Tuesday, August 12, 2008

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.

6 comments:

Leo said...

Actually I do not agree with that. While we do use rapid strikes in rapid fire sucession, there is not stunning and distracting. When in a confrontation right from the get go it is DESTROY. this is because stunning and destracting may fail. Then where does this leave you? removing the attacker is the number one priority and if the first strike to destroy fails, no matter I got 100 more coming right at you. So the question is why waste time stunning or distracting?

Mark said...

I seem to have accidently deleted a post by Leo, so I'm reposting it.

Actually I do not agree with that. While we do use rapid strikes in rapid fire sucession, there is not stunning and distracting. When in a confrontation right from the get go it is DESTROY. this is because stunning and destracting may fail. Then where does this leave you? removing the attacker is the number one priority and if the first strike to destroy fails, no matter I got 100 more coming right at you. So the question is why waste time stunning or distracting?

Mark said...

I'm a big fan of "take 'em out quick" myself. The "one shot, one kill" isn't going to work all the time though.

One of my black belt students is barely five feet and maybe 110 pounds soaking wet. She's not going to take me out (6' and over 200 pounds) with a single blow 8 times out of ten.

The key here is that Kempo is not Shotokan. We have the concept of continuous hitting (a big Escrima concept that was incorporated into Kempo).

Leo said...

I agree a 110 pounder will have difficult time with the one shot kill against a 200 pounder. I myself do not advocate the one shot strategy at all. I too believe in complete and utter overwhelming of the opponent with rapid fire strikes. But the shots as they come should not be intended to stun or confuse but should all be shots intended to do maximun damage. That way you may land ten shots but they are all placed in specific targets for maximum damage.
I love the blog by the way. I love talking Kempo and I hope you take absolutely nooffense to anthhing I say because none is ever intended. I'm just a guy who loves Kempo and discussing it.
So as I said Attack the attack rather than react to it.

Mark said...

I think we're pretty much in agreement, even what I call "stunning blows" can drop an opponent when done well.

The first strike in 11 combination (Shaolin Kempo) is a good example.

It's a Phoenix strike to the temple. When I first teach it to the rainbow belts, it's a stunning strike.

The black belts I show how to deliver that strike with the whole body. Now the 110 pound black belt can even take out a hulking brute like myself with that one strike. :-)

Please keep up with comments! Kempo is supposed to change to fit the person, so of course there will be some variations. Besides, you help keep me honest. :-)

I love the line "Attack the attack rather than react to it." I'll have to do a post on the concept.

Leo said...

Yes I think we're pretty much in agreement. I think what threw us off was we each had a different definition of "stunning". i wish I could take the credit for the "Atack the attack, rather than react to it" line but there I was quoting Ed Parker (American Kenpo). Please come on over to my blog
http://modernkempo.blogspot.com/
I would love to have your opinion about what I've posted. And I agree that Kempo/Kenpo must change to suit the individual. Kempo to me is alive, and as such it will evolve. Like you or I we are not the same now as we were when we were 5, and we will not be the same 20, 10 or 5 years from now. How we fought back in 1908 is not the same as we fight in 2008 nor will it be how we fight 100 yers from now. Which is why I love free and opn exchange. Ideas are wonderful! I hope you will at least take a look and comment on a few things.

Best wishes,
Leo