Thrusting Prongs (EPAK Orange #20)

KenpoTech on July 10, 2010

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Thrusting Prongs is the 20th technique required to obtain your Orange Belt in Ed Parker’s American Kenpo. It is a defense against front bear hug with arms pinned. Thrusting Prongs is part of the Hugs & Holds category in the Web of Knowledge and belongs in the Bear Hugs family group which is part of the Hugs & Holds category in the Grappling Division of Attacks.

In Thrusting Prongs, you will learn to use a new hand strike against a front target of your opponent from an obscure zone. From here, you maintain control of your opponent’s width and depth while you throw another obscure strike to open him up and then complete the technique.

Defense

Thrusting Prongs – defense for a front bear hug, arms pinned.

  • Step 1
    • Step back slightly toward 6:00 with your right foot to form a modified left forward bow stance,
    • Deliver right and left thrusting prong strikes into your opponent’s groin/bladder area.
  • Step 2
    • Check your opponent’s right arm with a left crane hook,
    • Execute a right thrusting knee kick to your opponent’s groin,
    • Deliver a right rear elbow block.
  • Step 3
    • Without planting your foot, deliver a right knife edge kick to the inside of your opponent’s left knee.
  • Step 4
    • Scraping your right foot down your opponent’s left shin,
    • Deliver a right downward stomp to your opponent’s left instep.
    • Deliver a right inward elbow strike to your opponent’s face.
  • Step 5
    • Execute a right front crossover
    • Cover out toward 7:30.

Additional Information

Name

Prongs is a symbolic reference to the protrusion of your thumbs from your fists during the initial move. You actually thrust your prongs (thumbs) into your opponents bladder area, an obscure zone, thus providing the name Thrusting Prongs.

Attack

In the ideal phase your opponent is directly in front of you (12:00) and stepping forward with his right foot puts you in a bear hug with your arms pinned to your sides. Your attackers arms will be wrapped around your upper arms, approximately at biceps level.

A front bear hug is usually attempted only by someone who confident that he is physically larger and stronger than you. While completed bear hugs can be defended against, the ability to do so is often hindered by the attacker’s planned follow up. Upon completing a bear hug, your attacker may pick you up off the ground, throw you to the ground, run you into an object, head butt you, crush your ribs and more. Therefore, as with any attack it is in your best interest to react and neutralize your opponent before the bear hug is completed.

Basics & Maneuvers

  • Right Reverse Step Through
  • Left Forward Bow Stance
  • Twin Thumb Thrusts (front underhand thrusting thumb strikes)
  • Right Upward Thrusting Knee Kick
  • Right Rear Elbow Strike
  • Right Thrusting Knife Edge Kick
  • Right Downward Stomp Kick
  • Right Inward Horizontal Elbow Strike
  • Right Front Crossover
  • Cover Out

Targets

  • Groin or Bladder
  • Right Arm
  • Groin, Bladder or pubic bone
  • Left Inside of the Knee
  • Left Inside of the Shin
  • Left Instep
  • Left side of the face or ribs

Concepts & Principles

  • Anchoring
  • Back Up Mass
  • Contouring
  • Hugging Pin
  • Marriage of Gravity
  • Obscure Zones
  • Point of Origin
  • Preparatory Cock
  • Torque


Considerations

  • What if …
    • you are unable to step back?
    • your opponent lifts you off of the ground?
    • your opponent attempts to throw you to the ground?
    • your arms are pinned in front of you?
    • your opponent steps forward with his left foot?

