What Will Kenpoists Do?

[Kirk]

ESPN2 has had quite a bit of martial arts related shows, late
night on friday nights. A lot of fighting, and some forms
competitions. On the fighting .. I never see much form, or many
blocks, other than lifting the knee. It looks like a regular old
street fight to me! Is this what a highly trained kenpoist is
supposed to look like in a street fight? Or should the kenpoist
still have a nice flow, and no wasted motion, etc.

We're told in my school that you practice techniques so you're
aware of all of the possibilities of attack. That in a fight, you
should block until you see an opening, and then explode. But
you're still not expected to pull off a complete technique,
because of all the various "what ifs" that can happen. But would
you still look like you're doing kenpo?

 

[Sigung86]

Originally posted by Kirk

...
But would
you still look like you're doing kenpo?

Hopefully EFFECTIVE !!!:rofl:

Dan

 

[dsp921]

I think a fight in the ring will tend to look much different than
a street fight. The guy in the ring knows what you know
and will be expecting a defense, he doesn't just walk up and
grab you by the throat or take a swing like a lot street of
encounters. And the rules in the ring will also make you
alter techniques that you would normally use in a real attack.
Groin and throat strikes come to mind. Different circumstances
requiring different methods.
Just my opinion, I might be wrong....

-Dave

 

[brianhunter]

This a lot of the reason I like watching self defense technique competitions as opposed to open sparring. Someone isnt gonna grab you by your throat or put you in a hammer lock in a ring. Sparring has a great place in training don't get me wrong.

 

[Zoran]

Originally posted by Kirk
We're told in my school that you practice techniques so you're
aware of all of the possibilities of attack. That in a fight, you
should block until you see an opening, and then explode. But
you're still not expected to pull off a complete technique,
because of all the various "what ifs" that can happen. But would
you still look like you're doing kenpo? [/B]

Block until you see an opening! Keep standing there blocking, you will get hit.

Self-defense in the real world, is not a controlled evironment. When I was a bouncer, there were times I looked very graceful. Then there were times when I looked more like a lame drunken pregnant yak. In either case, it was my training that allowed me to not be the loser in a confrontation.

 

[tarabos]

the real deal usually isn't very pretty....

 

[cdhall]

Originally posted by Kirk

...But would
you still look like you're doing kenpo?

Not exactly on topic, but I understand that Skip Hancock did Dance of Death in a tournament freestyle match once!
:karate:

I guess I should also add that Mr. LaBounty says he has never completed a self-defense technique "in the street." Howard Silva also once tried to do Delayed Sword in a real situation, but the guy dropped after the kick and Mr. Silva got mad about it. Maybe Mr. Billings can retell that story.

And 2-3 other friends of mine have been attacked and used Kenpo. Several of them started a technique but it ended after 2-3 moves. All my annecdotes boil down to a technique was over after 2-3 moves.

Is this sort of what you were wondering?

 

[SingingTiger]

Originally posted by cdhall

...All my annecdotes boil down to a technique was over after 2-3 moves.

The owner of my school has often said that that's the way they SHOULD work. If your elbow to the head is effective, you should be done.

He's also fond of this description of how to know whether or not you performed a technique "correctly": "If you're standing and he's on the ground, you did it correctly. If he's standing and you're on the ground, you did it incorrectly."

Rich

 

[Kirk]

Originally posted by cdhall

Is this sort of what you were wondering?

Yes, pretty much. Notice when you watch The New Gladiators,
their fights didn't look much like what we do in school, so I
was curious as to what a trained kenpoist would look like in
a real fight. Like if they'd block, then kick, or follow a specific
flow pattern.

 

[Blindside]

Do you spar much Kirk?

I don't do much blocking when I am sparring, movement and evasion, quick parries, and taking hits on non-vital areas is the norm. Sometimes you trade hits, get hit and keep the offending weapon, tackle, ground and pound, slip and fall on your butt, whatever.

A good opponent can make anyone look bad, conversely, a bad opponent can make you look very good. Fighters in a ring tend to be evenly matched, and usually fairly well trained. A good kickboxer shows many of the traits of a good kenpoist, fluid, non-telegraphing, point of origin, good footwork, etc.

Streetfighters wished they looked that good.

Lamont

 

[ikenpo]

Originally posted by Kirk

Yes, pretty much. Notice when you watch The New Gladiators,
their fights didn't look much like what we do in school, so I
was curious as to what a trained kenpoist would look like in
a real fight. Like if they'd block, then kick, or follow a specific
flow pattern.

Kirk,

Is your chart correct on your website? Isn't form 4 required for Black?

jb:asian:

 

[jfarnsworth]

I think the more time you spend in the art the less movements you will need. This should come into your own formulation phase. The hours of practice going into your training your mind/body should be able to do fewer movements more consistently. That's just my thought.
Jason Farnsworth

 

[Kirk]

Originally posted by jbkenpo

Kirk,

Is your chart correct on your website? Isn't form 4 required for Black?

jb:asian:

Yes, it sure is. We have a red/black belt, just before black. Form
4 is required for black, and the orange belt extensions.

 

[ikenpo]

Originally posted by Kirk

Yes, it sure is. We have a red/black belt, just before black. Form
4 is required for black, and the orange belt extensions.

Ok gotcha,

I didn't realize he added two belts to the system (red and red/black).

later, jb:asian: