Defying the Storm (Blue #7)

KenpoTech on December 10, 2010

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Defying The Storm is the 7th required technique to obtain your blue belt in Ed Parker’s American Kenpo.  Defying The Storm is a defense against a right roundhouse club attack from the front, placing it in the weapons category of the Web of Knowledge as well as the Sticks Family Group in the Weapons category of the Striking division.

In Defying the Storm you move inside the effective striking range of your opponent’s club. While similar to the theme of Calming the Storm, emphasis is placed on immediate destruction of the attacking arm. A push-pull effect (opposing forces) is then used to check to your opponent’s height and width zones in order to prevent retaliation.

The Technique

Attack

In the ideal phase your opponent is directly in front of you (12:00) in a left fighting stance. Your opponent proceeds to step forward with his right foot while delivering a right inward roundhouse club strike toward your heard.  It is assumed that it isn’t viable to evade or retreat from the attack

Defense

Defying the Storm – defense for a right inward roundhouse club strike.

  • Step 1
    • Step toward 11:00 with your right foot to form a right neutral bow stance facing 11:00
    • As you plant your right foot, try to buckle the inside of your opponent’s right knee.
    • Deliver a left extended outward handsword strike to your opponent’s right wrist
    • Deliver a right inward handsword strike to your opponent’s right biceps.
  • Step 2
    • Grab your opponent’s right wrist with your left hand.
    • Grab the back of your opponent’s right elbow with your right.
    • Step back with your right foot towards 4:30 to form a left forward bow stance facing 10:30.
    • Push your opponent’s right wrist away while pulling and rolling your opponent’s right elbow down and toward you to snap your opponent’s right elbow.
  • Step 3
    • Deliver a right upward knee strike to your opponent’s sternum.
  • Step 4
    • Plant your right foot forward into a right neutral bow stance.
    • Deliver a right inward overhead elbow strike to your opponent’s upper spine.
    • Maintain control of your opponent’s right wrist.
  • Step 5
    • Execute a right front crossover and double cover out toward 7:30

Considerations

  • What if…
    • your opponent does not step through?
    • your opponent aims for your torso or legs?
    • your opponent swings at you double handed (like a baseball bat)?
    • your opponent uses a knife, chain or staff instead of a club?
    • your opponent misses (or you evade) and follows up with a right outward swing?
    • your opponent swings with an inward downward diagonal path?
    • your opponent strikes with a left outward horizontal roundhouse club attack

Notes

  • Striking the Biceps and Radial nerve will cause your opponent’s arm to become numb and the club could go flying somewhere between 3:00 and 6:00. Be sure that you are inside your opponent’s right arm to avoid being hit by the club. It is also important to assume that your opponent will not lose the club and always be aware of the club’s position.
  • To achieve the proper effect on your opponent’s right arm, be sure to twist your opponent’s right wrist counter clockwise (or away from you) as you roll the elbow down and towards you.
  • During the push-pull effect, be sure to anchor your right elbow and utilize a rolling action on your opponent’s elbow.
  • Synchronize your right upward knee strike with the bending over of your opponent. This will take advantage of borrowed force maximizing the effect.

Variations

  • Some schools specifically define that you use a crane’s hook to grab your opponent’s right elbow while others find it more practical to use an open hand and get your fingers all the way around to maximize the rolling effect.  The key is to not separate your thumb from the rest of the hand, opening it up to be broken by a sudden movement of your opponent.
  • It was almost always taught, although rarely seen documented, that while executing your right front crossover you should deliver a right sweep kick to your opponent’s right foot (if in range) and grab your opponent’s club with your right hand (if he still has it).

Additional Information

Name

In American Kenpo the term storm is used to represent a club attack. In this technique you are defying the club attack (storm) by stepping directly into it and meeting it head on.  This act of defiance gives us the name Defying the Storm.

