Basics

Regardless of field of endeavor basics play a key role in learning the process, whether an engineer or in our case, a Kenpo practitioner.

The basics in Kenpo are composed of the following which are done with your body appendages:

• Stances
• Blocks
• Parries
• Punches
• Strikes
• Finger Techniques
• Kicks
• Foot Maneuvers

A combination of two or more of these movements can be very devastating to an opponent in a defensive scenario. The better you know them, the more tools you have at your disposal to evade, block, strike, and perform almost any maneuver to protect yourself or another. And, in this case, practice makes perfect.

The following is a partial list of the basics taught by USKKA International instructors. Further, many clubs and systems extend the belt levels over which the following basics are taught. However, because purple belt is specified as an ‘assistant instructor’ level, we teach the basics so that most of them are learned by the time the student reaches the purple belt level. The ones not shown on this list are taught at other, more advanced levels.

YELLOW BELT

STANCES

• Attention
• Horse
• Neutral Bow
• Forward Bow
• Reverse Bow
• One Leg
• 45 Cat

BLOCKS

• Inward
• Vertical Outward
• Upward
• Downward
• Extended Outward
• Push Down
• Horizontal Downward Forearm
• Vertical Inside Forearm
• Inward Elbow
• Downward Elbow
• Inside Downward Elbow

PARRIES

• Inward
• Outward
• Downward

PUNCHES

• Straight Thrust
• Straight Snap
• Vertical Thrust
• Vertical Snap
• Upper Cut
• Inverted Vertical Roundhouse
• Overhead

KICKS

• Front Snap
• Side Snap
• Back Snap
• Round House
• Front Chicken
• Spinning Outward Reverse Crescent

STRIKES

• Inward Handsword
• Outward Handsword
• Back Hammerfist
• Inward Elbow
• Outward Elbow
• Obscure Back Elbow
• Inward Reverse Handsword
• Outward Back Knuckle
• Inward Diagonal Knuckle Rake

FINGER TECHNIQUES

• Overhead Claw
• Cross Back Claw
• Underhand Claw

FOOT MANEUVERS

• Step Thru
• Step Drag
• Drag Step
• Push Drag

ORANGE BELT

STANCES

• 90 Cat
• Front Twist
• Rear Twist
• Wide Kneel
• Close Kneel

BLOCKS

• Inside Downward (palm up)
• Inside Downward (palm down)
• Upward Elbow
• Upward
• Vertical Downward Palm Heel
• Crane

PUNCHES

• Vertical Back-knuckle Snap
• Vertical Back-knuckle Thrust
• Round House
• Blocking
• Leopards Paw

KICKS

• Front Thrust
• Side Thrust
• Back Thrust
• Shovel
• Inward Crescent
• Outward Crescent
• Front Scoop
• Back Scoop
• Front Stomp
• Side Stomp
• Back Stomp

STRIKES

• Straight Heel of Palm
• Hammerfist
• Inward Overhead Elbow
• Outward Overhead Elbow
• Upward Elbow
• Center Knuckle Thrust
• Back Horizontal Forearm
• Inward Diagonal Inner Wrist
• Inward Horizontal Heel of Palm
• Underhand Heel of Palm
• Inside Vertical Forearm
• Outward Heel of Palm
• Overhead Heel of Palm
• Obscure Vertical Elbow

FINGER TECHNIQUES

• Straight Thrust
• Vertical Thrust
• Upward Thrust
• Outward Whip
• Overhead Whip
• Side Thrust
• Cross Back Thrust
• Upward Claw

FOOT MANEUVERS

• Front Cross Over
• Rear Cross Over

PURPLE BELT

STANCES

• Concave Bow
• Rear Bow
• Rotating Twist

BLOCKS

• Vertical Outside Forearm
• Outward Elbow

PARRIES

• Inside Downward
• Horizontal Inward Palm Heel
• Horizontal Outward Palm Heel
• Vertical Upward Palm Heel

PUNCHES

• Front Lifting Back-knuckle
• Hook

KICKS

• Spinning Back
• Front Thrusting Heel
• Inverted Front Thrusting Heel
• Rotating Heel
• Front Cross Side Stomp
• Rear Cross Side Stomp
• Front Roundhouse Sweep
• Reverse Roundhouse Sweep
• Reverse Roundhouse
• Front Roundhouse Heel

STRIKES

• Front Knuckle
• Flat Fist
• Forward Horizontal Forearm
• Eye of the Phoenix
• Thumb Knuckle
• Outward Diagonal Reverse Handsword
• Rear Stiff Arm Lifting Heel of Palm

FINGER TECHNIQUES

• Eagle's Talon
• Single Finger Thrust
• Two Finger Thrust
• Back Whip (below waist)
• Back Whip (over shoulder)
• Horizontal Slice
• Reverse Horizontal Slice
• Pincher
• Twin Dragons

FOOT MANEUVERS

• Hop
• Jump
• Leap

All basics are to be taught at the prescribed belt level. The basics listed upon this poster are not all that can be taught, but are the minimal that should be described and taught to each individual student. Failure to teach the student the correct manner on how each basic should be executed will delay individual progress. Also, failure to learn correctly by the student will impair his or her ability to obtain proper balance, speed, and therefore, power since basics are the foundation from which all Kenpo principles and techniques originate.

*Note: All basics will be included in all belt level tests from yellow belt through and including 10th degree black belt. Please do not disregard their importance. Each student must be able to explain an individual or multiple basic(s) within any principle. Some brief examples would be entries to attack, complimentary angles, protective zones, and many, many more.