Chinese Kung-Fu (Kenpo). William D. Scott

arms to break his hold and pull your right hand into your neck (fig. 22). Form a right knife hand (fig. 23). Using your elbow as a mid-point, strike your attacker in the throat with your right knife hand as in fig. 24. (This strike is called a knife hand chop.) You have now completed the defense technique.

      You need not practice with a partner, but instead pretend his hands are on you and practice the motions of the defense. This defense technique will be elaborated upon in a later lesson.

      SIDE SHOULDER ATTACK

      Your attacker has placed his left hand on your right shoulder as in fig. 25. Simply circle your right arm around and behind his (fig. 26). When you've completed the circle, punch upward in order to sprain or break your attacker's elbow (fig. 27).

      This is a simple but effective technique and should be performed with great caution if practiced with a partner, as should all the techniques in this book.

      Introductory Lesson I has ended. Practice all you have learned for fifteen minutes a day for three days, and then move on to Introductory Lesson II.

      INTRODUCTORY LESSON II

      As you approach Introductory Lesson II, I stress that you should fully understand Introductory Lesson I. As the program builds, you must learn each technique in order, so that at the end of the training program you will have mastered the first step of the art. This lesson builds on the last, and if you have any trouble with the old material, work with it until you know it.

      INWARD BLOCK AND CHOP

      Since you have learned the inward block and the knife hand chop, it is time to put the two together. Stand in a Horse Stance and have your practice partner throw a right punch toward your head. (Practice punches should be thrown slowly in the beginning and gradually increased in speed.) As your partner throws the punch, he should yell "Go," alerting you that his fist is on the way. You will respond to this attack by throwing a right inward block, followed by a right knife hand chop toward your partner's throat (figs. 28, 29 and 30). It is wise to have your practice partner hold his unused hand in front of his throat, offering you a practice target (focal point) and also protecting himself against accidental injury.

      After practicing the right block and chop for a few minutes, have your partner punch toward you with his left fist, once again shouting "Go," and perform the motion from the left side.

      When you have learned the block and chop technique from both the right and left sides, put the two together by alternating the right and left for a period of about thirty seconds.

      FRONT SNAP KICKS OFF FRONT FEET

      Assume a right-rear Forward Stance — you will now be throwing front snap kicks off your front foot (your left). This may seem hard at first, but it is easy. Pull your left knee up and assume the position in fig. 31. You have lifted your left foot and assumed the standard front snap kick cocked position. Now throw the front snap kick and replant your left foot in the Forward Stance position. Practice this motion until it feels comfortable, and then try it from a left-rear Forward Stance. Your fists should remain clenched at your hips and you should try to keep your form as perfect as possible.

      INWARD BLOCK AND FRONT SNAP KICK

      Stand in a right-rear Forward Stance, fists clenched and resting on your hip bones. Throw a right inward block and follow it with a snap kick off your right (rear) foot as you pull your fist back to your side.

      Practice this block and kick motion in all possible combinations (kicking off the front and rear feet from both right- and left-rear stances) but remember, if you block with your right arm, you must kick with your right foot, and alternately if you block with your left arm you must kick with your left foot.

      REAR KICK

      The rear kick is probably the most difficult move that you have encountered thus far. The movement requires agility, but do not worry if it does not come easily — as you practice it, it will improve.

      To begin, stand with feet together, knees slightly bent and your arms at your sides. (While you throw a kick, the leg you are left standing on should be bent to allow for better balance.)

      You will first perform a right rear kick, so lift your right knee as in fig. 32. Now, bend forward assuming the position in fig. 33. Kick to the rear as in fig. 34 and rapidly pull your leg back to the fig. 33 position and replant your foot on the floor. If the kick has been performed correctly, you will have thrown your right leg straight back, brushing the inside of your left, and will have focused the kick in your heel (the toughest part of your foot). Since you don't want to injure your foot in an attack situation, be sure to focus the kick in your heel.

      It is important to look to the rear as you kick — to actually watch where you are