American Kenpo Forms and Sets

Forms and Sets

Staff Set One

Staff Set 1

 

For the Salutation: Raise the staff to shoulder height, kneel and place the staff on the ground. Return to attention. Do the Kenpo salutation, catching the staff with the left big toe on the second beat, and raising it up on the right instep on the fourth beat. Return to attention stance, with the staff held at the waist.

 

Technique 1: to defend against either a grab of your staff or a staff attack.

  • In attention stance, block high, block low, block to the left, and then block to the right.

 

Technique 2: for a punch, or as an extension of Technique #1

  • Step back with the right foot into a neutral bow, swing the staff over and under on the right side.
  • As you move through attention stance, twirl the staff through a vertical position (right hand high), and step back with the left foot into a neutral bow, swing the staff over and under on the left side.

 

 

Technique 3: as a defense against a poking staff.

  • Bring the left foot up to the right as you twirl the staff (left hand down to the left first) through a vertical position (left hand high). Without pause, do a right front crossover to 9:00 as you twirl the staff horizontally at shoulder height to strike his neck on your right side with the right hand forward and the left hand in the right armpit. Unwind counter clockwise, step with the right to 4:30 into a left neutral bow, twirling into a horizontal strike to the neck on your left side with the right hand in the left armpit.
  • Bring the right foot up to the left as you double twirl (left hand down to the right first) the staff through a vertical position (right hand high). Without pause, do a left front crossover to 3:00, as you twirl the staff horizontally at shoulder height to strike his neck on your left side with the left hand forward and the right hand in the left armpit. Unwind clockwise, step with the left foot to 7:30 into a right neutral bow, twirling into a horizontal strike his neck on your right side with the left hand in the right armpit.

 

Technique 4: used for a poking staff, a rear bearhug, or to clear a circle of attackers.

  • Bring the left foot up to the right as you double twirl (right hand down to the left first) the staff through a vertical position on the left side (left hand high), and without pause step back with the right foot to 4:30 into a left reverse bow as you twirl the staff into an overhead block (with the fingers back). Shift into a left forward bow as you put the staff horizontally behind your neck, and then drop into a left wide kneel as you swing the staff counter clockwise in the right hand through three revolutions (with the third circle being low). During the third swing, swing the right foot counter clockwise in a full circle to 4:30 into a left neutral bow to 12:00. The staff is on your right, with the left hand high.
  • Bring the right foot up to the left as you twirl (left hand down to the right first) the staff through a vertical position on the right side (right hand high), and without pause step back with the left foot to 7:30 into a right reverse bow as you twirl the staff into an overhead block (with the fingers back). Shift into a right forward bow as you put the staff horizontally behind your neck, and then drop into a right wide kneel as you swing the staff clockwise in the left hand through three revolutions (with the third being low). During the third swing, swing the left foot clockwise in a full circle to 7:30 into a right neutral bow to 12:00. The staff is on your left with the right hand high.

 

Technique 5: a defense against a side staff swing.

  • As you step with the left to 1:00 in attention, twirl (right hand down to the left side first) the staff to your left side (with the right hand high). Do a right roundhouse to the stomach and plant to 1:00 in a right neutral bow. Do a left descending strike, a right upward underhand strike. As you do a left rear crossover to 1:30, poke behind the head into his throat and then bring the stick overhead in front of the chest.
  • Pivot clockwise, and shift the right foot to 7:00 in a right neutral bow, twirl (left hand down to the right side first) the staff to your right side (with the left hand high). Do a left roundhouse kick to the stomach and plant to 7:00 in a left forward bow. Do a right descending strike, a left upward underhand strike. As you do a right rear crossover to 5:30, poke behind your head into his throat and then bring the stick overhead in front of the chest.

 

Technique 6: a defense against a front kick.

  • Pivot clockwise into a left forward bow to 12:00, twirl the right hand down to the left and then to the right, ending with the staff horizontal at waist height.
  • Swing the left hand low, and as the right hand swings low, step with the right foot to 12:00, pivot counter clockwise 180 degrees into a left neutral bow to 6:00 as the left hand stabs or strikes to the rear on the left side.
  • Bring the right foot up to the left foot, twirl the right hand down to the left. As you twirl to the right, step to 12:00 with the left into a right neutral bow to 6:00, ending with the staff horizontal (at waist).
  • As the right hand swings low, step with the left foot to 7:00, and as the left hand swings low, pivot clockwise 180 degrees into a right neutral bow to 12:00 as the right hand stabs or strikes to the rear on the right side.

 

Technique 7: a defense against a punch

  • Pivot counter clockwise, do left spinning crescent and right inward-outward crescent kicks. Plant briefly in a right front crossover, and do the same kicks to 12:00, planting in a right front crossover.
  • Twist counter clockwise in place to face 6:00, and do right spinning crescent and left inward outward crescent kicks to 6:00. Plant briefly in a left front crossover, and do the same kicks to 6:00, planting in a left front crossover.

 

Technique 8: a defense against a kick or punch

  • Step back slightly with the right foot to 12:00, into a left neutral bow to 6:00, as you poke to 6:00. Do a right front kick to 6:00 with a rear poke to 12:00, on the right side. Plant back to 12:00 in a left neutral bow, and then strike over and under on the right side.
  • Shift the right foot to 3:00, and pivot clockwise into a right neutral bow to 12:00, with a high right block. Poke to 12:00. Do a left front kick to 12:00 with a rear poke to 6:00, on the left side. Plant back to 6:00 in a right neutral bow, and strike over and under on the left side.

 

Technique 9: a defense against a punch

  • As the left foot c-steps to 9:00 around his leg, into a horse facing 12:00, do a left inward strike to take him down. Do a right downward strike as he falls, and then a left downward strike (In the set, these should be horizontal strikes). Step with the right foot to 6:00, into a left neutral bow to 12:00, and do a right downward strike, followed by a left downward strike (poke in the technique).
  • As the right foot c-steps to 12:00 around his leg, into a horse facing 12:00, do a right inward strike to take him down. Do a left downward strike as he falls, and then a right downward strike. (In the set, these should be horizontal strikes). Step with the left foot to 6:00, into a right neutral bow to 12:00, and do a left downward strike, followed by a right downward strike (poke in the technique). For a transition, as the right downward strike occurs, step with the left foot to 12:00 into a horse facing 12:00, and then do a left downward strike.

 

Technique 10: for an overhead club from the right side

  • Pivot clockwise into a right front twist to 3:00 with left, right, and left overhead downward blocks on the right side. On the second swing, twirl on your right. Do a double stomp on the third strike.
  • Pivot counter clockwise into a left front twist to 9:00 with right, left, and right overhead downward blocks on the left side. On the second swing, twirl on your right. Do a double stomp on the third strike.

 

Technique 11: for a grab, punch, or poking stick.

  • Unwind clockwise, bring the left foot to the right foot in attention stance. Do a right side block, a left side block, a low horizontal block, and a high horizontal block.
  • Finish: Drop the weapon into your arms, do the basic Kenpo salutation, flip the weapon into the air and grab it in both hands, and then twirl the staff to the right rear.