Requirements for Rank of Blue Belt
Look below for an overview of rank requirements. If you have any questions, bring them to class so we can work through them.
Blue Belt Katas and Sets:
Adult Card
Long Form 1
Coordination Set 1
Kids Card
Long Form 1, Right Side
Blue Belt Techniques:
For an overview of all belt requirements, download the Blue card here.
1 (1) BEGGING HANDS
2 • THRUSTING WEDGE
3 (2) FLASHING WINGS
4 (3) HUGGING PENDULUM
5 • REPEATED DEVASTATION
6 • ENTANGLED WING
7 • DEFYING THE STORM
8 • RAKING MACE
9 (4) SNAKING TALON
10 • SHIELD AND MACE
11 (5) RETREATING PENDULUM
12 (6) TRIPPING ARROW
13 • FALLEN CROSS
14 • RETURNING STORM
15 • CROSSED TWIGS
16 • TWIST OF FATE
17 (7) FLASHING MACE
18 • GIFT OF DESTINY
19 (8) WINGS OF SILK
20 • GRIPPING TALON
21 • GATHERING CLOUDS
22 (9) DESTRUCTIVE TWINS
23 • BROKEN RAM
24 (10) CIRCLING THE HORIZON
Use the typefaces to help you scan quickly:
All stances are in bold
Each foot change is in italics
Each strike is underlined
1 (1) BEGGING HANDS
(two handed wrist grab)
Pull the attacker down into two front kicks, shuffle in with a double heel palm to his ribs.
1) natural stance, L foot step back to 6 o’clock to R neutral bow
-as both hands pull down back to outside of upper thigh and turn outward (to palms up)
2) R foot drag back to R cat stance
- R snapping front kick to groin
-land forward to R neutral bow
3) L step through front kick to chin
-to L neutral bow
-with double heel palm to bottom of rib cage
This is one of the rare grab attacks where you don’t respond by immediately grabbing the grab. But you do make use of his grab, pulling him down and into your right front kick. Turning your wrists out, against his thumbs, will break his grip; time this with the pull and kick so that you can make use of his grab against him. If he has a fearsome grip and doesn’t let go at all, even with the outward turn, he pulls his face right into your kicks. • Your hands should never come above your waist. You are pulling him to you with your wrists.• The successive front kicks come fast, and may well be chicken kicks, but don’t use them to gain height. • You may need to shuffle in with your heel palm strikes, adding directional harmony to your attack, depending on where you land with your second kick, and whether that kick has sent him up or back. As your heel palms strike, they may twist outward, adding torque to the hit. Your target is the bottom ‘floating’ rib, and this strike could break one, or at least give him some trouble breathing. You want to make sure you hit low, to the bottom rib, folding him over- hitting high will just get him upright and keep him in the fight.
2 • THRUSTING WEDGE
(two handed choke or high push)
Step in to your attacker stabbing both hands towards his eyes, turning into a right upward elbow followed by a right downward claw.
1) natural stance, R foot step forward to 12 o’clock to R forward bow
-with two thrusting Kenpo hands to eyes
-as forearms form a wedge, breaking his grip
2) pivot counterclockwise to R neutral bow
-as L crane hand pulls down attacker’s R arm
-with R vertical upward elbow to chin
3) R downward heel palm to bridge of nose
-R downward claw to face
-with R front crossover to 6 o’clock
The upward elbow opens up his throat for a downward elbow right to the Adam’s apple, a potential deadly strike, then go on with the heel palm:
2) pivot counterclockwise to R neutral bow
-as L crane hand pulls down attacker’s R arm
-with R vertical upward elbow to chin
-R downward elbow to throat
3) R downward heel palm to bridge of nose
This is an early response. If the grip is already applied and strong you may be better off with Heavenly Ascent. The wedge of your forearms will spread the attacker’s arms if the eye stab has already broken the grip, or if the attacker is attacked before he has a firm hold. Don’t use it as part of a wrestling match. • It can also work as an attack, as in Long 3. • You have an opportunity for another elbow strike, downward, to the throat or chest, just before the final, clawing heel palm, if you are still close in. That last strike accompanies the beginning of your cross-out, which enables you to have enough range for the weapon.
3 (2) FLASHING WINGS
(step through straight right punch)
Step forward outside the punch and parry him into an inward and outward right elbow to his exposed forward ribs, followed by right and left chops down through the neck, ending with an upward right chop to the throat.
1) natural stance, L foot step to 10:30 L neutral bow
-with L inward parry
-drop to L close kneel
-with R inward horizontal elbow through R ribs
-as L arm checks above attacker’s elbow
2) R outward horizontal elbow to just under R shoulder blade
-with L wide kneel
-with L horizontal outward claw through face
3) pivot R(clockwise) with R outward handsword through neck
- L inward handsword through neck as you drop to
- R wide kneel
4) pivot L (counterclockwise) to face back to 12 o’clock in L close kneel
-as L hand checks attacker’s R arm
-with R upward inward handsword (palm up) to throat
As with Thundering Hammers, or Dance of Death, or Sleeper, Leaping Crane or Flashing Mace, Gathering Clouds, Circling the Horizon, or in fact most of your post-citrus responses to a step-through right punch, you are stepping forward outside a step-through right punch with a left parry. • This technique gives you the opportunity to do major damage with your trailing knee in both the wide kneel attacks. You can attack the attacker’s right knee with a right knee check as you do your left close kneel, and with your left knee check during the right close kneel. • That final L check should pin the attack’s arm against his body. • It is extremely helpful to work this technique with a heavy bag as you practice the R inward/outward elbow - R outward and L inward handswords - L check R chop section. The timing is fun.
