Twin Kimono (Purple #20)

KenpoTech on September 4, 2010

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Twin Kimono is the 20th technique required to earn your purple belt in Ed Parker’s American Kenpo. Twin Kimono is a defense against a two hand lapel grab that is pushing out, placing it in the Grabs and Tackles category of the Web of Knowledge as well as the Shoulder/Lapel Family Group in the Grabs category of the family groups Grappling division.

Twin Kimono is obviously similar to Lone Kimono however due to the need for more strength in order to clear two arms as opposed to one, you will insert an interim strike between the upward strike and the clearing motion. This will help elongate your circle which will allow for greater speed, momentum and force.

The Technique

Attack

In the ideal phase your opponent is directly in front of you (12:00). He grabs your shirt with both hands and extends both arms forward, pushing you away.

The attack in Twin Kimono is a bit more difficult to defend against but it is also more safe for you as the defender. In Lone Kimono your opponent’s free hand was available for an additional strike. In Twin Kimono both of your opponent’s hands are occupied making it less likely to be used as another form of attack.  On the opposite side of the coin it is more difficult to sprain or break your opponent’s arms.  The pushing away motion of this grab can be used to unbalance you or to drive you into another object. It is important that you quickly solidify your base and negate the attack before your fall or are pushed into something that can cause further harm.

Defense

Twin Kimono – defense for a double lapel grab.

  • Step 1
    • Pin your opponent’s arms at the wrists with your left hand and arm,
    • Step back toward 6:00 with your left foot to form a right neutral bow stance facing 12:00,
    • Deliver a right upward horizontal forearm strike to your opponent’s elbows.
  • Step 2
    • Shift your left foot counter clockwise toward 4:30 to form a right neutral bow stance facing 10:30.
    • Deliver a right outward horizontal back knuckle strike to your opponent’s solar plexus.
  • Step 3
    • Deliver a right inward downward diagonal forearm strike to your opponent’s left arm.
    • Your left hand covers high.
  • Step 4
    • Deliver a right snapping outward handsword strike to your opponent’s throat,
    • Your left hand should continue checking.
  • Step 5
    • Right front crossover and cover out toward 4:30.

Considerations

  • What if…
    • your opponent’s elbows remain bent?
    • your opponent pulls you toward him?
    • your opponent’s right leg is forward?
    • your opponent’s left left is forward?
    • your opponent follows the grab with a knee strike?
    • you cannot step backward?

Notes

  • While your left hand is reaching to pin your opponent’s arms, you can insert a slice or hook to the eyes.
  • While you are striking your opponent’s left arm with your right inward downward diagonal forearm strike, your fist could strike your opponent’s temple at the same time.
  • Emphasis should be placed on breaking your opponent’s left elbow and spraining his right elbow.
  • Make sure that your opponent’s arms are driven down and diagonally to your left with your right inward downward diagonal forearm strike.
  • Ensure your strikes to your opponent’s body are not wasted motion. Employ the proper angle of incidence.

Additional Information

Name

A Kimono is a traditional Japanese Robe or Tunic while the word Twin represents double  or two of something.  In this technique your opponent grabs your shirt (kimono) at the lapel area with both (twin) hands. This two-hand (Twin) grab to the shirt (Kimono) gives us the name Twin Kimono.

Basics & Maneuvers

  • Left Reverse Step Through
  • Right Neutral Bow Stance
  • Right Upward Forearm Strike
  • Right Outward Horizontal Back Knuckle Strike
  • Right Inward Downward Diagonal Forearm Strike
  • Outward Upward Diagonal Handsword Strike
  • Right Front Crossover
  • Cover Out

Targets

  • Wrists
  • Elbows
  • Solar Plexus
  • Throat

Concepts & Principles

  • Anchoring
  • Angle of Alignment
  • Angle of Cancellation
  • Angle of Disturbance
  • Borrowed Force

Concepts & Principles (Con’t)

  • Breaking
  • Complimentary Angle
  • Continuity of Motion
  • Contouring
  • Counter Manipulation
  • Elongating the Circle
  • Frictional Pull
  • Hugging Pin
  • Locking
  • Lowercase Movement
  • Neutral Zones
  • Path of Action
  • Pinning Check
  • Pivot Points
  • Pivoting
  • Rebounding Strike
  • Rounding the Corners
  • Squeegee Principle
  • Stabilize Your Base
  • Uppercase Movement
  • Upside of the Circle
  • Zones of Obscurity


