Deflecting Hammer (EPAK Yellow #4)

Deflecting Hammer is the 4th technique required to obtain your Yellow Belt in Ed Parker’s American Kenpo.  This technique is for defense against a right thrust kick placing it in the Kicks category of the Web of Knowledge as well as the Kicks family group in the Family Groups Striking division.

In Deflecting Hammer you will learn how to create distance by changing angles as well as how to convert a long range defense into a short range weapon in one continuous action.

Defense

• Step 1
  • Step towards 7:30 with your left foot to form a right neutral bow stance,
  • Deliver a right outward downward diagonal block (from 11:00 to 5:00) to the outside of your opponent’s right leg.
• Step 2
  • Execute a forward shuffle.
  • Deliver a left thrusting heel palm to your opponent’s right arm between the elbow and shoulder.
  • Have your right arm continue on its path past the kick into a right inward horizontal elbow strike to your opponent’s ribs or face.
• Step 3
  • Cover toward 6:00.

Additional Information

Name

The name comes from the idea that you are deflecting your opponent’s kick with a downward block in a hammering motion.

Attack

The Ideal Phase has the attacker directly in front of you delivering a right step through thrusting ball kick to your groin or abdomen.  It is important to note that your attacker is attempting to kick through you with all of his weight behind the kick.

Considerations

• What if …
  • the kick is a low kick towards your knees?
  • the kick is a high kick towards your head?
  • the kick is a right thrusting knife edge kick?
  • the kick is followed by a right punch?
  • the kick is preceded by a left punch
  • the attacker kicks with his left foot?
  • the attacker executes a snap kick and plants back?

Related Techniques

• Delayed Sword
• Sword of Destruction
• Mace of Aggression
• Gift of Destruction
• Buckling Branch
• Hugging Pendulum
• Retreating Pendulum
• Circle of Doom
• Dance of Darkness
• Intellectual Departure

Historical Notes

• Neither the 1975 Accumulative Journal nor the 1987 IKKA Manuals indicated an Angle of Departure.

Historical Version

1975 Accumulative Journal

DEFLECTING HAMMER  (right front thrust kick)

1. With your feet together step back with your left foot into a right neutral bow stance as you execute a right deflecting downward block, against the outside of opponent’s kicking leg. (this Is done on a line from 11 o’clock to 5 O’clock)
2. From your right neutral bow, execute a left inward check to outside of opponent’s right arm (at or above the elbow)
3. Immediately shuffle forward (push drag) as you execute a right inward elbow strike to opponent’s right rib-cage or face, depending upon the circumstances
4. No cover out is required.

Unfinished Yellow Belt Manual by Ed Parker

DEFLECTING HAMMER (front – right front thrust kick)

1. Standing naturally, step back with your left foot toward 7:30 into a right neutral bow stance (to move out of your opponent’s Line of Attack), as you simultaneously execute a right outside downward diagonal block against the outside of your opponent’s right kicking leg. Be sure to have your left hand check at your solar plexus during your block. (Your opponent’s body should turn slightly to his left when your block is properly executed. Your block should, additionally, turn your opponent`s width, and cause injury to his leg.)
2. Without hesitation, and while still in your right neutral bow, shuffle forward “with” a left sliding check down and onto your opponent’s right elbow. (Make sure your left hand checks your opponent`s forward momentum as well as the width of his upper body.) At the same time, your right hand and arm continue to circle, and will re-orbit (just as you conclude your forward shuffle) into an inward horizontal elbow strike to your opponent’s face. ( Your action should cause your opponent’s head to snap back, and possibly drop him to the ground.)
3. Just as you conclude your forward shuffle, execute a left sliding check down and onto your opponent’s right elbow simultaneously “with” a right inward horizontal elbow strike to your opponent’s face. The body momentum obtained from your shuffle, coupled with the forward momentum of your opponent’s reaction, not only adds to the effects of borrowed force, but thoroughly checks your opponent’s depth zone as well. (The effects of both action should cause your opponent’s head to snap back and possibly have your opponent drop to the ground.)

Notes

Variations