Related Techniques

Historical Notes

  • In the 1975 Accumulative Journal this was Orange Belt Technique #19
  • The 1975 Accumulative Journal and the 1987 IKKA Studio Manuals incorrectly state that you deliver your elbow strike to the right side of your opponent’s face or rib cage. It should read left side.
  • The 1975 Accumulative Journal does not indicate an Angle of Departure

Historical Versions

1975 Accumulative Journal

THRUSTING PRONGS (font bear hug — arms pinned)

  1. Step back with your right foot (to 6 o’clock) into a left modified for ward bow, having only your right foot move back and not the upper body. Simultaneously thrust both of your thumbs (keeping thumbs together) up and to opponent’s groin.
  2. Strike opponent’s groin with your right knee as your left hand circles over and on top of opponent’s right arm (forming the shape of the crane) and pins (with the assistance of your anchored left elbow) your opponent’s right arm to you, while cocking your right hand to your right hip.
  3. With knee in groin immediately deliver a right knife-edge kick (to 2 o’clock) to the inside of opponent’s left shin.
  4. Scrape opponent’s shin with your right foot and convert the scrape into a right stomp to opponent’s right instep while simultaneously delivering a right inward horizontal elbow strike to right side of opponent’s face or ribs (depending on the size of your opponent).

Notes

Variations

Striking Serpent’s Head (EPAK Orange #16)

KenpoTech on July 3, 2010

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Striking Serpent’s Head is the 16th technique required to obtain your Orange Belt in Ed Parker’s American Kenpo. It is the defense for  a front bear hug with arms free placing it in the Hugs & Holds category in the Web of Knowledge and in the Bear Hugs family group in the Hugs and Holds category in the family groups grappling division.

In Striking Serpent’s Head we initiate our defense with a less on reverse motion with a reverse hammerfist, reverse body momentum and reverse back up mass. In addition to all the reverses, despite being in front of our opponent, almost all of our defense comes from your opponent’s rear. These movements are in an obscure zone teaching you that you can strike in areas your opponent cannot see while being right in front of their face.  The ending of these technique focuses on anchoring, control, and contouring.

Defense

Striking Serpent’s Head – defense for a front bear hug, arms free.

  • Step 1
    • Step back toward 6:00 with your right foot to form a left neutral bow stance facing 12:00,
    • Deliver a left inward reverse hammerfist strike to the base of your opponent’s skull,
    • Right hand cocks in a palm up half fist position near your chest.
  • Step 2
    • Grab the opponent’s hair with your left hand and pull his head back and down,
    • Pivot counter clockwise into a left forward bow stance buckling your opponent’s right knee,
    • Deliver a right snapping half fist strike (palm down) to your opponent’s throat.
    • Pivot clockwise into a left neutral bow stance, facing 12:00
  • Step 3
    • Left front crossover and cover out toward 4:30.

Additional Information

Name

The final move of the base technique, the half-fist strike to the throat, resembles the head of a serpent making a strike thus the name Striking Serpent’s Head.  It is believed that this type of strike (half-fist) was traditionally called a serpent’s head strike along with being called a leopard’s fist/claw/paw.

Attack

The ideal phase places your opponent directly in front of you (12:00) who applies a bear hug around your torso with your arms free.

When you are grabbed in a bear hug and your arms are still free, you are left with significant advantages and a wide array of options thus in a technique like this you have plenty of leverage still.  As discussed earlier in yellow belt a bear hug is commonly used in the streets to give the attacker an advantage.  This advantage enables the attacker to pick you up and throw you, hold you down for others to attack you, squeeze you causing pain, discomfort and injury or simply to intimidate you.

Expanding on this, the person most likely to attempt putting you into a bear hug is someone who believes they are stronger than you and most likely they are physically larger than you as well.  It is important to practice often to develop a quick response to attacks in order to minimize the chances of your attacker ever completing the hold.

Basics & Maneuvers

  • Right Reverse Step Through
  • Left Neutral Bow Stance
  • Left Inward Inverted Hammerfist Strike
  • Left Hair Grab
  • Left Forward Bow Stance
  • Right Snapping Half Fist Strike
  • Left Front Crossover
  • Cover out

Targets

  • Base of the Skull (Mastoid Bone)
  • Hair
  • Throat (Trachea)

Concepts & Principles

  • Anchoring
  • Angle of Disturbance
  • Contouring
  • Fulcruming
  • Leveraging
  • Point of Origin
  • Preparatory Cock
  • Stabilize your Base


Considerations

  • What if …
    • your opponent is driving you back?
    • your opponent continues to push forward after you strike him with the reverse hammerfist?
    • your opponent is pulling you forward?
    • your opponent lifts you off of the ground?
    • you miss the reverse hammerfist?
    • your opponent tries to hit you with his right hand after the reverse hammerfist?
    • your opponent tries to hit you with his left hand after your reverse hammerfist?
    • your opponent is taller than you?
    • your opponent is shorter than you?
    • your opponent applies unbearable pressure?
    • you cannot step backwards?

