BLACK BELT THESIS FORM - ONE HANDED FORM

Some years ago, I had the misfortune to break one of my wrists in a training accident. However, as I had already planned to attend a foreign training camp, I decided to actually travel and try to pick up some tips from the sideline as a spectator. I soon realised that far from being a complete invalid, there were in fact quite a number of techniques that I could accomplish with only one good hand.

This then got me thinking about possible situations that could arise, where a person could be forced to defend themselves with only one arm.

• A block against a weapon could result in a broken arm/hand.
  
• A push to the ground could result in a broken wrist or hand.
  
• One arm could be immobilised by a second attacker.
  
• A person could already have a broken arm/hand, and be seen as an easy target by an attacker.

There are other possible reasons which could arise, but one thing became obvious to me, and that was, that by looking at the range of self-defence techniques which we practise in KENPO, a large proportion of them could be used one sided, or easily adapted, for use one sided, or with one hand.Admittedly in the ideal phase, you would have a second hand, which could be employed as a check, or to trap or lock, but don’t forget that we are not dealing with the ideal phase here, we are in fact almost in a worse case scenario. But one thing that all KENPO practitioners, ( taking for granted that they have good quality instructors, who understand Mr Parkers ideas ) learn and keep in the back of their minds, is that very little ever happens in the ideal phase. For example, an attacker may throw a right roundhouse punch to your head, you may immediately launch yourself into the KENPO technique "Five Swords" which would be a suitable and apt reaction to that particular attack, but if your attacker is experienced in any form of martial art, boxing, or just street fighting, then he may follow his right punch with a left punch, which could just possibly reach its target ( i.e. your head ), before you can get in your next planned shot from the technique.So even though you reacted correctly to the initial attack, you were beaten because the attack was not in the ideal format to which you had always trained from the text book. Mr Parker, in his Infinite Insights series of books, stresses the concept of adaptability, for no two people are the same size or build, and no two attacks are ever the same. That is why it is important to train at grafting different techniques onto each other, and to personalise techniques to suit your own build or size or environment. I believe that when Mr Parker spoke and wrote about " environmental awareness ", he didn’t just mean physical environment, such as being caught in a self-defence situation in a bar or a nightclub, meaning that you must be aware of tables or chairs or innocent bystanders crowding around the confrontation, all of which could limit your movements. I believe that Mr Parker meant much more, I believe that he meant what I shall call " self awareness ". I shall explain this as follows. In the bar or nightclub which was previously mentioned, there are a number of considerations about yourself,which have to be taken into account.

• Are you warmed up or loosened up.
  
• Are you wearing bulky clothing.
  
• Are you wearing tight or restrictive clothing.
  
• Have you suffered an injury in an initial attack.
  
• Are you under the influence of alcohol, therefore lacking co-ordination.

All of the above points must be taken into consideration as elements of the concept of "self awareness "of which I have spoken, and the second last point is the basis of this thesis form.There was one other factor which I felt was very important in putting together this form, and that was the fact that if a person is put in the situation where they must defend themselves, and they are at the serious disadvantage of suffering the type of injuries of which we are speaking, then they must defend themselves using techniques which are short, sharp, concise and to the point. In other words, " get the job done ", with no flowery moves. Taking all the above into consideration I now present my " One Handed Form ". For clarity of explanation I will name the core technique, from which a series of moves is based (when there is one), and I will employ the concept of the clock face, to illustrate directions which are being faced, and where attacks are coming from.

From the attention stance, perform the opening salutation.

Delayed Sword:

From the attention stance, at end of salutation, and with your attacker approaching from 12:00 with a front right step through punch , or push. Step back with your left foot toward 6:00 into a right neutral bow stance, facing 12:00, while simultaneously executing a right inward block to the right inner wrist of your opponent. At the same time, position your left hand behind your back, to illustrate the idea that you do not have the use of your left hand. Immediately slide your right foot back into a cat stance And, without hesitation deliver a right front ball kick to your opponents groin, ( your opponents reaction should cause him to bend forward at the waist ). Plant your right foot forward, to check your opponents right knee, and at the same time, utilizing the concept of "marriage of gravity" deliver a right outward handsword to the right side of your opponents neck.

Obscure Claws:.

With your attacker applying a left hand grab to your right shoulder, step back with your right foot toward 6:00, (passing on the outside of your opponents left leg), into a left neutral bow facing 12:00. Simultaneously with the right step, your right hand circles clockwise and claws, in an outward and upward manner, to your opponents face. (your opponents head should snap back). Without hesitation, step forward with your right toward 12:00, into a right neutral bow, as you deliver a right uppercut forearm strike against the elbow joint of your opponents left arm. Step forward toward 12:00 with your left foot into a transitional left neutral bow (facing 4:30 ), as your right hand reverses its motion, and circles counter clockwise in a right looping back knuckle strike to your opponents right mastoid. Follow through with your right hand, reversing its motion, and snap a right inverted mid-knuckle fist to your opponents sternum.

