Requirements for Rank of Green Belt
Look below for an overview of rank requirements. If you have any questions, bring them to class so we can work through them.
Green Belt Katas and Sets:
Adult Card
Short Form 3
Long Form 2
Kids Card
Long Form 2
Green Belt Techniques:
For an overview of all belt requirements, download the Green card here.
1 (1) OBSCURE CLAWS2 (2) ENCOUNTER WITH DANGER
3 (3) CIRCLING DESTRUCTION
4 (4) DETOUR FROM DOOM
5 • SQUATTING SACRIFICE
6 (5) ESCAPE FROM DEATH
7 (6) BRUSHING THE STORM
8 • MENACING TWIRL
9 (7) LEAP FROM DANGER
10 (8) CIRCLES OF PROTECTION
11 (9) CIRCLE OF DOOM
12 • BROKEN GIFT
13 • HEAVENLY ASCENT
14 (10) CAPTURING THE STORM
15 • CONQUERING SHIELD
16 • TAMING THE MACE
17 • TWIRLING SACRIFICE
18 • CROSS OF DEATH
19 • SECURING THE STORM
20 • INTERCEPTING THE RAM
21 • KNEEL OF COMPULSION
22 • CLIPPING THE STORM
23 • GLANCING WING
24 • THE BACK BREAKER
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) OBSCURE CLAWS
(left hand to right shoulder rear grab)
Your right foot steps back with a right claw and forward with a left claw, then step around in front of him as your right fist circles around back through his ribs, forward through his mastoid, then (after your left hand folds him in half at the middle) knocks right at the heart.
1) natural stance, R foot step back to L neutral bow
-R rear claw through face
2) R foot step forward to R front twist stance
-R forearm uppercut to L arm, breaking his elbow
-L claw to face (fingers pointing R, toward 3)
3) L foot step to 2 o’clock, pivoting clockwise to R neutral bow facing 6 o’clock
-R backnuckle through ribs (hitting out, thumb up)
-R inverted backnuckle through mastoid (pulling in, thumb down)
4) L heelpalm to belly (fingers pointing R, to 9), collapsing attacker
-R forward bow
-R inverted backnuckle (thumb down) to heart
-R neutral bow
You can make the arm break stronger by stepping forward to a right neutral bow rather than twist stance, but it adds less power to the claw. • This technique is originally written with both claws on the first step back, The first claw circles up through the face, and then hooks the attacker’s left arm. The original technique assumes his hand is now in front of your body, not knocked back by your clockwise circle so that your left hand claws to the face can then pin his left arm as you step forward with the uppercut and elbow break. It’s essentially the same move, and the change is in the timing. The way we’ve developed simply weaves the step forward in earlier, but not sooner. In other words both claws happen as quickly, in the same space of time, in both formulations of the technique, but our version moves a bit faster with the immediate step forward between strikes.• If you have trouble with your right knee, you can modify the forward bow to a right front twist stance. This will still give you the power of dropping your weight into the forward thrust, and position your right foot for the clockwise pivot to facing him with the circling backnuckle strikes. • The left heel palm can be to the solar plexus or bladder – you want to fold him into the last hit. • Making the final strike a backnuckle will give you more force. It’s written as an inverted backnuckle for speed, and for some folks, it has plenty enough power, just as it is.
2 (2) ENCOUNTER WITH DANGER
(two-handed knock-down push)
As you fall onto your back, left heel kick straight up into his groin, then roll over left with a right side kick, and come up on your knees with a left back kick, the kick rebounding forward to a left front crossover as you stand up to step through cross out away from him.
1) natural stance, tuck your chin forward as you fall to keep the back of your head from bouncing on the ground as you break your fall with your hands forward and out to the side
-L vertical heel kick to groin
2) turn counterclockwise over onto your L side
-R slicing side kick to best available target
-L foot covering groin at 45º angle
3) turn counterclockwise up onto your hands and knees
-L back kick to face
-rebound L foot forward from kick, towards 5 o’clock, L front crossover
-stand up, R foot step through to 6 o’clock, pivoting counterclockwise to
L neutral bow facing 12 o’clock
As with most every technique, your most important move is your first - your initial reaction to the attack, keeping yourself safe. Here you’re knocked flat on your back, and your first attention must be paid to prevent getting knocked out. Don’t let your head bang against the pavement. Keep your head forward as you fall back. Practice falling a few times without breaking your fall at all, just so you know you can keep safe without using your hands. You would actually be safer struck at speed, so that you are knocked back just as much as down, and the skid backwards helps keep your head from striking. Use your hands, flat out, slapping the ground to break your fall. Don’t use your elbows. This is one case where practicing on the mat can lead you into a very bad habit, of using your elbows to break your fall. That response on a street would break your elbows. • After making yourself safe, the immediate next part of every technique is to use the attack against the attacker. In this case you turn the fall into a kick. • Many folks cover their groin with their right foot as they fall, with the first left heel kick. It’s not a bad idea. • If the first kick to the groin is successful, the second kick will be to the jaw. • Use the rebound from the side kick and back kick, your second and third kicks, to set you in position for the next move. In both instance, bring your knee up with the rebound from the kick. From the side kick you use the rebound to kneel, and from the back kick you use the rebound to stand up.
