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The Blunt Weapons Training section will give concepts of motion for the
use of blunt man-made weapons used in American Kenpo Karate
training.
The two weapons which will be discussed most often will be kenpo clubs
and the kenpo staff, both of which are offered specially made to fit
the
technician through Martial Fusion. The Club and Staff tools
available
through Martial Fusion come with color coordinated graphics of the
Dragon
and Tiger to aid in complex movements and demonstration purposes.
Initially, I must request that before reading or trying any of the
concepts
discussed in this section that you use these weapons with great care so
as not to injure yourself in any way, and do not over train in these
concepts.
Either of those would be detrimental to continued training and to the
safety
of the practitioner. One suggestion to aid the student from
injury
would be to work basic drills with clubs and staffs would be to work
single
club, double clubs and staff in basic motions found in the Universal
Pattern.
The world has changed. The most vile, perverse, and inconceivable
attack of terrorism on America has taken place, and it's effects at
this
moment are still not known. The true ramifications of this action
could be considered as inconceivable as the action itself, yet
hopefully
they remain just, and honorable on the side of our country. Now
is
the time however, when capitalization upon this event have taken their
course. Nevertheless, the editorials within this website will not
fall under the heading of capitalization, for they will take a
different
path. That of respect, and honor for those that have passed from
this world, and aid those who are still with us. Some people
paint,
some people sing, I write. I also train in the art of
Self-Preservation
and Self-Defense, and now, more then ever, both of these "hobbies" can
be put to good use for the good of our nation. I encourage all of
you reading this and the other editorials to do what you can in this
new
environment to help those around you. Not only is it the right
thing
to do, but it may save lives.
First thing I'd like to open everyone's minds to is AMERICAN KENPO IS
NOT
SIMPLY FOR EMPTY HAND TRAINING. I understand the beginning of the
creed mentions "I come to you with Empty Hands," however, Kenpo is
designed
as an evolving self-defense system to fit in it's own time and
place.
I also understand that straight Kenpo training doesn't really have a
lot
of man-made weapon training. For those of you out there either
adding
edged and blunt weapons training to your art, either directly or in
cross-training,
this concept section will simply help to broaden your
opportunities.
As for students who have not, I would encourage to venture forth and
look
into this type of education.
Now
let's get
to work.
With
this new training concept, I'm going to try to do three things, 1.: not
talk too much (which would be new), 2: not be pretentious about current
events, and 3: open a lot of minds to avenues that were always
there.
By not being pretentious and saying we must all be paramilitary zealots
in our daily live, hopefully we all can do more good from the tragic
events
of recent days then harm. All I will say to that end is we must
maintain
our true selves in this time, or those who have attacked our country
will
win. And as far as the avenues I spoke of, this will cover both
the
Blunt and Edged Weapons training concepts, which will also be tied in
with
the Empty Hand subject.
The subject I want to cover first is ANYTHING solid structurally and
without
an edge can be used as a blunt weapon. The list is truly
endless.
A short list would be: coat hangers, car antenna, ski equipment,
telephone, tree branch, chair, any glass, metal, or plastic container
such
as a coffee cup, canister, soda bottle, car keys, vacuum, pool cue,
rake,
shovel, briefcase, stereo, lamp stand, bicycle pump, even a
bicycle.
So with that in mind, while I will confess it is cool to train with
Escrima
Stick and Staff in the studio, it may not be beneficial to train with
them
exclusively. I say this under duress of course, due to the fact I
work for a group of people who make these types of equipment.
Yet,
beyond my personal bias, some experimentation may be in order to
increase
the realism of your Kenpo training.
Here are some ideas for this type of training. Go around your
house
and find objects that would fall under this type of criteria.