Related Techniques

Historical Notes

  • In the 1975 Accumulative Journal you slid your left foot toward 4:00 as you delivers your right outward back knuckle strike.
  • The 1975 Accumulative Journal indicated an angle of departure at 4:00

Historical Versions

1975 Accumulative Journal

TWIN KIMONO (front two-hand lapel grab — push out)

  1. With feet together, drop back (to 6 o’clock) with your left foot (into a right neutral bow as your left arm pins your opponent’s arms while simultaneously delivering a right upward forearm strike against opponent’s elbow joints.
  2. Immediately shift your left foot counter clockwise to 4 o’clock as you cock and deliver a right back knuckle strike to opponent’s solar plexus.
  3. Follow-up with a right inward strike to both arms of opponent, striking  them diagonally and down to the left.
  4. Deliver a right outward chop to opponent’s throat.
  5. Right front crossover and cover out to 4 o’clock.

Lone Kimono (EPAK Orange #7)

KenpoTech on June 19, 2010

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Lone Kimono is the 7th technique required to obtain your orange belt in Ed Parker’s American Kenpo. Lone Kimono is for a left hand lapel grab to your right lapel, placing it in the Grabs & Tackles category of the Web of Knowledge as well as the Shoulder & Lapel Family Group in the Grabs category of the Family Groups Grappling division.

Lone Kimono will teach you how to defend against a very common grab and you will find that its overall theme is very similar to Clutching Feathers (Orange 1), showing that multiple attacks may be defended against with similar principles or variations of them.  You will make use of counter manipulation, fulcruming, pinning and the angle of cancellation to maximize the effect of this technique.

Defense

Lone Kimono – defense for a left hand grab to your right lapel.

  • Step 1
    • Pin the opponent’s left hand to your chest with your left hand,
    • Step back with your left foot toward 6:00 to form a right neutral bow stance,
    • Deliver a right upward forearm strike (upward block) under your opponent’s left arm at the elbow.
  • Step 2
    • Circle your arm counterclockwise and deliver an inward downward diagonal forearm strike to your opponent’s left arm.
    • Left hand checks high.
  • Step 4
    • Deliver a right upward outward diagonal snapping handsword strike to your opponent’s throat.
  • Step 5
    • Crossover and cover out toward 7:30.

Additional Information

Name

The name Lone Kimono stems directly from the attack itself.  Lone is referencing the single hand grab to the lapel which is represented by the term Kimono, which is a traditional Japanese garment.

Attack

The ideal phase will put the attacker directly in front of you. Your opponent will step forward with his left foot as he grabs your shirt/jacket with his left hand and straightens his arm.

This type of attack is very common in an argument often used as a means to control, intimidate or move you. It is quite common that this attack is followed by a push, pull or punch so it is important to respond quickly to mitigate any extra danger.

Basics & Maneuvers Used

  • Left Reverse Step Through
  • Right Neutral Bow Stance
  • Right Upward Block
  • Right Inward Downward Diagonal Forearm Strike
  • Right Outward Upward Diagonal Handsword Strike

Targets

  • Left Elbow
  • Left Wrist
  • Throat (Trachea)

Concepts & Principles Taught

  • Anchoring
  • Angle of Cancellation
  • Checking
  • Clearing
  • Counter Manipulation
  • Dimensional Zone Concept
  • Frictional Pull
  • Fulcruming
  • Gravitational Marriage
  • Leverage
  • Pinning Check
  • Pivot Point
  • Reverse Body Momentum
  • Rounding the Corners
  • Squeegee Principle
  • Torque
  • Upside of the Circle


Considerations

  • What if …
    • your opponent pulls you toward him?
    • your opponent throws a right punch before you pin his hand?
    • your opponent throws a right punch after you pin his hand?
    • your opponent grabs you with his right arm?
    • you cannot step back?

Related Techniques

Historical Notes

  • In the 1975 Accumulative Journal, Lone Kimono was Orange Belt Technique #6
  • The 1975 Accumulative Journal does not indicate an Angle of Departure.