3 (3) CIRCLING DESTRUCTION
(step through straight left punch)
Step outside the punch with a right/left parry ending in a right backnuckle as your right foot offsteps, then offstep with your left as a left heelpalm knocks his head into a right chop that immediately grabs his chin allowing you to break his neck as you step away from him with a right scoop kick.
1) R neutral bow, R foot offstep to 1 o’clock R neutral bow, R inward parry
-L outward hooking parry (waiter’s check to attacking arm)
-R backnuckle to floating ribs
2) L foot step to 4 o’clock
-L heelpalm claw to jaw R forward bow
-R inward handsword to R side of neck R neutral bow
3) R hand cups chin, L hand brace against L shoulder
-R hand pulls back, L push breaking neck
-R front scoop kick to groin, reverse step-through to 3 o’clock
As the offstep of Reversing Mace sets up the roundhouse kick, this offstep sets up the heelpalm shot. Both serve to move you out of the direct line of attack, while setting up your attack. Most all of your earliest techniques leave the foot closest the attacker in place, and move the other. This is more stable, and a simpler, safer approach that’s practiced in Short One. • Time landing from the offstep to coincide with the backnuckle strike. • If you move fast enough, you want to catch his forward momentum with your left heelpalm claw. •The simple arc of this technique involves stepping in behind him, right/left, coordinated with right/left hand strikes, then stepping back with two right scoop attacks, to the groin, and through the chin.
4 (4) DETOUR FROM DOOM
(step-through right roundhouse kick)
Drag up to a cat stance with a left downward block and right punch to the face, then a left punch to the heart as you kick him in the groin, folding him over as you offstep up the circle and backnuckle through the stomach to hammerfist down on the neck.
1) R neutral bow, L offstep to 4:30 to R neutral bow
-universal block to kick-L downward block/R inward block
2) L foot drag up to R 45º cat
-R vertical jab punch to face
-R front kick to groin, land forward to 10:30R neutral bow as you
-R check down on L arm and
-L vertical punch to solar plexus, over R arm
3) R backnuckle to stomach, L backnuckle to head
-L hooks over back of neck, pulling down head
-L foot offstep to 3 o’clock R neutral bow
-R hand continues counterclockwise circle to R downward hammerfist to neck
Once the beginning is clear and articulated, you can speed it up a bit by combining the block, drag and strike, which gives you the advantage of him running his face onto your fist.
1) R neutral bow, L offstep to 4:30 and drag up to R 45º cat
-L downward block to kick/R vertical punch to face
2) R front kick to groin, land forward to 10:30 R neutral bow
As with Delayed Sword, learning it first as a step back with the inward block, then kick, land with the chop. Eventually those three steps will become just two- back with a block and kick, land forward with the chop. I find it much easier to do more quickly, making the first offstep into the drag up into the cat stance. • The initial left block could be extended outward or downward, depending on where the kick is headed. All those first few moves happen pretty much together- the offstep, block, drag up and punch. It’s pretty much the same first move as in Swinging Pendulum, changing the right inward block into the punch, and driving it in with dragging up into the cat stance. • Barefoot, the front kick should best be a ball kick. • Landing from the kick gives you the opportunity to collapse his right leg at the thigh with your right knee. Pulling him around by the neck as you offstep collapses his left leg. • Time the foot landing from the offstep to the hammerfist landing on the neck. • The ending is similar to Glancing Wing, which uses a diagonal downward forearm elbow punch through.
5 • SQUATTING SACRIFICE
(rear arms-free bear hug)
Scoot back to squat on his right knee and break his leg backward at the knee, dropping him on his back. Then kick your right leg over to kneel on his groin and turn around to face him, and step through forward with your left, kicking up his left arm to grab as you yank up on his right ankle and stomp on his spine, crossing out over his left arm.
1) natural stance, R foot step to 3 o’clock low horse stance
-twin downward elbow strikes to forearms, as you sit on his knee
-both hands grab his ankle
2) squat down and yank up to break his knee
3) R back kick through his face
-rebounding from the kick to 7:30 to plant your R foot by his L hip L close kneel on groin, still facing 12 o’clock
4) your hands grip his ankle, L on top, twist clockwise, flipping him onto his stomach
-pivot clockwise to face 6 o’clock R close kneel
-keep his R leg tucked against your R arm
5) L step through forward, kicking up L arm L close kneel
-L hand grab his L wrist
-R hand slide up R leg to grab R ankle
-yank up with both hands to arch back, R stomp to spine
-sweep kick to L elbow
-land with R front crossover
The attack and initial response are the same as in Crashing Wings. You may consider this as an adjustment to Crashing Wings, as with Scraping Hoof and Repeating Devastation or Twirling Sacrifice. In this case, if the elbow strikes don’t break his grip, allowing you to get around him for Crashing Wings, and he’s still holding on, this works against him, pulling you in to sit on his knee. Make sure that begins the technique, even if you look dorky pushing back into him with your behind. Sitting above the knee will immobilize him. • The ankle twist works from leverage. Your right hand grips his heel, palm up; your left hand is against his instep, palm down. Your left hand pulls down left, your right hand pulls up right. If you do this quickly enough his ankle will break as you turn him. Keep kneeling on him (now with your left knee) after the turn. • Throughout the technique, once you get him down, you control him with your close kneel. • You have the opportunity to stomp on his left wrist as you land from the right sweep kick to the elbow.
