Entangled Wing (Blue #6)

KenpoTech on December 3, 2010

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Entangled Wing is the 6th required technique to obtain your Blue Belt in Ed Parker’s American Kenpo. Entangled Wing is a defense against  a front arm lock, placing it in the Locks & Chokes category of the Web of Knowledge as well as the Locks Family Group in the Chokes & Locks category of the Grappling division.

In Entangled Wing, you will apply sections of different techniques learned earlier to create a defense for a new type of attack.  Entangled Wing also reemphasizes the importance of how a quick reaction can turn a disadvantaged situation into an advantageous one.  A quick reaction with your right elbow strike not only relieves pressure but can also injure your opponent. On the other hand failure to act quickly could result in your wrist or elbow being broke or your being forced to the ground.   Emphasis is placed on contact manipulation to control and injure your opponent, pinning your opponent’s arm is predominantly for control and torque is used to generate power for your strikes.

The Technique

Attack

In the ideal phase your attacker is directly in front of you (12:00). Your opponent grabs your right wrist with his right hand and lifts your arm vertically as he places his left forearm inside your elbow joint and completes the lock by grabbing his right wrist with his left hand.

Note: This type of lock isn’t the easiest to describe in words. It is important that you work with an instructor to teach you how to appropriately apply this lock.

Defense

Entangled Wing – defense for a figure-four arm lock.

  • Step 1
    • Grab your opponent’s left wrist with your left hand.
    • Step forward with your right foot toward 10:30 into a right neutral bow stance.
    • Deliver a right upward elbow strike, to relieve pressure.
  • Step 2
    • Grab your opponent’s left wrist with your right hand,
    • Pivot counterclockwise into a left neutral bow stance.
    • Deliver a left rear elbow strike to your opponent’s left kidney or ribs.
    • Pulling down on your opponent’s right arm to break his right elbow over the back of your right shoulder.
  • Step 3
    • Pivot clockwise into a horse stance.
    • Deliver a right rear elbow strike to your opponent’s midsection or left ribcage
    • Your left hand checks your opponent’s left arm.
  • Step 4
    • Execute a right front crossover
    • Double cover out toward 6:00.

Considerations

  • What if…
    • your opponent forces you to your knees?
    • your opponent forces you onto your back?
    • you are falling backwards due to the lock?
    • you are unable to step forward?
    • your opponent steps behind your right foot with his right foot?
    • you opponent steps through with his right foot so that the lock is applied with his right hip up against your right hip?
    • your opponent grabs your right arm with his left hand before entangling his arms with yours?

Notes

  • It is far better to quickly counter your opponent’s initial grabbing action than to counter his lock.  Review the Web of Knowledge to see which techniques may be utilized at this point.
  • As your raise your elbow to relieve the pressure on your arm, keep in mind that this elbow strike can be and should be delivered to your opponent’s chin, if possible.
  • Compare the attack in Entangled Wing with the attack of Twisted Twig.  Note their similarities and differences.
  • Compare the Initial movements of Entangled Wing with that of Twisted Twig.
  • Compare the movements of Entangled Wing with Captured Leaves and note the similarities and differences between the two.
  • Compare this type of figure four arm lock to the type that is more commonly thought of where the outside of the attacker’s right elbow is placed against the outside of your right elbow as the attacker’s arm snakes around yours so that their right hand grabs your right wrist.  Note the differences in application of the locks, where pressure is created and consider your method of defense.

Additional Information

Name

In American Kenpo, the term wing is used to represent the elbow. In this technique your opponent’s attack, a figure four arm lock from the front, is such that your opponent’s arms are entangled with your arms. Thus the name Entangled Wing.

