I know you and everyone else likes Five Swords, Dance of Death, Thunders Hammers and the others, but let me give you my insight on these popular techniques. You can still do them, but we are going to modify them just a little. Some more than others and many we will toss because they are not worth addressing such as Twist of Fate ???? and others.
What I have done with my Native Kenpo/Falammichi is shorten the number of minor and major movement and added the element of absolute control. If not the first time, I will the second time that I have access to secure a wrist and apply an arm bar.
As you must know Kenpo is a rapid fire striking system with very little control elements built in. While executing these strikes gaps will take place and one must have the ability to close these gaps. This is a major problem if you don't pay attention to one of my most important element in Kenpo. Cause and Effect Principal is taken into consideration in all of my Falammichi material. The most important principal of course in establishing a strong base. Most Kenpo teacher and students are caught up in the speed aspect of wowing their audiences with lightening fast hands. Watch someone the next time and see if they are executing these movement with the proper base utilizing all the base element of neutral, reverse, forward and the kneels. You will problem see that the hands out raced the feet. This speed often neutralizes the minor and major strikes, cause and effect and does little to the opponent except make him mad and a little bruised up. Over the years while being a respected system now some are laughing at us.
What I have done with my Native Kenpo/Falammichi is shorten the number of minor and major movement and added the element of absolute control. If not the first time, I will the second time that I have access to secure a wrist and apply an arm bar.
First I will establish a strong base, second intercept, soften my opponent with a couple of quick powerful blows, then control the encounter. At this time I have a choice of numerous modular movement that I use to take the opponent down and finish out.
FIVE SWORDS: Not counting the extension, Five Swords is a five count movement. On the second count you execute a right hand sword to the throat which will cause the opponent to be thrust backwards. The third count whether you use a left heel of palm or a four finger poke to the eyes will do the same thing. The technique breaks down here. Two outward striking movement back to back will create a gap that you cannot recover from without shuffling forward to execute the right uppercut. The upper cut never reaches the opponent because he is not there. Strikes back to back should have the opposite effect in order to set your opponent up and execute movement in harmony with a natural flow and look effortless. Now try this. On the third count instead of the heel of palm to the face, execute a heel of palm to the back of the neck to stun the opponent. Next with the same hand hook the neck or crane hand and pull him forward while executing the right uppercut to the mid section. In my Native Kenpo/Falammichi System, I call this technique Bear Paws.
Technique 08 Bear Paws (Front roundhouse right punch- 5 swords)
1. While standing naturally with feet together, step forward RNB and slightly to your left (to 11 o’clock) with your right foot (still in a neutral bow) and deliver a right inward strike to inside of opponent’s right punch near the bicep using your left hand to check opponents left wrist.
2. Immediately strike to opponent’s right side of neck with your right outward chop.
3. Pivot into a LFB and deliver a bear paw strike to the back of (palm down) to opponent’s head as your right hand cocks to your right hip. This is done while you pivot into a right forward bow.
4. With left hand grab the nape of opponent neck and pull downward. Now release your right uppercut into his mid section as you pivot to a right neutral bow.
5. Immediately have your left foot slide counter clockwise (to 4 o’clock) into a right forward bow as your left hand slides to the left side of opponents neck. Without hesitation and while shifting into a right neutral bow, have your left-hand hook and pull opponent’s head down as you deliver a right overhead downward hand sword to back of opponent’s neck.
BACK BREAKER: Like you, I like executing this technique. However when you step to your left into a side house while executing your double parries a quick opponent will immediately turn in your direction or to his right and follow your movement. This makes it difficult to position both of your hand to his shoulders and secure. He will simply just step away or pull out of your grab. You better hope he is drunk and slow for this technique to work as written. Try this and see if you like it better. In my Native Kenpo/Falammichi System I call this movement Back to Back.
Ilhkoli 02 Back to Back (Flank step through right punch)
1. With feet together facing 12 o’clock, step forward and to your left to 11 o’clock with your right foot as you execute a double parry (left inward parry followed by your right outward parry) outside an opponent’s right arm.
2. Step to 10 o’clock with your left foot as your right hand grabs your opponent’s right wrist and execute a left straight punch to opponents kidney.
3. Your left hand trades places with your right hand grab, lift arm and spin clockwise and sweep your opponents right leg.
4. As opponent land on back, shuffle forward creating arm bar over your left knee and strike to face with left punch.
There are many techniques, an example such as Twirling Wings where you are asked to step back into a blind position. I have never liked this approach. More often than not you step on the opponent foot or you are not able to create the solid base that you want to begin the movement. There is a simple solution to this problem. In Twirling Wings, step forward with your right foot to 11:00 o'clock, then step back short with your left to create a strong base to begin the movement.
I hope you enjoyed these modifications. I will be adding other later. Let me know if you like these suggestions.
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