Swinging Pendulum (EPAK Purple #4)

KenpoTech on July 24, 2010

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Swinging Pendulum is the 4th required technique to obtain your purple belt in Ed Parker’s American Kenpo. Swinging Pendulum is a defense against a right roundhouse kick from the front, placing it in the Kicks category of the Web of Knowledge as well as the Kicks Family Group in the family groups striking division.

In Swinging Pendulum you learn how to overcome a powerful kick and its subsequent followups by moving up the circle into a zone of sanctuary with the delivery of a universal block.  Your opponent’s kick reaches it maximum potential at the apex of the circle, your moving up the circle, shortens the circle causing your opponent’s kick to travel past the apex where it now loses momentum as well as puts him past an angle of no return leaving a weakness in his defense. Your knowledge of reverse motion allows you to counter his actions borrow his momentum and nullify any further action.

Defense

Swinging Pendulum – defense for a right roundhouse kick.

  • Step 1
    • Slide your left foot counter clockwise toward 4:30 to form a right neutral bow stance facing 10:30.
    • Deliver a universal block to the inside of your opponent’s right leg (preferably at the knee).
  • Step 2
    • Shuffle (push-drag) forward toward 10:30,
    • Deliver a right outward downward hammerfist strike to your opponent’s groin,
    • Simultaneously deliver a left vertical outward block to check high
  • Step 3
    • Slide your left foot counter clockwise toward 1:30 into a right neutral bow facing 7:30,
    • Deliver a right rear vertical snapping obscure elbow strike (obscure elbow) to your opponent’s chin.
    • Left hand covers the middle area.
  • Step 4
    • Crossover and cover out toward 2:30.

Additional Information

Name

The term ‘pendulum’ is used in American Kenpo to refer to a downward block or hammerfist strike. In this technique your second move resembles the swinging motion of a pendulum on its downward path to your opponent’s groin.

Attack

In the ideal phase, you are already in a right neutral bow and your attacker is directly in front of you (12:00) in a left neutral bow. He then proceeds to deliver a full strength right roundhouse kick toward you.

A roundhouse kick is a versatile kick and if delivered off of the rear leg can be a tremendously powerful kick as it generates a lot of momentum as it travels toward its target.  The kick may be delivered off the front or rear legs, often called a wheel kick when delivered from the front leg.  Targets can vary from your feet to your head and it can be delivered from a stationary position or while in motion.

Basics & Maneuvers

  • Left Sliding
  • Right Neutral Bow Stance
  • Universal Block
  • Forward Shuffle (Push-Drag)
  • Left Vertical Outward Block (Positional)
  • Right Outward Downward Hammerfist Strike
  • Right Snapping Obscure Elbow Strike
  • Crossover
  • Cover Out

Targets

  • Right Leg/Knee
  • Groin
  • Underneath the Chin

Concepts & Principles

  • Angle of Deviation
  • Angle of Deflection
  • Apex
  • Body Alignment
  • Borrowed Force
  • Changing of the Guard
  • Contouring
  • Double Factor
  • Drawing
  • Obscure Zones
  • Orbital Change
  • Path of Action
  • Reverse Motion
  • Shortening the Circle
  • Upside of the Circle
  • Zones of Sanctuary


Considerations

  • What if …
    • your opponent kicks high?
    • your opponent kicks low?
    • your opponent fakes a low kick then delivers a high kick?
    • your opponent fakes a roundhouse kick and throws a hook kick?
    • your opponent throws a right front roundhouse kick?
    • your opponent plants his foot back instead of going full force?
    • your opponent plants forward and follows with a left hook punch?
    • your opponent plants forward and follows with a right punch?

Related Techniques

Historical Notes

  • In the 1975 Accumulative Journal this was purple belt technique #17.
  • The 1975 Accumulative Journal has you
    • slide your left foot toward 4:00 during the initial move
    • Shuffle forward toward 11:00 during the second move
    • Slide your left foot toward 2:00 during the third move
    • depart towards 2:00

Historical Versions

1975 Accumulative Journal

SWINGING PENDULUM (front roundhouse right kick)

  1. Standing in a right neutral bow (fighting stance), slide your left foot counter clockwise to 4 o’clock and strike with a right inward block simultaneously with a left downward block (universal block) against opponent’s kicking right leg preferably at the knee.
  2. Shuffle (push drag) toward 11 o’clock as you deliver a right downward hammerfist to opponent’s groin. (You’re still in a right neutral bow with your left hand checking high.)
  3. Again shift your left foot counter clockwise to 2 o’clock as you deliver a right upward vertical elbow strike to opponent’s jaw.
  4. Right front crossover and cover out to 2 o’clock.

