Parting Wings (EPAK Purple #9)

KenpoTech on August 8, 2010

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Parting Wings is the 9th required technique to obtain your purple belt in Ed Parker’s American Kenpo. Parting Wings is a defense against a two hand push from the front, placing it in the Pushes category of the Web of Knowledge as well as the Pushes Family Group in the family groups Striking division.  This technique can be found in Long Form 3.

In this technique the environment and/or insufficient time dictate that you cannot move to the outside of your opponent’s arms.  With your choice of action limited you must learn to act quickly on the inside of both of his arms.  Your timing and Angle of Execution of your first move are of utmost importance.  If your hands travel from Point of Origin, you will have sufficient time to find the correct Line of Entry under and through your opponent’s hands.  The wedge formed by your hands and arms should part as far as your Outer Rim, thus insuring that your opponent’s hands will pass outside of your shoulders.  You have not stopped your opponent’s forward momentum, but you can Borrow that force if you quickly Round the Corner with your right hand.  Since you can anticipate impact upon contact, you should brace the angle of your strike with a solid forward bow.

Defense

Parting Wings – defense for a high two-hand push.

  • Step 1
    • Step back toward 6:00 with your right foot to form a left neutral bow stance,
    • Simultaneously deliver a left and right extended outward block to the inside of your opponent’s wrists.
  • Step 2
    • Pivot counterclockwise to form a left forward bow stance,
    • Deliver a right thrusting inward (palm up) handsword strike to your opponent’s left floating ribs,
    • Your left hand cocks near your right ear.
  • Step 3
    • Pivot clockwise to form a left neutral bow stance.
    • Deliver a left outward handsword strike.
    • Your right hand cocks at the center of your chest in a middle knuckle fist position.
  • Step 4
    • Pivot counterclockwise to form a left forward bow stance.
    • Slide your left hand down your opponent’s torso,
    • Deliver a right vertical thrusting middle knuckle fist strike to your opponent’s solar plexus.
  • Step 5
    • Left front crossover and cover out toward 4:30.

Additional Information

Name

The term wings in American Kenpo represent the elbow.  In this technique you use your wings (double extended outward blocks) for the purpose of parting your opponent’s arms away from your body.  Thus the name, Parting Wings.

Attack

In the ideal phase, your opponent is directly in front of you (12:00).  He steps forward with his left foot while delivering a two hand push toward your chest or shoulders.

As previously discussed a push should be intercepted before making contact if possible.  In the event a push like this made contact you could be knocked off balance, knocked to the ground, shoved into another object all of which can cause injury

Basics & Maneuvers

  • Right Reverse Step Through
  • Left Neutral Bow Stance
  • Right Extended Outward Handsword Block
  • Left Extended Outward Handsword Block
  • Left Forward Bow Stance
  • Right Thrusting Inward Handsword Strike
  • Left Outward Horizontal Handsword Strike
  • Thrusting Middle Knuckle Fist Strike

Targets

  • Inside of the wrists/forearms (Radial Nerve)
  • Left Floating Ribs
  • Left Side of The Neck (Brachial Plexus)
  • Solar Plexus/Xiphoid Process

Concepts & Principles

  • Angle of Cancellation
  • Angle of Contact
  • Angle of Deflection
  • Angle of Departure
  • Angle of Deviation
  • Angle of Entry
  • Angle of Execution
  • Angle of Incidence

Concepts & Principles (Con’t)

  • Backup Mass
  • Body Momentum
  • Body Rotation
  • Borrowed Force
  • Borrowed Reach
  • Bracing Angle
  • Checking
    • Cocking
    • Positional
    • Sliding
  • Continuity of Motion
  • Contouring
    • Guidelining
    • Pin-Point Effect
    • Tracking
  • Depth Penetration
  • Grafting
  • Opposing Forces
  • Outer Rim
  • Pivot
  • Point of Origin
  • Preparatory Cock
  • Rounding of Corners
  • Stabilize your Base
  • Torque


Considerations

  • What if …
    • your opponent’s right leg is forward
    • your opponent doesn’t commit full power into the push (body weight, momentum etc..)?
    • your opponent pushes low?
    • you are unable to step back?