Basics & Maneuvers

  • Right Front Step Through
  • Right Neutral Bow Stance
  • Right Upward Elbow Strike
  • Left Neutral Bow Stance
  • Left Rear Elbow Strike
  • Fighting Horse Stance
  • Right Rear Elbow Strike
  • Right Front Cross Over
  • Cover out

Targets

  • Left Wrist
  • Chin
  • Left Kidney/Rib Cage
  • Left Elbow
  • Midsection (Solar Plexus)/Right Rib Cage

Concepts & Principles

  • Anchoring
  • Angle of Cancellation
  • Angle of Departure
  • Angle of Disturbance
  • Backup Mass
  • Bracing Angle
  • Complimentary Angle
  • Contact Manipulation
  • Fulcruming
  • Jerking
  • Obscure Zones
  • Opposing Forces
  • Parallel Forces
  • Pinning Check
  • Positional Check
  • Reverse Motion
  • Torque
  • With


Related Techniques

Historical Notes

  • In the 1975 Accumulative Journal, Entangled Wing was Blue Belt Technique #4.
  • The 1975 Accumulative Journal indicates stepping toward 10:00 on the initial step.
  • Both the 1975 Accumulative Journal and the 1987 IKKA Studio Manuals indicate that the left rear elbow strike should go to the opponent’s groin or ribs, depending on your opponent’s height.  Call me naive but I just don’t see the strike hitting the groin.

Historical Versions

1975 Accumulative Journal

ENTANGLED WING (front arm lock)

  1. With feet together and forced into a right neutral bow, step forward and to your left with your right foot (to 10 o’clock) as you raise your right arm up and overhead (similar to a right upward elbow strike).
  2. Pivot (in place) counter clockwise and dropping low (into a left neutral bow), deliver a left back elbow strike to opponent’s groin or ribs depending upon the height of your opponent as your right arm pulls opponent’s left elbow down and breaks opponent’s elbow across the back of your right shoulder.
  3. Immediately pivot (in place) clockwise (into a horse) and execute a right back elbow strike to opponent’s mid-section or right ribcage, depending upon the circumstance. Keep your left hand in a guard position, checking at your right shoulder.
  4. Right front crossover and cover out to 6 o’clock.

1987 IKKA Studio Manual

ENTANGLED WING (Front arm lock as instructed)

  1. With your opponent applying the lock with force, step forward with your right foot toward 10:30.  Raise your right arm up and overhead (similar to a right upward elbow strike) to relieve pressure, as your left hand pins and checks your opponent’s left hand.
  2. As you pivot counterclockwise, drop into a left neutral bow, while delivering a left back elbow strike to your opponent’s groin or ribs.  (Your target will depend upon the height of your opponent.)  Simultaneously have your right arm pull your opponent’s left arm down and toward you, positioning it at the elbow, and break it across the top of your right shoulder. (This should turn your opponent to his right.)
  3. Immediately pivot clockwise into a horse stance, as you execute a right outward elbow strike to your opponent’s midsection or left ribcage, and maintain your left hand as a positional check at your right shoulder. (Your opponent should bend forward at the waist.)
  4. Execute a right front crossover, and cover out twice toward 6 o’clock.

Flight To Freedom (Purple #24)

KenpoTech on September 7, 2010

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Flight To Freedom is the 24th and final technique required to obtain your purple belt in Ed Parker’s American Kenpo. Flight to Freedom is a defense against a right arm hammerlock, placing it in the Locks & Chokes category of the Web of Knowledge as well as the Locks Family Group in the Chokes & Locks category of the family groups Grappling division.

The main theme of this technique is simply that your opponent can block your counters. This is a very valuable concept and it is vital that you be aware that your opponent may very well be aware of your potential counter moves and may block any of them.  Specifically for this technique, Flight to Freedom serves as a backup technique to Locked Wing. As you attempt the initial strike of Locked Wing, the elbow strike, your opponent blocks this strike.  You then make use of counter manipulation as you take “flight” from your opponent. It is this flight that disturbs your opponent’s balance and allows you to rebound into action.

The Technique

Attack

In the ideal phase your opponent is directly behind you (6:00).  He is applying a hammerlock to your right arm with his right hand (palm up).  It is assumed that your opponent anticipates your elbow strike and is either checking your left shoulder or intercepts your elbow strike.

Defense

Flight to Freedom – defense for a right hammer lock.