Notes

Variations

Locking Horns (EPAK Orange #6)

KenpoTech on June 19, 2010

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Locking Horns is the 6th technique required to obtain your orange belt in Ed Parker’s American Kenpo. Locking Horns is a defense against a front right arm headlock putting it in the Locks & Chokes category of the Web of Knowledge as well as the Headlocks Family Group in the Locks category of the Family Groups Grappling Division.

Locking Horns teaches you how to use checks at leverage points to prevent an action while utilizing multiple methods of increasing power. It also introduces you to a new method of increasing the effectiveness of your strikes.

Defense

Locking Horns – defense for a front head lock.

  • Step 1
    • Pull down on your opponent’s choking arm,
    • Tuck your chin in toward your chest and toward your opponent’s elbow.
  • Step 2
    • Step forward with your right foot toward 11:00 forming a right wide kneel stance between your opponent’s legs,
    • Check your opponent’s right knee with a left push-down block above your opponent’s right kneecap,
    • Deliver a right underhand reverse handsword strike to your opponent’s groin.
  • Step 3
    • Clear your opponent’s right arm from around your neck with your left hand, pinning their arm against their body,
    • Quickly stand up into a right neutral bow,
    • Deliver a right vertical obscure elbow strike underneath your opponent’s chin.
  • Step 4
    • Shuffle forward,
    • Deliver a right inward downward diagonal elbow strike to your opponent’s left jaw.
    • Deliver a left inward upward hooking heel palm strike to your opponent’s right jaw.
  • Step 4
    • Cross over and cover out toward 7:30.

Additional Information

Name

The name Locking Horns comes from the manner in which horned animals, such as a the ram, would lock their horns in combat. With you being bent over and your head/neck locked it resembles this action.

Attack

The ideal phase has the attacker directly in front of you, his right leg is forward.  You will be in a bent over postion with your right shoulder, neck, head pressed against the right side of your attacker’s body as his right arm locks around your neck, down the left side and under the chin.  He may or may not grab his right wrist with his left hand to further secure the lock.

This is a very dangerous situation to be in and this type of attack can break your neck, cut off blood flow to the brain, or close off the throat keeping you from breathing resulting in unconsciousness, injury, brain damage and even death.

Basics & Maneuvers Used

  • Right Wide Kneel Stance
  • Left Push Down Block
  • Underhand Reverse Handsword Strike
  • Right Neutral Bow Stance
  • Left Downward Heel Palm Strike
  • Right Vertical Obscure Elbow Strike
  • Push-Drag Foot Maneuver
  • Right Inward Downward Diagonal Elbow Strike
  • Left Inward Hooking Heel Palm Strike

Targets

  • Groin
  • Kneecap
  • Under the Chin
  • Right side of face/jaw
  • Left side of face/jaw

Concepts & Principles Taught

  • Balance Compensation
  • Contouring
  • Leverage Points
  • Marriage of Gravity
  • Pinning Checks
  • Pressing Checks
  • Reverse Marriage of Gravity
  • Sandwiching
  • Solidify your Base
  • Stabilize your Base
  • Torque
  • Zones of Obscurity


Considerations

  • What if …
    • your opponent’s left leg is forward?
    • your opponent’s legs are spread wide apart?
    • your opponent pulls his legs back out of reach, bearing his weight down on your neck?
    • your opponent grabs you with his left arm instead?
    • your opponent pushes you back while you are in the front headlock?

Related Techniques

Historical Notes

  • Pre-1975 a close kneel stance was called for in the initial move, this is still often used today as a means to generating power (torque).
  • In the 1975 Accumulative Journal, Locking Horns was Orange Belt Technique #5

Historical Variations

1975 Accumulative Journal

LOCKING HORNS (font headlock)

  1. With feet in line with each other and body bent forward, step forward with your right foot toward 11 o’clock and deliver a right upward vertical reverse handsword to opponent’s groin while simultaneously having your left hand check opponent’s right thigh just above the knee and your chin turned in such a position so as to keep your breathing constant.   (Turn your chin to the right and tuck it against your chest.)
  2. Immediately follow-up with a right vertical obscure elbow strike to opponent’s jaw while keeping in a low right neutral bow.
  3. After snapping the elbow to opponent’s jaw loop your right elbow and strike again (shuffling forward if needed) having it drive from 1 o’clock down to 7 o’clock to the left side of opponent’s jaw as your left heel of palm hooks in and strikes opponent’s right jaw thus causing a sandwiching effect.

Unfinished Orange Belt Manual by Ed Parker

LOCKING HORNS (Front headlock)

  1. With your feet in line with each other and your body bent forward (caused by your opponent applying a front headlock using his left arm to lock you with) simultaneously (1) step forward with your right foot toward 11 o’clock into a right wide kneel stance between your opponent’s legs, (2) deliver a right underhand reverse handsword to your opponent’s groin, (3) have your left hand check just above your opponent’s right knee while (4) turning your chin to the left, and tucking it against your chest to prevent your opponent from cutting off your air supply. (Your opponent should loosen his grip and bend forward at the waist. Depending on the effectiveness of your strike, your opponent’s legs can conceivably move back and away from you.)
  2. Immediately follow-up with a right vertical obscure elbow strike to the underside of your opponent’s jaw, “with” your left hand still checking the knee, and while keeping low in a right neutral bow. (This elbow strike should force your opponent’s head up in preparation for the next strike.)
  3. After snapping your opponent’s jaw upward with your right obscure elbow, simultaneously (1) shuffle forward, (2) deliver a right inward horizontal elbow strike to the left side of your opponent’s jaw, along with (3) a left heel palm strike that hooks in and to the right side of your opponent’s jaw. (The force of this sandwiching effect may cause your opponent to pass out and fall to the ground.)
  4. Right front crossover, and cover out toward 7:30.

Notes

Variations

Dance of Death (EPAK Orange #3)

KenpoTech on June 14, 2010

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Dance of Death is the 3rd technique required for Orange Belt in Ed Parker’s American Kenpo.  Dance of Death is for straight right 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 Group Striking Division.

In Dance of Death we are introduced into take downs, the figure eight pattern (a use of the continuity of motion learned in the last technique) as well as Family related moves.  Aside from the introduction of new ideas, Dance of Death, details the value of initiating your moves from their point of origin.

Defense

Dance of Death – defense for a right straight punch.

  • Step 1
    • Step toward 11:00 with your left foot to form a left neutral bow stance.
    • Deliver a left left thrusting inward block to your opponent’s right arm.
    • Your right arm rests and hangs naturally at your side.
  • Step 2
    • Maintain a left hand check on your opponent’s right arm.
    • Pivot counterclockwise to form a left forward bow stance.
    • Deliver a right underhand reverse handsword strike to the groin.
  • Step 3
    • Slide your left hand down behind your opponent’s right knee and pull upward,
    • Step forward with your right foot to form a right neutral bow stance,
    • Deliver a right inward horizontal elbow strike to your opponent’s right rib cage.
  • Step 4
    • Deliver a right outward downward back knuckle strike to the inside of your opponent’s left knee
    • Left hand holds the opponent’s right leg.
  • Step 5
    • Drop into a right wide kneel stance
    • Deliver a right inward downward finger slice to the groin.
  • Step 6
    • Clear the opponent’s leg to the right with your right hand.
    • Execute a right front crossover and a double cover out toward 7:30

Additional Information

Name

The name Dance of Death isn’t really evident until you learn the extended version of this technique in 1st Brown.  The series of moves in the extension, which involve several stomps, appear dance like when performed in the air. This sequence can have a very devastating result that can lead to death, thus the term Dance of Death.

Attack

In the ideal phase your attacker is directly in front of you.  They throw a right straight punch with their left leg forward.

This technique is often taught incorrectly as a right step through punch with the attacker stepping forward with his right leg while throwing the punch.  While the technique can work for a right step through punch, as evidenced by the B version of Tracy’s Dance of Death (Tracy’s 3rd Brown),  it is important to realize that this technique is designed for a right straight punch with the left leg forward because if the right leg is forward you run the risk of having their right leg tracking up your right leg and into your groin during the take down.

If there is to be a step through at all with the right punch, it would be a left step through, thus making this a right lunge punch with a left step through.

