Technical terms and concepts of Kempo
Alternating Zones - General rule is to strike different zones, or alternate zones to get `rocking' effect.
Anatomical Positioning - Calculated striking of vital targets to force an opponent into preconceived
postural positions that will make the next target of your choice readily accessible for a successful followon.
Angle of Deflection – Any angle which intersects your opponent’s line of attack resulting in an abrupt
change of the original path of travel.
Angle of Disturbance - That angle which, when a move is executed, does not necessarily injure, but
instead upsets an opponent's balance.
Angle of Execution - Any angle which, when an attack is executed, produces maximum results.
Angle of Incidence - Refers to your weapon making contact with your target on a perpendicular angle
(right angle to each other) that will render the greatest effect.
Angle of No Return - Refers to the position and angle of the upper body and hips while delivering a front
kick or forward motion, making it awkward, difficult, and illogical to attempt to return to your starting
position. Because of the awkwardness and the time needed to return to your original position, exposure
of your vital areas would work in your opponent's favor--not to mention your inability to render an
immediate counter.
Angles of Travel - Entails a more precise and acute viewpoint of direction. They describe direction as
degrees of measurement. Angles of travel employ the "compass principle" where a student is made to
visualize specific degrees on the compass to view motions of attack and defense.
Back-Up-Mass - The use of body weight that is directly behind the action that is taking place.
Balance Point – A point on the body from which you can control or alter an opponent’s balance and
structure.
Black Dot Focus - Our Kempo concept of focus. We visualize a black dot on a white background
representing total awareness. Our concern is not only to maximize power, but protection as well.
Body Alignment - This involves the placing of angles into perspective. It is the coordination of body parts
in order to harmonize the angles at which they travel. All parts of the body are aligned to travel in one
direction. This principle, when followed, automatically triggers the principle of back-up-mass where
body weight enhances your action.
Body Fulcrum - Using the natural curvatures of the body as launching platforms to accelerate the speed
and force of a weapon.
Body Fusion - A concept in which body parts move as a unit prior to relaying action to other parts of the
body. These body parts are literally fused together in order to function as a single unit. Body fusion can
occur any time during the course of a sequential flow of action.
Body Momentum - The utilization of body weight to increase the force of your action. It involves the
coordination of mind, breath, strength, and body weight while shuffling forward or in reverse so that all
forces are moving in unison.
Borrowed Force - An opponent's force which is used to defeat him. This can be accomplished by going
with the opponent's force or, upon occasion, going against his force. The concept allows your
opponent's force to enhance the effectiveness of your action.
Borrowed Reach - You can have Borrowed Reach without Borrowed Force, but not the other way
around. Use Borrowed Reach to get Borrowed Force. A kick to the groin, gives you Borrowed Reach
(bends attacker over and gets them closer to us) but we don't get Borrowed Force until you follow the
kick with a strike.
Cold Side- The back side or flank of your opponent, where it is difficult for your opponent to reach you.
Complimentary Angle - A strike or block that follows a path or angle that parallels an attacking weapon,
a defensive posture, the contour of an opponent, or a given line. Following these angular paths allows
clear entry to desired target. Taking advantage of these angular opportunities helps to produce
maximum results as well as cause greater damage.
Contact Placements - Predetermined knowledge of the targets which you plan to strike using the
weapon of your choice.
Contouring Principle - This concept involves using the outline of your or your opponent's body as a
homing device or guide to accomplish certain feats. The concept is divided into two basic categories-methods that employ (1) body contact or (2) non-body contact. There are many sub-divisions to this
concept.
Convergence Theory- Usually applied to Push hands or Chi Sau. In this theory, the physical connection of
the two participants merges into a single form. Where every action or movement influences the
complete form and the actions or movements of one, influences the movement of the second.
Depth Cancellation - Getting in close to an attacker. We decrease the distance between them and us.
Depth Penetration - The concept of going beyond the point of contact when you are striking with a
weapon.
Depth Zones - One of the categorical zones of protection
Dimensional Zone Theory - It was created to teach students to use their imagination to visually divide
their opponent's body into vertical and horizontal zones (sections) as viewed from the front, side, or
back. This in turn allows a student to subdivide an opponent into four basic zones--height, width, depth,
and zones of obscurity. Knowledge of this theory can also be used to keep your opponent's dimensions
in check. Controlling your opponent's actions by restricting the use and versatility of his dimensions
(angle of cancellation), makes retaliation by your opponent considerably difficult.
Dimensions of Travel - Are concerned with the height, width, and depth of motion, or the height, width
and depth that can be created and controlled by motion.
Economy of Motion – The process of refining your movements so they require less effort, elimination of
extraneous movement resulting in faster technique
Entry- Initial contact with your opponent where by your initial response or technique brings you into
operating range and full conflict.
Explosive Action - Instantaneous reaction that ignites and bursts from inside out with repetitive
succession.
Fitting - Applying the shape of a natural weapon to fit the target being struck. It is like fitting a puzzle in
place. The effectiveness of a strike is enhanced when you use shapes that match. It is one of the
methods of contouring.
