Family Martial Arts Center

 

Technique Variation

In the Parker system of Kenpo Karate there are seven basic things one can do to change a technique.  They are:

  1. Prefix
  2. Suffix
  3. Add
  4. Delete
  5. Insert
  6. Alter (or Vary)
  7. Rearrange

Let's take some examples from the original Freestyle Techniques to see how Mr. Parker chose to demonstrate these concepts.

B1a

In B1a you are in a left neutral bow facing a partner who is also in a left neutral bow.  You rotate to a left forward bow as your left hand grabs your partner's left (forward) arm and pulls it diagonally downward.  Settle into the forward bow with a right vertical punch towards his head.   We'll use this motion as our standard move, our reference move, for the first two examples.
 
1. Prefix:
This is the execution of a move prior to the standard move.  In this example we could execute a left front (or roundhouse) kick prior to the standard move.
 
2. Suffix:
This is the execution of a move after the standard move.  In this example we could execute a left front (or roundhouse) kick after the standard move.
 

B5aPhK

In B5a you are in a left neutral bow facing a partner who is also in a left neutral bow.  You execute a right forward step-thru into a right neutral bow (facing your partner) as your left hand grabs your partner's left (forward) arm and pulls it diagonally downward.  Settle into the right neutral bow with a right vertical punch towards his head.   Rotate into a right forward bow as your right hand hooks his left arm away from his centerline and deliver a left vertical punch to the solar-plexus.  Draw your right foot into a reverse cat transition and execute a right back kick to any open target.  We'll use this motion as our standard move for the next several examples.
 
3. Add:
This refers to delivering a move during the execution of the standard move while changing the timing of the standard move.  In this example we could add a right back-knuckle strike prior to the right back kick.  This would create B5aPbkhK.
 
4. Delete:
This refers to eliminating part of the standard move, thus changing the timing of the standard move.
In this example we could eliminate the left punch.  This would create B5ahK.
 
5. Insert:
This refers to delivering a move during the execution of the standard move without changing the timing of the standard move.  In this example we could insert a right glancing forearm strike upward and against our partner's left elbow joint while stepping forward and just prior to the right punch.
 
6. Alter:
Altering refers to changing either the weapon(s) or the target(s) of the standard move.  We could alter our standard move several ways: (a) we could alter our weapon: execute the left punch and draw our right foot to our left foot and deliver a left back kick, (b) we could alter our target: deliver the left punch to the face, or (c) we can change both the weapon and the target by replacing the left vertical punch with a left heel palm strike to the chin.
 
7. Rearrange:
Rearrangement refers to changing the order of the pieces in the standard move.  In this example we rearrange the pieces of the standard move to create B5ahKP. 
 
Further study of these seven concepts and how Mr. Parker used them in the creation of the Kenpo techniques will provide you with additional insights into the Kenpo base structure.

 

 

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