Historical Variations

1975 Accumulative Journal

LONE KIMONO (front left hand lapel grab)

  1. Standing naturally, step back (to 6 o’clock) with your left foot when your opponent grabs your lapel with his left hand. Simultaneously pin his left hand to your chest with your left hand and deliver a right upward strike against his left elbow just above the Joint thus causing the elbow to break as you pivot into a right neutral bow.
  2. Then circle your right arm over and down (counter clockwise) with an inward-downward strike against opponent’s left forearm. Make sure that your opponent’s left arm is driven down and diagonally to your left.
  3. After cocking your right hand slightly toward you with your right palm up, deliver a right outward chop to the right side of opponent’s neck; stance throughout is still  a right neutral bow. Cock your left hand at your solar plexus, ready to check when needed.

Infinite Insights Into Kenpo, Vol 5, page 110 – First printing, June 1987

LONE KIMONO (Front left hand lapel grab)

  1. Standing naturally, step back toward 6 o’clock with your left foot into a right neutral bow (facing 12:00). Simultaneously pin your opponent’s left hand to your chest with your left hand as you deliver a right upward forearm strike against your opponent’s left elbow (slightly above the joint) to cause an elbow break or sprain.
  2. Then circle your right arm over and down (counter clockwise) with a diagonal inward-downward strike against your opponent’s left forearm. Finish with your right palm up “with” your left hand checking high.  Make sure that your opponent’s left arm is driven down and diagonally to your left.
  3. Your opponent is now coming down and toward 7:00. Round the corner as you strike with a right snapping outward handsword to the right side of your opponent’s neck.  Keep your left hand checking the neutral zone.
  4. Right front crossover, covering out between 7:00 and 8:00.

Note:  Although beginning students are not required to do more than step 3, intermediate students are required to continue the sequence by executing step 4.  Examine the relevance of this precautionary maneuver.

Unfinished Orange Belt Manual by Ed Parker

LONE KIMONO (Front left hand lapel grab)

  1. Standing naturally, step back toward 6 o’clock with your left foot into a right neutral bow (facing 12:00). Simultaneously (1) pin your opponent’s left hand to your chest, as you (2) rotate your left hand clockwise to expose and properly position his left elbow, while (3) delivering a right upward forearm strike against his left elbow just above the joint to cause the elbow to break. (This action may cause your opponent to rise up on the tips of his toes.)
  2. Immediately circle your right arm counterclockwise (over and down) and convert it into an inward-downward strike to your opponent’s left forearm. Complete this strike with your right palm up, and your left hand checking high. Make sure that your opponent’s left arm is driven diagonally and down to your left. (This move should now cancel your opponent’s Width and Height Zones.)
  3. With your action forcing your opponent’s head and body down and toward 7:30, ROUND OFF THE CORNER with your right hand and immediately execute a right snapping outward handsword strike to the right side of your opponent’s neck. Be sure to maintain a left hand check in the NEUTRAL ZONE.
  4. Right front crossover, covering out toward 7:30.

Notes

Variation

Thrusting Salute (EPAK Orange #4)

KenpoTech on June 16, 2010

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Thrusting Salute is the 4th technique required to obtain your orange belt in Ed Parker’s American Kenpo.  Thrusting Salute is a defense for a right front kick placing it in the Kicks category in the Web of Knowledge and the Kicks Family of the Family Groups Striking Division.

In Thrusting Salute we are introduced to the zones of sanctuary as we create a notable angle of deflection with a well placed downward block.  It also stresses the importance of anticipating a follow up strike from your opponent.

Defense

  • Step 1
    • Step toward 4:30 with your right foot forming a left neutral bow stance,
    • Deliver a left outward downward block to the inside of your opponent’s right leg.
  • Step 2
    • Execute a right front snapping ball kick to your opponent’s groin.
    • Left hand covers high.
  • Step 3
    • Plant your right foot toward 10:30 buckling your opponent’s right knee as you form a right neutral bow stance.
    • Deliver a right thrusting heel palm strike to your opponent’s jaw
  • Step 4
    • Cover toward 4:30

Additional Information

Name

The name Thrusting Salute is derived from the manner, thrusting, in which you deliver the heel palm strike (salute) to your opponent.