Sword of Destruction:

With your opponent coming from 3:00, with a left roundhouse punch to your head, adjust your left foot towards 9:00, into a right neutral bow stance ( facing 3:00), as you simultaneously execute a right extended outward block to the inner forearm of your opponents left punch. Immediately slide your right foot into a cat stance, and without hesitation, deliver a front snap ball kick to your opponents groin. ( Your kick should cause your opponent to bend forward at the waist ). Plant your right foot inside your opponents left leg, into a right neutral bow ( facing 3:00 ) and while employing "Marriage of Gravity", execute a right inward handsword to the left side of your opponents neck.

Snaking Talon:

With your opponent coming from behind you with a two handed push, pivot 180° , so that you are now facing 9:00, and then immediately step back with your left foot to 3:00 into a right neutral bow, as your right hand loops a figure eight, first with a right inward handsword on the outside of opponents left hand, and a right extended outward handsword on the outside of opponents right hand, grasping his right wrist with your right hand while fading back into a right front 45° cat stance.While your right hand pulls opponent towards you ( to your right and down ), deliver a right ball kick to opponents groin. ( kicking toward 9:00 ).

Circle of Doom:

With your attacker approaching you with a high front straight kick, turn your body from facing 9:00, towards 12:00, by means of bringing your left foot behind your right leg and pivoting your body 90° , so that you now face 12:00. Simultaneously while turning deliver a right downward block in and up against your opponents right kicking leg, just below his right calf. Without hesitation circle your right arm clockwise, as you execute a right extended outward block, forcing his right leg into a looping clockwise arc. With your opponents right leg still in the air, and his back to you, deliver a right rear stiff leg kick with the back of your heel up and under your opponents groin. Plant your right foot ( as a gauging leg ) and deliver a left back hooking heel kick to your opponents head.

Shielding Hammer:

From your previous position, your next attacker comes at you from 12:00, with a front hooking left punch. Immediately step back with your left foot to 6:00 into a right neutral bow, as you deliver a right extended outward block to the inside of opponents hooking punch, at his forearm. Immediately, deliver a right raking back knuckle strike to the bridge of your opponents nose. Shuffle forward while continuing the counter clockwise motion of your right hand, and follow up with a right horizontal dipping outward elbow strike to your opponents solar plexus.

Obscure Wing:

With your opponents left hand grabbing your right shoulder ( from the direction of 6:00), take a step back towards 5:00 with your right foot. Simultaneously, with this right step, deliver a right back elbow to opponents solar plexus, with flow of movement deliver a right back hammerfist to opponents groin and follow up with a right hand grab to opponents testicles. Immediately follow with a right obscure elbow strike to opponents chin, making sure that your right arm follows the contour of your opponents body.

Kick Sequence:

From the last technique in the form you are now facing 12:00, turn body slightly so that your shoulders are now facing 10:30, and kick, with your right foot to the direction of 10:30 ( to stomach height ). Without planting you’re your foot, and while still facing 10:30, kick out towards 1:30 with a blade kick , ( again to stomach height ). Plant your right foot toward 12:00, so that you are in a right neutral bow, and pivot your body almost 180*, so that you finish up in a position with your shoulders facing 7:30. Immediately kick with your left foot to the direction of 7:30 ( again to stomach height ) and without planting your left foot to the ground, kick out with a left side blade kick to the direction of 4:30. ( again to stomach height ).

Falcons of Force:

From your last kick in the previous sequence, you will plant your left foot to 4:30, so that you are in a horse stance facing 7:30. You will now be grabbed by two opponents by the shoulders. Step with your right foot towards 11:30, so that you are now in a horse stance ( this should bring you closer to the opponent on your right flank ), with this move execute a right outward handsword to his throat, ( this strike should cause the opponent grabbing your right shoulder to stumble back and temporarily delay him ). Immediately have your right foot step toward 6:00, and simultaneously strike to the opponent, who is holding your left shoulder, with a right handsword ( palm facing up ) across his eyes, (this should temporarily blind, and disorientate him ). Immediately, convert this handsword to a right inward block toward the first opponent, who has now regained his senses, and is attacking you with a right punch to your head. On meeting this punch with your block, you should now be in a left forward bow facing 11:30, without delay execute a right front snap kick to the groin of the first opponent, plant your right foot forward, and gauging the distance between both of your opponents, execute a right rear back thrusting heel kick to the solar plexus of the second opponent.

Pinning Wings:

At the end of the previous sequence you should find yourself in a right forward bow facing 11:30, from this position, bring your right leg up so that you are in a horse stance facing 12:00. Execute a right looping backfist strike to the mastoid of an opponent who is holding on to your right shoulder, with his left arm. Drop your elbow so that it clears your opponents arm, and immediately execute a right vertical snapping back knuckle strike to the left side of your opponents face.

