well as cancel his Width Zones.)
  2. Pivot to your left (toward 12 o’clock) into a left forward bow as your left hand pins your opponent’s right arm to his body, and simultaneously execute a right thrusting heel palm strike to his jaw. (The action of the left pinning hand should bring your opponent’s head down and forward into your right heel palm strike. This strike should force his head up and back.)
  3. Have your right hand (1) circle to the right of your opponent’s face as it then hooks around and back of his neck (forming the shape of a crane), (2) pulls your opponent’s head down and toward the ground (ANCHORING your right elbow in the process) while (3) executing a right knee strike to your opponent’s stomach. (Your opponent’s strength should wane, with his feet moving back and away from you.)
  4. Plant your right foot forward into a right neutral bow, as your right knee checks (and possibly buckles) the inside of your opponent’s right knee. Simultaneous with the plant (while capitalizing on your forward momentum and gravitational marriage), execute a right inward elbow strike to your opponent’s face, as your left hand pins your opponent’s right arm to his body. (This should cause your opponent’s head to move up and back.)
  5. Right front crossover, covering out toward 7:30.

Notes

Variations

Gift of Destruction (EPAK Orange #5)

KenpoTech on June 18, 2010

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Gift of Destruction is the 5th technique required to obtain your orange belt in Ed Parker’s American Kenpo.  Gift of Destruction is a defense against a right handshake placing it in the Hugs & Holds category of the Web of Knowledge and the Hand Holds family group of the Hugs & Holds category in the Family Groups Grappling Division.

In Gift of Destruction you learn that awareness should be kept at all times, including friendly encounters.  People that you trust may have an ulterior motive and a simple gesture of trust & friendship becomes an attack.  It also implies a defensive familiarity with similar attacks.  For example, a hand shake is very similar to a cross wrist grab. So similar that this technique would work for the wrist grab as well.

Defense

Gift of Destruction – defense for a handshake. .

  • Step 1
    • Hop forward towards 11:00 on your left foot,
    • Jerk your opponent’s arm diagonally downward toward your right hip,
    • Deliver a right thrusting knee kick to your opponent’s groin,
    • Deliver a left inward horizontal heel palm strike to the outside of your opponent’s elbow.
  • Step 2
    • Plant your right foot toward 11:00 into a right neutral bow stance to buckle the inside of your opponent’s right knee,
    • Check your opponent’s right arm downward with your left push down block,
    • Deliver a right inward horizontal elbow strike to your opponent’s jaw.
  • Step 3
    • Right front crossover and cover out toward 7:30.

Additional Information

Name

The term gift in American Kenpo symbolizes a handshake as a handshake is traditionally a gift of one’s trust.  As we learned earlier in yellow belt, the term destruction represents the left side.  In this technique your opponent offers a gift of trust (handshake) and then throws a left (destruction) punch.  Hence the name Gift of Destruction

Attack

The ideal phase puts the aggressor directly in front of you. He steps forward with his right foot as he takes your right hand with his.

As stated above, awareness is the key focus of this technique.  While people usually extend their hand as a gesture of good will it could be simply to throw you off guard. A hand shake could be used to inflict pain to your fingers, pull you off balance, or set you up for another strike such as a punch or a kick.

Basics & Maneuvers Used

  • Left Inward Horizontal Heel Palm Strike
  • Right Thrusting Knee Kick
  • Right Neutral Bow Stance
  • Right Inward Horizontal Elbow Strike
  • Left Push Down Check

Targets

  • Groin/Bladder
  • Right Outer Elbow
  • Right Inner Knee
  • Left Jaw

Concepts & Principles Taught

  • Angle of Cancellation
  • Back up Mass
  • Borrowed Force
  • Buckling
  • Closing the Gap
  • Deceptive Gestures
  • Jerking
  • Leaping
  • Marriage of Gravity
  • Pulling
  • Thrusting
  • Torque


Considerations

  • What if …
    • your opponent’s left leg is forward?
    • your opponent’s legs are parallel
    • your opponent misses the handshake and grabs your wrist?
    • your opponent grabs your right upper arm with his left hand?
    • your opponent pulls you into a right knee kick?
    • your opponent pulls you into an attempted bear hug?
    • your opponent tries to strike you with the left hand as you move forward?

Related Techniques

Historical Notes

  • In the 1975 Accumulative Journal, Gift of Destruction was Orange Belt Technique #4
  • The 1975 Accumulative Journal indicates planting toward 10:00 to buckle the opponent’s knee.

Historical Variations

1975 Accumulative Journal

GIFT OF DESTRUCTION (handshake)

  1. With right hand shaking and while standing naturally. hop directly forwards or slightly to your left to 11 o’clock, depending on circumstances, with your left foot as your right hand pulls your opponent’s right hand toward and past your right hip.
  2. With the above action, simultaneously strike in and against the joint of your opponent’s right elbow with your left heel of palm as you deliver a right knee kick to opponent’s groin or stomach.
  3. As you plant your right foot forward (towards 10 o’clock) as against the inside portion of opponent’s right knee, (in a right neutral bow) deliver a right inward horizontal elbow strike to left jaw of opponent while checking opponent’s right arm down with your left hand.

Unfinished Orange Belt Manual by Ed Parker

GIFT OF DESTRUCTION (handshake)

  1. With your right hand shaking your opponent’s right hand, hop forward to 11 o’clock with your left foot, as your right hand JERKS (taking advantage of your opponent’s dead weight to launch you forward) your opponent’s right hand toward you diagonally and down past your right hip. This action is aided by rotating your right arm clockwise, so that the palm of your right hand faces up. This should aid you in properly exposing the joint of your opponent’s right arm.
  2. With the above action, simultaneously strike in and against the joint of your opponent’s right elbow with your left heel palm, as you deliver a right knee kick to your opponent’s groin. (This dual action should check your opponent’s Height and Width Zones, as well as force him to bend forward at the waist.)
  3. Plant your right foot forward into a right neutral bow while you simultaneously (1) buckle the inside of your opponent’s right knee with your right knee, (2) deliver a right inward elbow strike to the left side of your opponent’s jaw, as (3) your left hand checks down and on top of your opponent’s right arm. (This action should cause your opponent’s head to move back and away from you.)
  4. Right front crossover, and cover out toward 7:30.

Notes

Variations