Say,
for example, brooms or plastic soda bottles, which would cover staff
and
stick training. Once you've determined what you are going to work
with, study the basic motion involved. Take the soda bottle
example
for a moment. While a plastic soda bottle probably won't have
enough
structural stability to be used in a basic striking or blocking motion
like a slashing or whipping move. But it will have enough
stability
for poke or straight thrust. And with a broom, the balance
differences
with the top of the broom will be a factor on the moves you
execute.
This study can be commenced using drills such as "Clockwork" (which is
similar to an AKKI Club Drill). Clockwork was originally from the
1st Edged Weapon Training Concept, but translates well to club
work.
Any drill you train with, in the beginning however, should cover
horizontal,
diagonal, and vertical motion utilizing Hammering, Whipping, Slashing,
or Thrusting methods of execution.
Once you get past the initial stages of training, it would be good to
move
on to "drills" such as Sets and Forms. As we have stated many
times,
the forms and sets in Kenpo are terrific drills for not only Empty Hand
training, but man-made weapon training as well. Kicking and
Stance
Sets may also be good methods to study as well, simply to become as
comfortable
with these modified tools as possible. While your range with
man-made
weapons, as an extension of your body, shall be increased to the point
kicks may not be as necessary, it is best to be as prepared as
possible.
After this side of the art has been examined, self-defense techniques
are
a good transition. Self-defense techniques are also wonderful
"drills"
that work with a set of specifics involving the attack, defense, and
response
to certain situations. Upon getting things understood with the
first
two choices we spoke of at the beginning, try to move on to other types
of blunt tools which could be found anywhere.
Now
to tie things up with the Empty-Hand concept. There are two funny
things that come to mind with Environmental Response Training and the
use
of blunt self-defense tools. One is, technically Environmental
Response
Training does have a direct correlation with study beyond Empty-Hand
work.
Finding objects around you which can aid you in self-preservation is
one
of the high points of Environmental Response Training. The other
thing is, it would be easy to say, "well, all you do is take any type
of
blunt object and do the same idea we talked about on the Empty-Hand
Section.
Work Sword and Hammer, Twisted Twig, Shielding Hammer and the 200 odd
other
techniques and you'll be fine." This just isn't the case.
Man
made self-defense weapon training is set greatly apart from Empty-Hand
training due to it being more sophisticated in motion. The
training
takes more diligence then Empty-Hand training, not because it is more
difficult,
but because it is an extension of yourself with motion from a different
perspective. Therefore a more careful type of training from a
different
direction must be considered.
So with that premise out of the way, although I don't like to repeat
myself,
I'm going to. The best way to start, once again, when working on
Environmental Response Training in the way we talked about in the Empty
Hand concept is to keep it simple. First, find the type of blunt
tool you would find naturally in the situation you choose. Say
brooms,
mops, chairs, and the like. From the position you choose, and the
blunt weapon of choice, don't go for the self-defense techniques
first.
Blunt self-defense tools are almost just as dangerous to the student as
they are to the attacker. Try to work basic movements first as we
mentioned before with the Clockwork Drill reference, or horizontal,
vertical,
and angular methods of execution. Try to work the quickest and
safest
methods of operation with your tool and position of choice, then work
more
advanced concepts. Take even the technique Sword and
Hammer.
Yes, while the execution of the technique is, from a basic striking
standpoint,
an high outward chop and low downward hammerfist, it doesn't work the
same
with an extension "tying down" your hands. So it is best to
figure
out what kind of motion is going to be involved with the tool before
formulating
methods of response, such as self-defense techniques.
While working with ERT (Environmental Response Training), always keep
in
mind the principles of motion that make Kenpo or any martial arts
system
work. Work slowly at first to get the basic movements down before
working faster, more whip like aspects inherent in these weapons.
And, like with any other aspect of learning to defend yourself, work on
the specialized movements in the training hall. Just like with
the
first ten yellow belt techniques in Kenpo, keep things in a live
situation
simple, direct, and effective. And always remember the 1st rule
in
a self-defense situation involving weapons, if there is a means to
escape,
take it. Personal safety is always more important than anything
else.
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