10 Principles of White Tiger Kenpo:

The last two Principles we are going to talk about are Spatial Summation and Transitional Flow.
Spatial Summation is a case of 2 + 2 = 5, due to the physiology of the human body the brain pain threshold is triggered and the body will feel more pain when hit with fast multiply strikes to different areas of the body, than a single hard strike to the body.
This is what every White Tiger Kenpo student should strive to be able to do and that is Transitional Flow. By this we mean that you can flow from one technique into next without stopping or using jerking action.
A sign of a good Kenpo stylist is when you cannot tell where one technique ends and another begins.
A good way to practice this is to learn and understand your Kenpo kata as these will teach you how to move from one technique to the next.

Instructors Cornor: Leading Centers

After learning how to read Set points the next important concept you need to learn is reading an opponents by learning to read there tells. A tell is also what we call a Leading Center this is something an attacker will do right before they initiate or attack.
A leading center is something as simple as droppring their lead hand before they throw a kick,switch from a right lead to a left lead, chnage there facial expresion, blinking, puff up their checks change there eye contact and so on.
By learning to read someone’s Leading center, especially someone who is trying to hide there Leading center the guy on the street will be almost a joke due to the fact that they will be so easy to read.

The best way to practice this is when you work out with your parner tell them what the do right before they throw a punck or kick, let them know what made you move or react to what you saw. By doing this you will find out what your weaknesses are and then learn to get rid of them. You will not only learn how and what to look for but you will also learn to hide your own tells.

keep in mind when sparring to be relaxed and react to what you see

Instructors Corner: Set Point

Set Point control strategies are invaluable in any combat situation, but first let us define exactly what, “Set Point” is. There are five components that are needed for your opponent to be ‘Set”.

The 1st one is distance, your opponent must be within the Critical Distance line and able to initiate there attack otherwise they are not a threat to you if they cannot hit you.

2nd the Line of Fire or the Red Zone, your opponent must be lined up with you and have you in their sites in order to initiate the attack if you are off to the left or right of them then they are not able to strike you at that angle.

3rd they must have the proper aim.

4th Balance; they must have proper balance physically and in a strong ready position.

5th your opponent must be in the correct state of mind or able to do an Educated Technique, which is where they can gain time and distance while neutralizing your position in the process.

In order to counter a Set point there are two things you can do 1st is movement, by moving to the outside, inside or off to one side or the other, your opponent will need to change their line of fire and aim during this transitional state they will no longer get set, so therefore they will not be able to strike. The 2nd thing you can do is use firepower, as soon as you see them set go in with a double jab or a forward leg wheel kick and neutralize their technique.
In conclusion what you want to learn to watch for is for your opponent’s set point. Remember that is when your opponent is the most dangerous. Try and draw an imaginary line around your opponent’s foot, the spot at which they place his foot they will be at their set point. By using firepower and movement you will be able to prevent them from setting in which case while they are in a transitional move you will be able to attack them.

10 Principles of Kenpo Jujits part IIII

The next two principles we are going to cover this week are Power Patterns and Timing and Speed as these two go hand in hand. The first power pattern we are going to talk about is Linear power this one will be used when you are going to strike in a straight line such as seen in Kenpo Shield or Attacking the Circle B. When developing linear power your back leg should go into a hard bow stance. Your forward knee should be bent and the back leg is locked out, with the heel on the floor. As with all power patterns this is a transitional motion, once you have thrown the strike go back to your fighting stance. Circular power is going into a softbow or going from softbow to softbow. Examples of this power pattern can be seen in Returning Dragon and kimono Grab. The last power pattern is drop of body weight, in this instance you can end up in a softbow or by lowering your horse stance. For example the ending of Returning Dragon, after you have knee your opponent in the body you check the head drop to softbow as you are doing a downward elbow strike to the opponents back. Dropping into a lower horse stance, can be seen in Armbar, by dropping your body weight you are adding more pressure to the lock. Some techniques will use a combination of power patterns such as in Returning Dragon; you are using circular power for the strikes then drop of body weight when you strike the elbow in the back.
Even though the power patterns are important the timing and speed is critical to the execution of Kenpo techniques. If your timing is not right the power pattern will not work and you will not have the speed you need to complete the technique. When talking about timing we are talking two actions the 1st is the timing of a strike for example when you throw a punch you want to make sure you do not turn your arm over until the elbow leaves the rib cage. If you rotate the arm too soon you are not going to have the maximum power in the strike as you would if you timed it correctly. You also have the timing of your strike and power pattern. The two should work as one move not two separate moves. When you throw a reverse punch the hand should be coming out of chamber as you are pivoting into hard bow, as your strike hits your opponent you should be competing the hard bow at that very second, if you strike to early or to late then you will not have your body weight behind the strike just your own muscle power.
There are 3 types of speed but this week we are only going to talk about explosive speed or reaction speed. By this we mean how fast you can react to what you see and get into the proper position. By having the proper speed and timing you will have the power that must be implemented at the time when your opponent moves to proper positioning.
Remember you must have a proper power pattern, proper timing and speed in order to have a proper technique. Without any one of these the technique may not work correctly or be there when you need it.

10 Principles of White Tiger Kenpo Jujits pt III

Positioning Vs. Blocking:

“Knowing the place and the time of the coming battle, we may concentrate from the greatest distances in order to fight.”

