Journey into Grafting

Grafting DVD released

2009-12-30T12:45:00.001-08:00

I am excited to announce that my new training DVD based on my book, GRAFTING: Bridges within American Kenpo has been released. This video is an overview of material covered in the book. Get your copy today at www.tskenpo.com

Finished trailer for Grafting DVD

2009-12-13T15:31:00.000-08:00

I finished the full trailer for my new Grafting DVD.
Let me know what you think.

Grafting DVD trailer released

2009-11-23T14:15:00.000-08:00

I am excited to announce that we will be releasing the first training DVD based on my grafting book in December. I have posted a short trailer on youtube.com.

The Grafting Matrix

2009-09-21T09:19:00.001-07:00

My innovative "Grafting Matrix" is a visual tool that breaks an attack and response down to its individual parts. In breaking the action down into small parts, we can isolate, train, explore how each segment affects the whole of the conflict.

For example...

During the initial attack, we will run the attack through "FILTERS". From the filters we will respond with a defense or "entry into" a technique. If that reaction solves the problem, wonderful, the fight is over. If not...

One or more of the three "TRIGGERS" will come into play. the action of the trigger will lead us to one of five "BRIDGES" as our next response. The bridges will bring into play a new "entry into" a technique. If that was sufficient the problem is solved. If not...

At least part of the cycle might need to be repeated.

In examining the smaller parts of the action, we can train specific options, look at other potential problems our reaction might cause, learn how the triggers will rule out certain bridges as options. We can also train to add information to our filters in order to increase the use of the filters as "good tools."

Next time.... Intimate understandings!

Concept of Conflict FILTERS

2009-09-18T11:31:00.000-07:00

In studying grafting in American Kenpo I have tried to narrow down mentally what happens at the moment the conflict becomes physical.

In exploring how we find our way to a viable response to someone's actual attack, I realize that the human mind, for most of us, runs through a series of things. Our initial reaction can be based on a number of factors.

I believe these factors are "filtered" to get to a quicker response. This allows us to setup what I refer to as the "Entry" to a technique. the Entry is the initial block, initial foot maneuver, and possible (but not always) initial counterstrike.

I divide these FILTERS into four types....

Knowledge Base or Skill Set
Preferences, Prejudices, and Preconceptions
Relative Body Positions
Target Availability

Lets take a closer look at each of these FILTERS.

First is a person's Knowledge Base or Skill Set Filter.

A knowledge base is the sum of all information you have available on the situation. What have learned, seen, explored, thought about, etc. This filter establishes if you have "any" prior knowledge of how to deal with this or a similar situation.

If a person has experience or training to draw from, they might be much more prepared mentally and physically to deal with the particulars at hand. On the other hand, if a person has no experience or knowledge about how to get out of a rear choke, for instance, he or she might have their hands full trying to overcome their attacker.

The second filter is an individual's Preferences, Prejudices, and Preconception Filter.

The brain is an amazing thing. Everyday the brain is bombarded with outside stimuli. In handling all of this information it builds shortcuts. This shortcuts help us make it through the normal day to day activities, as well as, what is perceived as emergencies.

For instance, do you have a favorite color? Why? Can you explain why you prefer a certain color over all other individual colors? Go ahead, tell me. I'll wait for you. Can you imagine how long it would take to compare your favorite color to every possible color in the universe? Do you have a color that you don't like compared to each and every other color? Do have time to compare and explain why you dislike that one the most? have you compared it every other color? Probably not. In both cases, your mind created a shortcut and you just "know" you feel a certain way about them.

What about food? What about certain attitudes, clothing, behaviors? What about religions, cultures, modes of transportation? We build preferences through the mind building shortcuts for us. I think we would go crazy trying to figure everything out all the time. If we had to evaluate every option for every decision we make it life, we would get very little accomplished.

These preferences become time savers that often let us run on autopilot. Think about these little things. Favorite soap, the manner of which you dry off after a shower, what leg do you put into your pants first, what jacket do you wear in the rain, etc. We build preferences to save mental time so we don't have to think through everything all the time.

In self defense, a person can train to use a technique in as many different situations as they can, because they have a preference toward it. maybe they really have a lot of confidence in "Thundering Hammers". In that case, they may have a preference and look for the opportunity to use it against different situations.

Prejudices are build over time. Real or unsubstantiated, we have them. Honestly, all of us have some. I don't necessarily mean about race. Personally, I have a prejudice against stupidity. I am not very tolerant of those who "glow under the light of stupidity".

Prejudices can be build around certain attitudes, behaviors, looks. Think about it, prejudices can be built around stereotypes as well. Fat people eat too much and are lazy! Right?! Not necessarily. Muslims are evil! Right?! Not most that I have ever met.

All white males are good? Jews are money-hungy liars? Mexican are thieves and not hard working? All black males are strong, athletic and in gangs? All women are weak and helpless? No, no, no, no and no!!!!! BUT, we can easily have negative images toward those who are not exactly like us and it takes work to constantly break our prejudices down.

