Five Animal Kenpo: Dragon, Snake, Tiger, Leopard, Crane.
  • Home
  • Black Belt Roster
  • Resources
  • Photo Album
  • Video Album
  • Instructional Videos
  • Contact Us

08. Controlling Wing (right cross wrist grab)

8/30/2011

2 Comments

 
My attacker, directly in front of me, grabs my right wrist with their right hand. A simple attack that could be nullified by punching them in the nose with my left jab... but since the attack is so simple it is an ideal opportunity (as a teaching technique) to explore a range of wrist lock and and arm bar controls. These locks and controls are used later throughout the system. 

Their initial attack is neutralized by delivering a front snap kick to the groin (one legged stance of the crane and unfurling snapping kick of the crane), a counter grab tendon lock using the crane hand, and an arm lock using the crane wing.  The end result is my opponent is now folded and their position controlled.  Crane is the controlling animal (yes, I am aware that a grappling aspect of snake "strategy" has been applied as well) but not only are the tools (elbows and kicks) of the crane animal employed but the entire energetic model of the folding and unfurling aspect of the crane has been used.  Although the overall aspect of constrictor snake is to "grab, choke, and lock" does not imply that the remaining four animals are completely devoid of any grappling aspect.  

Lesson One: The pinning check as we front kick is a subtle and valuable tool.  By slightly dropping my weight while pulling down quickly (but only a couple of inches -- if you pull too far you will be in the way of your front kick and will change a quick jerk into an elongated pull) I temporarily shift their weight forward canceling their height zone so that it is difficult for them to kick me or block my front kick with a leg block of their own.

Lesson Two: The crane hand counter grab tendon lock.  If the attacker's right arm is mostly extended this lock will have no immediate effect but will serve as the bracing point for the upcoming elbow lock.  The technique in the "ideal phase" accepts this point of origin as the premise.  If their arm is significantly bent the tendon lock will drop your opponent rapidly to their knees in pain and the rest of the technique will no longer be necessary.  A knee to the sternum would suffice.  Tip -- for this tendon lock to be succeed your left hand applying the pinning check must maintain adequate pressure to prevent any rotation of their right hand that would reduce the effect of the lock.  This wiggle room allows a significant reduction in pain and thus cannot be allowed.

Lesson Three: The crane wing to lock the elbow joint.  Unlike a conventional arm bar where pressure is placed directly above the elbow joint by the blade of the forearm as it contacts perpendicular to the plane of the arm you are attacking, this crane wing lock (left forearm contact point) diagonally traverses their arm putting pressure below the elbow joint but because of the angle of our pressure (imagine drawing a line through their elbow to the inside of their back left knee) and the winching affect of our pinning check of the left hand and right crane hand pulling slightly up and back into our body, these combined forces produce dramatic control over our opponent's position with a relatively small amount of movement.  Incidentally, this same action is also demonstrated in kata in section four, movement five, of the Tiger-Crane Form.  It is an example of a lock created through the process of the folding into the crane wing.  The process of folding is crucial to understanding this action -- if you do not wedge them into this folding process but simply form an elbow and strike the attacker in the forearm you will have a weak lock that lacks the crane style of energy.

Lesson Four: "More than one way to skin a cat."  Having achieved control over our opponent's position we now have many options before us.  This technique chooses to maintain control by exploring two additional ways of locking the elbow joint (and thus controlling our attacker's position).  The first of these follow up methods is a classic arm bar performed from a twist stance.  (This style of arm bar is described in some detail in the paragraph above and most typically is used by the constrictor snake).  The change of angle taken when using the twist stance is based on moving with the attacker's resisting energy and force fighting against the lock.  If the attacker is not putting pressure against you but is complying to the hold, this action would not be necessary and I would continue my pressure and control on the line of attack I had already established.

The second elbow control used can also be used by the snake but quite often is used by dragon as well -- which is a push down block applied to the joint directly while maintaining counter pressure on the wrist with the arm elongated.