4 (3) HUGGING PENDULUM
(drag-up right side kick)
Shuffle back with a right downward block, then rebound into a front crossover behind him to side kick out his far knee, landing from the kick with a right backnuckle through his head that returns a right claw through the face as you cross out.
1) R neutral bow fighting stance, shuffle back
-with R downward block to outside of attacker’s R leg
2) L front crossover
-as R hand cocks as hammerfist across body
-R snapping knife-edge side kick to L knee
3) land forward to 12 o’clock in R neutral bow
-with R horizontal backnuckle to mastoid or temple
-with L hand check at R shoulder
4) R heel palm claw through face
-with R front crossover to 7:30
As with all Kenpo blocks, the downward block is a hit, and here more specifically than most, striking diagonally, moving from 10:30 to 4:30. It will do the most good, or damage depending on your sensibility, as a hammerfist strike to the calf or possibly the Achilles’ tendon of the attacker. • The eponymous hug is the cocked right backnuckle arm, and if the attacker has deeply committed to the kick, it may be possible to reach him with a dragon-knuckle strike as the arm cocks left across the body. If he’s out of range don’t stretch for it. • Stay in the appropriate range to be able to keep your right arm bent with that final heel palm claw. You may combine this with a left bracing check against the right shoulder, increasing the effect of the heel palm through use of opposite force. You may extend the effect of this by changing the end of this technique as follows:
4) offstep L foot to 9 o’clock
5 R rear step-through to 8:30
-with R claw to chin, grabbing and pulling
-as L check pushes forward, breaking neck
This alternate ending is very effective, relying on grabbing the chin with the right, and bracing it against your left check. You will have to abandon it, however, at second degree black, as it interferes with the ending.• Incidentally, a fighting stance is simply a neutral bow with your guard up.
5 • REPEATED DEVASTATION
(full nelson, fingers touching)
Punch him in the eyes as he throws your hands up, then trap his right arm under your right arm and grabbing his wrist with your left hand, step forward pulling him into a right rear elbow; switch and repeat it into a rear left elbow.
1) natural stance, double rear middle knuckle strikes (or finger stabs if he’s too far away) behind your head to attacker’s eyes
- R foot step to 3 o’clock to horse stance
-with two downward arm strikes to biceps, pulling his hands off your neck
2) snake your L arm under his L forearm, and reach across your chest to grab his R wrist, his L arm trapped under your L arm
-L step to 1:30 to L neutral bow
-pivot clockwise to R reverse bow facing 7:30
-with R horizontal outward elbow to jaw
3) L foot step back to natural stance
-as you release R wrist, and snake your R arm under his R forearm, and reach across your chest to grab his L wrist, his R arm trapped under your R arm
-R step to 10:30 to R neutral bow
-pivot counterclockwise to L reverse bow facing 4:30
-with L horizontal outward elbow to jaw
This technique is designed for use in a full nelson situation that you have allowed to progress past the introductory level of Scraping Hoof, where you can pin his arms to your sides by simply straightening yours, as in step (3). At the Repeating Devastation stage, his hands are locked behind your head and you must first break the grip. Use the same middle knuckle metacarpal attack that you used with Spiraling Twig. This should release his hands enough for you to force down his arms. You do the technique on the right side, switch, and do it on the left. A flat Kenpo hand stab attack would have greater range, and many folks use this to stab to the eyes. • Use his attack to fling your fingers into his eyes. • Your safety in this technique relies on controlling your opponent. This is done partly with your arm pins, and partly with how much you stun him with the rear elbows. • You may increase the power of the rear elbow by twisting in the same direction of the step to into a forward bow, that is, to make the neutral bow into a forward bow in (4) and (5), and (7) and (8). Some folks also will use a horse stance with the elbow strike, instead of a reverse bow, for greater stability. • You can also yank down and forward on his captive wrist as you do the rear elbow to the jaw. • When you learn Long Form 3 you will find yourself in the happy situation of already knowing an entire section. Savor that moment.
6 • ENTANGLED WING
(right arm lock)
Step into him with an upward elbow and turn left, trapping his right arm over your right shoulder, to deliver left and right rear elbow strikes.
1) natural stance, R foot step to 10:30 to R neutral bow checking forward with L hand heelpalm to R hand as your
-R arm yanks back to your chest to pin his arm as you break his grip and trap his R arm
-R upward elbow through jaw
2) pivot counterclockwise to L forward bow
-pulling down on attacker’s R arm trapping it over R shoulder
-with L rear elbow to ribs
3) pivot clockwise to horse stance
-with R rear elbow to ribs
-as L hand checks at shoulder
If you don’t properly control the attacker’s right arm his elbow will hit you in the face. If you can control it and turn his elbow downward over your shoulder, you will break it with a downward pull as you pivot left. Even if you don’t break it you will control the attacker by forcing him to rise up on his toes to avoid that damage, as you administer the real damage, of the elbow strikes. • The left check can become a heel palm to the face, which can open his solar plexus to an auxiliary elbow strike as your right arm circles forward. This is necessary if the attacker is much larger than you. • The right upward elbow may then have opportunities to strike to the chest and chin as it circles into possibly breaking the attacker’s arm over your shoulder. The arm break is finally dependant on the downward elbow, which might happen.
7 • DEFYING THE STORM
(right roundhouse club)
Step in with a double chop to the right arm, then step right back, your left hand pushing up on his wrist and your right hand pulling back and down on his elbow, driving him down into a knee kick followed by a right elbow to the spine.