  • Step 1
    • Step back with your left foot toward 5:00 into a transitional right neutral bow stance.
    • Counter grab your opponent’s hand with your right hand,
  • Step 2
    • Pivot counter clockwise into a left neutral bow stance facing 6:00
    • Attempt to deliver a left outward horizontal elbow strike to your opponent’s face.
  • Step 3
    • Turn clockwise and step toward 1:30 into a right reverse cat stance
    • Pull your opponent’s right arm forward and downward with your right hand.
  • Step 4
    • Deliver a right thrusting back heel kick to your opponent’s right ribcage.
  • Step 5
    • Plant your right foot toward 7:30
    • Pivot clockwise into a right neutral bow stance.
    • Twist your opponent’s right arm clockwise in a tight circle,
    • Left hand covers.
  • Step 6
    • Deliver a left front thrusting ball kick to your opponent’s left inner knee.
  • Step 7
    • Plant your left foot toward 10:30 in front of your right foot forming a right rear twist stance facing 4:30,
    • Deliver a left hammering heel palm strike to your opponent’s right elbow.
  • Step 8
    • Complete your left front crossover and cover out toward 10:30.

Considerations

  • What if…
    • your opponent’s right hand is palm down?
    • your opponent applies the hammerlock with his left hand?
    • your opponent’s right leg is forward?
    • your opponent’s left leg is forward?
    • your opponent’s left leg steps forward with yours?
    • your opponent’s left hand is grabbing your hair?
    • you are unable to step forward?

Notes

  • As you twist your opponent’s right arm, be sure that you do so using small circles.  Remember “the bigger the circle the bigger the mistake”.
  • When practicing, students often use big circles because they feel jammed.  Be sure to use your back kick to move your partner back in order to unjam yourself.
  • When practicing, develop spontaneity by having your partner attack and then responding with either Locked Wing or Flight to Freedom depending on whether or not your partner blocks your elbow.
  • While practicing, once you have your partner’s arm turned over investigate the possibilities of other joint locks. A perfect example is to flow into the lock applied in Spiraling Twig.
  • As mentioned above, being the last technique in Purple Belt, Flight to Freedom teaches a valuable lesson; your opponent may be aware of your moves and may block them.  This is the perfect time to review all techniques with a partner and experiment with blocking all of  the initial counters in the techniques to practice “Formulating”.  Your ability to formulate may be the determining factor in a street situation.

Additional Information

Name

In this technique after delivering a rear elbow strike technique you attempt to flee or take flight. This deception of flight is what leads you to freedom, thus the name Flight to Freedom.

Basics & Maneuvers

  • Left Reverse Step Through
  • Transitional Right Neutral Bow Stance
  • Left Neutral Bow Stance
  • Left Outward Horizontal Elbow Strike
  • Left Forward Step Through
  • Right Reverse Cat Stance
  • Right Thrusting Back Kick
  • Right Neutral Bow Stance
  • Left Front Thrusting Ball Kick
  • Right Rear Twist Stance
  • Left Hammering Heel Palm Strike
  • Left Front Crossover
  • Cover Out

Targets

  • Face (missed)
  • Right Wrist
  • Right Ribcage
  • Left Inner Knee
  • Right Elbow

Concepts & Principles

  • Anchor
  • Angle of Alignment
  • Angle of Cancellation
  • Angle of Disturbance
  • Angle of Execution
  • Angle of No Return
  • Borrowed Force
  • Catapulting
  • Complimentary Angle
  • Continuity of Motion
  • Controlling Checks
  • Counter Manipulation
  • Leveraging
  • Marriage of Gravity
  • Momentum
  • Opposing Forces
  • Positional Checks
  • Pivoting
  • Torque
  • With
  • Zones of Protection


Related Techniques

  • Locked Wing (O-17)
  • Cross of Destruction (P-23)
  • Crossed Twigs (B-15)
  • Gripping Talon (B-20)
  • Encounter With Danger (G-2)
  • Thrust Into Darkness (3Br-2)
  • Intellectual Departure

Historical Notes

  • The 1975 Accumulative Journal indicated…
    • stepping back into a modified right neutral bow stance (because you are on the ball of your left foot).
    • having your left foot step through to 2:00.
    • planting your right foot back into a right reverse cat stance after your rear kick.
    • planting your left foot toward 11:00 after the front snapping ball kick.
    • the angle of departure as 11:00.

