Locked Wing (EPAK Orange #17)

Locked Wing is the 17th technique required to obtain your Orange Belt in Ed Parker’s American Kenpo. It is a defense against a rear right hammerlock placing it in the Chokes & Locks category in the Web of Knowledge and a member of the Locks family group in the Chokes & Locks category of the grappling division.

In Locked Wing you turn your opponent’s perceived upper hand against him, after which you discover how a little torque can create a lot of power before catapulting your opponent into a sandwiching knee.

Defense

Locked Wing – defense for a right hammer lock.

• Step 1
  • Slide your foot back toward 4:30 with your left foot as you counter grab your opponent’s right hand with your right hand.
  • Pivot counter clockwise into a left neutral bow facing 6:00,
  • Deliver a left outward horizontal elbow strike to your opponent’s face.
• Step 2
  • Continue moving your left arm counter clockwise over and under your opponent’s right arm,
  • Pivot clockwise into a right forward bow facing 10:30,
  • Deliver a left uppercut strike so that your left inner elbow hits your opponent’s right outer elbow.
• Step 3
  • Step back toward 4:30 with your right foot to form a left forward bow facing 10:30,
  • positioning your opponent in front of you.
• Step 4
  • Maintain your hold on your opponent’s right arm with your left arm as you release your right hand,
  • Deliver a right upward knee kick to your opponent’s chest,
  • Deliver a right inward overhead heel palm strike to the back of your opponent’s neck.
• Step 5
  • Plant your right foot toward 10:30 to form a right neutral bow stance,
  • Push your opponent away with both hands.
• Step 6
  • Right front cross over and cover out toward 4:30.

Additional Information

Name

The term wing in American Kenpo is synonymous with the elbow joint. In this case the attacker is applying a right hammerlock on your right elbow (wing), thus the name Locked Wing.

Attack

The ideal phase places your opponent directly behind you. Your opponent then grabs your right wrist with his right hand (palm up) and pushes your wrist up your back.

A hammerlock can be applied several ways, with the palm up method being the most common.  A hammerlock is mostly used to subdue and control the victim. While in a hammerlock you need to be aware of an additional attacker or being run up against an object such as a wall.  By itself, the hammerlock can cause excruciating pain in the shoulder, tear the muscles, tendons, cartilage as well as dislocate the shoulder.

Considerations

• What if …
  • your opponent applies the right hammerlock with his right palm down?
  • your opponent applies the right hammerlock with his left hand, palm up?
  • your opponent applies the right hammerlock with his left hand, palm down?
  • your opponent puts you in a left hammerlock with his left hand?
  • your opponent’s grabs your left shoulder with his left hand while you are in a right hammerlock?
  • your opponent grabs your right wrist with both hands?
  • your opponent pulls you while you are in the hammerlock?
  • your opponent pushes you against a wall?
  • your opponent applies painful pressure to your right arm?

Related Techniques

• Spiraling Twig
• Flight to Freedom
• Defying the Storm
• Crossed Twigs
• Wings of Silk
• Broken Ram
• Securing the Storm

Historical Notes

• In the 1975 Accumulative Journal, Locked Wing was Orange Belt Technique #15
• The 1975 Accumulative Journal has you you pivot into a right neutral bow facing 10:00
• The 1987 IKKA Studio Manuals have you step back toward 6:00 with your right foot to form a right neutral bow stance facing 12:00.
• Both the 1975 Accumulative Journal and 1987 IKKA Studio Manuals have your plant your right foot toward 11:00.

Historical Versions

1975 Accumulative Journal

LOCKED WING (hammerlock)

1. With opponent locking your right arm, step back and to your right (between 4 and 5 o’clock) with your left foot into a right neutral bow (with your head still looking forward to 12 o’clock) as your right hand counter grabs your opponent’s right wrist. (Try to place your left leg inside and against opponent’s right leg.)
2. Immediately pivot your entire body counter clockwise into a left neutral bow (facing 6 o’clock) or horse depending on circumstance, as you deliver a left back horizontal elbow strike to opponent’s jaw.
3. Circle your left arm over and under opponent’s right elbow as you pivot to your right (toward 10 o’clock) in a modified horse.
4. While still applying pressure on opponent’s left elbow, drop back with your right foot (between 4 and 5 o’clock) and form a left forward bow.
5. Immediately release your right hand as you deliver a right knee kick to opponent’s chest with a right overhead heel of palm strike to the back of opponent’s neck thus causing a sandwiching effect.
6. Follow through by stepping forward toward 11 o’clock with your right foot into a fighting stance.

Notes

Variations