Two Man Kata

Here at Elite Force Martial Arts in Ft Lauderdale, the big news (well my news) is that I'm back! After a three month hiatus where hopefully, my hip and back issues have settled down, I made it back to class last night.  A number of people said: "Heh, we really need some help. You've got to get the Two Man Kata up online so we can learn it"

Gee, it's great to see you all too. In any case, here are three videos.  The first one with Niki is the offensive side of the Two Man Kata, done slowly for us to learn from.



Here is the defensive part of Two Man. 


And this combines the North and South, offense and defense, of the Two Man Kata.
Write-Up.  Offensive side of the Two Man Kata,
 Start: Legs together, hands in a diamond together low.
1. Step right with right leg, backfist with right hand,  left hand open facing right at right shoulder.
2. Step forward with the right, parry parry.
3. Step forward and then back on the 45 with the left with an inward horizontal chop.
4. Step on the next diagonal with the left with a downward block and chamber.
5. Hard bo and left punch
6. Reverse hard bo with downward and upward blocks.
7. Cross over step to the corner while hands do trap and backfist.
8. Step forward with the left so you're facing sideways and upper cut with the left with a pull back on the right.
9.  Upward and inside horizontal block with the right.
10. Jump so that you face the same way but with the left leg forward, neck punch with the left.
11. Jump spin back and inward block with the right.
12. High back fist with the right
13. Inward block on the horizontal with the right.
14. Elbow to the right with the right while leaning.
15. Step with right to the horizontal while pushing forward with the left.
16
17. Reverse hard bo with downward and upward block.
18. step up and side kick with the left and spin 180 to your left
19. End in reverse hard bo, upward and downward block, hands open.


This Two Man Kata as practiced by Elite Force, Team X-Treme Martial Arts Academy,  New Era Martial Arts, New Life Martial Arts, Team Andrello, Team Creek, Impact Martial Arts and Fitness of Syracuse NY, and other derivatives of the Lavallee-system.  Actually, I don't know if this kata is practiced by all these schools but I thought it would be fun to put the list of them together. Are there other schools largely using the same kata?  If so, tell me in the comments.

thanks

lastly, dear readers, how about some comments to encourage me ....
Here are two interesting reads, one of them cites me....
http://martialarts-whynot.weebly.com/
http://unscramble.weebly.com/

Long Two Kata

We are learning a new kata, Long Two is now back in the curriculum. Flash update, look below the video and I'm trying to describe it.  Long Two as performed by Mr. Mike Galindo at the NTC of Lavallees Karate School in Ft Lauderdale.

Start - Bow in, right step forward, right inward block, chop, left open hand punch, right side fist.
Left step forward, left inward block, chop, right open hand punch, left side fist.

In a continuous motion, turn head to left, step with left to left, put hands into cat stance pose, then to the left, outward block with the left hand, punch with the right. Left corkscrew punch (the punch is forward and twisting, not a big hook shot), right punch, pull back from the hard bow with the left leg to where the legs are in a cat stance and then front kick with the left leg while left side fist punch.

Reverse: As the punch & kick finish, transfer head around 180 degrees while taking a small adjustment step with the right foot. The hands come together briefly in the cat stance pose then to the right, outward block with the right hand, punch with the left. Right corkscrew punch, left punch pull back the front right leg, front right kick and right side punch. (time 0:17 seconds for those watching the clock on the video).

Spin to the left moving left foot enough to the left so you are facing back-left on the 45 in a horse stance.  Left downward block, right inward block.Hard bow left punching right, left hand above head. Horse stance, starting left open hand rolling back fist, right rolling back fist, pause, left roll back fist, right roll back fist.

Spin to the right moving right foot to right so you are facing front left on the 45 in horse stance. Right downward block, left inward block.  Hard bow right punch left. Horse stance. left open rolling back fist, right back fist, pause, left right. (time 0:25)

Step back with right foot so you turn 180 to face back right on 45, horse stance. Left downward block  into hard bow.  Left corkscrew punch. Right punch.  Kick forward right stepping forward while forward punch with left, finishing with right side fist into horsestance. (time 0:28)

Step right turning 90 so you're facing forward right on 45, horsestance with right downward block, right horsescrew punch, left punch.  Right punch while kicking left, then left side fist finishing in horsestance. (0:31)

Combat Kenpo - Series One and Two

As 2009 ended and 2010 starts, our curriculum has returned towards traditional kenpo basics.  In addition to a focus on the details for the Appreciation Form, Short One, and Long One (eg the downward Y block starts above the shoulder and the block is outside arm!), we are being introduced to a series of combat kenpo moves, reflecting Kyoshi's and our school's kenpo base.