1) natural stance, R foot step to 10:30 to R neutral bow, R knee check to inside of R knee
-with L vertical handsword to R wrist
-R vertical handsword to R bicep
2) L hand grabs wrist, as R hand grabs above elbow, palm down
- L hand brace push, pull with R hand, breaking arm
- as you R foot drag back to R 45º cat stance, tripping attacker against your right shin
4) slide R hand to shoulder (or chop to neck)
5) step back R foot to 4:30 pulling with R as you push down
-pushing forward with L hand at wrist
6) Rstep-through forward with R knee to sternum
-land forward to 12 o’clock in R neutral bow
-circle around R arm to R downward vertical elbow to spine
The initial right chop to the bicep of (1) works very well to lead into collapsing the right elbow into his face, before starting to yank him back. It adds no time and is essentially part of the same drive in:
1) natural stance, R foot step to 10:30 to R neutral bow, R knee check to inside of R knee
-with L vertical handsword to R wrist
-R vertical handsword to R bicep
-collapse R elbow into face
• It’s possible to retain the right elbow to the jaw, but it’s simpler without it, a straight line back. • The direction of the backward step of (5) is determined by the attacker. You step back on a line perpendicular to the attacker, so that he cannot brace himself against the step. • You step into this attack as into Five Swords, attacking the attacking arm. Accuracy is much more important, however, since if your left hand chops above the wrist you may deliver the club right into your head. You even tempt this outcome by striking the bicep above the elbow, which will make him want to bend his arm. If your attack is clean, the strikes will make each other stronger. If not, the rest of the technique will be unnecessary. • Also similar to Five Swords, you are attacking his right knee with yours, and can make it buckle with your first step. • As you step back, grab the wrist and twist clockwise. This will keep his arm straight, and you in control. This technique relies more on joint manipulation than strikes, so your grips must be strong and secure. Treat his arm like a tiller, guiding him into a difficult harbor. Anchor your right elbow past your hip for more control. You always have more control the closer you keep to your own body. • The right chop, pull to break, elbow flapping to the face is all one sequence and should flow without pause. •As Mr. Gonzales points out, make sure you step straight back with your right foot. If you try to step farther up the circle, your foot past six o’clock, he’ll be able to tangle you up as you lose your leverage.
8 • RAKING MACE
(two handed pulling lapel grab)
Step in with a right punch to the belly that rebounds to circle as a raking mace through his nose to his forearms then rebounds straight back off his arms to chop his throat and collapse into an inward elbow to the jaw.
1) natural stance, R foot step to 12 o’clock to R neutral bow
-with R uppercut to belly
-as L hand pins attacker’s hands to chest
2) R hand raking mace circle counterclockwise through nose
-L downward inward block to attacker’s forearm
3) R outward handsword to throat
-as L hand maintains pin
4) shuffle forward R foot with
- R inward horizontal elbow /L heelpalm to jaw
Many kenpoists prefer to cut the right outward handsword of (3). This makes the forward drive simpler and more direct. • This entire technique moves forward. As Twin Kimono deals with a very similar situation by moving back and around, here you opt for a straight-in attack. It may be that he has already pulled you forward, off balance into him for the head butt. But you may simply prefer it, and wish to use it even at the very first stage of his grab, before he’s pulled you. Outside of environmental reasons (you can’t move back) you might think a belly punch will disable him more than an attacking his elbows. Or you may be more effective with this sort of response, and generally prefer a 5 Swords or Defying the Storm, as opposed to the Delayed Sword, Evading the Storm approach. It will help to know what works for you. • Use the attacker’s pull against him to increase the power of your initial right punch. • The final pair of strikes is a sandwiching effect, and needs to happen simultaneously. • As in Defying the Storm, collapse your elbow into his face. Here it follows the forward thrust of the outward handsword, and accompanies the inward elbow. The shuffle is necessary because you’ve shortened the range of your weapons. • It’s the same strike, the knuckles of the right hand breaking his nose as the arm attacks the forearm. You gain both a wee bit of distance and real torque power by twisting that strike in the air, as it hits his face. The strike then bounces off into the throat, similar to the throat attack of Five Swords.
9 (4) SNAKING TALON
(middle two handed push)
Step back, clearing his arms with a right inward/outward block that turns to grab his right arm and pull him into a breaking left heelpalm, delivered with a right front kick and followed by a reverse chicken kick.
1) natural stance, L foot step back to R neutral bow with R inward downward block to L arm, then R extended outward handsword to R arm, R hand turn out to grab R wrist
-pull back to R 45º cat stance with L heelpalm to his R elbow as you R front kick to groin
2) land with R front crossover to 7 in R twist stance
- L spinning back kick to groin
- R back kick to best target
Move quickly through the initial neutral bow, it is, unusually, a transition to the cat stance and your first kick. • The first two blocks could be an inward block - vertical outward block - turn to grab the wrist, instead of turning with the handsword. The pattern of the blocks forms a figure 8, much like the hammerfists of Hooking Wings, but tighter. • The left heelpalm is essentially a guiding check, but delivered with force, you can break the elbow. That effort is hampered by the fact that you are pulling him into your kick at the same time, which eliminates the concentration of marriage of gravity that you get by dropping into a stance. • The last two kicks can be a back chicken kick if you have the agility, sending your first kick possibly into the knee, or groin, and the second into whatever target is offered by the effect of the first kick.
10 • SHIELD AND MACE
(step through straight right punch)
Step straight into him with a left punch to the ribs as you right block his punch, then make a tight counterclockwise circle with your right to hammerfist through his kidney to circle it around up to slice through his eyes then down to chop out the back of his nearer knee, following that same counterclockwise spin with a right kick to the back of the far knee.
