Kenpo Yellow Belt Techniques

Yellow Belt Techniques

1. DELAYED SWORD (Right lapel grab from the front)

The attacker grabs your right lapel with his left hand.

1. With your feet together step back with your left foot toward 6:00 into a right neutral bow stance, facing 12:00, while simultaneously executing a right inward block to the right inner wrist of your opponent. At the same time position your left hand at solar-plexus level as a precautionary check against further action.

2. Immediately slide your right foot back into a cat stance.

3. Without hesitation deliver a right front snap ball kick to your opponent's groin.

4. Plant your right foot (back lo its point of origin) into a right neutral bow, facing 12:00, while employing Marriage of Gravity as you strike with a right outward handsword to the right side of your opponent's neck. Immediately slide your right hand (after the strike) to the right wrist of you opponent as a precautionary check.

2 ALTERNATING MACES (front- two-handed push)

1. With your feet together, and as your opponent pushes you, step back with your left foot toward 6:00 into a right neutral bow stance, facing 12:00, while simultaneously executing a right inward block to the outside of your opponent's left arm, while your left hand cocks to your left hip.

2. Immediately collapse your right arm across the lop of both of your opponent's arms (to act as a check), as you deliver a left vertical thrust punch to your opponent's sternum or solar-plexus, while torquing into a right forward bow stance. Remember both stance change and punch must work in synchronization with each other in order to maximize the force of the punch.

3. Have your left hand (after the punch, shift palm open and down) on top of both your opponent's arms (to check) while simultaneously having your right hand rapidly travel inside of your left arm and out into a right outward back knuckle strike to the right temple of your opponent, while pivoting back into a right neutral bow stance. (The torque stemming from the stance change will greatly increase the whipping action of your right hand).

4. Immediately have your right hand snap back into a checking position.

3. SWORD OF DESTRUCTION (Front left straight or roundhouse punch)

The attacker throws a straight or roundhouse punch with his left hand, facing you from the front.

1. With your feet together, step back with your left foot toward 6:00 into a right neutral bow stance, facing 12:00, as you simultaneously execute a right extended outward block to the left inner wrist of your opponent's left punch. Your left hand should be in a positional check, covering your solar-plexus.

2. Immediately slide your right foot back into a cat stance.

3. Without hesitation deliver a right front snap ball kick to your opponent's groin.

4. Plant your right foot forward (to its point of origin) into a right neutral bow, facing 12:00 and while employing Marriage of Gravity execute a right inward handsword strike to the left side of your opponent's neck.

5. Immediately snap your right hand back to the left inner wrist of your opponent to act as a check.

4. DEFLECTING HAMMER (Right Front Kick)

The attacker attempts to front-kick you to the ribs while you are in a ready fighting stance (right neutral bow).

1. Step-drag backwards to 6:00 while executing a right downward block to deflect his kick to your right. This causes the attacker to fall forward into a weakened stance.

2. Step-drag forward to 12:00 with a right horizontal elbow to the attacker's head while you check with your left hand.

5. CAPTURED TWIGS (rear- bear hug around waist with arms pinned)

1. With your feet together and your opponent's arm around you, step off toward 9 o'clock with your left foot into a horse stance, facing 12:00, as you simultaneously pin your opponent's hands (to your body) with your left hand. Just as your weight settles into your horse stance execute a right back hammer fist strike to your opponent's groin.

2. Immediately bring your right foot into a right cat stance (turning 90 degrees while facing 3 o'clock) as your left hand releases the pin, clears your opponent's left arm and covers the front of your face as a check if needed. Simultaneous with the action of your left arm have your right hand cover your groin and proceed to clear opponent's right arm.

3. Do a right heel stomp to your opponent's right instep.

4. Slide your right foot back toward 3:00 into a horse stance, facing 12:00. Immediately have your right forearm contour up the middle of your opponent's body as you execute a right vertical obscure elbow strike to the underside of your opponent's chin. Have your right arm snap back after the strike and cover your groin.