Basics & Maneuvers

  • Right Front Step Through
  • Right Neutral Bow Stance
  • Left Extended Outward Handsword Strike
  • Right Inward Handsword Strike
  • Right Reverse Step Through
  • Left Forward Bow Stance
  • Right Upward Knee Strike
  • Right Overhead Downward Elbow Strike
  • Right Front Cross Over
  • Cover Out

Targets

  • Inside Right Knee
  • Right Biceps
  • Right Elbow
  • Right Wrist
  • Solar Plexus
  • Sternum
  • Upper Spine

Concepts & Principles

  • Anchoring
  • Angle of Cancellation
  • Angle of Deviation
  • Backup Mass
  • Body Momentum
  • Borrowed Force
  • Bracing Angle
  • Contact Manipulation
  • Counter Manipulation
  • Double Check
  • Hooking
  • Marriage of Gravity
  • Opposing Forces
  • Parallel Forces
  • Push-Pull Effect
  • Reverse Backup Mass
  • Reverse Motion
  • Rolling Effect
  • Zone of Sanctuary


Related Techniques

Historical Notes

  • In the 1975 Accumulative Journal, Defying The Storm was blue belt technique #5
  • The 1975 Accumulative Journal indicates stepping back toward 5:00 with your right foot.
  • The 1975 Accumulative Journal indicates a 6:00 Angle of Departure.
  • Some copies of the 1987 IKKA Studio Manuals have a mistake telling you to grab your opponent’s left wrist with your left hand.

Historical Versions

1975 Accumulative Journal

DEFYING THE STORM (front right roundhouse club)

  1. With feet together, step forward and to your left with your right foot to 11 o’clock (into a right neutral bow) as your opponent steps through with his right foot delivering a right roundhouse club attack.
  2. As your right foot steps through to 11 o’clock, have your right knee buckle on the inside of your opponent’s right knee while simultaneously striking his right wrist with your left extended outward chop and his right bicep with your right inward chop.
  3. Immediately step back with your right foot to 5 o’clock (into a left forward bow) as your left hand grabs (at opponent’s left wrist) and pushes out and away, simultaneously while your right hand grabs back of your opponent’s right elbow and pulls down and toward you to snap the joint. This is done while anchoring your right elbow past your right hip.
  4. Follow-up with a right knee kick to opponent’s sternum and as you plant your right foot forward (to 11 o’clock) into a right neutral bow, bury a right inward overhead downward elbow strike to opponent’s upper spine with your left hand still grabbing opponent’s right wrist, keeping it over to the left side.
  5. Cover out to 6 o’clock.
Five Swords (O-9)

Obstructing The Storm (Purple #19)

KenpoTech on September 4, 2010

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Obstructing The Storm is the 19th required technique to obtain your purple belt in Ed Parker’s American Kenpo.  Obstructing The Storm is a defense against an overhand downward club attack, placing it in the Weapons category of the Web of Knowledge as well as the Stick Family Group in the Weapons category of the family groups Striking division.

Your natural response when attacked with a weapon is to move off the line of attack. You are limited in available options so you move toward your opponent and slightly off his line of attack gaining a zone of sanctuary within your opponent’s obscure zone.  Moving off the line of attack is only one aspect of this technique as you can only do so minimally. You back this up by obstructing the attack, grabbing his wrist, controlling his zones of protection and controlling his retaliatory efforts all in a single continuous action.

The Technique

Attack

In the ideal phase your attacker is directly in front of you (12:00), in a left fighting stance. He steps forward with his right foot as he delivers a right overhead club attack. It is assumed that you are unable to evade the attack by moving to the left, right or rear.

There are many scenarios that can lead to your inability to move in any direction but forward.  It is vital to always be aware of your surroundings and develop good speed, timing and precision.

Defense

Obstructing the Storm – defense for a front overhead club strike.