The Combat Kenpo Form (is that the proper name?) is a three part series of  four attacks and defenses (we've learned two so far) structured around the  four blocks: inward, outward, upward, and downward.

Combat Kenpo - Series One -  One person. 



Combat Kenpo - Series Two -  One person.


Combat Kenpo - Series One - Two People




Combat Kenpo - Series Two - Two People


If anyone feels that this needs editing or refining, I'd be grateful for the guidance.  Note that these demos are very impromptu and not definitive examples of all details.  If anyone  shoots  better video, put it on Youtube and tell me about it. I'll put it up.

Is Anybody Out there? Last thing (and I added this after the post had been up for two days) I was just wondering: is anybody out there? I'm a little thirsty for a comments to know that somebody is reading this...Just in case, I checked the Youtube stats on views of these videos:  There's about 80 total views: 20 views of each video on this page (they've been up two days). This could mean one person watched each video twenty times or eighty people watched one video each. I also looked at the stats on the video that I put up just before this one. The kama set video of Mr Mike that I put up at the end of Oct has 215 views. Since it is only one of three versions of kama set that I've posted, I guess there's my answer. Someone is watching.  Who are you?  Introduce yourself in the comments section. Even anonymously.

Kama Set Updated

Here's a new recording of Kama Set. Thanks to Mr. Mike.

A distinguishing feature of the kata is that it requires spinning back hook kicks which is a challenge for many.

One more interesting point before we start. All of our weapons are the ones that peasants trained on during a period when they were forbidden to have any weapons. So they trained with common farm implements. The kamas are basically scyths or harvesting instruments.
The Kama Set is from Taekwondo as is kama set two. Want more info on how our system blends different martial arts traditions?



KamaSet Write-up

"Kata""Kama set"
Bow "Osu"
Hard bow left - Right hand punchHard bow right- Left hand punch

Circle set

Horse stance left- Both hands in mantis position right hand about shoulder level left hand parallel.
Cross stance- Right hand throat strike, left hand guard
Back leg front kick
Left hand v-cut, right hand v-cut, stomp and lower stance.

Horse stance right- Both hands in mantis position left hand about shoulder level right hand parallel.
Cross stance- Left hand throat strike, right hand guard
Back leg front kick
Right hand v-cut, left hand v-cut, stomp and lower stance.

Horse stance foreward- Both hands in mantis position right hand about shoulder level left hand parallel.
Right hand throat strike, left hand in guard
Back leg front kick, skip front kick, double back stirike (cross stance)

Horse stance back- Right hand in guard, left hand horizontal stab
Right hand throat strike
Back leg front kick, cross step, flying side kick
Plant horse stance, matis position.

Hands come across face to foreward horse stance
Mantis position, slide up round house, spink hook kick
Right hand guard, left hand horizontal stab
Spin hook, drop side kick
Spin up right, sezah one, left hand throat strike right hand guard

Circle set
Hard bow left
"USA!" v-cut foreward with right
Soft bow right"USA!" v-cut foreward with left (added 2009)
"Black Belt Champions!"
left hand stab, right hand guard
Boot check "Asah!" Double back strike (relax stance)

Circle set,
Bow,
Courtesy.

Sword Play

What's new? Well, we're learning to use swords! And for those of us that haven't yet bought a sword, we're learning with bokkens (A bokken is an inexpensive and relatively safe substitute for a real sword used in training in the martial arts - wikipedia).

So far, we've learned three parts of our first cutting kata. They're cool, fun, and really hard to remember. There's new words for the handle, the part that protects your hand, the thing (sheath) that you put it in, the motions you make to shake the blood off the sword, and the motion for putting the sword back in it's holder. I can't remember any of them. Do you? If so, please send them along.

I did get a few pictures of stances (thanks Joe) and a very simple video of one of the three "cutting forms."



The fun gets funner. We now have swords as part of the curriculum!



This is a basic demo, very slow, of Cutting form 2. Basically:
- upblock
- slice across on the 45
-slide across on the horizontal
- overhead strike
- hit the sword to clearn off the blood - chabusi?
- resheath the sword while in a cool sideways stance
- salute.