6 (5) ESCAPE FROM DEATH
(rear right arm choke)
Add a left rear elbow and hammerfist to Grip of Death as you get your left leg around behind him, then add a right knee kick following the right heel palm to the jaw.
1) natural stance, R foot step to 3 o’clock to horse stance
-turn head to L and tuck chin to prevent choke, R hand grabbing
and pulling down his R wrist
-L rear elbow to solar plexus
-L hammerfist to groin
2) Shoot L leg behind attacker, pivot counterclockwise L close kneel
-R hammerfist to groin
-L hammerfist to L kidney
3) L hand grab his hair, pull straight down
-R heelpalm to chin
-R knee kick to R thigh, land back L neutral bow
You have an opportunity for another left backnuckle strike between the hammerfists to the groin and kidney. It’d be a good time the hit through his right kidney. • The attack is similar to Grip of Death, but since the attacker is standing behind you, his arm around your throat as a choke rather than standing in front, attempting a throw, his attack presents you with different opportunities. The technique is based more on Crashing Wings, another rear grab.• If the left hand hair grab doesn’t work, you could reach over his head, stick your fingers in his eye sockets and pull back. Or you could reach your arm up over his right shoulder, and bracing your middle finger behind your forefinger, stick your finger horizontally across under his nose. This is an extremely effective pain control. Bracing the finger adds strength. Whichever method you use, keep your left elbow tucked close to your side, bring it straight down, forcing his back to arch. • Pretty much the whole technique, after taking control with the rear elbow and hammerfist, follows a counterclockwise direction.
7 (6)BRUSHING THE STORM
(right flank step-through right overhead club)
Parry the club as you step into him with a right heelpalm and right elbow, then around behind him as you pick up his foot and push him over, then kick to his groin and leg.
1) natural stance, R foot step to 2 o’clock modified R neutral bow (heel-toe line)
-L inward parry to R wrist
-R heelpalm to chin
2) L step-through to 2 o’clock L neutral bow
-L inward parry to R elbow
-R downward vertical elbow to R kidney
3) R offstep to 10 o’clock L neutral bow
-L check to hip
- R hand track down R leg, picking him up below the knee
4) pull back to L 45º cat stance
-L check controlling his R leg
-R hand pulling back, stretching him off balance
-L front kick to groin, land back feet together
-R knife-edged side kick to L leg, buckling knee to the ground. land R front crossover cross out
Instead of a left step-through into the attacker I use a left front crossover to drive my right elbow down into his ribs. The crossover allows you to get more weight into the attack. The step-through actually pulls back your right shoulder. However, with the step-through your left foot is already in position for the next move as you right step back. Still, this works better for me:
2) L front crossover to 2 o’clock, land in L front twist stance with
-L inward parry to R elbow as you
-R downward vertical elbow to R kidney
The attacker holds on to the club throughout the technique, and this could be a problem as you kick out his left leg. He could use that to begin a turn to the left, swinging in with the club. You can prevent this by making your control of his right leg into an ankle break:
4) pull back to L 45º cat stance
- R hand slides down along his foot, palm up against the top of his foot
- L check pushing down on heel of his foot, allowing an ankle break as right hand pushes left, and left pushes right
You are facing 12 o’clock, the attacker steps through from 3 o’clock. You end up in a modified neutral bow, heel-toe, the same stance used in Staff Set, just before the butterfly kicks. • The inward parry should push on the club-holding hand. An unarmed inward block needs to be above the elbow, to prevent getting hit the face by a collapsed elbow. With a club the range is much greater, and it’s the wrist joint that must be controlled. • Your right arm heelpalm goes under the left arm parry. • The Ed Parker technique writes the downward vertical strike to the solar plexus, which would be possible if the attacker has not stepped through with the attack, and his chest, not his right side is facing you. The elbow to the love handle is based on figuring that’s the most likely target. Take the best opportunity he offers. • Mr. Parker also continued the downward elbow movement into a right heelpalm to the groin, as you track down to pick up the right leg. Look for any available target as you manipulate the attacker into the position you want him. There are many changed details in many of the techniques, between the written Parker version and ours, or most any other being taught. But they generally all follow the same path.
8 • MENACING TWIRL
(rear left hand pulling belt grab)
Drop into him as he pulls you back, your downward block breaking his grip as you heelpalm his chin, continuing into him with left knee/right knee kicks, scraping down his leg to stomp his foot as you land.