  • Step 1
    • Step toward 10:30 with your left foot to form a horse stance facing 1:30,
    • Deliver a right over left upward cross block to your opponent’s right wrist.
  • Step 2
    • Catch the opponent’s right wrist with your right hand.
    • Deliver a left Inward thrusting forearm strike to your opponent’s right elbow,
    • Slide your left foot toward 1:30, in front of your opponent’s right leg, to form a left neutral bow stance.
    • Pull your opponent’s right wrist in, down and past your right hip,
    • Roll your right arm horizontally forcing your opponent’s right arm down,
  • Step 3
    • Deliver a right thrusting knee kick to your opponent’s head or chest
    • Yank the club out of your opponent’s hand with your right hand,
    • Your left arm maintains a low check on your opponent’s right arm or shoulder.
  • Step 4
    • Plant your right foot back to point of origin.
    • Deliver a right upward lifting back knuckle or club strike to your opponent’s face.
  • Step 5
    • Left front crossover and cover out toward 7:30.

Considerations

  • What if…
    • your opponent steps forward with his left leg?
    • your opponent does not step forward?
    • your opponent changes his angle of attack?
    • your opponent attacks from the left side?
    • the club is knocked loose on the cross block?
    • there is a wall to your back?
    • you are in a bear hug from behind, arms free?

Notes

  • Make sure that your head, shoulders and legs are clear of the line of attack.
  • Explore why your right hand goes over your left hand.
  • Keep your fingers closed when you block the club.
  • Your training partner should follow through with the club strike and not stop short. Instead he should simply go slower and with less power which you can increase as your skill improves.

Variations

  • Some schools still teach the technique to end with the knee strike.
  • Many schools teach the technique up to the disarm and do not include the follow up strike. A variation on how to disarm, with checking the opponent’s arm as you move away is as follows:
    • Step 3
      • Deliver a right thrusting knee kick to your opponent’s head or chest, planting your foot back to point of origin.
    • Step 4
      • Continue holding your opponent’s right wrist with your right hand,
      • disarm the attacker with your left hand (palm out/thumb down, slide fingers between you and the club, grab hold of the club twist counter clockwise toward the opponent’s face),
    • Step 5
      • Deliver a left horizontal push down block with the stick, against your opponent’s right elbow,
      • Left front crossover and cover out toward 7:30.
  • In addition the technique is, more often than not, taught with a follow up strike to the attacker’s face before the front crossover and cover out. If you have your opponent’s stick this is done with the stick, otherwise this is done with your fist or forearm. A variation that has you plant forward with the final strike is as follows:
    • Step 3
      • Deliver a right thrusting knee kick to your opponent’s head or chest
      • Yank the club out of your opponent’s hand with your right hand,
      • Your left arm maintains a low check on your opponent’s right arm or shoulder.
    • Step 4
      • Plant your right foot forward towards 2:00 into a right forward bow stance
      • Deliver a right upward lifting back knuckle or club strike to your opponent’s face.
    • Step 5
      • Execute a right rear step through, planting your foot back into its point of origin before the kick, into a left neutral bow stance
      • Left front crossover and cover out toward 7:30.

Additional Information

Name

In Ed Parker’s American Kenpo the term storm is used to symbolize a club attack. In this technique you will not simply avoid the club attack (storm) but you will be obstructing it’s path of action as well; giving us the name Obstructing The Storm

Basics & Maneuvers

  • Left Front Step Through
  • Left Horse Stance
  • Right over Left Upward Cross-Hand Block
  • Left Inward Thrusting Vertical Forearm Strike
  • Left Neutral Bow Stance
  • Arm Bar Takedown
  • Right Thrusting Knee Strike
  • Left Front Crossover
  • Cover Out

Targets

  • Right Wrist
  • Right Elbow Joint
  • Right Outer Forearm
  • Face/Chest

Concepts & Principles

  • Angle of Cancellation
  • Angle of Contact
  • Angle of Deflection
  • Angle of Deviation
  • Angle of Disturbance

Concepts & Principles (Con’t)