Historical Versions

1975 Accumulative Journal

FLIGHT TO FREEDOM (hammer lock)

  1. With feet together and opponent locking your right arm,  step back and to your right to 5 o’clock with your left foot (on the ball of your left foot) into a modified right neutral bow as your right hand counter grabs your opponent’s right wrist using this stance as a transition only.
  2. Without any hesitation pivot your entire body counter clockwise into a left neutral bow (or horse stance depending on circumstance) as you attempt to deliver a left outward elbow strike to opponent’s face which is blocked.
  3. Immediately have your left foot step through to 2 o’clock (into a right reverse cat stance) as your right arm straightens and continues to grab opponent’s right wrist; pulling in so that the principle of opposing forces is employed.
  4. From your right reverse cat, deliver a right thrusting back heel kick, using mainly the bottom portion of the heel to opponents, right ribcage and plant your right foot more to the left   again into a right reverse cat stance. Immediately pivot your entire body clockwise (facing 7 o’clock) as you twist your opponent’s right arm clockwise with the assistance of your right hand.
  5. Follow-up with a left snapping ball kick to opponent’s left inner knee.
  6. Without planting your left foot, have it cross in front of your right foot (into a left front twist stance) to 11 o’clock while using your left heel of palm strike to break back of opponents right elbow, and cover out to 11 o’clock.

Bow of Compulsion (Purple #18)

KenpoTech on September 3, 2010

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Bow of Compulsion is the 18th required technique to obtain your purple belt in Ed Parker’s American Kenpo. Bow of Compulsion is a defense against a front wrist lock against the chest, placing it in the Locks & Chokes category of the Web of Knowledge as well as the Locks Family Group in the Chokes & Locks category of the family groups Grappling division.

In Bow of Compulsion you learn the value of reverse motion. Reversing moves already learned for one situation provides a defense for another. Throughout this technique you will couple reverse motion with other principles in order to defend yourself.

The Technique

Attack

In the ideal phase your opponent is directly in front of you (12:00), you attempt to push your opponent away with your right hand and he grabs your right hand with both hands and pins it to his chest and proceeds to apply a front wrist lock in order to force you to your knees.

In this situation your palm is against your opponent’s chest and your fingers are pointing upwards. As your opponent bends forward your fingers are bent backwards inflicting pain in your right fingers, wrist and forearm. This forces your body to begin bending forward and drop to your knees rendering you incapable of defending yourself.

Defense

Bow of Compulsion – defense for a front wrist lock pin.

  • Step 1
    • Pin the opponent’s hands with your left hand checking diagonally across them,
    • Step toward 12:00 with your right foot to form a right neutral bow stance,
    • Deliver a right vertical thrusting elbow strike to your opponent’s groin or solar plexus.
  • Step 2
    • Maintain your left hand guarding diagonally,
    • Drop into a right wide kneel stance with your back straight,
    • Rake your opponent’s testicles with a right downward vertical heel palm claw.
  • Step 3
    • Deliver a right underhand reverse handsword strike to your opponent’s groin.
  • Step 4
    • Deliver a right outward downward diagonal back knuckle strike to the inside of your opponent’s left knee.
  • Step 5
    • Pivot counter clockwise into a right reverse close kneel stance,
    • Deliver a right inward downward diagonal hooking punch to the inside of your opponent’s right knee.
  • Step 6
    • Right front crossover and cover out toward 7:30.

Considerations

  • What if…
    • your opponent forces you to your knees?
    • your opponent grabs your wrist with one hand?
    • your opponent attempts to kick you with his right leg while pinning your hand?
    • your opponent attempts to kick you with his left leg while pinning your hand?
    • you have something in your left hand/arm?
    • you are unable to free your right hand?

Notes

  • Make sure that you pin your opponent’s hands with your left in order to prevent action taken against you.
  • Note that you are relieving the pressure of the lock while you simultaneously counter your opponent’s aggression.
  • Ensure that your claw goes as low as your opponent’s knees in order to set up your reverse handsword strike.
  • Steps four and five should be one continuous motion in a figure eight pattern.