1) natural stance, R footsteps back to 7:30 R rear twist stance
-R outward downward block to grabbing arm
-L hand middle check
2) unwind clockwise to R neutral bow facing 6 o’clock (and attacker)
-L heelpalm to chin
3) step through L knee kick to groin
-step-through R knee roundhouse kick to inside R thigh
-R scraping stomp down R leg to instep
If he’s pulling you back, you step back into him. If the attacker is lifting you up, you simply drop your weight. Either way you use marriage of gravity, and your response is not limited to only one type of attack. • The step back to a right rear twist stance gives marriage of gravity to the move, making the downward block stronger. It’s also less strain on the left knee. However, many folks do just fine turning immediately to the right neutral bow, with a nearly simultaneous right block and left heelpalm.• Mr. Parker’s technique is written with the right knee roundhouse coming from planting your left leg after it’s knee kick. In other words, not as a step-through, but more like a hop switch. This would work well on a larger opponent, were his weight could jam you up, keep him from moving back with the step-through. But it loses your forward momentum and the power of the drive. Another possibility at this point is driving your right knee kick straight into his groin, instead of the thigh. It’s undeniable that this would hurt more, but the roundhouse knee to the thigh starts him turning, opening him for the right inward elbow that takes him down. The roundhouse knee to the thigh continues the circular progression that has a pleasant ring to it.
9 (7) LEAP FROM DANGER
(rear two-hand high push)
Take his shove forward into a right shoulder roll, coming up turning to face him, and coming back at him with a roundhouse and spinning back kick.
1) natural stance, R shoulder roll forward to 12 o’clock
-stepping out R foot to L neutral bow facing back to 6 o’clock
2) offstep L to 4:30
-R roundhouse kick to solar plexus
-land forward to 4:30feet together as you turn counterclockwise into
- L spinning back kick to ribs
One of the joys of this technique is to trail your left leg as you dive forward into the shoulder roll, enabling you to slip in a heel kick to the groin or face. • The left offstep is a gauging step to set you up for the roundhouse to the solar plexus. You may find it necessary to hop a bit more forward or back depending on his pursuit. But always keep it in, as a habit, to be used as needed.
10 (8) CIRCLES OF PROTECTION
(step through right overhead punch)
Step into him your right circles up to block and your left checks his depth with a heelpalm to the face, your left hand then continuing to circle outward to check down his left arm and continuing on to backnuckle to the face as your right hand circles outward to knock away his punch and strike to the groin.
1) natural stance, L step forward to 10:30 to L forward bow
-R upward block to punch
-L heelpalm to face
2) L neutral bow
-L claw through the face continuing outward to pin R arm to body
-R hand circle outward to R upward heelpalm claw to groin & grab testicles
-L hand continues circle to check over R forearm
3) L foot shuffle forward, L neutral bow
-L hand continues circle to L backnuckle to face
-R hand yanks back on testicles
We start the technique driving forward with the left heelpalm, and continue on with the circles, right and left. Mr. Parker held back on the heelpalm, bring the left into action as an outward heelpalm claw through the face with the shift to the left neutral bow. Both ways make use of the attackers forward motion, with a split second difference in response. • The groin grab will bring his face down into the backnuckle, and the coordination of the yank and strike will ensure that his nose his heading down as your knuckles head up. However, the technique works just fine as a heelpalm strike followed by a backnuckle if you find the sensation of pulling on gonads to be off-putting.
11 (9)CIRCLE OF DOOM
(right step-through front kick)
Lean back to a reverse bow as you hook his kick out to the right with an outward block, opening up his groin for a right vertical rear heel kick, followed by a left hooking kick to his head.
1) R neutral bow, lower R arm, dropping your guard
-pivot L to R reverse bow as he kicks
-circle R hand upward into R vertical outward block, catching his kicking leg, continuing the circle into an R extended outward block, dumping his leg to your R
-R vertical rear heel kick to groin
2) land R foot by L, continue pivot counterclockwise
-L hooking heel kick to face
-land L front crossover
The first move, from the fighting stance with your guard up, simply lowers your guard to invite the kick. The whole technique is basically a left turn queued by the kick. As he kicks you begin to pivot left, evading the kick, continue left to the right heel kick while his foot is still in the air, and continue counterclockwise with the hook kick. • Your right hand could pick up his kick anywhere from your groin to your face • Make sure you get in your right heel kick before his foot hits the ground. You could also use a rear stiff legged kick to the groin, depending on range and your knees. • The hooking kick goes to the face assuming he’s going down from the groin kick, but any target will do. • Continuing the circle to land with the left front crossover keeps you from ever having to turn your back on the attacker.
12 • BROKEN GIFT
(right handshake)
Step into him grabbing his wrist with your left as you flap up your left elbow for an arm break and then immediately step back, twisting his wrist clockwise and passing it off to your left hand to yank him down as your right hammerfist bounces off his broken elbow into his face, followed by your right inward elbow.