METHODS OF DRILL:

1. Practice the technique on both sides.  One of the principal aims of the technique is to compare and contrast different methods of locking your opponent's elbow and it is important to learn these locks on both sides of our body.  (Again, in "real world" application if a guy grabs my left wrist with his left wrist I will most likely punch him in the nose with my right fist instead!)

2. Drill the technique with more bend in the attacker's arm so the initial tendon lock can be practiced.

3. Pick each of the three elbow locking methods (crane wing, arm bar, push down block) and practice using each of these for every lock applied in the technique to compare and contrast how different stance and position works with each of the methods.

4. Practice eliminating the initial front kick if you are able to apply the counter grab/lock quick enough in the early stages of the technique.  If you fail in the counter grab/lcok, than apply the front kick as an after thought for when resistance is met and continue onward with the technique from there.

5. Explore using this technique to seize and control an opponent who has blocked your strike.  For example, you are both in a right lead and your right back knuckle to the head is blocked.  You stick (do not retract back) to their block and immediately apply the controlling wing technique.

6. Explore using this technique from the ground.  You are on your back with an opponent mounted on you and trying to punch you in the face.  From your right outward parry to their right cross you apply this lock and further add to the winching affect by rolling with the lock to your right side.  Play with even parrying with a left inward parry and applying this lock without the assistance of your right hand.  A critical skill if that right hand is not available.

WHAT IS IN A NAME? The crane's wing (particularly the affect of folding into the wing) lock's my opponent's elbow and controls their position.



2 Comments
Michael Ernst
8/30/2011 07:09:30 pm

Like all techniques, Controlling Wing uses aspects from multiple animals and the movements can be interpreted in different ways. Since the overall goal of technique is to control the opponent, I would classify it a primarily Constricting Snake, however I definitely see Trevor’s point about this technique being Crane in regards tools used and use of furling and unfurling actions. Trevor’s description has illustrated Crane aspects to many on the moves that I hadn’t seen before, however all the same movements can be also described using Snake.

The initial pinning check is a constricting snake move that immobilizes the opponent and prevents them from escaping or countering your actions. The quick snap kick to the groin is pinpoint strike to a vital target and is as about as a viper snake strike you can do with your legs. The rest of the technique consists of applying wristlocks and arm bars to control the opponent and take them to the ground, which if isn’t constricting snake I don’t know what is.

The truth is like most of the best techniques of the system, Controlling Wing has a “peanut butter in my chocolate, chocolate in my peanut butter thing going on”. One method of drill could be do the technique with as much Crane focus as possible, and then again focusing entirely on Snake. I haven’t had a chance to do this yet myself, but my guess is neither single animal version will be as effective as some sort of hybrid. How much Snake vs. how much Crane for optimum results is probably something that varies from individual to individual.

Finally after becoming familiar with the various Kenpo arm bars and locks, it might be worth your while to examine similar techniques from other styles and systems, especially those that specialize in this type of grapping. The tendon lock is very similar to what is called Nikkajo in Aikido. This is a fundamental movement in Aikido, and as such, it is as natural to them as training horse or reverse punch is to us. Spending just a few minutes with a local Aikido instructor gave me details and insights on the lock that greatly increased its effectiveness and opened my eyes to applications of it I had never thought of before. Aikido, Judo, and Jiu Jitsu all have multiple ways of applying standing arm bars. Learning these techniques and how to apply them can help you with the Kenpo versions and you might even find a variation that works better for you and your specific body type.

Reply
Michael Ernst
9/2/2011 02:28:39 pm

Tonight we held a Black Belt class based on this entry of the Sijo Blog, and I must tell you it was one of the best classes we’ve had in quite a while.

We started out examining the initial attack, the cross wrist grab. Everyone in the room correctly identified it as a “snake” attack, and a relatively simple and weak one at that.

We next discussed the appropriate defending animals, which once again, everyone correctly identified as snake and crane.