Variations

  • Some schools modify the first step by pinning and executing the elbow strike as they step forward and drop into a close kneel stance as the elbow strikes its target.
  • Some schools have chosen to end the technique with the upward handsword strike; note that the base technique does not end here.

Additional Information

Name

The manner in which the wrist lock is applied to your wrist is quite aggressive and compels you to bow forward in compliance. This gives us the name Bow of Compulsion.

Basics & Maneuvers

  • Right Front Step Through
  • Right Neutral Bow Stance
  • Right Downward Vertical Thrusting Elbow Strike
  • Right Wide Kneel Stance
  • Right Downward Vertical Heel Palm Claw
  • Right Reverse Handsword Strike
  • Right Outward Downward Back Knuckle
  • Right Reverse Close Kneel Stance
  • Right Inward Downward Hooking Punch
  • Right Front Crossover
  • Cover out

Targets

  • Solar Plexus
  • Groin
  • Left Inner Knee
  • Right Inner Knee

Concepts & Principles

  • Angle of Contact
  • Angle of Disturbance
  • Backup Mass
  • Bracing Angle
  • Collapsing Strike
  • Continuity of Motion
  • Contouring
  • Depth Penetration
  • Figure Eight Pattern
  • Fitting
  • Marriage of Gravity
  • Nip the Tip
  • Obscure Zones
  • Open Ended Triangle
  • Pinning Check
  • Pressing Check
  • Reverse Motion


Related Techniques

Historical Notes

  • In the 1975 Accumulative Journal, Bow of Compulsion was Purple Belt Technique #13.
  • The 1975 Accumulative Journal lists the angle of departure as 7:00.

Historical Versions

1975 Accumulative Journal

BOW OF COMPULSION (front wrist lock – against chest)

  1. With opponent pinning your right hand against his chest and with your feet parallel to each other, step forward (to 12 o’clock) with your right foot (right neutral bow) and use a right vertical elbow strike down to opponent’s solar plexus or groin, depending on the height of the opponent, as your left hand checks diagonally across opponent’s hands.
  2. With your left hand still guarding diagonally, drop down into a right wide kneel (keeping your back erect) as you drop your right hand down, raking opponent’s testicles with a right heel palm claw and immediately following up with a right underhand reverse handsword to opponent’s groin
  3. Immediately deliver a right hanging back fist to opponent’s left inner knee followed with a right inner hooking knuckle punch to opponent’s right inner knee.
  4. Cross your right foot in front of your left leg while you’re still kneeling and get up as you cover out to 7 o’clock..

Captured Leaves (EPAK Purple #6)

KenpoTech on July 29, 2010

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Captured Leaves is the 6th required technique to obtain your purple belt in Ed Parker’s American Kenpo. Captured Leaves is a defense against a left hand finger lock from the right flank, placing it in the Locks & Chokes category of the Web of Knowledge as well as the Locks Family Group in the Chokes & Locks category of the family groups Grappling division.

In Captured Leaves you use a matching counter to create angles of disturbance and cancellation. As you relieve the pressure you use twirling checks to nullify your opponent’s leverage points and then borrow his force and action to strike your opponent canceling any possible counters.

Defense

Captured Leaves – defense for a right finger lock.

  • Step 1
    • Pin the opponent’s left hand against your right hand, with your left hand.
    • Step toward 1:30 with your right foot to form a right neutral bow stance.
    • Deliver a right upward elbow strike (to relieve pressure).
  • Step 2
    • Pivot counterclockwise to form a lhorse stance, facing between 8:00-9:00.
    • Your right hand grabs your opponent’s left hand.
    • Deliver a left rear elbow strike to your opponent’s left kidney.
  • Step 3
    • Pivot clockwise to form a right inverted neutral bow stance facing 1:30.
    • Left hand checks high.
    • Deliver a right rear elbow strike to your opponent’s left rib cage.
  • Step 4
    • Right front crossover and cover out toward 8:00-9:00.