1) natural stance, R hand grab his grabbing R hand
-L hand grab R wrist
-L foot step into him to 1 o’clock to L neutral bow
-use the L hand as a fulcrum, pull down with R hand, flap up L elbow up into his elbow
2) L hand as an oarlock, R hand twist clockwise
-L step back to7 o’clock to R neutral bow
3) L hand grip R wrist, yank him off balance past L hip
-R hammerfist through elbow to R backnuckle to face
4) L foot offstep to 4 o’clock to R neutral bow
-R inward horizontal elbow to jaw
This technique can be a what-if, as though you attempted Gift of Destruction and he used a left check or something similar against your right knee kick. Prevented from advancing on the right, you simply land back, and step forward on the left. Of course, you can simply begin with Broken Gift, if you like. • The left hand grabs down as you break the elbow, helping the right hand as it pulls down to break the elbow. then it becomes a fulcrum, acting like an oarlock, an open hook between forefinger and thumb, pushing up as you step back, the right hand twisting the wrist in the open loose grip of the left. • If you are dealing with an attacker of the same size, your left elbow ill be directly under his elbow. • You might have the opportunity to attack his right knee with your left knee, turning him sideways to you to aid in straightening out his arm. • The right hammerfist to the upturned elbow is gravy – the backnuckle to the face is the strong shot, and if it seems like the elbow hit will dissipate the face hit, skip the first strike. The backnuckle will be strongest when it coincides with landing in the right neutral bow. • If the right temple is available as a target, take it. It’s conceivable that he could be turning his face right as he falls, and offering you a shot at the left temple. In either case it’s a less protected part of skull, and a better target than most others. • You could end with a right downward inward block to his still-stretched out arm as well, if that’s a better opportunity than the elbow. • Aaron, a student over on Walnut Street, uses a kind of grinding pushing twist of the right inward elbow to wrench the head, instead of a strike. It’s very effective, and good to use in class since it allows a great deal of control.
13 • HEAVENLY ASCENT
two-handed choke)
Step into him, driving your fists through his chin and breaking his grip with your shoulders- then coming down with a right backnuckle and left claw through his face, and coming back up with a right punch to the throat.
1) natural stance, R step forward to 12 o’clock to R forward bow
-double fist to the chin, shooting your arms straight up to shed his grab down over your shoulders, then pivot L to
2) R neutral bow with
-R downward backnuckle to face, and continue to pivot R to
3) R forward bow as you
-L downward heelpalm claw to face then pivot back L to
4) R neutral bow with
-R upward half-fist to throat
-L middle check
This technique follows Thrusting Wedge, figuring that your attacker has a grip on you. Thrusting Wedge is more effective, breaking apart his grip with your advancing forearms, before he gets a firm hold. Mr. Parker wrote this as beginning the same way, breaking the choke with the upward wedge strike against his forearms to break the choke. We’ve figured that didn’t work, trying Thrusting Wedge, and progress to simply shooting your arms straight up, putting the power of your upper back and shoulders, against his hands. Which should help, making it impossible for him to keep his hands together. • The double fist can be two fists coming up, or Larry Tatum uses as massive sort of left over right fist, and some students use a left heelpalm, right uppercut, and in class it seems to work without any strike at all, breaking the grip with your shoulders. • Mr. Parker also used the upward elbow, as you turn into a horse stance after the wedge. • The stance changes feed the power of the hits, but you needn’t slow down for them. Basically you step into his attack, shooting straight up, then circle down to the right, and end shooting straight up.
14 (10) CAPTURING THE STORM
(right step-through overhead club)
Step into the attack grabbing the club-holding hand and yank him into you, then step through forward, redirecting the club through his knee, then as you step through again pull the club out of his hand to strike down on his extended arm.
1) natural stance, L step forward to 11 0’clock to horse stance
-cross-handed parry (R hand over L) to wrist, continuing his swing
- R hand turns clockwise, both hands grab his wrist (palms facing out) and yank him towards 6 (the direction he’s headed)
-R foot step through forward to 11 o’clock, continuing his club swing through his R knee, forward to up over your head, inverse R neutral bow (heel-toe line still facing towards 11)
- L hand continues to grab wrist, R hand slides down to pull club out of his hand forward to 12 o’clock
-L foot step through forward to 9 o’clock, pivot counterclockwise to R neutral bow
2) R hand continues counterclockwise circle to R downward club to elbow
The initial parry is the obverse of Raining Lance, which is left over right, In that technique the right arm acts as a shield, the left as a parry. Here, the hands cross to trap the attacker’s wrist, as in Obstructing the Storm. • Basically the move is three steps forward as you turn around, turning him around. You cannot stop the momentum at any point. All techniques use the attack against the attacker, but in this case it is one swing – you simply continue his swing. • Make sure to continue your circle with the club forward as you step, so that you don’t end up the club over your head, arching your back as you try to turn. In which case you’d probably fall over backwards.
15 • CONQUERING SHIELD
(left bent arm lapel grab)
Step into him with a kick to the knee and a punch to the face, land from the kick using your elbow to pull him down then rebound your elbow up into his chin, then exit with a claw down through the face.