  • Borrowed Force
  • Bracing Angle
  • Cat Around (Cating)
  • Catching
  • Continuity of Motion
  • Cross Blocking
  • Depth Penetration
  • Environmental Restrictions
  • Fulcruming
  • Hugging Check
  • Leverage
  • Line of Attack
  • Open Ended Triangle
  • Point of Origin
  • Path of Action
  • Plane of Action
  • Rolling Check
  • Rounding of Corners
  • Stabilize Your Base
  • Zones of Obscurity
  • Zones of Protection
  • Zones of Sanctuary


Related Techniques

Historical Notes

  • In the 1975 Accumulative Journal, Obstructing The Storm was Purple Belt Technique #14.
  • The 1975 Accumulative Journal indicates;
    • stepping toward 11:00 and facing 1:00 on the initial move.
    • stepping toward 2:00 to apply the arm bar.
    • 7:00 as the angle of departure.

Historical Versions

1975 Accumulative Journal

OBSTRUCTING THE STORM (front right overhead club)

  1. With feet together, have your left foot step slightly forward and to your left on a 45° angle (first moving toward 11 o’clock but ending facing 1 o’clock in a horse) as you cross your right wrist over your left to block opponent’s attacking hand at his right wrist at a level above your head and off of your right shoulder. (Opponent steps through with his right foot when attacking.)
  2. With your right hand, grab opponent’s right wrist as your left foot steps forward to 2 o’clock (cating around the leg if necessary) into a left neutral bow. Simultaneously strike opponent’s right elbow with your left forearm by first thrusting vertically and then horizontally forcing opponent’s right arm down while your right hand pulls in toward and past your right hip.
  3. Continue to push down and pull opponent’s arm to your right; forcing opponent’s head down.
  4. Immediately deliver a snapping right knee kick to opponent’s head or chest. This is done without raising the body.
  5. Replant your right foot to original position into a left neutral bow; left front crossover and cover out to 7 o’clock.

Infinite Insights Into Kenpo, Volume 5

OBSTRUCTING THE STORM (Front right step through overhead club)

  1. With your feet together, have your left foot step slightly forward and to your left on a 45° angle (first moving toward 11’0clock, but ending facing 1 o’clock in a horse stance) as you cross your right wrist over your left wrist (upward cross block) to block your opponent’s attacking hand at his right wrist, and at a level above your head and off of your right shoulder.
  2. Grab your opponent’s right wrist with your right hand as your left foot steps forward to 1 o’clock (“cat in and in front of ” your opponent’s left leg) into a left neutral bow.  Simultaneously strike your opponent’s right elbow with your left forearm positioned vertically. Without hesitation, roll your left forearm horizontally, and force your opponent’s right arm down as your right hand pulls in, down and past your right hip. This action could for your opponent’s head down, with the possibility of having his head strike your left knee.
  3. Immediately deliver a right snapping knee strike to your opponent’s head or chest while simultaneously pulling the club from out of your opponent’s right hand. This is done without raising your body.

NOTE: To become familiar with PHASE III, the FORMULATION PHASE, you may employ one of two variations:

  1. Plant your right foot forward while executing a whipping underhand club strike to your opponent’s face.

Or:

  1. Pivot (in place) into a left forward bow while simultaneously executing an underhand thrust with the end of the club to the right side of your opponent’s face.
  2. You may replant your right foot to your point of origin (into your let neutral bow facing 1 o’clock) after completing step number 4, or pivot (in place) into a left neutral bow after completing step number 5. In either case left front crossover and proceed with the routine cover out to 7 o’clock.

Calming The Storm (Purple #13)

KenpoTech on August 14, 2010

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Calming The Storm is the 13th required technique to obtain your purple belt in Ed Parker’s American Kenpo. Calming the Storm is a defense against a right roundhouse club attack from the front, placing it in the Weapons category of the Web of Knowledge as well as the Sticks Family Group in the Weapons category of the family groups Striking division.