1) natural stance, L foot step to 11 o’clock to L neutral bow
-with R vertical outward block and L reverse punch to right ribs,
2) drop to a L close kneel as you
-R hammerfist to R kidney
3) L hand circle clockwise to pin R arm to body as
-R hand circles counterclockwise, R (palm up) looping inward claw to eyes
-as you raise to a L neutral bow, continue counterclockwise circle
4) dropping to a L close kneel
-with R handsword to R knee
-as L hand checks to shoulder, clearing a path for
-step through R knife-edge kick to back of left knee, land front crossover.
Making the left reverse punch into an uppercut brings you in a bit closer, and you use your hips to add power. It’s a different way to go, and a good one. Chris “Danger” Ryder prefers the uppercut. • Your first step, to 11 o’clock, can be a step to a left neutral bow immediately pivoting to a horse stance. This gains you the power of a stance change to add to your left straight punch, but can also be done as simply part of the step into your horse stance. Which is how I do it, since it’s simpler. • The right hand after the initial outward block, reverses direction into a downward counterclockwise spiral. Downward is important - the hammerfist should drive the kidney into the pelvis, and the handsword should collapse the knee to the ground. That handsword could as effectively be a heelpalm if you’re relatively big enough. The last three hits - hammerfist, chop, and kick, all drive downward. • The stances changes in and out of the close kneel will add the power of marriage of gravity • The left check has to hop around the right arm spiral to maintain its position on the attacker’s arm, pushing it into his body. • The eye-slicing right hand works as well as an inward palm up handsword. This may be familiar from finger set.
11 (5) RETREATING PENDULUM
(rear crossover right back kick)
Rear crossover with your front leg and rebound to kick out his far leg as your front hand circles down through a downward block and around to hammerfist down on his collarbone. Then drag up to enable a scoop kick landing in a sweep to take out his near leg.
1) R neutral bow, R foot rear crossover to L front twist stance
-with R downward block to kicking leg
-as L hand checks at shoulder
2) step through R knife-edge kick to L knee
3) land forward to 12 o’clock
-with R hammerfist to neck
-with L check at shoulder
4) pivot clockwise to R reverse cat, R rear scoop kick to groin
5 land into him with R sweep to R leg to R reverse bow
-with R hand check high
-and L hand check low
The usual attack will be a left front crossover right back kick. This will get the attacker deep within your range. It works against any back kick, but someone fighting at a good range may suddenly close the gap with the front crossover. Your retreat mimics his attack. Just as with Hugging Pendulum, you retreat as much as he advances, to keep him just out of kicking range. In Hugging Pendulum you match a drag up with a shuffle back and here your meeting a crossover with a crossover. • The right arm is the pendulum, retreating with the block, and circling over for the hammerfist attack. It is a continuous move, and the hammerfist will gain power if it hits the neck or collarbone at the same time the right foot hits the ground after the knife-edged kick. • The scoop kick ends the original technique, as written by Ed Parker, ending with landing to a reverse bow between the legs. He suggests that you may use that reverse bow to buckle the left leg if possible. Since you have to land somewhere from the scoop kick you may as well use it, and the sweep to the right knee is the beginning of the 2nd degree Black ending, so why not get an early start and avoid having to relearn the final move. • The damage to the right leg from the sweep can be increased, and the sweep made easier, by attacking the leg below the knee instead up on the thigh. This makes the incidental scoop kick either a minor move to lift up the leg a bit, or just skip it all together, going right to the sweep.
12 (6) TRIPPING ARROW
(bear hug - arms free)
Pin him close with your left as a right heelpalm to the chin knocks him back off balance enough to get your right leg around to sweep him to the ground, keeping hold of his right arm long enough to stomp him to the face as you exit left.
1) natural stance, L foot step L to 9 o’clock to horse stance
-as L hand hooks and pulls down on attacker’s arm
-with R heelpalm to jaw
2) circle R leg behind attacker’s R leg to 2 o’clock to R reverse cat
-keep R arm straight to chin, arching attacker backwards
-still pulling down with L hand crane
(3) step back with R sweep against his R leg, sweeping him flat on his back
-keeping R arm straight and pushing him to the ground, landing in L forward bow as
4) R hand joins left grabbing his wrist and yank him into a R stomp to face
5) R sweep kick R arm with R front crossover as you release R wrist
The initial right heelpalm offers possibilities. You could begin with a right heelpalm to the left jaw and twist counterclockwise into the chin as you straighten out, or use a straight shot to the jaw. The torque of the heelpalm will be about the same in either case. You could also cup your hand and land it on his ear, palm cupped, and break his eardrum. Whatever you do, once you’ve hit the chin and straightened your arm, keep your arm straight as you take him down. At first this will rock him back on his heels, allowing you to get your right leg behind him, and then it will help you control him to the ground, on his back, where you want him.• The forward bow with the arm extended is called the arrow stance. When you pivot to the arrow stance from the horse stance you trip the attacker over your right leg. Tripping Arrow. • Some folks end this technique with the takedown and omit the face stomp. • The attack is the same as for Striking Serpent’s Head, and the difference is how far they’ve gotten in the grab. If they already have hold of you, Striking Serpent’s Head would be the better choice, if not quite, then you have the space for Tripping Arrow. Of course, that initial heelpalm will go a far way to creating some space between you.
13 • FALLEN CROSS
(rear two handed pushing choke)
Grab onto his wrists and step out left then step forward with your right foot. Turn around left, crossing his arms for a right knee kick to his crossed elbows, landing forward with a groin kick and a right inward elbow.
