Checking the Storm (EPAK Yellow #7)

Checking the Storm is the 7th technique required to obtain your Yellow Belt in Ed Parker’s American Kenpo.  Checking the Storm is a defense for right step through overhead club attack placing it in the Weapons category of the Web of Knowledge and the Sticks Family Group of the weapons category in the Family Groups Striking Division.

As this technique involves a dangerous overhead club atttack you will learn the importance of evasive footwork and setting positional blocks to deviate the course of your opponent’s weapon. You will also be introduced to disarming an opponent.

Defense

• Step 1:
  • Step toward 3:00 with your right foot to form a horse stance,
  • Deliver a right inward parry.
  • Slide your left foot toward 3:00 to form a left 45° cat stance,
  • Deliver a left extended outward block.
• Step 2:
  • Deliver a left front snapping ball kick to the groin.
• Step 3:
  • Plant your left foot down towards 10:00 into a left front twist stance.
  • Deliver a right snapping knife edge kick to the inside of your opponent’s right knee.
• Step 4:
  • Plat your right foot down towards 10:00 into a right neutral bow,
  • Deliver a right outward whipping back knuckle strike to your opponent’s temple.
• Step 5:
  • Cover toward 6:00.

Additional Information

Name

In American Kenpo the term ‘storm’ is used to symbolize a club attack. Anything that has the word storm will involve a club attack.  Checking is a Kenpo principle that is used to restrain, hinder or prevent an opponent from taking action.  In Checking the Storm you will employ the checking principle to hinder your opponent’s overhead club strike.

Attack

In the ideal phase the attack is from the front and your attacker is in a left neutral bow. They step through with their right foot as they execute a right overhead club attack towards your head

Considerations

• What if …
  • Your opponent snaps his club back?
  • Your opponent strikes diagonally down towards your right?
  • Your opponent strikes diagonally down towards your left?
  • Your opponent does not step through very far?
  • Your opponent does not step through at all?
  • Your opponent attacks overhead with his left hand instead?
  • Your opponent changes the orbit of the overhead strike into an inward strike?
  • Your opponent changes the orbit of the overhead strike into an outward strike?

Related Techniques

• Sword of Destruction
• Calming the Storm
• Obstructing the Storm
• Circling the Horizon
• Escape from the Storm

Historical Notes

• The 1975 Accumulative Journal uses a left-right chicken kick with the left foot striking the groin and the right foot striking the solar plexus.
• The 1975 Accumulative Journal ends after the kicks with you planting your right kick back to 4:30 in a guard position, there is no back knuckle strike to the temple.
• Neither the 1975 Accumulative Journal nor the 1987 IKKA Studio Manuals indicate an angle of departure.

Historical Versions

1975 Accumulative Journal Version

CHECKING THE STORM  (front right step-thru overhead club)

1. Standing naturally with feet together, as opponent swings his club in an overhead fashion, at the last second step off quickly to the right with your right foot toward 3:00 and drag your left foot on toward your right into a left 45° cat stance facing towards 10:30, at the same time simultaneously execute a left upward extended outward block, utilizing your right hand in the double factor fashion, to stop as an open hand check in front of the solar-plexus.
2. Immediately execute a left right chicken kick, with your left foot striking his groin, and your right foot striking his solar-plexus.
3. From your right kick have your right foot plant down and back (toward 4:30) into a left neutral bow stance with your hand in the fighting position. (fists closed)
4. No cover out is required.

Unfinished Yellow Belt Manual by Ed Parker

CHECKING THE STORM  (Front – right step-through overhead club)

1. Standing naturally, as your opponent swings his club in an overhead fashion, quickly step off to your right with your right foot toward 3 o’clock. Simultaneously drag your left foot toward your right foot as you form a left 45 degree cat stance facing 10:30. Without a break in the flow of your action, execute a right inward parry followed by a left extended outward handsword block (striking block) to the inner wrist of your opponent’s right arm. During the natural flow of your motion have your right hand proceed to act as a check in front of your solar-plexus.
2. Immediately execute a left front snap ball kick to your opponent’s groin. (This should cause your opponent to bend forward at the waist.)
3. Be sure to properly gauge the distance between you and your opponent as you plant your left foot toward 10:00, and deliver a right step-through snapping knife-edge kick to the inside of your opponent’s right knee. (Your action should cause your opponent’s right knee to bend out and away from you, but cause his head to move closer to you.)
4. Plant your right foot toward 10:00 into a right neutral bow, and, while employing MARRIAGE OF GRAVITY, execute a right outward back knuckle strike to your opponent’s left temple. Have your left hand remain checking at your solar plexus. (This action should drive your opponent’s head away from you and possibly cause his body to drop to the ground.)

Notes

Variations