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Back to Basics....Videos of Katas...My abs

Monday, I was back in class after a three week absence. Which was preceded by two weeks in class and before that, another two week absence. So its come-back time for me and with any luck, I'll be there with no interruptions until Christmas.

To welcome me back, the dojo is having a "back-to-basics week". Thanks so much. (The world does spin around me, doesn't it?) Monday night, we went through the basic kata, fast and furious. I loved it. White Belt Appreciation Form, Kempo Kata Short One, Kempo Kata Long One, Kempo Kata Short Two , Bookset, XMA Form One and Short Three. There are now videos and write-ups on each of these posts. OK, I admit. There were not videos on each of these kata when I first posted this article this morning but having gotten a few emails, I made some new videos today (thanks Kathy) and got them up on the site. Anybody want to add any details to the write-ups? Any corrections? Any great pictures of the poses for the beginners to contribute? Come on folks, it's web 2.0 time, you are supposed to participate....

I was proud to find that my memory of these kata was sharp. It helped that when I trained on vacation, I practiced the kata so I'd been through them on my own recently. Also, it helps that I'm still less than a year from earning my black belt when I learned all the kata well enough to do them in my sleep. Actually, I did do them a few times in my sleep as my fiancee told me when I asked her why she had those funny bruises. But I can't say that I was sharp on my stances and details. Way too many of my stances were sort-of hard bows or off-center horse stances.

I once spent some time video taping and watching myself on the details. I think I was trying to get a video of myself for one of the kata blog posts. It really helped with details having the ability to watch myself right afterwards. With some time and a tripod (or friends), I'd like to try that again.

I might have been over-doing this come back. I ran Friday hard (have I mentioned my cactus injury), I travelled Saturday (visiting a kid in camp in Pennsylvania), I ran hard Sunday, Monday morning, and Tuesday morning. I made it to class Monday night and Tuesday night. Tuesday night, I was stiff and moving was hard. It might have been a hot night. In any case, I really worked up a sweat and wasn't moving so great. It didn't help that it was an intense ab night which is never my strong suit and recently, I've been ignoring them.

Which gives me an idea. Maybe this fall, I'll take another of my weaknesses (abdominals) and through (quoting Kyoshi) a "massive action plan" such as hundreds of ab exercises on my own a few times per week, convert this historical weakness into a future area of personal strength.

I've done it in so many other areas, why not abs? Besides, I might start to look good with my shirt off again.....It's been a few years since I have....Of course, it means doing a lot of abs.....to be considered.... (no, this is not me. Not now. Never before....But I did do a hundred sit-ups today so who's to say about the future?



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Missing Videos of Kata

Hi All, Welcome to my new coauthor,

And, in answering an email, I just made a list of the videos that I'm missing. Do any of have anything that you could contribute? Want to be famous?

Six Count Kicking
Eight Count Kicking
Short Two
XMA Form One
XMA Form TwoThree Set Kuma Tai
Chuck Form 2
Bo Form




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Kama Set Two

Kama set two starts with a new move known as the Osborne.
Here's a performance of it by Mr. Daniel.

There's a few variations allowed on the kicks. More on that later...



Kama set 2 is a form that was created by Roland Osborne and is a creative form (not from TKD). He was originally a student under Jason David Frank (both are lineage of Red Dragon Karate) and now runs his own schools.

Thanks Mr Dan Walsh.

Short Three

Short Three is Back!

Here is the updated version of Short Three Kata, Elite Force Style. The change from the Lavallees one as performed by us 2004-12 is the added part at the end.

Position
Kempo Kata - Show right fist in front of your chest
Short Three - Cover right fist with left hand in sign of "chambered weapon" (peace)
Aieesa - step out to the right into horse stance, hands in chamber

Staying in horse stance.....

Right punch forward, left punchforward, right punch forward - tu, tu, aieeesa
Left punch to the right into a hardbow - tu
Right hand punch to the left into a hardbow - tu

Cat stance on the left foot looking to the Right
Chinese elbow block with the right, punch with the left - aieeeesa







Cat stance on the left foot looking to the back (from where we started)

Right backfist high. Tia
Left hand fingers stab high into the eyes (pulling the right hand back into chamber) followed rapidly with Right elbow (slapping it with the left) Tu, Tia
Right backfist high again followed rapidly with Hammer fist low (groin)
(left hand has been in chamber since the elbow)

Turn to the right (this part is like the release from a cross-over wrist grab)Right hand re-grab and lift up slowly while you push down with the left
Left elbow to the left (temple) sideways, then elbow onto the back downwards, double punch down - Tia

Step back with the right leg so the legs are together and the hands held as if in cat stance and we're facing to the left of where we started.