1) natural stance, L hand pins his grabbing hand to your chest
-R front kick to R knee
-R inward block to R arm/R vertical punch to face
2) land forward R neutral bow
-R downward elbow to R arm, pulling him down
-R upward elbow to chin
3) R downward heelpalm claw to face
-R front crossover to 7:30
You can’t use Lone Kimono because his arm is already bent, perhaps pulling you in, which offers you the opportunity to use that pull against him, driving forward with the right kick and punch. In that way this provides a “what-if” scenario to a left lapel grab. It could also be a simple preference. You could also use this technique in the exact same circumstance as Lone Kimono, with his arm straight, and add in a step back that rebounds into a drag-kick forward, kinda like the Lone Kimono extension of First Brown techniques, but with your right arm over his right, rather than under. • There’s an opportunity for another elbow strike, a downward vertical elbow as you land from the upward elbow to the chin. If he’s still in range you have a chance to land an elbow to the throat or neck before the heelpalm claw. • The inward block/straight punch is the same sort of compound hit that was used in Darting Mace. •
16 • TAMING THE MACE
(step through straight right punch)
Step forward outside the punch with a left parry as your right hand chops his arm, backnuckles the face, then grabs on to pull him down as you rear crossover forward to a twist stance, setting you up to unwind and throw him behind you with an inward elbow followed by a right knee kick.
1) natural stance, L foot step to 10:30
-L inward parry
-R downward chop to R bicep
2) L hand grab R wrist
-R backnuckle to temple
3) R hand grabs R shoulder
-L foot steps back to 4:30 to R front twist stance (yanking him down and off balance)
4) unwind counterclockwise to R neutral bow (slamming him into the wall behind you) with a
-R inward elbow to throat followed by a
-R roundhouse knee kick to groin
We can make effective use of a double right inward strike to help throw the guy around in 3-4. As you land in the twist stance slam him with a right inward horizontal elbow. Give him another right inward elbow to turn him. This repetition can help your propel guys much larger than you. • You can also use a wrist manipulation after the backnuckle to the head. I prefer this, and teach it first, to rely on the pain to spin the guy around. Your right hand, instead of grabbing to the shoulder, grabs his wrist, and forces him to spin round from the pain on the wrist joint. This might be your only option if his shirt provides inadequate purchase. Whatever you do, it seems to work best by first off just making it work at all, then making it work better. • Make sure to keep the momentum going, from pulling him down with the twist stance to spinning him around as you unwind. Bending your knees with the pull and turn helps maintain the drive. • We always assume that there’s a wall handy, this is written to slam him up against the convenient wall, but works just fine without it. If you have the good fortune to have a handy wall, check your depth before you start. And if you’re doing this at the studio, remember that the camera shop next door has loads of breakable things on their shelves, and are nice folks and it’d be inappropriate to inadvertently break their stuff. • The inward elbow uses the wall to sandwich the hit, and can attack any target.
17 • TWIRLING SACRIFICE
(full Nelson, fully applied)
Step out to right and scoot your left leg behind him and grabbing hold of both his legs, lift him off the ground and spin his head into a convenient hard object.
1) natural stance, as the attacker bends you over with a full Nelson
R foot step to 3 o’clock to horse stance
-shift your weight to your R foot, through a R reverse close cat stance
-shoot L foot to 8 o’clock around behind attacker’s legs to deep horse stance
-grab over attacker’s legs around knees with both arms
2) lift attacker off the ground
3) spin attacker’s head counterclockwise as you step towards a wall or other suitable final striking surface, ending with a deep L rear crossover to a R front twist stance as you crash his head into it.
Environment and balance could have an effect on using a counterclockwise or clockwise spin. Spinning the attacker counterclockwise puts your body weight behind the spin- that is, you are more pulling than pushing him. I find my balance moves much more naturally into a counterclockwise spin. A counterclockwise turn into an edge (like the corner of a wall) would mean you’re striking him up to the base of the skull rather than on the top, the former allowing much more damage.• The initial foot maneuver is the same as in Crashing Wings. Essentially hop to the right and scoot your left leg behind him. • With Scraping Hoof and Repeated Devastation, this completes a trio of what-if responses to a full Nelson. In every case you make use of the attack. Each stage of the attack presents you with a different opportunity of response. • Use your legs to take the weight, don’t try to pick him up with your back. And if he’s too heavy, just drop backwards onto the ground, driving his neck or head to the pavement with the weight of your body. Whichever direction you spin, and however you finish the technique, add your full weight to the spin and hit. • Obviously the direction of the spin depends mostly on your environment, but Ed Parker recommends a counterclockwise direction as ideal. I’m thinking that a clockwise direction not only sets you up to be striking up to the base of the skull, which is most vulnerable, but it also follows the direction of the opening right/left steps, A right step towards six o’clock following the left foot scooting to 8 o’clock behind the attacker continues the action in clockwise manner. Stepping towards 12 o’clock reverses the direction.
18 • CROSS OF DEATH
(two-hand cross choke)
Step into him punching right to face as your left checks down his hands, then left to the stomach as you right checks down his hands, your left rebounding from the uppercut to hook his arms out of the way as your right circles clockwise down through a hammerfist to the kidney and up to backnuckle to the nose.