Related Techniques

  • Scraping Hoof (O-11)
  • Shield and Sword (P-16)
  • Flashing Wings (B-3)
  • Twist of Fate  (B-16)

Historical Notes

  • In the 1975 Accumulative Journal, Parting Wings is purple belt technique #10.
  • The 1975 Accumulative Journal indicates 5:00 as the angle of departure.

Historical Versions

1975 Accumulative Journal

PARTING WINGS (front two-hand push)

  1. With feet together, drop back (to 6 o’clock) with your right foot into a left neutral bow as both of your hands chop out (like two extended outwards only using an open hand) to inside of opponent’s wrists (forcing opponent’s arms out). Make sure that both hands are parallel in height as well as in depth.
  2. Shift (in place) into a left forward bow as your right hand chops to opponent’s left ribcage (palm up) simultaneously cocking your left hand to the right of your face (palm toward you)
  3. Shift back (in place) into a left neutral bow as you deliver a left outward chop to opponent’s throat (palm down); cocking your right clenched fist to your right hip.
  4. Again shift (in place) into a left forward bow as you drop your left arm horizontally (with palm still facing down) and shoot a right middle knuckle fist (over your left arm) to opponent’s solar plexus.
  5. Drop back into a left neutral bow, left front crossover and cover out to 5 o’clock.

Notes

Variations

Scraping Hoof (EPAK Orange #11)

KenpoTech on June 26, 2010

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Scraping Hoof is the 11th technique required to obtain your Orange Belt in Ed Parker’s American Kenpo. Scraping Hoof is the defense for an attempted Full Nelson placing it in the Hugs & Holds category of the Web of Knowledge as well as the Full Nelson Family Group in the Holds category of the Family Groups Grappling division.

Scraping Hoof teaches you how to use your feet for an effective defense when you are unable to use your arms. While it may seem initially that all of your dimensional zones are controlled, you learn that a simple shift in weight can open up an entire dimensional zone for attack, as evidenced when you drop your weight onto one leg allowing for an effective strike with the cocking action of the other.  This also introduces you to making targets of the feet and shin, giving you your first targets in the lowest of the dimensional height zones.

Defense

Scraping Hoof –  defense for an attempted full nelson.

  • Step 1
    • Cheat your left foot slightly towards the right forming a narrow horse stance,
    • Straighten your knees, back and neck into an upright position,
    • Drive both of your arms downward toward the ground, in front of your groin area,
    • Deliver a rear head butt to your opponent’s face.
  • Step 2
    • Continue pinning your opponents arms,
    • Slightly bend your left knee forming a right rear bow stance.
    • Deliver a right rear scooping heel kick to the inside of your opponent’s left knee.
  • Step 3
    • Immediately deliver a right knife edge kick to the inside of your opponent’s right knee,
    • Scrape your foot downward on your opponent’s right inner shin,
    • Plant your right foot down as you deliver a right downward foot stomp on to your opponent’s right instep.
  • Step 4
    • Continue pinning your opponents arms,
    • Slightly bend your right knee forming a left rear bow stance.
    • Deliver a left rear scooping heel kick to the inside of your opponent’s right knee.
  • Step 5
    • Immediately deliver a left knife edge kick to the inside of your opponent’s left knee.
    • Scrape your foot downward on your opponent’s left inner shin,
    • Plant your left foot down as you deliver a left downward foot stomp to your opponent’s left instep (keep your left foot here).
  • Step 6
    • Continue pinning your opponent’s left arm,
    • Step toward 11:00 with your right foot
    • Pivot counter clockwise into a left neutral bow stances facing 6:00
  • Step 7
    • Release your pin
    • Left crossover and cover out toward 12:00

Additional Information

Name

The name Scraping Hoof comes from the scraping action your foot, represented by the term hoof, makes against your opponent’s legs.

Attack

In the ideal phase your opponent is directly behind you (6:00) and is attempting to complete a full nelson hold on you.

Scraping Hoof is for a defense against an ‘attempted’ full nelson. This is important to remember, because across all of the various sources some will say full nelson while others will say attempted full nelson.  This technique could work for a full nelson, but it requires that you a few small tweaks which you will learn in another technique (think equation formula).

A full nelson isn’t a lock that you want to stay in. At minimum, it will cause pain and expose you for another attacker.  On a more serious level it can cause loss of consciousness, severe spinal injuries and even death.  The longer you are in a hold like this the higher the risk of a severe injury. You should react to get out of this hold immediately.