Additional Information

Name

In American Kenpo the fingers are represented by the term leaves. In this technique your leaves (fingers) are captured (locked) by your opponent, thus giving the name Captured Leaves.

Attack

In the ideal phase your attacker is to your right flank (3:00) and grabs your right hand fingers with his left hand. He then proceeds to turn your hand palm up (outward hooking parry position) while bending your fingers backwards.

This lock is primarily used for pain compliance as it generates excruciating pain through the arm.  Fingers and wrist joints could be dislocated, tendons torn and more. As with most locks you want to ideally prevent them from occurring in the first place.

Basics & Maneuvers

  • Right Front Step Through
  • Left Neutral Bow Stance
  • Left Rear Elbow Strike
  • Right Neutral Bow Stance
  • Right Rear Elbow Strike
  • Right Front Crossover
  • Cover Out

Targets

  • Left Fingers
  • Left Elbow Joint
  • Left Kidney
  • Left Rib Cage

Concepts & Principles

  • Angle of Cancellation
  • Angle of Disturbance
  • Angle of Incidence
  • Axis of Rotation
  • Contouring
  • Counter Rotation
  • Fulcruming
  • Matching Counters
  • Open Ended Triangle
  • Opposing Forces
  • Pinning Check
  • Pivoting
  • Pivot Point
  • Path of Execution
  • Torque
  • Twirling Check


Considerations

  • What if …
    • your opponent grabs with his right hand?
    • your opponent grabs with both hands?
    • your opponent attacks from the front?
    • your opponent follows the grab with a right punch?

Related Techniques

Historical Notes

  • In the 1975 Accumulative Journal this was Purple Belt Technique #1
  • The 1975 Accumulative Journal has you step toward 11:00.
  • The 1975 Accumulative Journal does not indicate an angle of departure.

Historical Versions

1975 Accumulative Journal

CAPTURED LEAVES (flank finger lock)

  1. With your right fingers twisted by your opponent’s left hand, raise your right hand high (toward 11 o’clock) to relieve the pressure (have your left hand raise and check opponent’ s right hand in the process) as you move your right foot slightly to your left (toward 11 o’clock).
  2. While in place, pivot counter clockwise and deliver a left back elbow (from last checking position) to opponent’s left kidney while in a left reverse neutral bow.
  3. Immediately pivot clockwise into a horse and deliver a right back elbow to opponent’s left ribcage as your left hand guards to the right of your face.

1987 IKKA Studio Manual

CAPTURED LEAVES (Right Flank – Finger Lock)

  1. With the fingers of your right hand twisted by your opponent’s left hand, raise your right hand high (toward 1:30) to relieve the pressure (have your left hand positionally check your opponent’s right hand and arm in the process) as you move your right foot slightly to your right (toward 1:30).
  2. While in place, pivot counter clockwise into a horse stance (facing between 8 and 9 o’clock) and deliver a left back elbow strike (from the last checking position) to the back of your opponent’s left kidney. (Your opponent is on the tips of his toes and his body is turning clockwise to the right.)
  3. Immediately pivot clockwise into a right neutral bow stance and deliver a right back elbow strike to the front of your opponent’s left rib case as your left hand now grabs and controls your opponent’s left arm at the wrist (Your opponent should bend forward at the waist.)
  4. Right front crossover and cover out between 8 and 9 o’clock.

Notes

  • Captured Leaves can be used as a counter Broken Gift (G-12).
  • You will find that almost every teaching of this technique will have slightly different angles to step and pivot toward. The reason for this is your opponent’s location. Your opponent being on the right flank is a pretty wide area considering it doesn’t specify front or rear right flank. This means that any position between 12:00 and 6:00 is to be considered the right flank and naturally your angle of movement, delivery and execution will need to adjust accordingly. Within the history of the system itself you can see it change;
    • the 1975 Accumulative Journal has you step toward 11:00, in this case your opponent is approximately at the 1:30 position which is still your right flank, but approaching from the front.
    • the 1987 IKKA Studio Manual has you step toward 1:30 which as your opponent at the current ideal phase position of 3:00 approaching from the side or even the rear.