Prejudices that we may carry can affect how we respond to conflicts with people who are different from us. An older white female might react differently if approached by an older frail looking white guy than a young fit black male, if both ask for bus fare. Reality is reality.

These mental issues often lead to preconceptions. Preconceptions are opinions formed beforehand about something. Our mind will try to shortcut information to quickly arrive at a conclusion. Many times our preconceptions can change about people or events after we obtain experience, but prior to gaining experience, we often have an opinion based on what we think the experience would be like.

The third filter concerns Relative Body Positions.

the Relative Body Position Filter is very important. This filter will setup our initial physical response and from this spatial environment will look at how our knowledge base or skill set with come up with options.

The ideal phases of American Kenpo techniques can be used as "snapshots" of perfect scenarios. the Relative Body Position filter will look at what information is in our skill set. It will determine IF there is any available data on how to respond based on the position of the attacker and defender. It will look at what can be done from there, as well as, where can we go from there.

For instance, a beginner in American Kenpo might respond to a left roundhouse punch with only the technique "Sword of Destruction". A slightly more skilled Kenpoist would have that technique plus maybe Shielding Hammer.

Someone experience with both sides of their techniques might also see "Five Swords" on the second side. A more experience person might see all of those plus find a way to make "Unfurling Crane" effective under this circumstance.

In addition, the Relative Body Position Filter might show a Kenpo practitioner that with a little adjustment they might be able to pull off something like..."Shield and Sword" on the front side of the body or pass the arm overhead and end up doing "Thundering Hammers" on the second side.

Our mind will use this filter to look at what we can do, and we can go from the entry of the technique using the filters already applied to the situation.

This brings us to the fourth basic filter, the Target Availability Filter.

In using this filter we determine the best course of action for our first counterstrike. Our mind can quickly look at the available targets and setup a response.

The more the brain understands what the effects are of striking different targets with differing amounts of force, the clearer we can choose a viable option from available targets. It takes training and practice to quickly run through options and pick an appropriate response when necessary.

It must be understood that a fight is very dynamic and most cases does not end with a single blow. As we use these filters, the attacker is filtering our responses through his brain at the same time in order to attempt to dominate the situation. So this dangerous game of chess is active in both the attacker and defender.

So an attacker might very well be actively trying to hinder or negate your next move. the more experience we have operating under pressure, simulated or real, I believe the better our brain will use these filters in "live time".

Til next time....

News

2009-09-18T11:27:00.000-07:00

It looks like we will be filming our first training DVD based on my grafting book the first week of November 09. If all goes well we might be producing about three videos to cover the information in the book.

I will blog more about this as I can.

Til next time....

Informational Blog

2009-09-16T09:39:00.000-07:00

This entire blog concept is based on my fascination with Kenpo grafting. For the past decade I have made grafting part of my teaching and training curriculum. I love the exploration of all the material available in this art and I spend many hours a year on grafting.

I wrote the book, GRAFTING: Bridges within American Kenpo, published by Aardvark Global Publishing available at www.tskenpo.com . The book is 160+ pages and is coil bound so that the reader can use the book "on the mat". It explores many concepts, principles and theories as they apply to grafting. I also introduce my Grafting Matrix.

I have also written a Companion Workbook for the grafting manual and it is available as well. The Companion Workbook is 40 pages of time-saving speadsheets and more, to help you work through the material in the grafting book.

During the summer of this year, both the book and workbook have been translated into Spanish.

If you are interested in obtaining a copy of the book, you can also visit the Kenponet Mall at www.kenponet.com

Self promotion is for the birds! Now that we have that out of the way, back to the fun stuff.

Til next time...take care.

What TRIGGERS a Bridge?

2009-09-11T09:07:00.001-07:00

The opinions expressed in this blog are only mine. Don't hold anyone responsible for my thought processes. :)

What I am trying to demonstrate in this blog entry are what I describe as "Triggers" as they relate to my Grafting Matrix. The Grafting Matrix is a visual tool to show what I believe happens or has influence on the necessary actions we take during a conflict that does not end with the initial physical strikes.

A fight that lasts longer than a sucker punch is dynamic and changes as both parties try to gain a dominant advantage. This may cause you to graft techniques in order to stop an attacker. The TRIGGERS I am referring to are basically three factors that can lead you to graft into different techniques.

Can attempt your favorite technique on an attacker, but three things can affect the outcome...

You
Attacker
Environment

You
You may decide that your technique is not working "as advertised" and your dance partner (read as attacker) did not fall down.

Attacker
The attacker might not be as cooperative as you anticipate because he did not know that you are a Kenpo Master, and he does not give up after three moves. he may over-react, under-react or react in a way other than expected. Or maybe, just maybe, no matter what you do he is gonna try to hurt you.

Environment
The third Trigger is the environment. Your environment can affect the decision to stay with a technique sequence or abandon it for another. the environment can be a friend and assist you, or it can be an opponent and help the attacker.