Related Techniques

Historical Notes

  • In the 1975 Accumulative Journal this was Orange Belt Technique #14

Historical Versions

1975 Accumulative Journal

STRIKING SERPENTS HEAD (front bear hug — arms free)

  1. Drop back with your right foot (to 6 o’clock) into a left neutral bow. Simultaneously hook your left hand around and back of opponent’s head so that your left knuckle or left inner wrist bone strikes to opponent’s left temple or mastoid while your right hand cocks into a half fist at chest level.
  2. Immediately have your left hand grab and pull opponent’s hair back (above the forehead)as you shift into a left forward bow (toward 12 o’clock) and execute a thrusting half fist to opponent’s throat, immediately returning to your left neutral bow after the half fist strike.

Notes

Variations

Crossing Talon (EPAK Orange #13)

KenpoTech on June 28, 2010

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Crossing Talon is the 13th technique required to obtain your Orange Belt in Ed Parker’s American Kenpo. Crossing Talon is the defense for a right cross wrist grab placing it in the Grabs & Tackles category of the Web of Knowledge and the Wrist Grabs family group in the Grabs category of the Grappling division.

Crossing the Talon is defense against a right hand cross wrist grab (to your right wrist).  This technique uses a wide variety of checks most of which are parts of an offensive move. For example the action of placing your opponent in the arb bar serves as a cross check, pulling check, pushing check and detaining check all at once.  In Crossing Talon you will use use the force of your entire body when striking and you will learn  how to use a series of checks or strikes in one continuous flow

Defense

Crossing Talon – defense for a right hand cross grab.

  • Step 1
    • Raising your forearm as if you were doing a right vertical outward block, counter grab your opponent’s right wrist in a clockwise direction with your right hand,
    • Step toward 1:30 with your left foot to form a left neutral bow stance in front of your opponent’s right leg,
    • Deliver a left thrusting forearm strike behind your opponent’s right elbow.
  • Step 2
    • Settle deeper into your left neutral bow stance
    • Pull your opponent’s right wrist across your body, in toward and past your right hip,
    • Keeping your left elbow anchored push forward and down against your opponent’s right elbow with your left forearm
  • Step 3
    • Align your left elbow by bringing your left hand toward your chest and sliding your forearm on top of your opponents right elbow,
    • Deliver a left outward elbow strike to your opponent’s right temple or jaw.
  • Step 4
    • Continue your outward motion
    • Deliver a left heel palm strike to your opponent’s face,
    • Execute a five-finger rip to your opponent’s face.
  • Step 5
    • Deliver a left inward overhead downward elbow strike to your opponent’s spine.
    • Drop your weight into a left wide kneel stance.
  • Step 6
    • Execute left downward heel palm strike to the base of your opponent’s skull.
    • Deliver a right upward knee kick to your opponent’s face, planting back toward 4:30
  • Step 7
    • Left front crossover and cover out toward 6:00.

Additional Information

Name

In American Kenpo the term ‘Talon” is synonymous with a wrist grab.  In Crossing Talon, your opponent is crossing his body, to grab your opposite wrist, thus executing a Crossing Wrist Grab.  Hence the name Crossing Talon.

Attack

The ideal phase of attack puts your opponent directly in front of you. He reaches diagonally across his body and grabs the inside portion of your right wrist — his palm against your inner wrist – the backs of both of your hands facing outward.

As with any other type of grab the most common uses are to intimidate, control, manipulate or set up for a followup attack.  Grabs are often the result of an argument but can and do come as a surprise attack.  Wrist grabs, in particular, are a very common type of grab in that they serve to control one of your natural weapons, often adding a notion of confidence to the aggressor.