Attack

The ideal phase consists of your opponent being directly in front of you with their right leg back and delivering a right thrusting ball kick to your body.

A thrusting ball kick can be used in an assortment of ways both offensively and defensively.  The fact that this is an aggressive thrusting ball kick implies a follow through or step-through as your opponent’s weight and momentum, coupled with your deflection, would put him beyond a point of no return thus forcing a commitment to the kick.

It is important to keep in mind that due to the aggressive nature of this kick and its follow through that your opponent could take full use of his backup mass, momentum and marriage of gravity to follow the kick with a solid punch that would have a lot of force behind it.  Always keep yourself in as safe a position as possible and be alert of your opponent’s movements.

Basics & Maneuvers Used

  • Right Rear Step Through
  • Left Neutral Bow
  • Left Outward Downward Block
  • Right Front Snapping Ball Kick
  • Right Neutral Bow
  • Right Thrusting Heel Palm Strike

Targets

  • Inside the right lower leg (Saphenous Nerve)
  • Groin
  • Inside the right knee
  • Jaw

Concepts & Principles Taught

  • Angle of Alignment
  • Angle of Cancellation
  • Angle of Deflection
  • Angle of Disturbance
  • Angle of Deviation
  • Backup Mass
  • Body Momentum
  • Borrowed Force
  • Borrowed Reach
  • Marriage of Gravity
  • Rebounding Check
  • Torque
  • Zones of Sanctuary


Considerations

  • What if …
    • your opponent snaps his kick back instead of stepping through?
    • your opponent kicks with a right roundhouse kick instead?
    • your opponent kicks with his left foot instead of his right?
    • your opponent attempts a left kick when planting down?
    • your opponent attempts a left punch when planting down?
    • your opponent attempts a right punch when planting down?

Related Techniques

  • Obscure Sword
  • Twin Kimono
  • Cross of Destruction
  • Begging Hands
  • Defying the Storm
  • Fallen Cross
  • Falling Falcon
  • Menacing Twirl
  • Leap of Death

Historical Notes

  • In the 1975 Accumulative Journal this was technique #13
  • The 1975 Accumulative Journal has you step back toward 6:00 prior to the downward block and plant your right foot toward 11:00 after the kick.

Historical Variations

1975 Accumulative Journal

THRUSTING SALUTE (front straight right kick)

  1. While standing naturally with feet together, step back with your right foot (to 6 o’clock) into a left neutral bow as you deliver a downward block to the inside of opponent’s right kicking leg.
  2. Have your left foot pivot counter clockwise, in place, as you kick forward with the ball of your right foot to opponent’s groin. Simultaneously have your left hand check high (left extended outward but relaxed handsword) for possible head shots.
  3. As you plant your right foot forward toward 11 o’clock (between opponent’s legs and into a right neutral bow), deliver a right torquing heel of palm thrust to opponent’s jaw while your left hand checks near your right ribcage

Unfinished Orange Belt Manual by Ed Parker

THRUSTING SALUTE (Front right step through kick)

  1. Standing naturally, step back with your right foot to 4:30 (to get you out of the Line of Attack) into a left neutral bow, as you deliver a left downward block to the inside of your opponent’s right kicking leg. Instantly recoil your left hand counterclockwise into a vertical position, to act as a positional check (hand open). (Your downward block should deflect your opponent’s right kicking leg out and away from you.) During this action, your right hand cocks near your right hip (palm up and fist clenched).
  2. Immediately execute a right front snap ball kick to your opponent’s groin. (Do not be surprised you if your opponent violently bends forward at the waist.)
  3. Plant your right foot forward, toward 10:30, and into a right neutral bow (inside of your opponent’s right knee so that your right knee can check or buckle his right knee). Simultaneous with the plant (while capitalizing on your forward momentum and gravitational marriage), execute a right torquing heel palm strike to your opponent’s jaw, as your left positional check relocates near your right ribcage. (This action should cause your opponent’s head to snap back, and possibly cause his entire body to move away from you.)
  4. Right front crossover, and cover out toward 4:30.

Notes

Variations