Kenpo Karate Various Insights - Dr. Len's Kenpo Page

Kenpo Karate Insights

A "block" can be thought of as motion that stops or deflects

an object in motion with no intent to cause injury.

There are three types of blocking:

(1) force against force,

(2) force riding force,

(3) neutral force.

A reverse bow only increases distance for your upper body.

Stances acquire their names from the opponent's line of sight.

A stance is a frozen transition.

The belt may show it, but that doesn't mean you know it.

To hear is to doubt, to see is to be deceived,

but to feel is to believe.

Basics are the single moves.

When straddling the paddle, cancel the opponent's height zone.

In general, the only time we violate the point of origin rule

is when performing a hand isolation.

The seven methods of execution are: thrusting, snapping,

whipping, slicing, clawing (raking),

hammering, and hooking.

Environment involves what is around you, on you,

and in you at the time of confrontation.

In - Out, Up - Down

The only moves we perform that are both the opposites and reverses of each other.

For example, the opposite of the concept "in" is "out", and the reverse of inward

motion is outward motion; the opposite of the concept "up" is "down",

and the reverse of upward motion is downward motion.

"Opposite" refers to mirror image (left vs. right), while

"reverse" is a direct return to the point of origin.

The three horizontal zones (Height Zones) of protection are:

(1) top of the head to the solar-plexus,

(2) solar-plexus to a point just below the groin,

(3) point just below the groin to the floor.

The four vertical zones (Width Zones) of protection are:

(1) outside of the shoulder to the middle

of the center of the chest,

(2) middle of the center of the chest

to the centerline,

(3) centerline to the middle of

the center of the chest,

(4) middle of the center of the chest to the

outside of the shoulder.

The seven Depth Zones are:

(1) forward hand and forward foot,

(2) forward elbow and forward knee,

(3) forward shoulder,

(4) forward side of the head,

(5) rear elbow,

(6) rear shoulder and rear knee,

(7) rear foot.

All stances (other than the NB) are transitional.

Think of a close kneel stance as a front twist stance with your front foot pointing in the opposite direction. A direct push will move an opponent straight back, while a cross or straight push will both move him back and spin him. In Deflecting Hammer you remain on-line and the opponent is moved off-line. In Reversing Mace you move off-line and the opponent remains on-line. The vertical outward block can be considered the crossroads of the blocking hand, just like the cat stance can be considered the crossroads of foot maneuvers. If your knee kick has a balance point, it has no bracing angle. If your right fist is chambered near your right hip, you are in punching position. If your right fist is chambered near your left hip, you are in back-knuckle position. Striking soft targets generally causes the opponent to contract, while striking hard targets generally causes the opponent to expand. Inward blocks always use direct rotation. Look for two examples of counter-rotation in Short Form 1. Think about it: In Short 1, step away. In Long 1, step in. In Short 2, step in. In Long 2, step away. Think about it: Thrusting Wedge, Circles of Protection, Blinding Sacrifice A leap is when both feet leave the ground at the same time and you land on either one leg or both legs. A hop is going from one leg to the same leg. A jump is going from one leg to the other leg.

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