Basics & Maneuvers Used

  • Right Counter Grap
  • Left Front Step Through
  • Left Hammering Inward Block
  • Left Neutral Bow Stance
  • Left Outward Horizontal Elbow
  • Left Outward Heel Palm Strike
  • Left Five Finger Claw
  • Left Five Finger Ripping Claw
  • Left Inward Overhead Elbow
  • Left Wide Kneel Stance
  • Left Downward Heel Palm Strike
  • Left One Legged Stance
  • Right Upward Knee Kick
  • Left Front Crossover
  • Cover out

Targets

  • Right Wrist
  • Right Elbow
  • Right Temple
  • Face
  • Spine
  • Right Mastoid Bone

Concepts & Principles Taught

  • Anchoring
  • Angle of Alignment
  • Angle of Disturbance
  • Axis of Rotation
  • Backup Mass
  • Contouring
  • Counter Grabbing
  • Cross Checking
  • Detaining Check
  • Fulcrum
  • Leverage
  • Marriage of Gravity
  • Pin-Point Effect
  • Point of Origin
  • Positional Block
  • Residual Torque
  • Reverse Marriage of Gravity
  • Rounding the Corners
  • Sandwiching
  • Solidify your Base
  • Sliding Check
  • Striking Check
  • Zones of Protection


Considerations

  • What if …
    • Your opponent grabs you from the top (palm down)?
    • Your opponent grabs you from underneath (palm up)?
    • your opponent pulls you forward (or into a punch)?
    • your opponent grabs your wrist with two hands?
    • you do not have the strength to life your right arm in the first move?
    • Your opponent grabs your shirt (or right lapel)?
    • Your opponent grabs your belt (or lower shirt)?

Related Techniques

Historical Notes

  • In the 1975 Accumulative Journal, Crossing Talon was Orange Belt Technique Requirement #11
  • The 1975 Accumulative Journal has you step toward 1:00 on the initial step.
  • The 1987 Studio Manuals indicate 4:30 as the Angle of Departure

Historical Versions

1975 Accumulative Journal

CROSSING TALON (front right cross wrist grab)

  1. With opponent’s right hand grabbing your right wrist, counter grab his wrist as your left foot steps forward and to your right to 1 o’clock) into a left neutral bow simultaneously striking opponent’s right elbow with your left forearm in a forward thrusting motion while your right hand pulls in toward and past your right hip.
  2. Continue to push and pull opponent’s arm to your right forcing opponent’s head down with the possibility of your opponent’s head striking your left knee.
  3. Immediately deliver a left side elbow strike (palm up or down depending on circumstance) to opponents right jaw hinge followed by a left heel palm strike and five-finger rip to opponents face.
  4. Circle your left arm clockwise and strike down with your left elbow striking to upper spine of opponent.
  5. Follow-up with a left downward heel palm strike to back of opponent’s left mastoid. As your left hand continues to push down simultaneously deliver a right knee kick to opponent’s face, causing a sandwiching effect.
  6. Replant your right foot to original position.

Unfinished Orange Belt Manual by Ed Parker

CROSSING TALON (Front right cross wrist grab)

  1. With your opponent’s right hand grabbing your right wrist, (1) countergrab his right wrist with your right hand as (2) your left foot steps toward 1:30 (traveling in front of your opponent) into a left neutral bow, as (3) you strike your opponent’s right elbow with a left inward vertical forearm, while (4) your right hand pulls in, toward, and past your right hip. (The effect of this action is to sprain or break your opponent’s right elbow, and force him to bend over, which automatically checks his Height Zones.)
  2. Continue to pull your opponent’s arm to your right while using your left forearm to force your opponent’s head down and possibly striking your left knee.
  3. Immediately deliver a left outward elbow strike (palm up or down depending on circumstance) to your opponent’s right jaw hinge or temple. (This action may cause your opponent to pass out and drop toward the ground.)
  4. Immediately follow-up with a left heel palm strike and five-finger rip to your opponent’s face while using your opponent’s shoulder and back as a fulcrum to leverage, contour, check, and enhance your action. Continue your left arm clockwise circle and execute a left inward overhead downward elbow strike to your opponent’s upper spine. (This action should cause your opponent’s body to bow toward the ground.)
  5. Follow up with a left downward heel palm strike to the back of your opponent’s left mastoid. As your left hand continues to push your opponent’s head down, simultaneously deliver a right knee strike to your opponent’s face, thus causing a sandwiching effect. (Your opponent should fall to the ground.)
  6. Replant your right foot to its POINT OF ORIGIN. Left front crossover, covering out toward 4:30.