We will explore these Triggers in more detail in later blogs. I do strongly believe that if you understand how these factors can trigger the choice of which "Bridge" is applied to the situation we can be more spontaneous in our use of techniques.

The Grafting Matrix describes the mental process from Initial Attack through Filters to our Initial Response. If the fight continues...we move through Triggers and Filters to Bridges and end up with a secondary Response (graft). If that still does not end the confrontation the cycle begins again.

So far we have touched on several parts of what I call the Grafting Matrix. We have briefly looked at Triggers and Bridges. The next several blogs will look at how Filters affect our actions in a confrontation and some Concepts, Principle and Theories within Kenpo that I feel relate directly to effective grafting.

Soon I will be explaining some very cool training exercises using "Bridges" to enhance anyone's ability to graft "on the fly".

I hope that you are getting value in reading this. Please feel free to comment or ask questions regarding my entries.

Next time...Filters and How they affect our Response to an attack.

The Five Bridges

2009-09-09T12:21:00.000-07:00

In grafting I like to use the word "bridge" interchangeably with the word "graft". Personally, I think of a bridge as a tool, temporary or permanent to "cross over" from one sequence of motion to another sequence.

As part of my Grafting Matrix I have identified five different "Bridges". These bridges are, "Spontaneous", "Natural", "Associated", 'Unnatural", and "Forced". Each bridge covers a category of either, when or how. Each Bridge has a primary "Trigger". I will discuss triggers later. Every situation that covers grafting or bridging can fall into one of these categories.

The Five Bridges briefly defined...

1. Spontaneous Bridge
Type: When
Defined: This is defined as linking together techniques or parts thereof, just because you like to "stick" them together. No rhyme or reason is applied to this kind of bridge. Not the best way to practice grafting other than demonstrating that it can be done. I include it mainly for category completion.
Trigger: You

2. Natural Bridge
Type: How
Defined: This bridge is an efficient method of crossing over from one technique to another. It uses a common basic shared between two different sequences to bridge over. For instance, if two techniques share an outward hand sword, palm-heel or step-through front kick you can move from one technique to the other. This is my favorite type of bridge to explore!
Trigger: You, Environment or Attacker
Note: This is even more fun if you are comfortable with both the right and left sides of your techniques.

3. Associated Bridge
Type: How
Defined: A bridge defined more often than not by the opening and closing of "the gap" between you and the attacker. Think about this, along a limb you have several weapons designed to be used at different ranges. An example is on the leg you might have a hip check, thigh strike, a front knee, a shin kick, a knife edge kick or a thrusting ball kick. All these strikes are dependent on range application. If you are using a technique sequence that for instance has a front knee as a move and the range increases, you could smoothly transition to a technique that might use a longer range strike ( a shin kick, or front kick). Basics off the same limbs are associated movements.
Trigger: Environment or Attacker

4. Unnatural Bridge
Type: How
Defined: Unnatural bridges are defined as "man-made". They involve the insertion of one or more moves between two sequences of motion. The inserted move will usually cause a change in relative body positions between you and your attacker. The insert can be a simple as a kick or as complicated as several moves to pass an attacker's arm from one side of your body to the other.
Trigger: You, Environment or Attacker

5. Forced Bridge
Type: When
Defined: Here we have a bridge that solely by the actions of the attacker does it even exist. A Forced Bridge is a situation that results from the attacker initiating a second or additional attack after we start our defense. If he grabs your shirt and after you start your defense to get free, he throws a punch at your nose, you WILL have to adjust and stop the punch. This reaction on your part should bring you to another technique based on your positions.
Trigger: Attacker

Please understand that the information presented here are my personal mental and physical processes by which I teach and practice American Kenpo. They are simply tools to better understand the application of grafting from my perspective.

Next time...
What TRIGGERS a Bridge?

A slightly Different Approach to Grafting

2009-09-04T13:57:00.000-07:00

When I work the concept of "Grafting" I try to answer some specific questions. Such as; "Why would I need to?", "How would I do it?" and maybe "What would I graft to or from?" These questions would be at the top of my list.

I try to teach grafting in a way that is logical and not just sticking things together. I find little value in just doing techniques "one after the other" in the air and say to myself, "There you go. Good job grafting!"

Looking for ways and means to smoothly transition , if needed, from a technique to another or maybe the extension of a different technique, brings up the "Whys" of doing the action.

Over the past decade I have spent a lot of time and energy looking at the concept of "grafting" as I know it. I have identified five different "Bridges" that I use to define the "When and how" of the process we refer to as "grafting".

These five "Bridges" are part of the Grafting Matrix that I use as a visual aid to understand what happens during a physical exchange where grafting or bridging is necessary. This is a personal aid. Your mileage may vary.

Til next time.

Headed for Las Vegas

2009-08-26T13:29:00.000-07:00

On October 15th I will be headed to Las Vegas for the 45th International Karate Competition. I will be among twenty instructors from around the world who will be teaching over a four day event.

I will be teaching material from my new book, GRAFTING: Bridges within American Kenpo.

The event will be held at Palace Station Hotel & Casino.

See you there!