Look to the right and right chop forward, sidekick with the right leg finishing in a horsestance and pulling hands back into chamber - keiaa
Step forward with the right foot with the hands close together as if pushing at the waist with a little exhale.
Pull your weight back for a half-beat and then dramatically step into a full hard bow (right foot forward) with a double punch. Aieeeesaaaa

Step forward with the left so that you are facing forward and up into an X block up with fists (legs are shoulder-width). Double kidney punch (fisted hands quickly pulling out of X block into inward hammerfists just above the waist). (is this a horsestance or legs at shoulder width?)
Reach up with the right hand to grab (pulling left hand into chamber) , open hand punch upwith the left hand.

Step back with the right into a horsestance doing a left downward block.
Jump front kick forward first throwing the right foot up then kicking with the left following it with a knee drop punch - Right hand is out, right knee is down, left hand is in chamber, left knee is up.

Circle set, fist/hand, bow, right - all going to the right!

Details to Remember - Important

Stances - When you turn to face the back of the room, you are in a cat stance.
At right backfist high, you go into a horsestance.
You go to a hardbow with the left hand fingers stab high into the eyes (pulling the right hand back into chamber).
Then return to horstance for right elbow, right backfist high, Hammer fist low (groin).
When you turn to your right for regrab, push, elbow, elbow, you are still in a horsetance.

Breathing - There is a a keia on the third punch in the beginning (apparently, this is a change from an earlier version of short three). There is no keia again until the left punch chinese elbow.

The jump kick and knee drop punch at the end - Remember to finish the jump front kick before starting the knee drop punch. And don't travel. If you can do the jump and kick without moving forward, it's better.

Testing

When you take your first class at the dojo, you are dressed in a clean white gui. If you have learned your creed by heart, you are wearing your white belt.

Once a month, if you attend regularly and progress, you get a new stripe on your belt. In the third month, you will "spotlight" (ie perform) during the regular class. This means performing your kata in front of the class. For the white belts, this is the white belt appreciation form and the Kempo Kata Short One. Actually, the performance will also includes some partner drills, kicking and punching, some holds and grabs, and just for giggles, a surprising amount of pushups!

The next week on Wednesday night, there is Testing. This is a bit of a misnomer since it's really a demo night of your new skills and a test of whether you can perform well in front of your family and friends. It's not a test in the sense that everybody who has been invited to the testing will get passed up to the next belt level.

The big jumps in class are from orange to purple. And then from green to brown. In both cases, this means a change in class. Once your are green or brown, it's time to start doing some distance running outside of class. One to two miles is the general target.

It takes about three months a belt until you get to green and red. Then it often takes four months since you have to spotlight twice. Of course, there are no rules and it's all subject to the sensei trying to do the best thing for everybody.

Going from high red to black is another kettle of fish.
Once you are high red and show some interest and commitment in becoming a black belt, you become a Candidate and are considered in cycle. As best I can tell, you need to be in two cycles to make it to black belt.

As I write this, I am late in my second cycle. Since nobody has sworn me to secrecy, I will reveal the highlights of being in cycle. I do so with with some fear of a faux pas and of course, the school constantly evolves so it's possible that what I'm going thru is different than what the others go thru.

1.Running four times a week with times required to be under 16 minutes for two miles.
2. Pushups, situps, kicks, squats four times a week
3. Three SWATs (assisting with classes) per week.
4. An indeterminate amount of demo team.
5. Lots of fun intensity in the regular class.
6. Especially vigorous Candidate classes, often with Keoshi leading them on Saturday morning or Friday night.
7. Kiss your personal/professional life goodbye for awhile. Just give up on balance, this is about intensity.

All in all, the trip of a lifetime. Come and join us. Part of the fun is that you are part of a team going thru it. And while I often have trouble seeing my own progress, I am awed by the visible progress of some of the others in my promotion. And presumably, I must be making similar strides although I am extremely aware of my challenges....

Two count basics

While this is not a full kata, it is a common and important drill.

Horsestance (in chamber).
One:
Inward block with the right, outward left, upward right, and downward with the left.