6. GRASP OF DEATH (left flank right arm headlock)

1. With you bent forward and your opponent to your left applying a headlock with his right arm, initiate your action by tucking your chin to the left and against your chest, as you grab your opponent's right wrist with your right hand. All of this is done as your right foot steps forward toward 12:00 into a right close kneel stance while simultaneously grabbing your opponent's right inner thigh with your left hand and pinching the flesh of that leg with as much strength as possible. Your opponent will experience a horse-bite effect if it is done correctly. Be sure you continue checking the outside of your opponent's right leg with your left knee.

2. As your opponent reacts to your pinch and releases his grip, have your right hand bring his right arm over your head and down to your chest, making sure that your right forearm angles diagonally while acting as a check.

3. Immediately release the grip of your left hand and have your left foot step forward toward 11:00 into a left neutral bow stance as you simultaneously strike the back of your opponent's right elbow with your left forearm while pulling in and toward you with your right hand. This action should cause your opponent to step forward with his left foot prior to bending over at the waist.

4. Roll your left forearm on the back of your opponent's right elbow until your left forearm is parallel to the ground. Now slide your left hand to your opponent's right elbow. While controlling your opponent's right elbow with your left hand, pivot into a left forward bow, facing 11:00. Immediately execute a right snapping vertical punch to the base of your opponent's skull, behind his right mastoid bone.

7. CHECKING THE STORM (front - right step-through overhead club)

1. Standing naturally with your feet together, as your opponent swings his club in an overhead fashion, quickly step off to your right with your right foot toward 3:00. Simultaneously drag your left foot toward your right foot as you form a 45 degree cat stance facing 10:30. Without a break in the flow of your action execute a right inward hand parry followed by a left extended outward block (employing the "Double Factor" principle) to the right inner wrist of your opponent's right arm. During the natural flow of your motion have your right hand stop, hand open, 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.

3. Plant your left foot (toward 10:00) as a gauging leg toward your opponent, as you deliver a right snapping knife edge kick to the inside of the opponent's right knee.

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 to the left temple, as your left hand checks at the solar-plexus.

8. MACE OF AGGRESSION (Two-hand lapel grab, pulling in)

The attacker grabs your lapels with both hands and pulls you forward.

1. Step right to 12:00 into a right neutral bow, while at the same time pinning the attacker's hands with your left hand and hitting his jaw with a right inward hammer fist.

2. Continue movement of right hand, striking down on opponent's arms with your forearms, without releasing your pinning check.

3. Execute a right inward elbow to attacker's left jaw as he is pulled forward.

4. Reverse motion and execute a right outward elbow to attacker's right jaw.

9. ATTACKING MACE (front - right step through straight punch)

1. With your feet together, drop back with your right foot toward 6:00 into a left neutral bow stance, facing 12:00, as you execute a left inward block to the outside of your opponent's right punch. During this action your right hand cocks to your hip (fist clenched and palm up).

2. Immediately pivot into a left forward bow stance as you execute a right straight thrust punch to the right lower ribcage of. your opponent. Make sure that your left hand is open as it checks your opponent's right elbow.

3. Circle your right hand down, out, over, and around your opponent's right arm as you countergrab the outside of your opponent's wrist. Immediately pull your opponent toward you while simultaneously delivering a right roundhouse kick to the groin. During this action cock your left hand at your left hip (fist clenched and palm up).

4. Drop forward into a right neutral bow, facing 12:00, while simultaneously executing a left snapping vertical punch to your opponent's right kidney, "with" your right leg On and Over the Line of Entry. (your right knee is inside of your opponent's right knee and pressing up against it)

10. SWORD AND HAMMER (Left hand grab to right shoulder, from right side)

The attacker grabs your right shoulder with his left hand from the right side standing arm's length away.

1. Pin his grab hand with your left hand and step to 2:30 with your right foot, while executing a right outward knife-hand to your opponent's neck or collar bone.

2. Retract the strike and deliver a right outward hammer fist to his groin as you drop your height.

American Kenpo Karate is a hard/soft style of martial arts, created by Ed Parker, designed to promote good self-esteem, confidence, self-reliance, excellent defensive skills and is a lot of fun. If you want to learn the ultimate in self defense, we teach Kenpo Karate in Rancho Cordova at Mather Sports Facility.