We then paired off and practiced spontaneous, or instinctual, responses to this particular attack. Everyone was instructed not the think, just react and respond. What resulted was an array of different crane and snake defenses. Most were simple, basic movements, with a level of force proportional to the seriousness of the attack. The most common “crane” defense was a quick kick to the shins with a simultaneous clearing of the attacking arm. The “snake” defenses consisted of mostly arm bars. One student, Frank, did exactly what Trevor said he would do, punch the attacker in the face which lead to an interesting side discussion about the animals.

When asked what animal Frank’s defense was, most people said Tiger, including Frank himself. I then asked if it was Tiger, why would it work on a Snake attack. After a couple minutes of discussion we concluded that Tiger has no real strategic dominance over Snake, and the defense might work or it might not. Punch a guy as hard as you can in the head, you might knock him out, you might break your hand, or you might end up just standing there slugging it out with the guy until one of you drops. We found the way to make the defense most effective was to shift the animal focus from Tiger to Viper Snake. Instead of simply clobbering the guy in the head as hard are you can, a focused precision strike to the nose (which is what Trevor actually suggested) would more effective with much less risk. Once we had finished practicing actual defenses to a cross wrist grab, we then turned to Controlling Wing as training tool to experiment with the variety of movements and concepts it has to offer.

We first reviewed the sequence of the technique, just as we would in a normal class. We paired off with each other and practiced it several times to make is we were all familiar with the movements. I then brought the class together and asked what they thought the controlling animal of technique was. The result was unanimous, everyone said Snake. When asked “Why?” reasons given included because we are grabbing the opponent, because we taking them to the ground, and because at the initial stages of the technique we get closer to the opponent as opposed to farther away. I added that I thought the technique was Snake, as well, and shared my thoughts about the pinning check being constricting snake and the front snap kick to the groin being viper snake.

When I said that the according to Trevor, the actual controlling animal was Crane, I got back a lot of confused looks, but as I worked through the technique step by step, those looks where replaced by nods. After doing the pinning check I stood in a one legged stance for a second before firing off the kick. When I applied the tendon lock, I hesitated again so they could see the Crane hand. By the time I got to arm bars they were getting it. Frank once again channeled Trevor by stating that not only were we using a wing for the first arm bar, but our folding action was causing the opponent to unfurl. Finally we discovered that although we start very close to the opponent with the first arm bar, each subsequent variation pushes them farther away from us. We then spent several moments working on the technique with a distinct Crane emphasis. Admittedly almost all of us we more comfortable with the Snake version, but it did gave us something new to train and talk about.

We then went through the various “Lessons” on the blog, covering each of the major components of the technique. Of note were lessons 1 and 4 about the pinning check and traditional arm bar from a twist stance. Most of us were neglecting to settle our weight and pull with the pinning check and thus were not getting the most use out of it. For lesson 4 we found the effectiveness of the arm bar has everything with the direction that you step into the twist stance. Step away from the opponent like you are covering out, and you lose position and almost all chance of maintaining control. Step forward (i.e. the direction both you and the opponent are facing) and dropping into the twist stance sends him crashing to his knees.

We finished class by going through the various methods of drill, starting with attempting the technique on both sides. Not surprisingly most of us had trouble doing this, at least without a lot of hesitating and thinking. I then instructed everyone to go back to the spontaneous, instinctual respo

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Trevor Haines is the founder of Five Animal Kenpo and is a 6th Degree Black Belt in American Kenpo.  He has been a student of Kenpo since 1977 and an instructor in Kenpo since 1986. He currently owns Dojo Chattanooga in Chattanooga, Tn.

    Picture
    Sketch of Sijo Trevor Haines by Leslie Harrelson

    Archives

    February 2014
    February 2013
    April 2012
    March 2012
    August 2011
    July 2011

    Categories

    All
    Beginning Stage
    Techniques

    RSS Feed

Congratulations to Meghan Gardner (2nd Degree Black Belt) and to Zachary Haines (4th Degree Black Belt)  -- awarded December 23, 2022.