1) natural stance, grab both wrists straight up (your R grabs his R, your L grabs his L)
2) L step to 9 o’clock to horse stance
-pulling wrists straight down as you turn them out (R clockwise, L counterclockwise), bringing his elbows to the fulcrum of your shoulders
3) R step forward to 10 o’clock to R neutral bow, pivot counterclockwise
- facing 6 o’clock in L neutral bow as you
- cross his arms R arm over L arm (raise R arm higher than L as you turn)
4) yank down on attacker’s wrists as you R step-through forward with R knee kick to back of elbows
5) land forward to 6 o’clock with R snapping front kick to groin
-with R inward horizontal elbow to face
-R neutral bow
The attack is the same as for Cross of Destruction, and you either choose or you must go forward. It might be safer environmentally - there might be folks to avoid to your left. Perhaps he is pushing you forward, and you go with his push. It is also just a good idea to know if you have a preference, if one technique simply works better for you and you don’t know the reason. It’s more important to simply know what works. • The pattern of the stepping to the side with the outside foot, forward with the inside foot, then stepping through with that first foot as you turn around to face you attacker is the same as in Spiraling Twig, on the other side. •,As you pull straight down on his wrists you have the auxiliary opportunity to break his thumbs against your neck. • Make sure you use the fulcrum of your shoulders to raise him up on his toes, making it impossible for him to kick you. • Keep your left hand checking high after the elbow knee break, as and after you deliver the final horizontal elbow.
14 • RETURNING STORM
(right step through roundhouse inward/outward club)
Step and lean away from the first attack, then step into the return with a double strike to the back of his right arm, hook and swing him around as you step back while taking the club, then step back in again with a right front kick and right upward club.
1) R neutral bow, L foot step to 7 o’clock to R reverse bow to avoid first swing
2) L foot step to 1:30 to L neutral bow with double handsword (L inward to elbow, R outward to wrist) to back of attacker’s arm as he just begins to return with backhand club attack
3) grab wrist with R hand and pull as L vertical block pushes as you pivot R and drop to L forward bow
4) R foot step clockwise to 10:30 to L forward bow facing 4:30
-pulling club from hand
5) R front snapping kick to ribs land to R neutral bow
-with forward thrusting club
This is a defense against two club swings. Of course you cannot know there will be a second swing, but don’t even think of waiting for that second swing. Spring back immediately from the reverse bow to attack the back of the attacker’s arm. Do not wait for the swing. If you can meet that swing precisely, your left inward block just above the elbow will go a far way to damaging that arm. If he has thrown his weight behind a second swing it will be worse for him. • When you step back in to the left neutral bow your left knee should be checking against the back of his right. Think of the alignment of your left arm and leg as a solid immoveable pole, around which you will pull him. Start the attacker turning with your left push, right pull, before you step back. This is the same breaking of inertia as the forward bow of Locked Wing. It’s not precisely a push, that left inward block. It’s more like a solid pole anchored to the ground, that you wrap the attacker’s arm around, backward at the elbow, to make him want to move. The step back increases that effect, it does not initiate it. • Taking the club and returning it is an extra added bonus. If you don’t pull the club free, you must take care to check the club and ensure that it still can’t be used against you. In that case you will end the technique with the snapping front kick. If you knock the club from the hand, you may end with a rising upward backnuckle to the face.
15 • CROSSED TWIGS
(rear two-hand wrist grab)
Step forward and pivot, crossing his arms as you pull him into a rear elbow through the jaw that circles around to a downward elbow to the spine followed by a double heelpalm to the kidneys with a knee kick to the belly.
1) natural stance, grab his wrists as he grabs yours (R to R, L to L)
-L foot step to 1:30 to L forward bow, pulling him with you
2) pivot clockwise to R forward bow facing 6, with a
-R rear horizontal elbow to R jaw, continuing on through his head to throw his hand down to the R
-as L hand pulls forward behind your back and down on L wrist, crossing attacker’s arms R over L
3) release his R wrist, continue R elbow looping around to
-R vertical downward elbow to spine as you pivot back to R neutral bow and release L wrist to allow
4) double heel palm to kidneys as you pivot into him with
-L snapping knee kick to ribs, land back to 1:30 R neutral bow
Pull him into your back as you step forward to the left neutral bow. Do this by pulling forward with your elbows, then wrists. This takes him off balance, and into your right rear elbow. Don’t slow down at this point, and get knocked over. • Your right elbow attacks travel the same path you learned on the right side in Crossing Talons. • Some folks add another strike at the end after planting left back to 1:30:
5) pivot counterclockwise to R rear cat
-R rear scoop kick to solar plexus or face
16 • TWIST OF FATE
(two handed high push)
Step back right and chop his arms open and off you, grabbing his wrists so that as you step through you twist his arms and spinning him around onto his back, then yank him into a right knee kick.