Calming the Storm teaches you how to simultaneously block and counterstrike as you move to the inside of your opponent’s effective striking range (the eye of the storm) while staying within the confines of your Outer Rim to borrow the force of his attack.  You will be controlling the center line of your opponent through out this technique and applying all the basic moves found in Alternating maces.  This technique also introduces you to Shorthand Motions.

Defense

Calming the Storm – defense for a right inward horizontal roundhouse club strike.

  • Step 1
    • Step toward 12:00 with your right foot to form a right neutral bow stance,
    • Execute a left extended outward block to the inside of your opponent’s right wrist,
    • Deliver a right vertical thrust punch to your opponent’s jaw or face.
  • Step 2
    • Pivot clockwise to form a right forward bow stance facing 12:00,
    • Deliver a left vertical thrust punch to your opponent’s solar plexus
    • Slide your right hand down your opponent’s right arm as a check.
  • Step 3
    • Pivot counterclockwise to form a right neutral bow stance facing 12:00.
    • Deliver a right outward back knuckle strike to your opponent’s right lower ribs,
    • Your left hand converts to a left upward hooking parry on top of your opponent’s right arm (waiter’s check).
  • Step 4
    • Right front crossover,
    • Cover out toward 7:30.

Additional Information

Name

The term “storm” is used in Kenpo to represent an attack with a club. At a storm‘s peak there are two locations to find refuge; far away from it or the eye of the storm where it is calm.  The roundhouse motions like a storm has the least amount of energy in its center.  In this technique you will neutralize the attack by moving inside the attack, to the eye of the storm, where it is calm thus the name Calming the Storm.

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 horizontal roundhouse club attack toward your upper torso.

A club attack can cause severe injuries and even death. Timing and Accuracy are extremely important to be sure that you neutralize your opponent’s weapons.

Basics & Maneuvers

  • Right Front Step Through
  • Right Neutral Bow Stance
  • Left Extended Outward Block
  • Right Vertical Punch
  • Right Forward Bow Stance
  • Left Vertical Thrust Punch
  • Left Upward Hooking Parry
  • Right Outward Horizontal Back Knuckle Strike
  • Right Front Crossover
  • Cover out

Targets

  • Right Inner Wrist (Radial Nerve)
  • Face
  • Right Inner Knee
  • Solar Plexus
  • Right Outer Wrist
  • Right Lower Ribs

Concepts & Principles

  • Angle of Cancellation
  • Angle of Deviation
  • Angle of Disturbance
  • Angle of Incidence
  • Backup Mass
  • Body Alignment
  • Body Momentum
  • Buckling
  • Centerline
  • Counter Rotation
  • Pinning Check
  • Pivoting
  • Pressing Check
  • Sliding Check
  • Shortening the Circle
  • Shorthand Motions
  • Timing
  • Torque
  • With


Considerations

  • What if …
    • your opponent strikes low?
    • your opponent is striking with a long club?
    • your opponent is striking with a two handed club?
    • your opponent swings to short never reaching you?
    • your opponent swings with his left leg forward?
    • your opponent swings diagonally downward toward you?
    • you are unable to get in deep enough to block your opponent’s arm?

Related Techniques

Historical Notes

  • In the 1975 Accumulative Journal, Calming the Storm was purple belt technique #8.
  • The 1975 Accumulative Journal has you step toward 11:00 to be sure that your opponent’s knee is buckled.

Historical Version

1975 Accumulative Journal

CALMING THE STORM (front right roundhouse club)

  1. With feet together, step slightly forward and to your left with your right foot (to 11 o’clock) as your opponent steps through with his right foot, delivering a right roundhouse club attack.
  2. As you step in, execute a left extended outward strike to inside of opponent’s right wrist. Simultaneously deliver a right vertical fist to opponent’s jaw or face.
  3. Immediately pivot into a right forward bow (facing 12 o’clock). Check opponent’s right arm with a right inward parry as your left vertical fist shoots over your right arm striking to opponent’s solar plexus or ribcage.
  4. Drop back (in place) into a right neutral bow as you deliver a right horizontal back knuckle strike to opponent’s right floating ribs while having  your left hand execute a left extended outward handsword or left hooking  check (palm up) can also act as a parry aside from being a check.

