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

Triggered Salute (EPAK Orange #2)

KenpoTech on June 10, 2010

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Triggered Salute is the second technique required to obtain your orange belt in Ed Parker’s American Kenpo. Triggered Salute is a defense against a right hand push to your left shoulder from the front. This places Triggered Salute into the Pushes category in the Web of Knowledge as well as the Pushes Family group in the Family Groups Striking Division.

Triggered Salute is an interesting technique. Even though you should defend a push prior to it making contact, this technique is just as effective if your opponent does make contact.  Either way you end up using your opponent’s aggressiveness against them. In Triggered Salute you learn how to slip past an aggressive attempt using your opponent’s force to your advantage as well as use his action to trigger your reaction. You will then use checking and anchoring to enhance stability and power in conjunction with a continuous flow of strikes to control your opponent’s height, width and depth zones.

Defense

Triggered Salute – defense for a right hand direct push

  • Step 1
    • Step toward 11:00 with your right foot to form a right neutral bow stance, buckling your opponent’s right knee.
    • Pin your opponent’s right hand to your chest with your left hand (maintain through the entire technique),
    • Deliver a right thrusting heel palm strike to your opponent’s chin.
  • Step 2
    • Form a crane head with your right hand
    • hook behind his right elbow
    • pull the opponent’s right arm down and to your right.
  • Step 3
    • Deliver a right inward horizontal elbow strike to your opponent’s solar plexus or right rib cage being sure to follow through.
  • Step 4
    • Deliver a a right outward horizontal elbow strike to your opponent’s right floating ribs.
  • Step 5
    • Follow through with a right outward horizontal back knuckle strike to your opponent’s right kidney or floating rib.
  • Step 6
    • Finish with a right snapping uppercut punch underneath your opponent’s chin.
  • Step 7
    • Right front crossover and cover out toward 6:00.

Additional Information

Name

The name Triggered Salute stems from the fact that your initial reaction, triggered by your opponent’s attack, is a heel palm strike to the face which resembles an ancient way of rendering a salute used in many ancient cultures.  The term salute in American Kenpo names will always represent a heel palm strike. 

Attack

In the ideal phase of attack has your opponent directly in front of you.  He steps forward with his right foot as he pushes you with his right hand directly to your left shoulder.

A push or shove like this usually is the result of a verbal confrontation and is the first step towards a full blown fight.  A push is usually followed by a punch or a grab, therefore it is important to act at the right moment in order to best defend yourself.  Ideally you would like to prevent a push from ever making contact thus placing pushes in the striking category of  attacks along with punches and kicks .  In some cases, when contact is unavoidable, a push that lands can be used to greatly enhance your defense.

Basics & Maneuvers Used

  • Right Neutral Bow
  • Right Thrusting Heel Palm
  • Right Hooking Cranes Head/Crane’s Beak
  • Right Inward Horizontal Elbow Strike
  • Right Outward Horizontal Elbow Strike
  • Right Outward Horizontal Back Knuckle
  • Right Snapping Uppercut Punch

Vulnerable Targets

  • Chin
  • Solar Plexus/Right Rib Cage
  • Back Right Floating Ribs
  • Right Kidney/Back Right Floating Ribs
  • Chin

Concepts & Principles Taught

  • Anchoring
  • Angle of Deviation
  • Backup Mass
  • Borrowed Force
  • Buckle
  • Complementary Angle
  • Continuity of Motion
  • Contouring
  • Frictional Pull
  • Magnified Damage
  • Marriage of Gravity
  • Opposing Forces
  • Pinning Check
  • Point of Origin
  • Positional Check
  • Purposeful Compliance
  • Reverse Motion
  • Rounding the Corners
  • Torque
  • Wrenching


Considerations

  • What if …
    • your opponent attempts a right lapel grab?
    • your opponent throws a right punch at your face instead?
    • your opponent pushes with his left hand to your left shoulder (cross push)?
    • your opponent punches with his left hand before you execute your heel palm?
    • your opponent bends too far forward after hooking his elbow that you can not reach his rib cage?
    • your opponent is much shorter than you?
    • your opponent is much taller than you?
    • your back is against a wall?

Related Techniques

Historical Versions

1975 Accumulative Journal

TRIGGERED SALUTE (front right hand direct push)

  1. Standing naturally while opponent pushes your left shoulder with his right hand, step forward and to your left with your right foot to 11 o’clock (into right neutral bow) to buckle on the Inside of opponent’s right knee. Simultaneously pin opponent’s right hand with your left (against your left shoulder) and strike opponent’s chin with a right forward heel palm thrust.
  2. Immediately shift your right hand to 11 o’clock forming the shape of the crane (anchor elbow) and hook opponent’s right arm down before cocking your right arm to your right hip and deliver a right Inward horizontal elbow strike to opponent’s solar plexus.
  3. After following through with first elbow shot, deliver a right outward horizontal elbow strike to opponent’s right floating ribs (palm down).
  4. Without hesitation, follow-up with a right horizontal back knuckle strike to opponent’s right floating ribs or kidney and immediately cock your right fist to your right hip.
  5. Without any loss of motion execute a right vertical back knuckle thrust up and under opponent’s chin while your left hand remains pinning your opponents right hand against your left shoulder.

Unfinished Orange Belt Manual by Ed Parker

TRIGGERED SALUTE (Front right hand direct push)

  1. While standing naturally your opponent pushes your left shoulder with his right hand. Immediately and simultaneously (1) turn your left shoulder counterclockwise and ride your opponent’s right push as you (2) step forward with your right foot into a right neutral bow (between ll:00 and 12:00), (3) buckle the inside of your opponent’s right knee with your right knee, (4) thrust a right heel palm strike to your opponent’s chin, as you (5) have your left hand pin and check your opponent’s right hand to your chest. (Your opponent’s head should snap back and away from you.)
  2. Forecasting the response of your opponent’s upper body, (1) frictionally slide your right hand down your opponent’s right arm while forming the shape of a crane (making sure to anchor your elbow), (2) hook your opponent’s right arm down and toward 5:30; (3) ROUND THE CORNER with your right arm as (4) you unhesitatingly deliver a right inward horizontal elbow strike to your opponent’s solar plexus. (The frictional pull will bring your opponent’s upper body forward and diagonally to his right. The force of your elbow strike should make him bend forward at the waist.)
  3. After following through with your right inward elbow strike, deliver a right outward horizontal elbow strike to your opponent’s right floating ribs. (This should cause your opponent to bend even further.)
  4. Using RESIDUAL TORQUE, follow-up with a right outward horizontal back knuckle strike to your opponent’s right floating ribs or kidney, and immediately cock your right fist to your right hip. (Your repeated follow-ups should magnify the damage to his ribs).
  5. Without any loss of motion, thrust a right vertical back knuckle strike (right fist is inverted and horizontal) up and under your opponent’s chin while your left hand continues to pin your opponent’s right hand against your left shoulder. (This Contouring Fit should drive your opponent’s head back.)
  6. Right front crossover, and cover out toward 7:30.

Notes

Variations