Ever since the samurai’s were first established in 1185 as japans leading military force, they have been known for there effective style of dismantling there opponents in a brutal but simplistic fashion. So did those tried and true methods of combat that worked in warfare just simply disappear? Along with the legacy of the samurai, there fighting art has been passed down for hundreds of years to this present day and it’s practicality remains in an art called kenpo jiu jitsu.
Many bled for the evolution of the samurai’s ancient art. The way the art has been refined over time has allowed the techniques to be passed down from teacher to student without compromise. According to kenpo instructor James ericson, “The techniques are taught in a rigid structure but apply to many different scenarios so they are effective in the most unpredictable situation. Not only can the art be used in a lot of different situations but it’s simplicity allows for almost anyone to be able to use it effectively. despite handicaps or age.” ( J. Ericson personal communication 2/06/2023) For all these reasons kenpo jiu jitsu is a very practical martial art for anyone to learn.
The art of kenpo has been refined in many ways to make it more effecient. The most influential refinement of the art came through thousands of battles, creating the perfect template to be passed from teacher to student. What started as an art of warfare, kenpo jiu jitsu was refined with the means to take down an armored opponent using no weapons. It was very ineffective to try and strike someone to death with a katana when there whole body is covered in armor so kenpo adapted grappling techniques to disarm there opponent in close quarters combat. An example of the way brutality of war refined kenpo can be seen in a technique callled spinning from the sun out of the Al Tracy’s kenpo jiu jitsu system. It deals with an attacker swinging there weapon in a down ward strike towards your head. You jam the attack with a block and step out of line of the weapon. You then use the downward momentum of there strike to bring the weapon down across there own leg possibly cutting an artery. You can also use that downward momentum of the strike by maintaining control of there arm and weapon so you can straighten the arm out while pressing behind the elbow as if you were going to snap the arm like a branch. At that point they won’t be able to carry a weapon. This technique has been tried against and used effectively on soldiers trained to kill which means the blood and grit that went into finding what works in a dangerous situation has already been accomplished. The working techniques have been translated into a system that need only be followed by a student to learn these evolved warfare tactics that are kenpo jiu jitsu. The practicality of the art comes from its reliability in guiding its students to learn effective techniques that will defend them in the most dire of situations. Another way the art has been refined is in the way it’s been modernized. It has grown to involve a plethora of techniques from other styles through the years. Arts such as judo and Brazilian Jiu jitsu branched off the art. Much less dangerous arts that are used for sport primarily but effective nonetheless. The style of kenpo has been improved by including aspects of different arts like karate kicks and judo throws. The art has stayed up to date to not exclude other arts adding more tools to the style. This only adds to the versatility and practicality of kenpo by giving you more ways to learn.
Another factor of the art of kenpo is its adaptability to many different situations. The techniques you learn are interchangeable to different situations and allows a good defense in For instance, an unprovoked attack. According to the article Is American Kenpo Karate effective? “Even if the attacker does not act as expected, the student would be able to automatically change his or her movements to an alternative method he or she has learned during training to better incapacitate the attacker”(bobcuteditors October 04, 2021) An upward block can be used for many different things. It can be used to block any incoming punch, it can be used to jam an overhead swing from a weapon, and it can also be used to setup many options for offense. There are techniques that would not only work against one person but many. Throwing a rear kick behind you is a simple example. While this kind of kick is used in many situations where an attacker is coming up behind you, it is also very useful when an attacker is in front of you. For example you may throw a round house kick and find yourself un intentionally exposing your backside to your opponent if the kick misses and the momentum spins you around. This might look like an easy target for your opponent but the rear kick is highly effective in this situation even with your back exposed to your opponent. The versatility of use in these movements make them much more practical to use against a wide variety of attacks. They are also useful for the many unconventional scenarios they may be used for in these modern times. Unlike a boxing match or an mma fight, you may not see your opponent coming on the street and your environment can be a major factor to whether you can easily defend yourself. There is so many bad things that can happen on the street, that it’s important to learn an art that can be applied to the most unexpected situations. There are techniques to deal with multiple opponents at different angles, techniques that deal with someone attacking you randomly while you are standing in an unassuming position and many techniques can apply to a normal one on one fight. For example the principle of side steeping a punch and using your arms to parry the attack at the same time can be used against someone attacking you from any angle, opening them up for an unforgiving counter strike. This type of technique can be used from a fighting stance or while you are simply walking down the street. This is another way it’s practical for anyone to use because you never know what strange situation you might find yourself in but you know you are prepared for it.