Controlled Wing:

From the same stationary horse stance, execute a right looping outward overhead claw, to the face of an opponent who is holding onto your right shoulder with his left hand. Continue the motion of your right hand clockwise, so that it travels over and under your opponents right arm as it converts into a right uppercut punch, whereby the force of your action causes your right forearm to strike and break your opponents left elbow. Immediately execute a right outward snapping back knuckle strike horizontally to your opponents left ribcage.

Obscure Sword:

While still in a horse stance facing 12:00, you are grabbed by your right shoulder by an opponents left hand, step toward 1:00 with you left foot, with your right handsword cocked at your heart. Immediately pivot to face 5:00, into a right forward bow while delivering a right outward handsword to the opponents throat. Deliver a left kick to opponents groin, and plant your left foot back to its original position.

Unfurling Crane:

You will now be attacked from the direction of 3:00,with a front left & right punch with the attackers left foot forward. Adjust your right foot, which is towards 5:00, to the direction of 3:00, while simultaneously executing a right outward block to your opponents left punch and immediately following up with a right inward block to his right punch. Shuffle forward ( push drag ) with a right hammerfist to your opponents groin, and then reverse the path of your hammerfist and execute a rolling backfist to his face. Again strike down to his groin with a right downward hammerfist, and while in close to him, strike up and under his jaw with an obscure elbow. Continue the path of travel and transform it into an upward five finger claw to your opponents face, ( this should snap his face back ). Deliver a right knife-edge kick to the inside of your opponents right knee. As you deliver this kick execute a right inward handsword to the left side of his neck. This handsword should make contact a fraction of a second after your kick.

Retreating Pendulum:

You should finish up at the end of the last sequence with your right foot facing 2:30.An opponent will now attack you with a front right rear kick from that direction. Drop back with your right foot ( toward 7:30 ), into a left front twist stance. Simultaneously deliver a right outside downward block to opponents kicking leg. Immediately deliver a right knife-edge kick to opponents left leg, to inner knee. Plant your right foot toward 1:30 between and behind your opponent, as your right block continues its counter clockwise motion and converts into a hammerfist to the back of the neck of the attacker. Pivot to your left (into a right reverse bow) and deliver a right rear scoop kick to opponents groin.

Evading The Storm:

You should now find yourself in a left forward bow facing 9:00. With an attacker coming at you with an overhead club, from that direction, step with your left foot to 7:30. Simultaneously with this move, execute a right extended outward block, which then grabs the opponents wrist. Immediately deliver a right roundhouse kick to opponents groin or solar plexus. Plant your foot into a right neutral bow, ( with your right foot inside your opponents right leg ), as your right hand pulls opponents right wrist down and past your right hip. Deliver a left knee kick to the outside of opponents right thigh. When your opponent buckles, drop with your right knee into a left close kneel, thus breaking opponents right ankle.

Scraping Hoof:

On standing up from the previous close kneel, adjust your feet so that you are in a horse stance facing 9:00. As you adjust , you will feel an attempted full nelson being applied. Straighten your knees, back and neck. Immediately bend your left knee as you deliver a right back side scooping heel kick to opponents left inside knee. Then with the knife edge of your right foot, kick to opponents right shin. Repeat the same process on the left side.

Sword And Hammer:

Still standing facing 9:00, your opponent, standing between 12:00 and 1:00, grabs your right shoulder with his left hand. Step off and to your right with your right foot towards 12:00 into a horse stance ( facing your opponent ) while striking his throat with a right outward handsword. As your opponent reacts to the handsword strike and bends backward, execute a right back hammerfist to his groin.

Excerpt From Strike Set # 2.

From the previous move, adjust your right foot so that you are in a right neutral bow facing 12:00. Execute a right upward elbow strike and then twist into a neutral bow and continuing the motion of your right hand convert it into a right hammerfist to the groin of an opponent who is at the direction of 12:00.

Excerpt From Strike Set # 1.

Bring your left foot up so that you are in a horse stance facing 12:00, punch to an opponents chest height who is directly in front of you. Taking that this opponent blocks your right punch, redirect the motion of your hand and convert the punch, with one fluid movement, into a vertical back knuckle strike to his face. Redirect the motion of your back knuckle strike and convert it into a right hammerfist to the groin, then again redirect the motion so that it will now become a vertical back knuckle strike to the left side of an opponents head. It now redirects again so that it becomes a looping inward hammerfist to the left side of an opponents ribcage. Your right hand now strikes out in the straight right punch, which began this sequence Your right hand now goes behind your back as you step back with your right foot and perform an inward left block thus beginning the sequence on the left side.