Obstructing The Storm (Purple #19)

Obstructing The Storm is the 19th required technique to obtain your purple belt in Ed Parker’s American Kenpo.  Obstructing The Storm is a defense against an overhand downward club attack, placing it in the Weapons category of the Web of Knowledge as well as the Stick Family Group in the Weapons category of the family groups Striking division.

Your natural response when attacked with a weapon is to move off the line of attack. You are limited in available options so you move toward your opponent and slightly off his line of attack gaining a zone of sanctuary within your opponent’s obscure zone.  Moving off the line of attack is only one aspect of this technique as you can only do so minimally. You back this up by obstructing the attack, grabbing his wrist, controlling his zones of protection and controlling his retaliatory efforts all in a single continuous action.

The Technique

Attack

In the ideal phase your attacker is directly in front of you (12:00), in a left fighting stance. He steps forward with his right foot as he delivers a right overhead club attack. It is assumed that you are unable to evade the attack by moving to the left, right or rear.

There are many scenarios that can lead to your inability to move in any direction but forward.  It is vital to always be aware of your surroundings and develop good speed, timing and precision.

Defense

Obstructing the Storm – defense for a front overhead club strike.

• Step 1
  • Step toward 10:30 with your left foot to form a horse stance facing 1:30,
  • Deliver a right over left upward cross block to your opponent’s right wrist.
• Step 2
  • Catch the opponent’s right wrist with your right hand.
  • Deliver a left Inward thrusting forearm strike to your opponent’s right elbow,
  • Slide your left foot toward 1:30, in front of your opponent’s right leg, to form a left neutral bow stance.
  • Pull your opponent’s right wrist in, down and past your right hip,
  • Roll your right arm horizontally forcing your opponent’s right arm down,
• Step 3
  • Deliver a right thrusting knee kick to your opponent’s head or chest
  • Yank the club out of your opponent’s hand with your right hand,
  • Your left arm maintains a low check on your opponent’s right arm or shoulder.
• Step 4
  • Plant your right foot back to point of origin.
  • Deliver a right upward lifting back knuckle or club strike to your opponent’s face.
• Step 5
  • Left front crossover and cover out toward 7:30.

Considerations

• What if…
  • your opponent steps forward with his left leg?
  • your opponent does not step forward?
  • your opponent changes his angle of attack?
  • your opponent attacks from the left side?
  • the club is knocked loose on the cross block?
  • there is a wall to your back?
  • you are in a bear hug from behind, arms free?

Notes

• Make sure that your head, shoulders and legs are clear of the line of attack.
• Explore why your right hand goes over your left hand.
• Keep your fingers closed when you block the club.
• Your training partner should follow through with the club strike and not stop short. Instead he should simply go slower and with less power which you can increase as your skill improves.

Variations

• Some schools still teach the technique to end with the knee strike.
• Many schools teach the technique up to the disarm and do not include the follow up strike. A variation on how to disarm, with checking the opponent’s arm as you move away is as follows:
  • Step 3
    • Deliver a right thrusting knee kick to your opponent’s head or chest, planting your foot back to point of origin.
  • Step 4
    • Continue holding your opponent’s right wrist with your right hand,
    • disarm the attacker with your left hand (palm out/thumb down, slide fingers between you and the club, grab hold of the club twist counter clockwise toward the opponent’s face),
  • Step 5
    • Deliver a left horizontal push down block with the stick, against your opponent’s right elbow,
    • Left front crossover and cover out toward 7:30.
• In addition the technique is, more often than not, taught with a follow up strike to the attacker’s face before the front crossover and cover out. If you have your opponent’s stick this is done with the stick, otherwise this is done with your fist or forearm. A variation that has you plant forward with the final strike is as follows:
  • Step 3
    • Deliver a right thrusting knee kick to your opponent’s head or chest
    • Yank the club out of your opponent’s hand with your right hand,
    • Your left arm maintains a low check on your opponent’s right arm or shoulder.
  • Step 4
  • • Plant your right foot forward towards 2:00 into a right forward bow stance
    • Deliver a right upward lifting back knuckle or club strike to your opponent’s face.
  • Step 5
    • Execute a right rear step through, planting your foot back into its point of origin before the kick, into a left neutral bow stance
    • Left front crossover and cover out toward 7:30.

Additional Information

Name

In Ed Parker’s American Kenpo the term storm is used to symbolize a club attack. In this technique you will not simply avoid the club attack (storm) but you will be obstructing it’s path of action as well; giving us the name Obstructing The Storm

Related Techniques

• Checking the Storm (Y-7)
• Crossing Talon (O-13)
• Evading the Storm (P-7)
• Returning Storm (B-14)
• Brushing the Storm (G-7)
• Capturing the Storm (G-14)

Historical Notes

• In the 1975 Accumulative Journal, Obstructing The Storm was Purple Belt Technique #14.
• The 1975 Accumulative Journal indicates;
  • stepping toward 11:00 and facing 1:00 on the initial move.
  • stepping toward 2:00 to apply the arm bar.
  • 7:00 as the angle of departure.

Historical Versions

1975 Accumulative Journal

OBSTRUCTING THE STORM (front right overhead club)

1. With feet together, have your left foot step slightly forward and to your left on a 45° angle (first moving toward 11 o’clock but ending facing 1 o’clock in a horse) as you cross your right wrist over your left to block opponent’s attacking hand at his right wrist at a level above your head and off of your right shoulder. (Opponent steps through with his right foot when attacking.)
2. With your right hand, grab opponent’s right wrist as your left foot steps forward to 2 o’clock (cating around the leg if necessary) into a left neutral bow. Simultaneously strike opponent’s right elbow with your left forearm by first thrusting vertically and then horizontally forcing opponent’s right arm down while your right hand pulls in toward and past your right hip.
3. Continue to push down and pull opponent’s arm to your right; forcing opponent’s head down.
4. Immediately deliver a snapping right knee kick to opponent’s head or chest. This is done without raising the body.
5. Replant your right foot to original position into a left neutral bow; left front crossover and cover out to 7 o’clock.

Infinite Insights Into Kenpo, Volume 5

OBSTRUCTING THE STORM (Front right step through overhead club)

1. With your feet together, have your left foot step slightly forward and to your left on a 45° angle (first moving toward 11’0clock, but ending facing 1 o’clock in a horse stance) as you cross your right wrist over your left wrist (upward cross block) to block your opponent’s attacking hand at his right wrist, and at a level above your head and off of your right shoulder.
2. Grab your opponent’s right wrist with your right hand as your left foot steps forward to 1 o’clock (“cat in and in front of ” your opponent’s left leg) into a left neutral bow.  Simultaneously strike your opponent’s right elbow with your left forearm positioned vertically. Without hesitation, roll your left forearm horizontally, and force your opponent’s right arm down as your right hand pulls in, down and past your right hip. This action could for your opponent’s head down, with the possibility of having his head strike your left knee.
3. Immediately deliver a right snapping knee strike to your opponent’s head or chest while simultaneously pulling the club from out of your opponent’s right hand. This is done without raising your body.

NOTE: To become familiar with PHASE III, the FORMULATION PHASE, you may employ one of two variations:

1. Plant your right foot forward while executing a whipping underhand club strike to your opponent’s face.

Or:

1. Pivot (in place) into a left forward bow while simultaneously executing an underhand thrust with the end of the club to the right side of your opponent’s face.
2. You may replant your right foot to your point of origin (into your let neutral bow facing 1 o’clock) after completing step number 4, or pivot (in place) into a left neutral bow after completing step number 5. In either case left front crossover and proceed with the routine cover out to 7 o’clock.