Notes

Variations

There are several variations to this technique in the Tracy Kenpo Systems, under the same name

Grip of Death (EPAK Orange #12)

KenpoTech on June 26, 2010

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Grip of Death is the 12th technique required to obtain your Orange Belt in Ed Parker’s American Kenpo. Grip of Death is the defense for a right arm headlock from the left side placing it in the Chokes & Locks category of the Web of Knowledge as well as the Locks family group in the Family Groups Grappling Division.

Grip of Death varies from The Grasp of Death in that we now  use several concepts learned after The Grasp of Death in an explosive yet simultaneous manner to defend against the headlock while learning to use contouring and tracking to find targets that you cannot see otherwise.

Defense

Grip of Death – defense for a left flank head lock.

  • Step 1
    • Grip your attacker’s arm with both hands and pull downward as you turn your head toward 9:00 (away from your opponent’s elbow) and your chin into your chest
  • Step 2
    • Step toward 10:30 with your right foot to form a right close kneel stance so that your left knee buckles your opponent’s right knee,
    • Deliver a right inward hammerfist strike to your opponent’s groin
    • Deliver a left inward hammerfist strike to your opponent’s left kidney.
  • Step 2
    • Grab the opponent’s hair or nerve point with your left hand and pull the opponent’s head back and down.
  • Step 3
    • Pivot into a left forward bow stance toward 6:00.
    • Deliver a right thrusting heel palm strike to your opponent’s chin.
    • Execute a sliding check on your opponent’s right arm
  • Step 4
    • left front crossover & cover out toward 10:30.

Additional Information

Name

Just like Grasp of Death, the name Grip of Death is derived from the severe nature of the attack as the attacker’s grip can cause death if it is properly applied.

Attack

In the ideal phase your opponent is to your left side (9:00) facing the 12:00 position.  He wraps his right arm around the back of the neck pulling you down into a side headlock.

As previously discussed a headlock is a type of attack used by someone who is typically confident that they are stronger than you.  The grasp can break your neck, cut off blood flow to the brain, or close off the throat keeping you from breathing.  This type of attack can end in unconsciousness, injury, brain damage and even death.  This type of hold could simply be so your attacker could punch you in the face or head with their left hand or hold you so that someone else could attack your face or body.

Basics & Maneuvers Used

  • Right Front Step Through
  • Right Close Kneel Stance
  • Right Inward Horizontal Hammerfist Strike
  • Left Inward Horizontal  Hammerfist Strike
  • Left Forward Bow Stance
  • Right Thrusting Heel Palm Strike
  • Left Front Crossover
  • Coverout

Targets

  • Back of the Right Knee
  • Left Kidney
  • Groin
  • Philtrum/Hair/Eye Sockets
  • Underneath the Chin

Concepts & Principles Taught

  • Anchoring
  • Angle of Disturbance
  • Angle of Cancellation
  • Bracing Angle
  • Buckle
  • Contouring
  • Fulcruming
  • Gravitational Check
  • Leverage
  • Opposing Forces
  • Pivoting
  • Rotational Force
  • Sandwiching
  • Sliding Check
  • Torque


Considerations

  • What if …
    • your opponent is moving you around preventing you from stabilizing your base?
    • your opponent forces you to the ground?
    • your hammerfists strikes have no effect?
    • your opponent is running you into another object?

Related Techniques

Historical Notes

  • In the 1975 Accumulative Journal, Grip of Death was Orange Belt Technique #10
  • The 1975 Accumulative Journal indicates stepping toward 10:00 on the initial move.