1) natural stance, R foot step back to L neutral bow with double outward extended handswords to wrists, spreading his arms to the sides as you grab wrists
-R step through slicing side kick to R knee land to 10:00 in R neutral bow
-pulling him forward with your L as your R circles up underneath (to end up his L arm pulled out horizontally straight to the L and your R arm has become a vertical fulcrum at the L elbow)
2) pull in with your R hand, push with your L to make him begin to turn into you (his L shoulder will dip towards you)
-pivot counterclockwise (L) as you keep his L hand in front and
-R offstep to L neutral bow facing his back (your toe/heel line will be coming from somewhere between 3:00 and 6:00)
-he should be falling over backwards toward you as you
3) yank down on his wrists to pull him into a
-snapping R knee kick to spine, land back to L neutral bow
The idea is to get to the left neutral bow facing his back. You can also do this with a left step-through in reverse/right step-through, as thus:
2) pull in with your R hand, push with your L to make him begin to turn into you (his L shoulder will dip towards you)
-pivot counterclockwise (L) as you keep his L hand in front and
-L step through in reverse towards 10:00, still holding both wrists, as your hands go up above your head, your back and his against each other
-stop his turn (so that his back faces you) as you turn to face him and
R step back to a L neutral bow facing towards 3:00
-he should be falling over backwards toward you as you
• If the attacker is appreciably taller than you this spin becomes very difficult. In that case, use the second version given below, with the hands joining at the base of a large circle, but drop his right and both hands grab his left as you spin underneath him, yanking him down. He will then fall over backward or dislocate his left shoulder. His size will work against him. • In another version you use his momentum to spin him around, keeping his arms straight as you pull them together to meet at the bottom of a large circle:
1) natural stance, grab his wrists as he grabs yours (R to R, L to L)
-L foot step to 1:30 to L forward bow, pulling him with you
2) pivot clockwise to R forward bow facing 6, with R rear horizontal elbow to R jaw, continuing on to throw his hand down to the R
-as L hand pulls forward behind your back and down on L wrist, crossing attacker’s arms R over L
3) release his R wrist, continue R elbow looping around to
R vertical downward elbow to spine as you pivot back to R neutral bow
4) release L wrist to allow
-double heel palm to kidneys as you pivot into him with
-L snapping knee kick to ribs, land back to 1:30 R neutral bow
Work on the arm bar (as outlined in the basic technique) to make him flip over. When you have landed forward from the kick, you are in a R neutral bow and your left hand is holding his right arm straight our to your left. Your right hand has curled his left hand up underneath his right arm, and being held vertical it becomes a pivot point. If you yank towards you with your right and push down and out with your left you will either break his arm backward at the elbow or force him to flip over onto his back, his back facing you. Either way you will be okay. • Once you grab on, keep firm grip on his wrists. If you lose one, make it the right- keep hold of the left and you will still spin him and control him with the threat of dislocating his left shoulder. You simply drop the right and hold onto the left with both hands. This will flip him over on his back by manipulating the joint, lifting up his elbow and pulling down on his wrist. Take hold of that single wrist as the hands cross at the base of the crossing circles. The hands go out (as in Parting Wings), grab, go down, and cross. • The kick in (3) could also be to the right hip, which makes him spin more as a unit, having eliminated the give of the hip joint. • Don’t linger in the counterclockwise pivot, or you will find yourself on your back. Keep your momentum moving forward. • Once you have him turned, you may want to shuffle back to pull him off his feet. Or you may want to change the ending to:
5) L foot step through to R neutral bow
6) R foot step through to L neutral bow, pulling him back and down
7) snapping R knee kick to head, land back to L neutral bow
This amendment works well by simply dragging him backward off his feet, and is good insurance, at least.
17 (7) FLASHING MACE
(step-through straight right punch)
Step forward with an arm break at the elbow and a right hammerfist through the face then pivot left with a left backnuckle to the ribs. Your right hand knocks down his right arm, then circles back up with an upward looping right backnuckle to the face.
1) natural stance, L step to 11 o’clock to L neutral bow
-with L inward block above R elbow
-as R fist cocks past R ear, trapping R arm hyper-extending his elbow
2) R foot step through to 10 o’clock to R neutral bow
-with R raking hammerfist through face
-as L hand checks high
3) pivot counterclockwise to L neutral bow facing 6 o’clock
-with L backnuckle to ribs
4) R downward hammer to R arm, pinning R arm to body
-L waiter’s check to maintain pin on R arm
5) R looping upward backnuckle to face
-dropping to L close kneel to add power to backnuckle
As with Dance of Death, Thundering Hammers, Leaping Crane, Flashing Wings, you offstep forward past the punch. However with those three you want to keep him driving forward straight into your strike, so you’ll parry with your left. Here you need to block down his arm to clear a path to his face with your right, so you use an inward block. • If you can manage to catch the attacker’s arm with the block and your right arm, you should be able to do some damage, similar to the push/pull of Returning Storm. • You may find more power in pulling back to a left cat with the left backnuckle, then stepping in to the left close kneel. This variation has the benefit of crowding the attacker and attacking his left knee. • The close kneel adds marriage of gravity to the strike. • A waiter’s check is an outward check with the palm up, fingers held out at right angles to the forearm, to trap an arm beneath.
18 • GIFT OF DESTINY
(handshake)
Step into him as you yank him into your right elbow, then bring your elbow up through his chin as you step back, twisting his hand clockwise to straighten out his arm and present his solar plexus for a right front kick as you break his wrist with a right heel palm.
1) natural stance, R foot step to 11 o’clock to R neutral bow
-as L hand grabs his R wrist yank him forward and then slam
- R horizontal elbow to solar plexus
-contour up his body with R vertical elbow to chin
3) continue clockwise twisting of his R hand, switch grip to L hand at wrist
-with R foot step to 7 o’clock to L neutral bow
4) his wrist is held in your L hand, his palm (and elbow) up and his arm straight as you yank him back down into you
5) R heel palm to back of hand, breaking wrist
-L forward bow
6) throw R arm down to R
-with R snapping front kick to solar plexus
7) land back to L neutral bow, guard up
One kenpoist I know terms the beginning of this technique “yank-hit-hit-yank.” I’m sure he was more eloquent, but that’s the idea- yank him forward, hit him horizontally with the elbow, hit him vertically with the elbow, then yank him back for the wrist break. Just remember ‘yank-hit-hit-yank’ and you can’t go wrong. • The chin hit with the vertical rear elbow is truly auxiliary to stepping back for the wrist break. It’s a sequential opportunity, in Kenpo vocabulary. • In switching your grip on his wrist, your left hand moves from thumb down, palm facing into attacker, to thumb up, outside on left of his wrist, palm facing up. It’s rather like an oarlock. The principle of controlling his arm via the wrist is the same as with Spiraling Twig, which omits the wrist break.
