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Constituents of Contact Manipulation - Part 2

By Mr. Todd Durgan

(continued from previous issue)

These three elements of a lock are very commonly applied through out the Kenpo system as individual elements as well as in conjunction with one another. Most commonly though as individual elements, in the application of striking and blocking and more commonly used for "zone cancellation". The freestyle technique "B1a" is a good example of a grab and pull combined without the use of a fulcrum for the purpose of "zone cancellation". In this technique the grab and pull are also being used as a catalyze to expose the intended target on the opponent. In the technique "Mace of Aggression" we see the use of a grab or more precisely "pinning check" used in conjunction with both a push (applied as a strike) and a pull (frictional) to regulate the "distance" between attacker and defender, the push (strike) by itself will most certainly send the opponent reeling back and away from us, where as the push combined with the grab (pinning check) allows us to maintain control of our opponent and regulate or control the distance he/she can move away from us.

Although the frictional pull alone will bring them closer, the "pinning check" combined with the frictional pull again allows us to regulate or determine not only the distance or range between us, but also the speed at which our opponent will move forward into the next strike. These three elements do not have to be applied by the defender directly to achieve the result of a lock or hold, in fact it can be a combination of these three elements applied by both the offense and defense to obtain a lock or hold. Example: Darting Mace, in the technique Darting Mace the attack itself gives us the grab (attacker) as we move into the technique we see that the grab of the opponent very clearly is not only the fulcrum for the arm break, it is also the pulling portion of the technique, taking us right into the push (punch) phase of the control of the depth zones of our opponent. Depending on the application or angle of attack of the "darting" portion, or first strike of the "compound strike" we can also see, if we freeze the motion at that first strike, that there is in fact an "armbar" or lock, for as long as the opponent will maintain the grab on the wrist. A perfect or more obvious example of this armbar can be found in "The Grasp of Death". The Grasp of Death is our first real introduction to joint locks sustained and used for the purpose of "zone cancellation", "control manipulation", and transferring a lock from using the limbs as a fulcrum and lever to using one limb and the body. This technique teaches us how we can use the body as a fulcrum in conjunction with the limbs of our body to maintain and control the depth of action of our opponent, or in this case maintain "zone cancellation" for the duration of time that it takes to execute the reverse punch to the back of the head. It can very easily be said that "anytime you have two actions going in two different directions or overlapping whether circular or linear or one of each, you have the potential for a lock, hold, choke, strangulation, takedown, punch, strike, block, and kick etc...

All to often, the beginning practitioner, focused on the achievement of gaining rank over looks the potential to learn from all aspects of the techniques, forms, and freestyle. Meaning that the next requirement is important not the true and complete knowledge of the aforementioned. Not that this is wrong, quite the contrary, in fact often times these "keys" or "master keys" of the system or martial arts do not reveal themselves until other elements are in line, thus an individual can not grasp or understand all that has been presented or taught to them by the instructor, until they get the next set of basic motion or principles and concepts. The reality of it all is that a person should be focused on personal growth and achievement in the aspect of being better able to defend themselves, family, and country, as well as share and pass on that knowledge to fellow students and martial artists.

Continued in next issue...

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