This is one of the most important principles to remember. Position will always be more important than blocking, with proper positioning you will be beyond the point of contact when the strike arrives, the block may not be necessary.
The primary advantages to positioning over blocking are it will be harder for your opponent to set you up or sucker punch you. You know if you are in the right position you are not going to get hit. By positioning you will have the time to recognize your opponent’s set point and tells. Also you will be able to dictate when and where the battle begins. By being able to position yourself it will make it easier for you to set up your opponent so that your techniques will always function.
Maintaining your position requires recognition of your opponent’s set point and being able to see when he is going to pull the trigger (attack).


Body Checking & Balance Control:

After your first block your secondary should be a check to the body to control your opponent by feeling his movements so you will know if he attempts to counter your action; also you want to keep your opponent off balance by pushing and pulling on them so that you can maintain control at all times.
While doing techniques such as returning Dragon. When you throw your extended outward block making sure the arm moves away from the body so that the shoulders turn. After the cradle where you pulled your opponent forward or towards you, you chop or forearm to neck should push or rock your opponent in the opposite direction. Pushing your opponents neck out to a hook block, pull them back into the knee strike, followed by a knee strike.
By constantly pushing and pulling on your opponent they will never be able to gain their balance so they will lack stability which will rob of them of any power. This will also rob them of the ability to counter your attack. However in our experience few people last past the cradle and crush.

Instructors Corner: Fighting Stance

Your ability to move and generate power is going to be dictated by your stance. If you have a proper fighting stance you should have equal reach with both hands the ability to throw kicks or do techniques from your stance. You should not have to raise or lower your hips in order to execute a move. If you fighting stance is too wide or to short you will not have the ability to move in any one direction and to generate the proper power that is needed to make the technique work. Also make sure you are not picking your foot up as the body will always want to go back into a side stance plus this makes your head go up and down and this is a telegraphed motion or tell that lets your opponent know exactly when you are going to move. To prevent this you should slide from one stance to the next. Making sure you are sliding in a straight line and not a crescent motion. The best way to do this is to open your stance up slide the forward leg straight back then close the stance down making sure you are in a proper heel toe relationship.

As the instructor watch your students head and see if it is going up and down as they move from one stance to the next a good drill to work on is have the student go up and down the Dojo floor in a fighting stance. Start at one end of the school and move forward from one fighting stance to the next, then have them go backwards from one fighting stance to the next.

As the student progresses through the ranks there fighting stance should change from a traditional stance to what we called a modified fighting stance. This is where they student has personalized his or her stance based on their own weight, size and fighting style. No two will be exactly alike but the underlying principle will be the same.

Who knows the Answer

Pop Quiz What tech/move does Bruce Lee Talk about when he said "Like a Cobra your strike should be felt before it is seen"

Questions/Answers

Please post any questions you have about Kenpo. The questions can be about techniques, the basics, theory, history or what every is on your mind we would love to hear from all of our White Tiger Students.

10 Principles of White Tiger Kenpo Part II

The next two principles of WTK is Awareness and Mobility, These are two very important principles. You must be aware of your surroundings at all times; this will eliminate most surprise attack, if you are aware that there might be a problem you might be able to get out of it without a fight. An example of this would be when Jim and I were in Orlando Fl several years ago, we went to the local drug store to get some cough drops when we noticed that two guys were following us, when we came out of the store they were still there, so we walked over to another store to see what would happen, when we came out they were still there, we headed towards are car, they started following us, we both turned around at the same time to let them know that we knew they were there, that and if there was going to be a confrontation we were going to have it on our terms. Needless to say they did not want to play, once me made eye contact with them they turned and left. You also should have Knowledge of your surroundings as this can provide defense alternatives and not just a reaction.

The 4th principle is mobility, this is the key to any offensive or defensive maneuver, you must be able to move in any direction at any giving time without sacrificing balance and stability for if you do you will give only give up power but the ability to move.

10 Basic Principles of White Tiger Kenpo Part 1

There are 10 Basic principles of the White Tiger Kenpo System in order to understand the techniques and how they work you must understand the principles. It is the understanding and application of these principles that will enhance your knowledge of variables; they will help to tailor the art to the needs of the individual. They will refine your motion, as one basic concept or principle can trigger another, leading into a chain reaction of concepts and principles. Remember, principles of motion take precedent over the sequence of motion. Self-defense techniques should be viewed as ideas and not set rules; nothing in the White Tiger Kenpo system is set in concrete. To do so would violate the total concept of the White Tiger Kenpo System. That is to have freedom of thought and movement but most important the ability to think for your self.

the first two we are going to discuss is Balance/Stability and distance.

Balance/Stability:

These two are one and the same without one you don’t have the other. Proper balance must be maintained at all times in order to execute proper techniques, without proper balance or stability you will not have the power behind your blocks or strikes and you forfeit mobility. You achieve this by keeping your shoulders over your hips, and keep your feet directly under your body. The same is true of your attacker; you must rob him of his balance and stability.

Distance:

You need to maintain or create distance until you are ready to defend yourself or make the first move. Be aware of the critical distance line at all times during any altercation no matter how frivolous.

continued next week. Please feel free to post any comments, suggestions or questions you may have.