19 (8) WINGS OF SILK
(rear two-arm lock)
Left stomp down on his left foot, slipping out your right arm in an upward elbow and a right scoop kick as you spin around left, ending up next to him with his left arm pinned across your body so you may break the arm with an uppercut.
1) natural stance, L foot stomp on attacker’s L foot
-as L hand checks down to attacker’s L hip
2) R arm slips the hold to do a R rear upward elbow to the chin
-with R rear scoop kick to groin
3) R foot step-through counterclockwise to 9 o’clock, horse stance facing 6 o’clock,
L foot step-through counterclockwise to 9 o’clock, horse stance facing 12 o’clock, pinning attacker’s L arm across body
-R modified uppercut to L elbow (it’s actually the inside of your elbow, not your fist, that makes contact with the back of his elbow)
The left foot stomp loosens the arm lock enough to allow the vertical rear elbow, slipping upward like wings of silk. The left check can also be a pinch to the nerve on the attacker’s hip. The first move of Wings of Silk sends foot and hand down on the left side, foot and elbow up on the right. This is simultaneous. You don’t hardly land in that first horse stance, just hop through it. • The 360° counterclockwise turn needs to leave you close to the attacker, or you wont be able to finish the technique. These are not big steps. • The final uppercut strikes the attacker’s elbow, or just above the elbow with your forearm, or lower bicep, or your own elbow, somewhere right in there.
20 • GRIPPING TALON
(left hand grab to right wrist)
Step into him as you break his grip, allowing your right hand to backnuckle to his groin, then drop a right elbow in through his ribs and then back out as you left rear crossover right sweep out his left leg as your right arm circles all the way around to land a ridgearm to the back of his head as he falls forward onto your right knee as it rebounds from the sweep. Land forward with a right heelpalm breaking his right arm, held by your left hand all this while, over your knee.
1) pin attacker’s L hand to your R with the back of your L (your hands are back to back, R over L, thumbs up) and pull to your chest
-R foot step to 12 o’clock to R neutral bow
2) L hand grab his R wrist (thumb down) pull attacker’s arm straight and breaking his grip
-R hammerfist to groin
-R inward horizontal elbow through ribs
3) L outward horizontal elbow
-L rear crossover to 1 o’clock
-R outward backnuckle through L ribs (or again groin)
4) R step out sweepto R reverse bow, buckling L leg helping his fall with
-R ridgearm to back of head
-keeping his L arm straight with your L pull
7) R knee kick to face as he falls
-R foot land to 5 o’clock front crossover R front twist stance
-R horizontal heelpalm to the elbow
The first move it to grab the grab, pinning the back of his hand with the back of yours. This works just as well for a just as likely two-hand grab. Pinning against the fingers will give you a stronger hold than actually against the back of the hand (as with Glancing Spear). But the main job here is to transfer the grip to your left hand. • The pin/pull/grab with your left and right is a counterclockwise arc, and with the right hand shooting off to hammerfist, it all forms an oval. Like the fast oval punches, it works faster than ricocheting back and forth. • The final move gives you the opportunity to land to a right front twist stance, still holding his left arm, and break it over your right knee. If your are wary of your knees, land to a right neutral bow. • If you rebound the knee from the sweep, you will catch the attacker falling into your knee kick. Go for the face or chest as opportunity provides.
21 • GATHERING CLOUDS
(step through straight right punch)
Step forward outside the punch, your hands crossing in a kind of gathering motion as your left parries and your right rakes a knuckle strike across his ribs, following it up with a right inward elbow as you step into him, then clearing down his arm with your left, your right attacks his eyes as you step back with a scoop kick through the groin.
1) natural stance, L foot step to 10:30 to L neutral bow
-L hand inward parry above elbow of R arm
-with R inward horizontal knuckle rake (palm up) through R rib
2) R outward backnuckle to R kidney
3) R foot step through to 10:30, buckling R knee
-R inward horizontal elbow under attacker’s R arm
-L high check
4) L hand clear R arm down, pin to attacker’s body
-R front scoop kick step through in reverse to 4:30 to L neutral bow
-with R outward horizontal eye slice (palm down), pull back with R inward eye gouge
-and L outward handsword to throat
If the attacker really commits to the step-through you may find yourself behind him, and you can transform this into the other side of Circling Destruction:
1) natural stance, L foot step to 10:30 to L neutral bow
-L hand inward parry above elbow of R arm
-with R inward horizontal knuckle rake (palm up) through R rib
2) R outward backnuckle to L kidney
3) R foot step through to 10:30 behind him
-R inward horizontal elbow to ribs, making him turn his back completely to you
-L high check
4) L hand push forward as R cups chin and pulls back for neck break
-R front scoop kick step through in reverse to 8:30 to L neutral bow
• The backnuckle to the kidney of (2) could just as well be an outward chop to the floating rib. This technique moves forward with each hit, from different directions, and shortening range to the elbow, which also serves to open him up to be facing you with the final scoop kick. The inward elbow doesn’t cock back to position, it simply collapses in from the backnuckle/chop. You walk into him. • The right elbow strike happens under the attacker’s right arm. The arm must be cleared before the eye slice, using the left check to push it down past the right, opening the path to the eyes. Some folks prefer to skip the outward eye slice, circling the right hand counterclockwise under the attacker’s right arm as it’s pushed down by your left check, and go immediately back up to the eye gouge. Some folks go that route and also use the back of the right hand, palm up, to help pin and pull down the right arm, circling the right out from under at the bottom and continuing counterclockwise for the eye gouge. I figure that the strongest response is to send the elbow hard through the ribs, using that strike to turn him so that the left check will be sufficient to move the right arm, and the right hand circles straight back up to slice outward. • The final hit could also be understood as a heel palm.