Variations

  • Some variations will break the grip on your hand instead of pinning it to gain control. This is done by placing your left handsword between your and your opponent’s arm and delivering a left outward upward diagonal handsword strike the same direction you raise your hand.

Twisted Twig (EPAK Orange #21)

KenpoTech on July 10, 2010

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Twisted Twig is the 21st technique required to obtain your Orange Belt in Ed Parker’s American Kenpo. It is a defense against a front wrist lock to you right wrist.  Twisted Twig is part of the Locks & Chokes category in the Web of Knowledge and is a part of the Locks family group in the Chokes and Locks category of the Grappling Division of  Family Groups.

In Twisted Twig, your arm is twisted into a wrist lock you will learn how to use the flow of action to turn this disadvantaged position into an advantageous position that opens new targets on your opponent while neutralizing his weapons.

Defense

Twisted Twig –  defense for a right bent wrist lock.

  • Step 1
    • Pin the opponent’s left hand with your left hand.
    • Step toward 11:00 with your right foot to form a right neutral bow stance, buckling the inside of your opponent’s right knee,
    • Deliver a right upward elbow strike to your opponent’s chest or face.
  • Step 2
    • Pivot counterclockwise to form a horse stance.
    • Deliver a right outward elbow strike to your opponent’s solar plexus.
  • Step 3
    • Pivot counterclockwise to form a right reverse bow stance.
    • Deliver a right back hammerfist strike to your opponent’s groin
  • Step 4
    • Right front crossover toward 7:30
    • Cover out toward 7:30.

Additional Information

Name

The term ‘twig’ in American Kenpo is a symbolic term that represents an arm. In this technique your arm (twig) is being twisted at the wrist by your opponent, thus the name Twisted Twig.

Attack

In the ideal phase your opponent is directly in front of you (12:00). The attacker grabs your right hand and applies a front outward wrist lock to your right wrist.

A wrist lock is a good indication that your opponent is skilled thus it is important to pay close attention to everything going on around you and get out of this hold as quickly as possible.  As wrist lock can be used to control, inflict pain or cause a wrist break.  A wrist lock specifically like the one you will see here could be used to throw you to the ground or even dislocate your shoulder.

Basics & Maneuvers

  • Right forward Step Through
  • Right Neutral Bow Stance
  • Right Upward Elbow Strike
  • Right Fighting Horse Stance
  • Right Outward Horizontal Elbow Strike
  • Right Reverse Bow Stance
  • Right Back Downward Hammerfist Strike
  • Right Front Crossover
  • Cover Out

Targets

  • Right Inner Knee
  • Face or Chest (Sternum)
  • Solar Plexus
  • Groin

Concepts & Principles

  • Anchoring
  • Angle of Alignment
  • Angle of Entry
  • Continuity of Motion
  • Counter Rotation
  • Hugging Check
  • Flow of Action
  • Fulcrum
  • Join Locks
  • Obscure Zones
  • Opposing Forces
  • Pivoting
  • Sandwiching
  • Solidify Your Base
  • Torque


Considerations

  • What if …
    • your opponent pulls you forward?
    • your opponent throws you to the ground?
    • you are grabbed across an object?
    • you are grabbed while sitting down?

Related Techniques

  • Obscure Wing
  • Circling Wing
  • Thrusting Wedge
  • Gift of Destiny

Historical Notes

  • In the 1975 Accumulative Journal this was Orange Belt technique #20

Historical Versions

1975 Accumulative Journal

TWISTED TWIG (front wrist lock)

  1. With feet together and both hands of opponent applying a wrest lock on your right wrist, step forward and to your left (to 11 o’clock) with your right foot into a right neutral bow as you deliver a right upward elbow strike to your opponent’s solar plexus and/or jaw. Your left hand is placed on top of opponent’s right wrist for purposes of checking.
  2. Pivot counter clockwise into a horse as you deliver a right outward elbow strike (palm up)to opponent’s solar plexus.
  3. Follow-up with a right downward hammerfist to opponents groin as you shift into a right reverse bow.  Have your left hand check at shoulder height.

Notes

Variations