What if you’re handicapped or elderly? Does this mean you are unable to defend yourself? It doesn’t mean that at all and kenpo jiu jitsu is designed with simple principles that don’t require being an Olympian to use. For instance, there are techniques that could favor an elderly person to know. Simple things like groin strikes, throat strikes, and even some grappling principles are still practical, even for someone who can’t throw a three punch combination due to age. You don’t need to box a boxer or wrestle a wrestler in order to beat them nor should you. At an elderly age this is especially true. Here is an example of ways Kenpo is still usable to the elderly. Let’s say in this situation, someone is trying to rob an old man. They step up to him and try to firmly grasp him by the neck or even grab his clothes to give him a shove to the ground. The old man has been a kenpo artist for years as the attacker is about to find out. The old man will use some principles he’s practiced in multiple situations because that is how his body responds. As soon as the robber reaches out to grab the old man he finds he suddenly can’t breathe as he’s been chopped in the throat somehow. The technique the old man used is one from the Tracy’s handbook called kimono grab. It requires very little strength and is all about timing. As the robber came forward to push the old man , he didn’t need to stop the push. Only redirect it by bringing his arms up to his face like you would in a fighting stance. As the two arms came for him he simply created a barrier that would help redirect the momentum of the shove as he pushed both arms of the robber outward. This leaves the robbers neck entirely exposed as his arms are spread out wide as if he is going in for a tackle or a hug. The robber drives forward with his arms now spread wide. He is chopped in the throat, stopping all his forward momentum and leaving him choking. He is now oblivious to the old man’s next several strikes which include having his eyes raked as the old man’s palm smashes downward across the robbers nose followed by an elbow driving into his jaw. All the attacks the elderly man used required very little strength. He used the robbers forward momentum to deliver his chop, not to mention being hit in the throat with the slightest attack can often make a person panic and choke. His other attacks also required very little strength to be effective. As he drug his palm down the robbers face he was able to attack two very sensitive parts of the face. His eyes and nose. In this example kenpo jiu jitsu was highly practical as it gave the elderly man a way to still defend himself without needing to fight very hard. Another technique from the Tracy’s kenpo hand book that requires very little athleticism and could have been used in the same exact situation is called kimono grab. In this scenario the robber was able to get his hands on the old man and grab him by his jacket while shoving him backward. There are many options for the elderly man to still defend himself. The very first thing the old man will do in this technique whether on purpose or because he is about to be shoved to the ground, is step backward while grasping onto the robbers left arm and pinning it to yourself. Before the elderly man is shoved to the ground he will bring his other arm underneath the robbers outstretched arms, pushing upward with the right while pushing downward with the left. It doesn’t take a lot of strength to hyper extend the arms and it’s very hard to push someone with your arms feeling as if they will snap. This is an ultimate set up for the next part of this technique. With as much force as he may muster, the elderly man will bring his right arm down on top of the hyper extended arms of his opponent. Despite not having much strength, this downward blow to the robbers arms will force him to pull the old man inward to stop his arms from hyper extending. At this point the robber has brought the old man very close to his exposed face. As in the previous technique, the old man takes full advantage of the robbers exposed neck and eyes to stun the robber or blind him as well as an elbow across his temple. These techniques are not just practical for the variety of situations they apply to but the simplicity in using them and making them work.
What started as a birthright to only the samurai, is now an art that can be learned by anyone willing to learn it. Kenpo jiu jitsu is just as useful as it’s always been and is a great tool to have in any situation where you might have to defend yourself or someone you care about. It’s a piece of history that is passed down from teacher to student and should be appreciated. It is preserved through a designed system that has been honed by battle but for the sake of harmony. Learning a martial art that is useful to you grants a sense of freedom and comfort that you can stop conflict or avoid it all together. The gift of kenpo jiu jitsu is the empowering gift of self defense and knowledge. It’s meant for any to use that need it and not just fighters. Situations arise when you least expect it and that is why it’s good to practice fighting movements that are universal to any situation. As long as humans live, there will always be a use for kenpo jiu jitsu.
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