Notes

  • Be sure to positionally check your opponent’s right knee on the initial move with a right knee buckle.
  • Use your right arm during the sliding check to turn your opponent’s body clockwise to open up the solar plexus for the vertical thrust punch.

Variations

Evading the Storm (EPAK Purple #7)

KenpoTech on July 31, 2010

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Evading the Storm is the 7th required technique to obtain your Purple belt in Ed Parker’s American Kenpo. Evading the Storm is a defense against a right step-through overhead club attack from the front, placing it in the Weapons category of the Web of Knowledge as well as the Stick Family Group in the Weapons category of the family groups Striking division.

The theme of this technique is similar to that of Checking the Storm in that your initial response is to move off the line of attack, however unlike Checking the Storm it is assumed in the ideal phase that you are unable to step to the right making this an effective backup technique for Checking the Storm.

Defense

Evading the Storm – defense for a front overhead club strike.

  • Step 1
    • Step toward 9:00 with your left foot to form a left forward bow stance toward 9:00 (right reverse bow stance toward your opponent),
    • Deliver a right extended outward block to the outside of your opponent’s right arm,
    • Left hand covers low.
  • Step 2
    • Your right hand grabs your opponent’s right wrist.
    • Deliver a right inward horizontal roundhouse kick to your opponent’s groin.
  • Step 3
    • Plant your right foot toward 1:30 into a right neutral bow stance,
    • Pull your opponent’s right arm down past your hip
    • Pivot clockwise to form a right forward bow stance facing 1:30.
    • Deliver a left thrusting horizontal punch to your opponent’s right kidney.
  • Step 4
    • Deliver a left thrusting knee kick to the outside of your opponent’s right thigh.
  • Step 5* (official variation below)
    • Plant your left foot forward toward 3:00 into a left front twist stance,
    • Deliver a right roundhouse knee strike to the inside of your opponent’s right thigh.
  • Step 6
    • Right front crossover and cover out toward 9:00.

Additional Information

Name

The term “Storm” in American Kenpo is a symbolic reference to a club attack. In this technique you are evading the initial action of the storm by stepping out of the path of the storm (club). Thus the name Evading the Storm.

Attack

In the ideal phase your opponent is directly in front of you (12:00) in a left neutral bow stance. Your opponent steps forward with his right foot and strikes downward toward your head or shoulder with a right overhead club attack.

A club attack, or any type of weapon attack for that matter, is one of the most dangerous of the single person attacks.  A weapon, in particular a stick, puts a long range weapon into the hands of your opponent that is life threatening. The longer range allows your opponent to attack you while staying comfortably out of your reach.  In order to effectively counter attack you must be within range.  It is vital that you stay alert, stay focused and understand that basic concepts and principles that will ensure your safety.

What If Factors

  • your opponent steps forward with his left foot?
  • your opponent does not step through?
  • your opponent varies his angle of attack and strikes with a right backhand club attack?
  • your opponent attacks from the right side?
  • you are unable to step to the left
  • you are being held from behind in a bear hug with your arms free?
  • you are being held from behind in a bear hug with your arms pinned?

Basics & Maneuvers

  • Left Side Step Through
  • Left Forward Bow Stance
  • Right Extended Outward Block
  • Right Front Roundhouse Kick
  • Right Neutral Bow Stance
  • Left Horizontal Thrust Punch
  • Left Forward Knee Strike
  • Right Roundhouse Knee Strike

Targets

  • Outside Right Arm
  • Right Wrist
  • Groin
  • Right Kidney
  • Right Outer Thigh
  • Right Inner Thigh or Right Ankle

Concepts & Principles

  • Anchoring
  • Angle of Cancellation
  • Angle of Deflection
  • Angle of Deviation
  • Contouring
  • Directional Harmony
  • Back up Mass
  • Body Alignment
  • Body Momentum
  • Gauging
  • Line of Attack
  • Marriage of Gravity
  • Path of Action
  • Pivoting
  • Point of Origin
  • Stabilize Your Base
  • Torque


Related Techniques

  • Attacking Mace (Y-9)
  • Obstructing the Storm (P-19)
  • Menacing Twirl (G-8)
  • Capturing the Storm (G-14)

Historical Notes

  • In the 1975 Accumulative Journal, Evading the Storm was Purple Belt Technique #2.
  • The 1975 Accumulative Journal indicated planting toward 1:00 after the right front roundhouse kick to the groin.

Historical Versions

1975 Accumulative Journal

EVADING THE STORM (front right overhead club)

  1. Standing naturally with feet together, have your left foot move directly to your left (to 9 o’clock) into a left forward bow stance.
  2. As your right extended outward blocks and grabs outside of opponent’s right wrist, immediately deliver a right roundhouse kick to opponent’s groin. (Left hand checking at chest.)
  3. Plant your right foot (toward 1 o’clock) into a right neutral bow as your right hand pulls opponent’s right wrist down and past your right hip and your left hand punches to opponent’s right ribs. This is done as you pivot into a right forward bow.
  4. Deliver a left knee kick to outside of opponent’s right thigh.
  5. Plant your left foot forward (gauging your distance in the process) and deliver a right roundhouse knee kick to opponent’s inner right thigh.
  6. Another alternative after the left knee kick to the outside of your opponent’s right thigh, should your opponent buckle greatly, is to spring and pivot counter clockwise and drop (utilizing marriage of gravity) into a left close kneel thus breaking opponent’s right knee or ankle.

Notes

Variations

Official variation

  • Step 5 – If your opponent’s right leg buckles to the ground….
    • Plant your foot back toward 10:30 dropping into a left close kneel stance,
    • Deliver a right downward knee crush to the back of your opponent’s ankle or calf muscle
  • Step 6
    • Right front crossover and cover out toward 9:00.

Other Variations

  • The right roundhouse knee is sometimes taught as a right upward knee to your opponent’s abdomen, solar plexus of face, depending on the opponent’s position. In this variation it is essentially a chicken knee kick.

Checking the Storm (EPAK Yellow #7)

KenpoTech on April 12, 2010

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Checking the Storm is the 7th technique required to obtain your Yellow Belt in Ed Parker’s American Kenpo.  Checking the Storm is a defense for right step through overhead club attack placing it in the Weapons category of the Web of Knowledge and the Sticks Family Group of the weapons category in the Family Groups Striking Division.

As this technique involves a dangerous overhead club atttack you will learn the importance of evasive footwork and setting positional blocks to deviate the course of your opponent’s weapon. You will also be introduced to disarming an opponent.

Defense

  • Step 1:
    • Step toward 3:00 with your right foot to form a horse stance,
    • Deliver a right inward parry.
    • Slide your left foot toward 3:00 to form a left 45° cat stance,
    • Deliver a left extended outward block.
  • Step 2:
    • Deliver a left front snapping ball kick to the groin.
  • Step 3:
    • Plant your left foot down towards 10:00 into a left front twist stance.
    • Deliver a right snapping knife edge kick to the inside of your opponent’s right knee.
  • Step 4:
    • Plat your right foot down towards 10:00 into a right neutral bow,
    • Deliver a right outward whipping back knuckle strike to your opponent’s temple.
  • Step 5:
    • Cover toward 6:00.

Additional Information

Name

In American Kenpo the term ‘storm’ is used to symbolize a club attack. Anything that has the word storm will involve a club attack.  Checking is a Kenpo principle that is used to restrain, hinder or prevent an opponent from taking action.  In Checking the Storm you will employ the checking principle to hinder your opponent’s overhead club strike.