Two:
Punch with the right on the 45 left switching to a hard bow.
Punch with the left on the 45 right switching to a hard bow the other way.
Circle kick with the left (rear) leg from the right to the left finishing with a punch from the right and another hard bow.



One: (now we do the opposite)
Horsestance and inward left, outward right, upward left, and downward right.

Two:
Left punch, right punch, circle kick with the rear right leg finishing with a punch from the left and another hard bow.

XMA2 - Summary

Kata, XMA 2, bow, turn right
X block forward, double downward punch.
look left, chop left, triple punch left
look right, chop right, triple punch right
punch forward, reach back, double punch forward.

Turn left pushing down with the right, double side kick forward, spin 360, chop forward left, punch forward.

Front kick, skip front kick, sping 360 chop forward again, punch forward onto a knee.

Xblock up, spin 360, spread arms out like wings, fall to the kneee
standup back into facing right starting position.
face forward, double block down, softbow left, XMA, assaa

click for a more detailed XMA2 description.
----------------------------------------
XMA2 Details. Frustratingly, I'm not performing well on this kata. It's frustrating since it does not require high kicks, endurance, or agility: us executive performers should shine...It's all details.... So, lets review the details....

X Block forward: hands are open, fingers tight together
Double downward punch: It's actually a push down with the hands open and ending with them still open with the palms facing the ground and somewhat horizontal (as if you had pushed). During the next few seconds, the fist is slowly made, a finger at a time, while the look intensified and looks to the left....
Punch forward, reach back: In the reach back, the forward hardbow is momentarily reversed into a rear hardbow and for a second, you actually look back. The emphasis is on the double front page and return to the forward hard bow.
Double side kick forward, spin 360, chop forward left, punch forward: After the side kicks, plant your right foot and spin off it. When you finish, be sure to plant your left foot forward and to a little off to the left, this gives you a better base for the chop.

Three Count Kicking

While not a true full form kata, three count kicking fits somewhere in the curriculum for intermediates (blue-green-brown-red-high red). It's a great drill: the hard parts are getting the details right of the stances, the spinning hook kicks, and the high energy intensity of it.



Position.
Ready. Ready Stance.
One: Front kick, downward block in a horse stance, right cross punch into a hard bow, knife-edge stance (hand across chest and out front) in a horse stance.
Two: Front right kick, 360 spinning kick finishing with mild horsestance, right hand in upward block, left hand extended out with palm sideways.
Three: Two 360 spinning kicks finishing with another 180 and upwards back kick (on knees, hands down, looking over shoulder)
Position: position.




Notes - note sponsorship of 2nd grade & second grade!

Kata chuck form one

Stand with the chucks in each hand, held closed, slightly behind your butt.
(note - a nunchuck or chuck or nunchaku is a pair of 10" wood dowls connected by strings or chains)

Taisho says : "Chamber Chucks"

The kohai: drop a handle of each of the chucks, spin them backwards outside the arms up to the shoulders, then spin once forward outside the arms and catch them under your arms.

kata, kata
chuck form one, chuck form one, bow

Step forward with right leg into hard bow and spin only the right chuck:
- forward, outside arm, inside arm, outside arm, against the inside of thigh
- backwards, outside of arm and over shoulder
- forwards, outside of arm and finish under the arm pit

repeat with left leg forward into hard bow left and using left chuck

step to the left into left hard bow, facing left. With the right chuck:
- spin across the body against your the left side
- double spin from the left across your body striking the right side
- backwards, single spin onto shoulder
- forwards, spin outside of arm and finish under the arm pit

right forward kick into hard bow right with a wide stance and with both chucks:
- backwards, spin outside of arms and up to shoulders
- forwards, outside of arms and between legs
- backwards, outside of arms and over shoulders
- forwards, outside of arms and under arm pits

move right leg pivoting 180 on left so you turn from left to right finishing in hard bow right and strike:
- left chuck to right side
- spin once and to left side
- spin outside of arm and up to shoulder
- spin outside of arms and down under arm

front kick with left leg step forward finishing in wide horse stance and with both chucks:
- spin outside of arms and to shoulders
- spin outside of arms and to inside legs
- spin outside of arms and to shoulders
- spin outside of arms and under arms

step forward to the left (facing north with left leg) and bring right leg up to legs are together
- strike with right chuck to left side
- strike right side
- strike up t shoulder
- spin once outside of arms and into arm pit

Repeat with left chuck

Then both chucks:
- spin outside of arms, inside of arms, outside of arms and up to shoulders
- step right into horsestance spinning outside of arms and inside to legs
- step back to legs together spinning outside of arms and up to shoulder
- step into left horsestance spinning outside of arms and down into legs
- step back into legs together spinning up outside of arms to shoulder
- spin outside of arm and under arms
- bow grabbing both chuck handles into hands, lift right leg up, put it down so that your legs are shoulder width apart
- POSITION

Here's a full speed performance of kamaset..