1) natural stance, L hand pins down his right, coming up from underneath, so that your hand is between his hand and your neck
-R step forward to 12 o’clockto R neutral bow, buckling his R knee
-R inward block to elbow, breaking it, continue to R vertical punch to face
2) L uppercut to stomach
-R forearm checks down across both arms
-R forward bow
3) L hand circles counterclockwise through L vertical outward block as it strikes the opponent’s left arm, circling under in to grab his right wrist, then pushing down to pin both arms against him as you
-L foot offstep up circle to 4 o’clock R neutral bow as you
-R downward hammerfist to L kidney
4) R hand continues clockwise circle to R backnuckle to face
Another version of the final move clears the arms without pinning them to the attacker:
3) L hand circles counterclockwise through L vertical outward block, turning to L extended outward block, clearing away arms
-R neutral bow
-R downward hammerfist to L kidney
-L foot offstep up circle to 4 o’clock R neutral bow
-R hand continues clockwise circle to R backnuckle to face
•The attack consists of his left hand grabbing across to your left lapel, or something else right under your neck, then using that to brace against with the right hand, grabbing over the left to the right lapel, and leverage in your right fist, on the little finger side, to his neck. He is aiming to crush your windpipe or close off the carotid artery. Your first objective must be to keep from getting choked, ducking your chin and getting your left hand in place.• The cross choke makes use of leverage. This type of attack, of choke, will get its power from the attacker bending his arms, pulling you in. That’s what you use against him –the harder he pulls, the harder he gets hit by the right uppercut. • The circular motion of this technique is similar to Conquering Shield, but it’s more powerful to think of it as opening with a right/left combination, to the face and belly, continuing your right punch to the face as it circles down through the kidney and back up to the face. • The vertical outward block/extended outward block, the same combination as in Destructive Twins or Protecting Fans, is described (in Mr. Parker’s words that we use on the Scholar and Warrior website) as an extended outward hooking parry.
19 • SECURING THE STORM
(step-through right roundhouse club)
Left step into his swing, blocking the club with your left and punching to his face with your right, then hook your left arm over his elbow and right offstep up the circle for an arm break which throws him stumbling forward, allowing you to offstep left and shoot your right leg behind his right leg, so that your right heelpalm to the jaw takes him down.
1) natural stance, L foot step to 12 o’clock to L neutral bow
-L extended outward block to club-holding wrist
-R vertical punch to face
2) R foot offstep to 10 o’clock to L neutral bow
-hooking L arm around attacker’s R arm, L uppercut to elbow for an arm break, forcing attacker to step forward
3) Left foot offstep to 10 o’clock
-R foot scoots behind attacker’s R leg, to 6 o’clock
- R heelpalm strike to chin
- L forward bow, knocking attacker backwards to ground
With the same attack as Calming the Storm, your response is the obverse, still stepping forward with a block and checking his depth with a straight punch, but this is a bit more ballsy, stepping closer to the punch with your left. • As with the arm break manipulations of Returning the Storm and Locked Wing, use the arm break to start him moving before you step. This allows you to use the weight of your stance (marriage of gravity), and maintain your stability. Rushing it could give him the advantage. In some cases, you can throw him into your heelpalm with such force that you hardly need the step behind his leg. It’s the same step as in Crashing Wings, Basically you’re tripping him. • Some folks can pull off the step-around/heelpalm as a throw, using your right hip as a pivot. It’s not necessary, but looks mighty flashy.
20 • INTERCEPTING THE RAM
(tackle)
Meet his attack stepping in with a knee kick to his solar plexus and hammerfist to his kidney, delivering a downward elbow as he drives you back; then offstep with a downward punch to the jaw, and exit with a scoop kick.
1) natural stance, L step to 11 o’clock, R knee kick to solar plexus
-L inward block to R shoulder
-R hammerfist to R (near) kidney
2) R foot land to 7:30, L neutral bow
-L downward vertical elbow to spine
3) L foot offstep counterclockwise to 8:00 R neutral bow
-R downward thrusting punch, (fist through elbow) to L jaw
4) pivot counterclockwise R reverse cat
-R rear scoop kick to jaw
-land forward, R front crossover cross out to 7:30
You meet his attack stepping forward with your knee kick, and ride his momentum backward as you plant back with the elbow strike. Some folks, instead of checking wide to the shoulder, use a left stiff-arm heelpalm to the head, like a football block, controlling his drive by bending his neck. • As you retreat, as his momentum drives you back, you weave in front of him, left to right. You absorb his attack, using his drive to avail yourself of new targets.
21 • KNEEL OF COMPULSION
(step-through right punch from right flank)
Step into and behind the punch as you parry, ending up facing his back, grabbing on to his shoulders to pull him down as you kick out his far leg, forcing him to collapse towards an elbow sandwich.