Historical Versions

1975 Accumulative Journal

GRIP OF DEATH (flank headlock)

  1. With opponent applying lock from your left side, Step forward and to your left (to 10 o’clock) with your right foot into a right close kneel) while turning your head to the left and tucking your chin against your chest. Simultaneously deliver a right hammerfist to Opponent’s groin and a left hammerfist to opponent’s left kidney.
  2. As you pivot into a left forward bow facing 6 o’clock, have the fingers of your left hand press under opponents nose or, depending upon the circumstances have your left hand grab opponents hair to force opponent’s head back.
  3. Immediately follow-up with a right heel palm thrust to opponent’s chin as you pivot into a left forward bow. however, make sure that the head of your opponent in either of the above cases is arched and forced back and down to minimize your opponent’s leverage thus preventing him from execution a right knee kick to your groin area.

Infinite Insights Into Kenpo, Vol 5

GRIP OF DEATH (Left flank right arm headlock)

  1. With your opponent applying a headlock from your left side, step forward and to your left (to 10:00) with your right foot into a right close kneel stance, while turning your head to the left, and tucking your chin against your chest.  Simultaneously deliver a right hammerfist to your opponent’s groin, and a left hammerfist to your opponent’s left kidney.
  2. Circle your left arm over your opponent’s right shoulder, and have the fingers of your left hand press under your opponent’s nose (or depending upon the circumstances, have your left hand grab your opponent’s hair) to fulcrum your opponent’s head back, using his shoulder as a fulcrum point.
  3. Immediately pivot into a left forward bow toward 6:00 to take advantage of rotational force.  In the process, thrust a right heel palm strike to your opponent’s chin.  Simultaneously execute a left sliding check down your opponent’s right arm, ending at the elbow.  (Make sure that the head of the opponent, in either of the above cases, is arched and forced back and down to minimize your opponent’s leverage.)
  4. Pivot back into a left neutral bow and proceed with the routine left front crossover and double cover out between 10:00 and 11:00.

Unfinished Ed Parker Orange Belt Manual

GRIP OF DEATH (Left flank right arm headlock)

  1. With your opponent applying a headlock from your left side, step forward and to your left (toward 10:30) with your right foot into a right close kneel stance, while turning your head to the left, and tucking your chin against your chest. Simultaneously deliver a right hammerfist to your opponent’s groin and a left hammerfist to your opponent’s left kidney. (This action should buckle your opponent.)
  2. Circle your left arm over your opponent’s right shoulder, and have the fingers of your left hand press under your opponent’s nose (or depending upon the circumstances, have your left hand grab your opponent’s hair) FULCRUMING with your forearm and elbow against your opponent’s back and shoulder to increase the LEVERAGE down and back against his head and neck. (This should cause sharp pain to his philtrum, and also cancel his Height Zones.)
  3. Immediately (1) pivot into a left forward bow toward 6 o’clock, and (2) while taking advantage of your ROTATIONAL FORCE deliver a right heel palm strike to your opponent’s chin, as you simultaneously (3) execute a left SLIDING CHECK down your opponent’s right arm, ending at the elbow.  (Make sure that the head of your opponent, in either of the above methods of FULCRUMING, is arched and forced back and down to minimize your opponent’s leverage. The force of your strike should cause your opponent to fall to the ground.)
  4. Pivot back to a left neutral bow. Left front crossover, covering out toward 10:30.

Notes

  • The technique calls for you to deliver a two-finger handsword strike under the attacker’s nose (philtrum) or to grab his hair. As a personal preference, I prefer not to go after the nose despite the amount of pain it can inflict on your opponent, forcing their cooperation because your fingers could accidentally get close enough to his mouth and could be bitten.  The hair is a good substitute for this, if it isn’t too short nor non-existent.   What I prefer to do instead is using a claw hand and reach over their head/face to grab the bone at the top of the eye socket and pull their head down and back via the eye sockets.  If you accidentally poke their eyes in the process, they shouldn’t have put you in a headlock to begin with.
  • Also just to ensure I don’t get accidentally kicked in the groin during the heel palm strike you want to be sure that when you pivot into the left forward bow stance that your right leg (thigh) is checking their right leg leg. You can also toss a right knee strike into their thigh as an extra precaution.

Variations