Click "Play" to watch the video

Ten Count Kicking

The 10 Count kicking exercise is a showcase for those with great kicking skills. For the rest of us, it was a personal challenge which allowed us to focus on developing better technique. In my case, the slow extension side kick was one of my two major sources of anxiety (the other was the spinning hook kicks). After much work, I finally got so I could get thru it with a little pride.



X block facing forward to the left at a 45 degree angle (north west) with hands crossed over the head. Look right.

Karate chop with right to the right (north east), dropping left hand into chamber, side kick to the right (same direction as karate chop), tia, drop both hands so they kinda slap your thigh, and twist your feet so that your body is facing forward to the right, and you are looking forward to the left.

Karate chop with left to the left, (north west), dropping right hand into chamber, side kick to the left...


Total sequence
Side kicks - to right, then left
Round House - to right, then left
Hook back, then round house- to right, then left
slow tension side kick - to right, then left
side, round, round going from low to high - to right, then left

End with positon, bow, slap sides,



.

Kama Set

This is the first kata with kamas (the sticks with blades). The kamas are fun since they are flashy and easy to handle (unlike those bloody chucks that keep swerving into tender parts of me at strange angles with surprising momentum).

A distinguishing feature of the kata is that it requires a pair of spinning back hook kicks which is a challenge for many brown belts.

OK. Just one more interesting point before we start. All of our weapons are the ones that peasants trained on during a period when they were forbidden to have weapons. So they trained with common farm implements. The kamas are basically scyths or harvesting instruments.


Below are some kama set demos. A newly done one (11/2009) by Mr Mike Sweeny where he performs it slowly. The second one is Jennifer performing at normal speed. The one lowest on the page is an old testing demo. The Kama Set is from Taekwondo as is kama set two. Want more info on how our system blends different martial arts traditions?



Mr Sweeny works from dawn to dusk and sometimes, his voice gets hoarse. Osu Mr. Mike.


This second one is of Jennifer which I found on YouTube, I think it posted by Christine Fingado who is one impressive kohai.

Kamaset Slow Instructional Video by Mr. Vince



Kamaset Full Speed Video by Mr. Vince



KamaSet Write-up

"Kata""Kama set"
Bow "Osu"
Hard bow left - Right hand punchHard bow right- Left hand punch

Circle set

Horse stance left- Both hands in mantis position right hand about shoulder level left hand parallel.
Cross stance- Right hand throat strike, left hand guard
Back leg front kick
Left hand v-cut, right hand v-cut, stomp and lower stance.

Horse stance right- Both hands in mantis position left hand about shoulder level right hand parallel.
Cross stance- Left hand throat strike, right hand guard
Back leg front kick
Right hand v-cut, left hand v-cut, stomp and lower stance.

Horse stance foreward- Both hands in mantis position right hand about shoulder level left hand parallel.
Right hand throat strike, left hand in guard
Back leg front kick, skip front kick, double back stirike (cross stance)

Horse stance back- Right hand in guard, left hand horizontal stab
Right hand throat strike
Back leg front kick, cross step, flying side kick
Plant horse stance, matis position.

Hands come across face to foreward horse stance
Mantis position, slide up round house, spink hook kick
Right hand guard, left hand horizontal stab
Spin hook, drop side kick
Spin up right, sezah one, left hand throat strike right hand guard

Circle set
Hard bow left
"USA!" v-cut foreward with right
Soft bow right"USA!" v-cut foreward with left (added 2009)
"Black Belt Champions!"
left hand stab, right hand guard
Boot check "Asah!" Double back strike (relax stance)

Circle set,
Bow,
Courtesy.

