Kenpo: Using Anvil to Clear your Wrists

An opponent may attempt to grab your wrists to thwart resistance and force you in a direction of their choosing. They do so to pull you into a car, house, or other area you may not want to go. Understanding a few basic moves such as the Anvil and modified Anvil will help to keep your wrists clear and your options open. 

The purpose of the Anvil moves is to clear your wrists and strike the opponent thereby turning their attack into your counter-attack. During the wrist pull out it is necessary to use some force with a twist to loosen the grip and create a release. Try and pull out through the thumbs which are much weaker when compared to the other digits on the opponent’s hands. 

The front snap kick in the Anvil should be either to the stomach or groin. A proper kick to the groin will immobilize the opponent quickly leaving enough time to get away. While using the modified Anvil you should consider hitting the solar plexus to knock the wind out of your opponent leaving them gasping for air. If you practice it enough you can combine a sequence of punches with a snap kick that knocks the opponent backward onto the ground. 

Anvil-(Opponent grabs both wrists from the front)

-Step back with the right foot as you simultaneously rotate your wrists upward to release grips.

-Brush opponent’s hands aside using palms.

-Snap kick with the right foot to the opponent’s abdomen. Reset. 

Modified Anvil (Opponent grabs both wrists from the front)

-Step back with the right foot as you simultaneously rotate your wrists upward to release grips.

-Snap opponent’s arms away from the center of their body by chopping downward and outward from their outstretched arms.

-Deliver three punches (right, left, right) to solar plexus.

Kenpo: Countering Bear Hug Attacks

In the rare circumstance where an opponent uses a rear bear hug to squeeze you there are two strong moves that have significant counter-attack advantages. The Bear Hug-Back Free-A helps to return face to your opponent when your arms are free while the Crashing Hammer-Bear Hug Back Pinned allows you to take your opponent to the ground when your arms are pinned. 

It is important to understand that an opponent that tries to use a bear hug likely sees you as a smaller and weaker opponent. He/She feels their strength is sufficient to keep you in control and likely has tried this successfully at other times in their life. 

Such opponent’s don’t consider the protection of their vital areas as your arms are tied and the front of your body is facing away. There is a feeling that safety comes from behind. A well skilled kenpo fighter knows that their rear, ability to leverage their body, and overconfidence of their opponent is often the biggest advantages. 

Even though there is significant strength and force involved with the initial unlocking of arms the far majority of the moves deal with speed and accuracy. Students should be aware of how their body leverage has great potential to change circumstances and repetitive practice encourages speed, confidence, and accuracy to effectively execute the moves. 

Bear Hug-Back Free-A (Opponent has Bear Hug from Behind)

-Stomp opponent’s right foot.

-Step off to the right as you deliver middle fist punches (With middle knuckle protruding) to the center of the opponent’s hands to release hold. 

-Grab opponent’s right upper palm with your right hand and spin to the right to face your opponent. 

-Place your left hand with your right hand to create two handed wrist lock (opponents palm is downward)(Your palm is upward with thumbs on top of hand to create pressure).

-Snap kick to the opponent’s stomach with your right leg and recoil. 

Crashing Hammer-Rear Bear Hug Arms Pinned

-Step left to 9 oclock into horse stance. 

-Right hammer fist to groin.

-Cat stance to left leg.

-Step leg to behind opponent’s left leg. 

-Right downward palm to opponent’s groin.

-Elbow strike upwards to chin thereby raising the chin. 

-Left horizontal palm to opponents chin knocking the opponent to the ground over your right leg.

Kenpo: Breaking From a Full Nelson

The full-nelson is a difficult move to escape.  As both arms are locked in an upward position and the head is pushed down it can be difficult to move without a level of strain. Likewise, the lock makes it difficult to move at all unless your attacker desires to move you there.  Speed and strength are needed together to change the situation.

That doesn’t mean all is lost. Both moves engage the strength of the arms in quick motion to counter power the position. One tries to inflict pain on the foot and the other on the finger.  Both are an attempt to release the lock.  Once the lock is broken other things are possible. 

Full Nelson-A (Opponent has full nelson on both arms and head)

-Stamp on opponents right foot with your right foot.

-Raise your arms into the air.

-Bend both knees and drop down while crashing your arms in the downward direction to break hold.

-Grab opponent’s upper right hand with both hands (wrist lock with thumbs on top).

-Spin to the right to face opponent while holding wrist lock.

-Snap kick with your right leg and place back in position if another kick is needed. 

Cha-Na Full-Nelson (Opponent has full nelson on both arms and head)

-Tighten chest muscles to lock arms before full nelson lock (if possible).

-Lift right hand to grab fingers.

-Twist body to the right while swinging left leg to six o’clock to face opponent’s side.

-While twisting give right elbow to chin.

-Use left arm to push opponent’s head from your body.

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