1) natural stance, R step to 2 o’clock to inverted R neutral bow
-L inward, R outward parry to back of punching arm
2) L foot step through to 10 o’clock, pivot to face attacker’s back R neutral bow
-both hands grab shoulders
3) R foot step through back to 10 o’clock L neutral bow
-both hands pull down on shoulders
4) R step-through knife-edged side kick to L knee, land forward to 4 o’clock R neutral bow, forcing him to collapse and spin into
-R inward horizontal elbow
-L bracing check for elbow sandwich to head
This technique can be used to supplant Backbreaker if you fail to get a good enough grip on his shoulders to be able to yank him back into your right knee kick. Kneel of Compulsion will work even if you cannot grab his shoulders at all, and your hands simply slip down his back. However, it will work best with the grab. • The inverted neutral bow means a heel-toe line rather than a toe-heel line. It’s the same stance as in Staff Set, just before the butterfly kicks. • Make sure the right outward parry comes up above the attacker’s elbow, to prevent getting hit in the face with his elbow. • Your right hand will be able to grab his right should before you pivot around to be able to grab with the left. Grabbing him with your right as soon as possible will allow you to control and turn him. • Both hands pulling back down on his shoulders will pull him off balance and arch his back, putting all his weight on his heels, so that he can’t move just before the kick. • The printed version of Mr. Parker’s Bow of Compulsion has the right step in, left step through, and right step through forward all going to two o’clock, as you spiral forward into his attack, followed by landing then to 8 o’clock after the side kick. That would work well with an opponent smaller than you, whose momentum you could control with your parries.
22 • CLIPPING THE STORM
(step-through right thrusting club)
Step forward outside the punch as you chop to the arm and wrist, then step through forward as you chop to throat and heelpalm the chin.
1) natural stance, L foot step forward to 11 o’clock L neutral bow
-L downward chop to attacker’s forearm
-R handsword cocked to R ear
2) R downward chop to L wrist L forward bow
3) L outward handsword to throat R foot step through to R 45º cat
4) R foot step out to 11 o’clock R neutral bow behind his R leg
-R heelpalm to chin
-L hand check high
This technique is a whole lot like Darting Mace. • In Mr. Parker’s written version the chop to the throat occurs with a stance change from forward back to neutral stance, and the heelpalm is with the right step through. Our version assumes that your range is still at your left heelpalm to his forearm, and that a left chop to the throat wouldn’t reach without the step-through to a cat stance. • You could also do the final right step-out with the heelpalm going into the attacker, as with Darting Mace, rather than behind him.
23 • GLANCING WING
(left uppercut punch)
Punch straight to the face while blocking his punch with an inward block then hook his arm out of the way with your left, so your right can hammerfist the kidney and then, as you offstep up the circle, your left circles back to grab and pull his head along with you, your right circling back in to punch straight down through his held-captive jaw.
1) R neutral bow, shuffle forward R inward downward block to forearm
-L vertical thrusting punch to face
2) L hand circles clockwise to hook back of arm
--R hammerfist to L floating rib
3) L outward handsword to neck, hooking around back of neck
-L foot offstep counterclockwise to 4:30 R neutral bow
-L hand pulling head down
-R downward punch (fist to elbow) through jaw
As you step up the circle, pull his head up against the outside of your right knee, destroying his base, and holding him tight to the punch. • The general flow of this technique drives you straight in to the attacker, then circling out right and in left, both hands moving together in interlocking circles. • Mr. Parker’s written version uses an uppercut punch to the left ribcage, rather than a downward hammerfist. • The ending is mighty similar to Detour from Doom, which uses a hammerfist to the back of the neck.
24 • THE BACK BREAKER
(step-through right punch from right flank)
Step into and behind the punch as you parry, ending up facing his back, grabbing on to his shoulders to yank him back into a knee to the spine, dropping him on your knee as you heelpalm his chin, break his neck, chop his throat, backnuckle his collarbones and claw through his face as you let him drop to the ground, then heel stomp to the collarbone before you cross out.
1) natural stance, R step to 2 o’clock to inverted R neutral bow
-L inward, R outward parry to back of punching arm
2) L foot step through to 10 o’clock, pivot to face attacker’s back R neutral bow
-both hands grab shoulders
3) R foot step through back to 10 o’clock L neutral bow, yank him into
-R knee kick to lower spine
-land back to 10 o’clock L neutral bow
-slam attacker down on bended L knee
4) R heelpalm to jaw, hook jaw and
- pull back L hand bracing against R shoulder, breaking his neck
-R inward handsword to bridge of nose
6) L foot step back, R reverse close kneel, allowing attacker to fall on his back as you whip hands around inward to R & L backnuckle strikes to collarbones
7) as he lands face up and you turn L into him to R reverse close kneel, again turning hands to
-L & R heelpalm claws counterclockwise through face as he falls
-R heel stomp to R collarbone, straightening leg to R reverse bow
Instead of simply grabbing his shoulders in (2), land a double chop to his collarbones, then grab. • Backbreaker shares the same attack and beginning with Kneel of Compulsion. • You might be able to get in an extra whack to his jaw at the very end, with your left heel as you pivot to the reverse close kneel.