Attack

In the ideal phase the attack is from the front and your attacker is in a left neutral bow. They step through with their right foot as they execute a right overhead club attack towards your head

Basics & Maneuvers Used

  • Right Side Step Through
  • 45 Cat Stance
  • Right Inward Parry
  • Left Extended Outward Handsword Block
  • Left Front Snapping Ball Kick
  • Left Front Twist Stance
  • Right Snapping Knife Edge Kick
  • Right Neutral Bow
  • Right Outward Horizontal Whipping Back Knuckle Strike

Targets

  • Right inner wrist
  • Groin or Bladder
  • Right Temple

Concepts & Principles Taught

  • Angle of Attack
  • Angle of Efficiency
  • Angle of Alignment
  • Evasion
  • Line of Attack
  • Orbital Change
  • Point of no Return
  • Zones of Protection


Considerations

  • What if …
    • Your opponent snaps his club back?
    • Your opponent strikes diagonally down towards your right?
    • Your opponent strikes diagonally down towards your left?
    • Your opponent does not step through very far?
    • Your opponent does not step through at all?
    • Your opponent attacks overhead with his left hand instead?
    • Your opponent changes the orbit of the overhead strike into an inward strike?
    • Your opponent changes the orbit of the overhead strike into an outward strike?

Related Techniques

  • Sword of Destruction
  • Calming the Storm
  • Obstructing the Storm
  • Circling the Horizon
  • Escape from the Storm

Historical Notes

  • The 1975 Accumulative Journal uses a left-right chicken kick with the left foot striking the groin and the right foot striking the solar plexus.
  • The 1975 Accumulative Journal ends after the kicks with you planting your right kick back to 4:30 in a guard position, there is no back knuckle strike to the temple.
  • Neither the 1975 Accumulative Journal nor the 1987 IKKA Studio Manuals indicate an angle of departure.

Historical Versions

1975 Accumulative Journal Version

CHECKING THE STORM  (front right step-thru overhead club)

  1. Standing naturally with feet together, as opponent swings his club in an overhead fashion, at the last second step off quickly to the right with your right foot toward 3:00 and drag your left foot on toward your right into a left 45° cat stance facing towards 10:30, at the same time simultaneously execute a left upward extended outward block, utilizing your right hand in the double factor fashion, to stop as an open hand check in front of the solar-plexus.
  2. Immediately execute a left right chicken kick, with your left foot striking his groin, and your right foot striking his solar-plexus.
  3. From your right kick have your right foot plant down and back (toward 4:30) into a left neutral bow stance with your hand in the fighting position. (fists closed)
  4. No cover out is required.

Unfinished Yellow Belt Manual by Ed Parker

CHECKING THE STORM  (Front – right step-through overhead club)

  1. Standing naturally, as your opponent swings his club in an overhead fashion, quickly step off to your right with your right foot toward 3 o’clock. Simultaneously drag your left foot toward your right foot as you form a left 45 degree cat stance facing 10:30. Without a break in the flow of your action, execute a right inward parry followed by a left extended outward handsword block (striking block) to the inner wrist of your opponent’s right arm. During the natural flow of your motion have your right hand proceed to act as a check in front of your solar-plexus.
  2. Immediately execute a left front snap ball kick to your opponent’s groin. (This should cause your opponent to bend forward at the waist.)
  3. Be sure to properly gauge the distance between you and your opponent as you plant your left foot toward 10:00, and deliver a right step-through snapping knife-edge kick to the inside of your opponent’s right knee. (Your action should cause your opponent’s right knee to bend out and away from you, but cause his head to move closer to you.)
  4. Plant your right foot toward 10:00 into a right neutral bow, and, while employing MARRIAGE OF GRAVITY, execute a right outward back knuckle strike to your opponent’s left temple. Have your left hand remain checking at your solar plexus. (This action should drive your opponent’s head away from you and possibly cause his body to drop to the ground.)

Notes

Variations