Thrusting Salute (EPAK Orange #4)

Thrusting Salute is the 4th technique required to obtain your orange belt in Ed Parker’s American Kenpo.  Thrusting Salute is a defense for a right front kick placing it in the Kicks category in the Web of Knowledge and the Kicks Family of the Family Groups Striking Division.

In Thrusting Salute we are introduced to the zones of sanctuary as we create a notable angle of deflection with a well placed downward block.  It also stresses the importance of anticipating a follow up strike from your opponent.

Defense

• Step 1
  • Step toward 4:30 with your right foot forming a left neutral bow stance,
  • Deliver a left outward downward block to the inside of your opponent’s right leg.
• Step 2
  • Execute a right front snapping ball kick to your opponent’s groin.
  • Left hand covers high.
• Step 3
  • Plant your right foot toward 10:30 buckling your opponent’s right knee as you form a right neutral bow stance.
  • Deliver a right thrusting heel palm strike to your opponent’s jaw
• Step 4
  • Cover toward 4:30

Additional Information

Name

The name Thrusting Salute is derived from the manner, thrusting, in which you deliver the heel palm strike (salute) to your opponent.

Attack

The ideal phase consists of your opponent being directly in front of you with their right leg back and delivering a right thrusting ball kick to your body.

A thrusting ball kick can be used in an assortment of ways both offensively and defensively.  The fact that this is an aggressive thrusting ball kick implies a follow through or step-through as your opponent’s weight and momentum, coupled with your deflection, would put him beyond a point of no return thus forcing a commitment to the kick.

It is important to keep in mind that due to the aggressive nature of this kick and its follow through that your opponent could take full use of his backup mass, momentum and marriage of gravity to follow the kick with a solid punch that would have a lot of force behind it.  Always keep yourself in as safe a position as possible and be alert of your opponent’s movements.

Considerations

• What if …
  • your opponent snaps his kick back instead of stepping through?
  • your opponent kicks with a right roundhouse kick instead?
  • your opponent kicks with his left foot instead of his right?
  • your opponent attempts a left kick when planting down?
  • your opponent attempts a left punch when planting down?
  • your opponent attempts a right punch when planting down?

Related Techniques

• Obscure Sword
• Twin Kimono
• Cross of Destruction
• Begging Hands
• Defying the Storm
• Fallen Cross
• Falling Falcon
• Menacing Twirl
• Leap of Death

Historical Notes

• In the 1975 Accumulative Journal this was technique #13
• The 1975 Accumulative Journal has you step back toward 6:00 prior to the downward block and plant your right foot toward 11:00 after the kick.

Historical Variations

1975 Accumulative Journal

THRUSTING SALUTE (front straight right kick)

1. While standing naturally with feet together, step back with your right foot (to 6 o’clock) into a left neutral bow as you deliver a downward block to the inside of opponent’s right kicking leg.
2. Have your left foot pivot counter clockwise, in place, as you kick forward with the ball of your right foot to opponent’s groin. Simultaneously have your left hand check high (left extended outward but relaxed handsword) for possible head shots.
3. As you plant your right foot forward toward 11 o’clock (between opponent’s legs and into a right neutral bow), deliver a right torquing heel of palm thrust to opponent’s jaw while your left hand checks near your right ribcage

Unfinished Orange Belt Manual by Ed Parker

THRUSTING SALUTE (Front right step through kick)

1. Standing naturally, step back with your right foot to 4:30 (to get you out of the Line of Attack) into a left neutral bow, as you deliver a left downward block to the inside of your opponent’s right kicking leg. Instantly recoil your left hand counterclockwise into a vertical position, to act as a positional check (hand open). (Your downward block should deflect your opponent’s right kicking leg out and away from you.) During this action, your right hand cocks near your right hip (palm up and fist clenched).
2. Immediately execute a right front snap ball kick to your opponent’s groin. (Do not be surprised you if your opponent violently bends forward at the waist.)
3. Plant your right foot forward, toward 10:30, and into a right neutral bow (inside of your opponent’s right knee so that your right knee can check or buckle his right knee). Simultaneous with the plant (while capitalizing on your forward momentum and gravitational marriage), execute a right torquing heel palm strike to your opponent’s jaw, as your left positional check relocates near your right ribcage. (This action should cause your opponent’s head to snap back, and possibly cause his entire body to move away from you.)
4. Right front crossover, and cover out toward 4:30.

Notes

Variations