The Shift Away Side Kick Catches

These are not nearly as difficult to use or apply as they look. Even when I watched the vid of myself doing them, they look intricate and fancy. In point of fact, they are not. With even a minimum of instruction and a reasonable amount of time in grade, these catches are workable against a hostile someone trying to side kick my mid abdomen.

Without prejudice

The Shift Away Lead arm Parry/Rear Arm Checks

Just like what I was doing yesterday but with a parry instead.

These moves (this week) are all about assuming control of the attacker after he moves first. I give him a target and take it away.

Without prejudice

The Shift Away Lead Arm Block/Rear Arm Checks

Again, this is similar to what I was doing a couple of days ago. By adding the check, I am continuing to gently pull an over aggressive attacker into a position of vulnerability.

However, like the concept of ‘Defanging the Snake’, this is a fancy, difficult and very dangerous maneuver to pull off. Looks good and it is fun to practice…

Against someone trying to cause me serious hurt, it is unlikely I’d go this rout.

Without prejudice

The Shift Away Lead Arm Basic Parries

These are similar to what I was doing yesterday only they require less energy because they are more of a subtle redirection technique (instead of a ninety degree bash).


Without prejudice

The Shift Away Lead Arm Basic Blocks

The movement that actually saves me is the shift back from the bow to the cat. The move back also helps me to extend my opponents arm to a position of vulnerability.

I make it a point to put all my weight on my back leg. The basic rule I use is when his torso moves, I move. Only then do I have enough time to make the shift work.

In the old school, this shift was rarely done with an arm movement.

Without prejudice

The Inverted Forehand Knifehands

Once again, these four strikes generate a lot of power and I will usually precede one with a jab, backhand knifehand or snap.

Sometimes I snap my lead arm out and grab my opponent before using this strike. Not the most elegant of moves, none the less, it is both simple and effective.

Without prejudice

The Inverted Lunging Snaps

There are two weapons involved here. An overhand forehand hammering backfist (done to the face) and an underhand backhand hammering hammer fist (done to the body). They are called the ‘Snaps’ because that is how they feel.

Both weapons are delivered in a speedy, light movement that looks deceptively mild. It isn’t.

Either of these strikes can be a finisher in its own right.

Usually, though, the strike is used like a jab. It is meant to flick out and damage an attacker. This damage might to minimal but it can also set me up for a powerful follow-up (like the swings I did yesterday).

The strikes snap out and measure the distance too.

Without prejudice

The Inverted Lunging Shovel Hooks

This is very similar to what I was using at the beginning of the week. All week long I have been using strikes that work best at half distance.

Half distance is defined in Kisae Kempo as the feeling that I can reach out and touch the other gut with both knuckles on his chest at the same time without stretching.

Inverted Lunges work best at the half distance range but they are not the only way of moving. There is also standard lunging, shuffling, the stepthrough, double leg short advance, etc.


While the shovel hook looks similar to a basic quarter distance angled hook punch; the shovel hook is actually closer to a straight punch.

Striking at quarter distance with short hook punches, elbows, knees, etc. requires a lot of practice at this different distance too. Just because I can do one does not mean I can do the other without a lot of practice on the other.

And I do not recommend using inverted lunges at quarter distance.

Without prejudice

The Inverted Lunging Swings

Because I use a ridgehand and then a Bearpaw Hook; I call these the ‘Swings’ of Kisae.

They are big powerful movements that I usually use only under two conditions. Either the attacker is both menacing and distracted or the swing should be preceded by something short and fast.

Otherwise I find myself too vulnerable…

Without prejudice

The Inverted Lunging Backhand Knifehand Thrusts

This follows the same pattern as yesterday. Two lead strikes high low followed by two more with the rear knifehand, also done high and low.

The targets are a bit different.

I also find that qualified (and personal) instruction or how to form the knifehand itself is highly recommended.

Without prejudice

The Inverted Lunging Forefist

This week I’m practicing the inverted lunge strike. This allows me to close with an attacker in such a manner that leaves my legs ready to kick as follow-ups with only a slight shift of weight.

There are various strikes one can do this with. Today I’m using the basic forefist. I use the first lead arm high to the face. The second lead fist goes to the torso. The third is a rear fist goes to the face and the fourth is another rear fist to the torso.

Without prejudice

The Heel Kicks Of Black Belt

The snap heel kick to the knee is very similar to a snap kick to the knee with the ball of the foot. The heel kick to the front of the ankle is also very similar.

Neither is a finishing move but both can be very effective in setting up an attacker for a more powerful follow up.

The heel kick to the ankle, like the sweep, must be done very close. There are certain risks that come with kicking close in…

Without prejudice

The Knee Hooks and Ankle Sweeps of Brown Belt

I tend to do both the foot hooking to the attacker’s knee and the ankle sweep to the outside of the leg. Both can be done to either the outside or the inside. I just prefer to go to the same side that I’m kicking on.

Without prejudice

The Knees of Blue Belt

Actually, there is only one knee that I consistently use in training. That is the straight rising knee. Sometimes I’ll combine it with a pull forward when going to the body. Sometimes I’ll go lower…

There are two different ways I deliver the weapon. I’ll either slide in and kick with my lead leg or I’ll shift forward as I drive my rear leg into the attacker.