Basics & Maneuvers Used

  • Rear Head Butt Strike
  • Right Rear Bow Stance
  • Right Rear Side Scooping Heel Kick
  • Right Thrusting Knife Edge Kick
  • Right Downward Stomp Kick
  • Left Rear Bow Stance
  • Left Rear Side Scooping Heel Kick
  • Left Thrusting Knife Edge Kick
  • Left Downward Stomp Kick

Targets

  • Face
  • Fingers
  • Left Inner Knee
  • Right Inner Knee
  • Right Shin
  • Right Instep
  • Left Shin
  • Left Instep
  • Left Elbow

Concepts & Principles Taught

  • Angle of Alignment
  • Angle of Departure
  • Angle of Disturbance
  • Cheat
  • Checking
  • Contouring
  • Detaining Check
  • Distraction
  • Hugging Pin
  • Marriage of Gravity
  • Opposing Forces
  • Path of Action
  • Pinning
  • Pinning Check
  • Rebounding Strike
  • Reverse Marriage of Gravity
  • Scraping
  • Torque


Considerations

  • What if …
    • your opponent complete’s the full nelson?
    • your opponent’s grip is not broken?
    • your opponent has bent you over, forcing your head down?
    • your opponent lifts you off your feet?
    • your opponent has you in a half nelson (one arm full nelson)?
    • you are forced against the wall?
    • you are being attacked from the front while in the full nelson?

Related Techniques

  • Captured Twigs
  • Parting Wings
  • Bow of Compulsion
  • Repeated Devastation
  • Twirling Sacrifice
  • Entwined Lance

Historical Notes

  • In the 1975 Accumulative Journal, Scraping Hook was Orange Belt Technique #9
  • The 1975 Accumulative Journal ends with the left heel stomp and does not indicate an angle of departure.

Historical Versions

1975 Accumulative Journal

SCRAPING HOOF (full Nelson)

  1. While in a full Nelson, thrust both of your fists toward the ground as you straighten your knees, back, and neck.
  2. Immediately bend your left knee (marriage of gravity) as you deliver a right back side scooping heel kick to opponent’s left inside knee. Then with the knife-edge of your right foot, kick to opponent’s right shin and scrape the shin on the way down and stomp opponent’s right instep with the heel of your right foot.
  3. Repeat the same process on the left side remembering to utilize the principle of gravitational marriage while executing both of your stomps.

Unfinished Ed Parker Orange Belt Manual

SCRAPING HOOF (Full Nelson)

  1. While in a Full Nelson, thrust both of your fists toward the ground (to help free you from your opponent’s grasp, and to pin his arms to your body). Simultaneously with this action cheat your left foot toward your right foot, as you straighten your knees, back, and neck into a full upright position. (Here, the intent is to have your opponent focus his attention on your arms and the pressure applied to your neck.)
  2. Immediately have your left knee bend (REVERSE MARRIAGE OF GRAVITY) as you deliver a right back side scooping heel kick to your opponent’s left inner knee. Then, execute a right knife-edge kick to your opponent’s right shin and follow through with a scraping stomp to his right shin, and instep. (This sequence of action should buckle your opponent’s legs as well as move his legs outward.)
  3. Repeat movement number two to the left side.
  4. Step with your right foot to 11:00 and left front crossover, covering out toward 10:30.

Notes

Variations

  • Foot maneuvers are done right side only
    • Many schools teach the foot maneuvers on the right side only.  Doing so is incorrect and is not the official version of this technique.   The reason for this is often because instructors mix up the Orange Belt version of this technique with the 1st Brown Belt version.  In the 1st Brown version, the foot maneuvers are done on the right side only as you are going to immediately follow through with the extension.
  • The torquing of your opponent’s elbow at the end is skipped
    • Sometimes this is just outright skipped and other times it is skipped along with the left side maneuvers.
    • The impact of this is that despite the pain your attacker should be in at this point, you are failing to control all of your opponent’s dimensional zones before departing.
      • As you pivot counterclockwise torquing your opponent’s elbow he will pivot in a clockwise direction. This counter rotation of your opponent, along with your left foot still on your opponent’s foot will control all zones of protection (height, width, depth) and neutralize both his arms and his legs.