Basics & Maneuvers Used

  • Left Forward Step Through
  • Left Neutral Bow Stance
  • Left Thrusting Inward Block
  • Left Forward Bow Stance
  • Right Underhand Reverse Handsword Strike
  • Right Forward Step Through
  • Right Inward Horizontal Elbow Strike
  • Right Outward Downward Diagonal Back Knuckle Strike
  • Right Inward Downward Diagonal Finger Slice
  • Right Wide Kneel Stance

Targets

  • Right Elbow
  • Groin
  • Back of the Right Knee
  • Right Rib Cage/Solar Plexus

Concepts & Principles Taught

  • Angle of Cancellation
  • Angle of Deflection
  • Angle of Departure
  • Angle of Disturbance
  • Body Momentum
  • Bracing Angle
  • Clearing
  • Continuity of Motion
  • Contouring
  • Figure Eight
  • Marriage of Gravity
  • Obscure Zones
  • Pivoting
  • Point of Origin
  • Slipping
  • Takedown


Considerations

  • What if …
    • your opponent steps through with his right leg?
    • your opponent attacks with full body momentum?
    • your opponent precedes his punch with a right straight kick?
    • your opponent jabs with his left hand before throwing the right punch?
    • your opponent grabs your right arm as he falls?
    • your opponent’s right leg slips from your left grab after he falls?

Related Techniques

Historical Notes

  • The 1975 Accumulative Journal has you step toward 11:00 during the initial step
  • The 1975 Accumulative Journal has you step toward 10:00 to buckle the right knee.
  • The 1975 Accumulative Journal ends with the take down.
  • The 1987 Studio Manuals have you step toward 10:30 on the initial step.

Historical Versions

1975 Accumulative Journal

DANCE OF DEATH (font straight right punch)

  1. Standing naturally, step forward and to your left to 11 o’clock (into a left neutral bow) with your left foot (to get out of the line of attack). simultaneously strike to the outside of opponent’s right punch with your Lift Inward block as your right arm rests and hangs naturally to the right side of your body.
  2. With your left hand still guarding (with a left bracing angle), strike to opponent’s groin with A right upward vertical reverse handsword while pivoting into a left bow.
  3. Immediately step through and to your left to 10 o’clock into a right neutral bow with your right foot (to buckle opponent’s right knee) as your right elbow strikes horizontally and into opponent’s right ribcage while your left hand grabs back of opponent’s right knee and pulls toward you so that your left hand grab concludes the grab (after sliding along the leg) at your opponent’s right ankle.

Unfinished Orange Belt Manual by Ed Parker

DANCE OF DEATH (Front straight right punch, with left leg forward)

  1. Standing naturally, step forward toward 10:30 with your left foot into a left neutral bow (facing 12:00) as you get out of the Line of Attack. Simultaneously deliver a left inward block to the outside of your opponent’s right punch (ending at or above the elbow) as your right arm hangs naturally to the right side of your body. (Your inward block will nullify the width of your opponent’s body.)
  2. Immediately pivot into a left forward bow (facing 12:00). While still maintaining a left BRACING ANGLE CHECK to your opponent’s right arm with your left hand, strike to your opponent’s groin with a right underhand reverse handsword. (This strike should cause your opponent to bend forward at the waist, and possibly move back.)
  3. Immediately step through with your right foot into a right neutral bow (facing 12:00) “with” a right inward horizontal elbow strike to your opponent’s right lower ribcage. During this action, your left hand (1) CONTOURS down the right side of your opponent’s body, (2) slides along his right leg (which is not the lead leg), (3) grabs the back of your opponent’s right knee, and then (4) pulls toward you, so that your left hand grab concludes at your opponent’s right ankle. Be sure to have his right foot pass to the left and outside of your left thigh, and pin his left foot to your left hip with your left hand. The pull and strike must counteract each other to be effective. (Please refer to the NOTES to study the WHAT IF factors that can alter your plans.)
  4. Use of precise synchronization of BODY MOMENTUM should help you to drop your opponent onto his back. In anticipation or your opponent’s left leg popping up (Unintentional Move), execute a right outward back knuckle strike to the inside of your opponent’s left knee. Immediately (1) have your right hand continue in a “figure 8 pattern”, (2) drop into a right wide kneel stance, and (3) while taking advantage of marriage of gravity execute a right inward downward handsword to your opponent’s groin. (Be conscious of the possibility of your opponent’s legs drawing together.)
  5. Right front crossover, and cover out toward 7:30.

Notes

Variations