In either case, a knee is a devastating and powerful weapon.

Without prejudice

The Spinning Kicks of Green Belt

The spinning back kicks of Kisae are done in a ‘plant and drill’ fashion. That means I turn, plant my foot and drive back with my kick. It means I can do this with power and speed day after day.

This isn’t the way I learned it but it is the way I practice it now.

The four kicks are a spin back thrust heel kick, a spin back swing heel kick, a spin back rising heel kick and a spin back hook heel kick.

They may not look very pretty but they are very powerful and easy to use.

Without prejudice

The Shift Forward Kicks of Orange Belt

These four kicks are very similar to the kicks of the previous belt. Without going into too much detail, the yellow belt kicks help a student build an effective kicking structure that can be modified slightly to produce a different outcome.

For instance, the top of the foot front snap kick to the groin now becomes a front thrust kick with the ball of the foot driving into the bladder or solar plexus of an attacker. I find that this kick makes up in power what it loses in speed.

Without prejudice

The Slide in Kicks of Yellow Belt

This week I’m practicing a few kicks from each belt level for Kisae Kempo. First I demonstrate the move slow and then I’ll do it fast. For some days, I’ve done the kicks bare foot and on others, I’m wearing shoes. Both ways are necessary for a firm ability to kick effectively.

Today I’m demonstrating the slide in kicks of Yellow Belt. The first is a basic top of the foot snap kick to the groin. The second is an offset top of the foot kick which I can aim for the outside of the thigh, or the short ribs of my attacker. The third kick is a top of the foot roundhouse kick to the inside of the thigh, the groin or higher into the solar plexus. The fourth kick is side thrust kick to the groin, bladder or the solar plexus of a forward facing man.

Without prejudice

A Flurry of Roundhouse Kicks and Back Fist Strikes

s a change of pace, I switched to a side leading stance and practiced my roundhouse kicks and back fist strikes.

Like I’ve said before, banging away on a stationary heavy bag is a good way to tell if I can hit a stationary heavy bag hard.

It is fun and gratifying in its own way.

But…

It is not a good way to tell how effective that same strike will be against an aggressive and competent attacker bent on hurting me. There are just too many other factors involved.

Without prejudice

A Flurry of Kicks, Punches and Fore Elbows

Today I’m continuing with yesterday’s exercise. I also add a couple of half distance punches and a couple of fore elbow strikes as well.

Without prejudice

A Flurry of Front Kicks and Straight Thrusts

Today I’m adding the element of kicking to the concept of a flurry of strikes.

I start by using the front kick as my initial way of closing with the attacker.

At one point I add the punch after the kick as a way to continue to pummel the bag.

At another time I double up on the front kick.

This makes it harder for my attacker to predict what I’m going to do.

Without prejudice

A Flurry of Punches at Both Half Distance and Quarter Distance

Today I’m striking the bag at two different distances. To be able to change distances while striking is vitally important to me. Means I can always keep the pressure on my attacker should my initial strike not stop them.

Without prejudice

A Flurry of Half Punches at Quarter Distance

This is pretty much the same as yesterday except that I’m punching with uppercuts, and hooks. I’m using alternate arms and making every strike both hard and fast.

Without prejudice

A Flurry of Punches at Half Distance

This week I’m working the heavy bag in a slightly different manner. I’m pounding it with several strikes in a row.

The point is to be able to just keep striking. All too often, especially in my early stages of training, there was a tendency to hit once or twice and stop, lower my guard and assess the damage.

I had to learn to strike with multiple hits. It took effort, time and I had to learn to be willing to do this.

Even so, there was a time when I kicked the guy between the legs hard enough to make stop attacking me him bend over in pain.

Imagine my surprise when he suddenly stood up and rushed me.

Fortunately my conditioning to continue fighting took over. I hit him several more times…

Today I’m working the heavy bag at half distance. I can touch the bag with both left and right sets of knuckles. I just continue to pound the thing.

Something else I do my best to remember; if I’m close enough to hit someone (around my own size), they are usually close enough to hit me back.

Without prejudice

Stationary Upper Elbow Thrust against a Heavy Bag

This is a powerful move but I find it is easily smothered. Therefore it has limited use for me.

Without prejudice

Stationary Roundhouse Fore Elbow Strike against a Heavy Bag

This is not actually taught in the old school. I learned to do this only as a straight line thrust. I practice both ways theses days as I usually go to two different targets.

Without prejudice

Stationary Inverted Backhand Thrust against a Heavy Bag

This is a twisting forefist thrust that looks deceptively low while going high. It also looks weak but it’s not. When combined with a smothering block, I have found it to be a powerful and effective weapon.

When I first learned this I was taught to use my free hand back as a mantis hook. We called it ‘The Temple Punch’ (even though is was always done with a mantis hook).

Without prejudice

Stationary Knifehand to the Groin practiced against a Heavy Bag

This is a knifehand to the groin and as such, I find I have to stand quite close. These days, I usually keep my free hand up and ready to block, check or press back.

When I first learned this I was taught to pull my free hand back to the waist. I found it was a different time with a different set of priorities than today.

Without prejudice