Fifth Law of Kempo

Law of Kicking

Kempo's mandate to kick low is based on logic. A roundhouse kick and spinning reverse crescent kick to the head maybe flashy and impressive, but such maneuvers take longer to execute because your legs has to travel farther. They also expose your groin to your opponent's kick.

Kicking high requires superior balance and focus, you should practice your leg techniques high, and deliver them low for self-defense. Kicking low to the legs, executing a "pillar attack" can break your opponent's balance and legs.

As I tell my students, when your opponent is on the ground is the best time to kick them in the head.

Fourth Law of Kempo

Law of Targets

You are not going to break your knuckles punching an attacker's temple. A kick to the groin will not fracture your instep. A knife hand strike to the throat will hurt the throat more than your hand.

Kempo teaches you to choose your targets in order to maximize damage to your opponent while minimizing damage to yourself.

Third Law of Kempo

Law of Multiple Strikes

Kempo teaches you to strike first and strike often in rapid succession. You train to hit high, low, straight in, and along a circular path.

First you stun, distract, and slow your opponent. Then you take him/her/whatever out.

Second Law of Kempo

Law of the First Strike

If a confrontation is inevitable, you should not wait for the aggressor to attack first! You need to hit him first with your foot, fist, elbow, knee, etc. You need to hit the attacker hard and hit continuously until they are subdued.

First Law of Kempo

Law of the Circle and Line

The first law of Kempo states that when your opponent charges straight in and attacks, you should use your feet to move your body along a circular path, while moving your arms in a circular pattern to deflect the oncoming force. When your opponent attacks you in a circular pattern, you should respond with a fast linear attack along a straight line.

Teaching today

I'm off to teach the Saturday Adult Kempo class.

A good teacher

I was at the dojo tonight working on the computer system and got to watch Dan teach for a while. Dan is a really good teacher. As an instructor myself, I like to watch other instructors at work. There is always something to learn. Dan has been teaching for a long time, and I like his style of teaching. He teaches principles as well as good technique.

Kempo FAQ

There is a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) list for the Kempo/Kempo Martial Arts.

More book recommendations

Animal styles in Shaolin Gung Fu

Animal styles in Shaolin Gung Fu

School in Milbury closed.

The Villari Shaolin Kempo school in Milbury recently closed.

The students should do what some of the black belts did, and go to MetroWest Martial Arts in Westborough.

Teaching Tonight

I'll be teaching the adult Kempo class tonight.

Testing yesterday

We conducted a kids test yesterday. Mostly higher ranks. They looked good and worked hard.

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