KamaSet Summarized Writeup

With your kamas pointed down at your side...kata - kata
kama set - kama set
bow
facing forward - punch left, punch right, circle set, position
turn left - right cut in, right front kick, left cut in/out, right cut/in out with stamp
facing right (do 180) do the same - left cut in, left front kick, right cut in/out, left cut in/out
face forward - right front kick, right skipping front kick finishing on right leg bent, left crossed behind
face backward (do 180) - side kick, two steps, (flying) side kick finishing in horse
face forward (do 180) - left forward side kick, spin clockwise 360 +180 to do a right spinning hook kick forward, finishing on ground, facing back, kicking up
finish by turning another 180

Kempo Kata Short One

The Kenpo Kata Short One uses the same sequence of blocks as the White Belt Appreciation Form (inward, outward, upward, downward).

Instead of staying still, you take crescent steps between the horse stances. Below is a video of Kathy on Short One, and a few notes on what to focus on. Enjoy learning it.



You will practice Short One  over and over. And over. It's likely you will perform Short One at every belt tests along the way including  the one for your black belt. And your second degree.

Hint: There's a big difference between doing it, and doing it well!  So, frame it in (ie learn the basic steps) and then start focusing on the details. Try to adopt the mentality that you've started a long and satisfying journey of understanding and mastering the art. The trip can last a lifetime. How energetic are your movements? How crisp is your push pull? How perfect is your balance?  How dramatic your presentation? How pure is  your focus?  Enjoy it.  I do. I've been working it now for 8 years and I'm pleased with my progress and the challenges ahead.

Taisho (the leader) says: Position,
Team echoes back: Position -

Taisho - Kempo Kata
Others - Kempo Kata, showing right fist by rotating it up in front of the chest (like it's a weapon)
Taisho - Short Two
Others - Short Two, covering right fist with left open hand (as if we were covering the weapon), turning it forward and down, bowing

Step right (still facing forward or north) into horse stance with hands in chamber.

This kata will basically be your four basic blocks, each done twice, in the same sequence as the white belt appreciation form while moving your horsestance around. One way of thinking of it is you are going to:

- block two punching attacks from the north with inward blocks, then you turn your head and see the attack from your left and yell, kiaa

- block two punching attacks from the west (left) with outward blocks, then you turn your head and see the attack from over your left shoulder and yell, kiaa
- block two attacks from the east (behind you) with upwards blocks, then you turn your head and see the attack from the right and yell, kiaa

- block two kicking attacks from the south (your right) with your downwards blocks, then you turn your head and see the finish, kiaa
- return to start position and bow out.

OK - back to the details of the form - From the horse stance with your arms in chamber, step back with left foot staying in horsestance while doing an inward block with the right hand. (as if you were blocking a punch) Tia .

(same on other side) Step back with right foot staying in horsestance while doing an inward block with the left hand and putting your left hand into chamber. Tia

Look over your left shoulder (to see the new attacker) kiaa

Turn to your left by stepping with your rear right foot and pivoting on your forward left foot and doing an outward block with the left hand. Step back with your left foot doing an inward block with your right.

Look backwards over your left shoulder (to see the attacker). Move your right back foot in adjustment step so that you are now facing the other way and do an upward left block. Step back and do an upwards right block. Look right.
Turn right by moving your back left leg while doing a right downwards block with the right. Step back and do a left downwards block.

Look behind you over your right shoulder and return to the starting direction while pulling your hands back into chamber with aieeesa. Finish by standing up by bringing in your left leg, showing the kenpo salute (left hand over right fist) and then go to position by stepping to the right (double punch forward and low). T set while stepping back to the right so legs are together. Bow and done.

Notes of what to focus on:

1. Maintain great horse stances.
2. Do not raise and lower your level through the kata. Keep your head at the same height as you move around.
3. Make sure you hit each stance and stay in it for a second before moving on to the next. Even when the pace is very fast, it's important to freeze for a moment in each position.
4. After each pair of blocks, be sure to turn your head towards the new direction as if you are looking and seeing a new attacker. The idea behind the kata is that you are defending yourself from attacks from each direction. This is why you look in the direction, as if to see a new attacker, before you turn to defend yourself.
5. Each and every block should be very intense, a showcase.

Kenpo vs Kempo - What's the difference? Best I can tell nothing. Both are transliterations from Chinese. Remember that the capital city of China has been translated as various times as Peking, Beijing, and Peping into English because we do not have the same sounds (phonemes) in English as they have in Chinese. So we pick the closest sounds in English to correspond to the Chinese. Apparently, the sound in Chinese is something close to an n or m sound.