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Constituents of Contact Manipulation - Part 3

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Constituents of Contact Manipulation - Part 3

By Todd M. Durgan

(continued from previous issue)

Category 2 - Takedowns
Takedowns are not that far from being the same as locks, in the application, where a push, pull, or grab are concerned. In fact, takedowns can be accomplished with the use of all of the above in any combination and order. Takedowns always consist of, in one way or another, a push, pull, grab, or fulcrum and lever. The exception to this, would be a strike down. Strike downs are considered takedowns but defined separately as, "striking your opponent to the ground, his/her injury occurs instantly, as well as with the resultant impact with the ground. Strike downs are often counterbalanced with buckles". The buckle would act as the fulcrum for the lever (strike) or visa versa, to insure effectiveness, and although we cannot see a maintenance of control, there is nevertheless a fulcrum and lever. Within the "American Kenpo System" we can find many applications of both, strike downs and takedowns. While strike downs do hold many "keys" to "contact manipulation" it is in fact the takedown that holds a great many more "master keys" in the application of "contact manipulation". Within the technique, "The grasp of Death" we again can see how the fulcrum and lever (armbar) is used not just to control the opponents zones, but the side effect or "incidental" is a takedown, depending of coarse, on the intent. In the technique "Dance of Death", we find a definite fulcrum and lever within the takedown portion of the technique. In "Circling the Horizon" the takedown has no apparent locking application that would or could lead us to a control of the opponent. This takedown does however maintain the concept of a fulcrum and lever applied for the purpose of taking an opponent to the ground. Depending on how you apply the fulcrum and lever this particular takedown can also be considered or applied as a "strike down" vs. a takedown.

Takedowns are often times a more difficult maneuver because the employment of the actual takedown involves more agility and balance as well as timing. It is the combination of these and other elements that generally make a takedown more difficult for the beginning practitioner. When we add the element of "control" in conjunction with or at the end of the takedown, it becomes an increasingly more difficult or sophisticated maneuver. In the technique, "Brushing the Storm" we can see the use of a class 1 lever for the partial takedown and control, the need for timing and balance to obtain proper control of the opponent, within this technique we also see how we can use the fulcrum and lever to adjust the opponents height, depth, or width to change the opponents relative position for better access to other targets on the opponent. We also see the relationship between the application of "contact manipulation" and the striking of the Kenpo System. "Reversing Circles" shows us how we can use a "wrist lock" to take an opponent to the ground, and control them with that same wrist lock once they are down. The utilization of this lock for a takedown allows us to control, more readily, the speed as well as the direction of travel of our opponent into the ground. The opponents position relative to us can also be controlled through the proper application of the "wrist lock", and lastly, we can change the takedown to a throw by simply increasing the speed of the action or through the use of orbital adjustment within the takedown itself.

Within many techniques in the Kenpo System we see occasions where we may fluctuate from control or "control maintenance" to striking or visa versa. This allows us to not only overcome the opponent, but the opportunity to determine or dictate how exactly we will go about doing so, and the ability to change from one technique to another or from one height, width, or depth zone to another, through the use of control or contact manipulation whether inserted suffixed or prefixed within the technique. The ability to take an opponent down from any angle and at any point in the technique obviously increases our ability to dictate the outcome of an event. We can call this "variable expansion" or the "formulation" phase of the Kenpo System. Practicing particular techniques within the Kenpo System gives a practitioner, "unconsciously", the knowledge and ability to perform takedowns via the use of fulcrums and levers anywhere within a technique, with or without inserts, prefixes, or suffixes, to achieve the positioning necessary for the takedown. Through repetitive use of these basic elements we gain greater understanding and comprehension of the principles and concepts of takedowns as they apply to combat situations.

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