January/February 1998

Issue 1

Having taken considerable time to explore, though not fully, the possibilities of the existing motion in conjunction with the principles and concepts inherent to the American Kenpo System as they apply to “contact manipulation” or more precisely, locks, takedowns, chokes/strangulations and nerves/pressure points to your opponent at a close range. I have come to the conclusion that all of the existing motion and or principles will in fact lead us to a greater understanding of the Constituents of Contact Manipulation and Control Manipulation without the need to directly study any other like-minded system. The American Kenpo System does in fact contain all elements and applications of the aforementioned categories within either the motion or principles of the system. The combination of principles and physical motion of the Kenpo System hold a great many “keys” and “master keys” to other areas not yet explored in the martial arts, besides the Constituents of Contact Manipulation. What I am very simply attempting to do, is point out “how” and “why” this is possible in the area of (only) “contact manipulation”.

Category 1 - Locks
Locks, according to the Encyclopedia of Kenpo© is defined as "Moves that immobilize the joints or other body parts of your opponent, and restrain him from taking further action. They combine methods of pushing, pulling, and grabbing.” Let us consider the application of "locks" according to the definition given here, as it pertains to the American Kenpo System. By breaking down each individual method of locking and using them in numerous applications outside of an actual lock, or looking at where they are used already without being applied as a lock. We can then see how it is that we are able to utilize these methods, individually or together, to create the desired effect whether it be for a lock or simply as an embryonic principle or motion. This can be accomplished by combining two or more of the aforementioned methods combined together outside of their traditional context and application within the system.

A push by itself is really no more than a push and in fact will only give you the effect of moving something away from you in what ever direction the object or person was pushed, however the result of a push combined with a fulcrum and or lever will give much greater results. The same can be said for a pull, the physical act of pulling something inward or towards yourself is fairly harmless in the aspect of control or "joint manipulation", but, combined with a fulcrum and or lever we again see a dramatic increase in the results of that pulling action. The grab, any grabbing action employed can quickly be turned into a push or pull whether it be simultaneous with the grab or executed immediately after the grab. As well as being quickly turned into a fulcrum and lever combination.

Continued in next issue...

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