22 (9) DESTRUCTIVE TWINS
(two-hand choke - pull in)
Let him yank you forward so that you can break his nose with a downward left punch as you right uppercut him to the gut, then clear away his arms with a right inward/left outward block, the left block turning around to grab onto his wrist and pull him down into a right punch to the ribs.
1) natural stance, R foot step to 12 o’clock to R neutral bow
-with R uppercut punch to groin
-and L overhead downward punch to face
2) offstep R foot to 1:30
-with R inward block across attacker’s arms
-and L vertical outward block, clearing arms
-pivoting to R forward bow
3) continue shooting L arm straight up, turning fist out (to left) as it raises, to break his grip
-snap L elbow down pulling in on his L arm, bringing his face in range for a
-L hand stab to eyes
3) L hand grab attacker’s L hand
-pull L hand to L hip
- pivot counterclockwise to horse stance
- R straight punch to ribs
There are further moves you can make with the left arm to help clear his hold:
2) offstep R foot to 1:30
-with R inward block across attacker’s arms, pivoting to R forward bow
-then L vertical outward block that hooks over his left arm, pulling him in to a snapping
-L hand stab to eyes
The attack could be a choke, or yanking you in for a head butt to break your nose. • The right uppercut accompanying the first right step could also go to the belly, if the attacker has his left foot forward and in the way of a groin punch. Use the attack against the attacker. The harder he’s pulling you in for the head butt, the harder he’ll get hit. When you go in with the punch keep your back straight and your head up. Leaning in weakens your momentum. • The left vertical outward block, must come up to the outside (closer to the attacker) of the first block. This is hopefully a deeply ingrained habit. If it’s not, you’d best make it so. The stab to the eyes, even if you don’t end up with a handful of eyeball, will bring up his hands to protect his face, allowing the left hand grab. • Mr. Parker used to do another final step:
4) L foot offstep to 4:30
- as you R inward horizontal heel palm to elbow
- R front crossover step out to 4:30
Since you’re in the neighborhood and still holding the left, it makes for a graceful exit.
23 • BROKEN RAM
(front tackle or low grab)
He got his left arm around you, preventing Charging Ram, so you hook your right arm over his arm and break it with a pivot to a forward bow, drag up your left so you can scoop kick sweep backwards with your right leg, landing with a right hammerfist to his left jaw.
1) natural stance, L foot step up the circle counterclockwise to 4 o’clock to R neutral bow facing 3 o’clock
-L hand checking to L shoulder as he gets his L arm around you
-R downward handsword to attacker’s neck
2) clockwise circle your R arm over his L arm, hooking it above the elbow
3) pivot counterclockwise to L forward bow facing 12 o’clock
-R uppercut against his elbow
4) L drag up to R
-as R arm circles counterclockwise to above attacker
-R scoop kick to groin
5) R leg land with sweep to L leg
-with R downward hammerfist punch through R jaw
The clock positions may seem odd, since this technique begins in the middle of another attack. You have already offstepped with your left foot, and are now facing the attacker at right angle to his original charge. Charging Ram has failed and the attacker got his left arm around you. (It works just as well if you allow the attacker to get his arm around you because you are more comfortable working in close than in fending off that arm. In either case, your right hand is assumed to be at the attacker’s neck, in the chop or hammerfist of Charging Ram.) • The uppercut to the elbow can break that elbow, or might make the attacker scoot forward enough to make the left foot drag up unnecessary. If he’s already close enough for the scoop kick, skip the drag. • It also makes sense to think of this forward bow arm break as a reverse bow, since the attacker is indeed behind you, which is what will define a forward or reverse bow - the position of the attacker. The stance is the same. It’s an important semantic difference, but don’t let it interfere with breaking the arm. • As always your punches are more powerful when coordinated with stance change or step or landing from a kick. The final hammerfist lands at the same time as the foot from the sweep, adding the power of marriage of gravity to both attacks.
24 (10) CIRCLING THE HORIZON
(step through straight right punch)
Step forward outside the punch with left parry, cat up and right step through into him with a straight right punch over your left check, drop your right elbow into his ribs as you drop to a right close kneel; chop out his right knee and ridgearm into his groin.
1) natural stance, L foot offstep to 10 o’clock to L neutral bow
-L inward parry to R arm above elbow
-R foot drag up to R 45º cat
2) R foot step to 1:30 to R neutral bow behind attacker’s R leg
-with R straight vertical punch to temple
-with L check under to outside R arm
3) drop R arm around your L check to R inward/downward elbow to R ribs as you drop to
-R wide kneel
4) R outward downward handsword to back of knee as you drop to
-R close kneel
5) R diagonally upward ridgearm to groin as you pivot back to
-R wide kneel
-as L hand checks above strikes
You step in close enough to use your elbow weapon, but you don’t actually check against his right leg, since that prevents the handsword to the back of the knee. • The skeletal description above works on a drive down his body. If it works more strongly for you, make (3) an inward elbow, which works differently, and just as well. Some folks have made the whole thing into a wider (right to left rather than straight down) series of attacks by striking (2) R thrusting vertical backnuckle, (3) R inward horizontal elbow, (4) R outward chopping hammerfist, (5) R underhand reverse hammerfist. Changing the handswords to hammerfists is a separate notion, and has little to do with direction, but you may find it useful. The handsword and ridgearm are more fitted to the target, and the hammerfist may have more power. • The close kneel/ wide kneel progression both covers your downward motion and adds marriage of gravity to all your strikes. The technique is but one reason to be thankful for all the time your instructors have forced your aching knees to lower stances.