Focus - Is the result of the entire body working as a unit at the very instant a target is struck. The
concentration of mind (knowledge) breath, strength, and methods of execution must unite as one in
conjunction with body momentum, torque, gravitational marriage, timing, speed, penetration, etc.
Frictional Pull - Used to cancel an attackers height and facilitate a transiting pin. Used in conjunction
with loading and other transitional movements.
Glancing - A method of striking that is similar to a slice. The major difference is that the depth of
penetration is much greater. It does not skim the surface of the target, but makes a deep penetration.
Gravitational Check - A form of contouring where parts of an arm or leg rests on a particular surface area
on an opponent's body to prevent him from obtaining height and leverage. This restriction can detain or
prevent an opponent from taking action that can be detrimental.
Gravitational Marriage - The uniting of mind, breath, and strength while simultaneously dropping your
body weight along with the execution of your natural weapon(s). Timing all of these factors with the
dropping of your body weight greatly adds to the force of your strikes. This combined actions literally
causes a marriage with gravity and is thus, often referred to as "marriage of gravity".
Height Cancellation - Bending attackers over to keep them below us. Normally done by kick or strike to
below the solar plexus. When you remain in the center-line of an attacker, you MUST cancel their height
zone.
Height Zones - One of the divisions of the dimensional zone theory. Zones related to this division
encompass protection or attack on three levels. These levels are viewed horizontally-from the head to
the solar plexus, the solar plexus to the groin, and the groin to the feet.
Hot Side- The open or forward side of your opponent, where all of his weapons face you.
Kinesthetic Perception – The ability to perceive your opponent’s movements without the use of your
eyes. Usually by interpreting you opponent’s energy or force through physical contact or touch.
Methods of Execution - The manner in which a move is executed to insure maximum results. Such
moves can follow a direct, dipping, looping, hooking, or roundhouse path.
Line of Attack - The path that an opponent follows when he is attacking. This line of attack can come
from any direction based on the clock principle.
Loading – A principal where by a technique is designed to, once executed, prepare or “Load” the next
technique for a seamless run of follow on movements.
Mumbling Motion - Movements that are not distinct in application. They can be compared with words
that lack diction.
Object Obscurity - The use of your limbs to hide the action of another limb. For example, after a right
two finger hook is applied to your opponent's left eye, your left hand can next use your right forearm as
a track to zero in on the same target. Not until the left two finger poke is almost on target do you retract
your right arm. The last minute replacement of weapons makes the second action obscure. This concept
parallels the principle of tracking and is classified as a method of contouring.
Obscure Zones - Those areas of space that are outside of the boundaries of peripheral sight. These zones
of space are blind spots from which action can stem and be delivered unchecked.
Open End Triangle - Refers to the positioning of your body parts so that they form and opened end
triangle. Use of these body formations help to funnel, wedge, trap, or prevent an opponent from
injuring you.
Orbital Rotation – the movement of the body around its center point. This movement is used to
accomplish 2 major principals. 1-Evasion of the threat, hopefully placing you in a position to run your
technique. 2-imparting centrifugal energy into a technique increasing its efficacy.
Penetration - This involves depth of focus. It is the extension of power beyond the selected target to
insure the desired force and to compensate for distance. Because maximum velocity occurs between 7080% of the way through your movement, this is when impact should occur
Phonetics of Motion - Teaching a move or moves in progressive stages so as to get the maximum force
from its execution. It is a method of teaching students movements by-the-number.
Point of Origin - The beginning, root, or source of any movement-the natural position or location of your
body and natural weapon at the time action begins.
Quadrant Zone Theory - This theory is more concerned with specific areas of the body that need to be
protected--not attacked. The theory divides each of the zones of height, width, and depth into areas. A
vertical imaginary rectangle is then superimposed over the height and width zones to create four
quadrants or zones which are often referred to as gates.
Rebounding - Moving from one block/strike to another using the natural recoil of the techniques impact
to chamber for the follow on movement
Running the Table - A term used in the game of billiard where the player hits one ball after another into
the side pockets until the table is completely cleared which is comparable to blocking an opponents
every strike while you strike in response, thus defeating your opponent.
Slicing - An offensive maneuver whereby the weapon being used skims the surface of the target being
struck. This action is normally restricted to using a specific area of your natural weapon where no real
depth occurs during contact, i.e., an eye slice. However, although the depth is not as penetrating as a
rake, it is, nevertheless, effective. It is basically a minor move that is used to set your opponent up for a
major move.
Transitional Motion AKA Transiting- A movement with the express purpose of leading to the next
movement. (See Loading)
Width Cancellation - Turning attacker sideways to us. Removes two of their weapons (far arm & leg). We
do this when we're at an attackers side. Examples: Lone Kimono, Backbreaker.
Width Zones - This entails four vertical segments that can be protected or attacked.
White Dot Focus - Where one visualizes a white dot on a black background, which represents
unawareness. The focus is on maximizing power, not protection.
Rules of Engagement
1 – Address the threat.
2 – Manage your space
3 – Run your Technique