quickly
and anticipate your opponents' moves, react with determination, and make
maximum use of your energy.
One of your first questions may be: How much power is needed to ward off a pack of attackers? How much force you need and/or use largely depends on your martial arts experience and your upbringing. Board- and brick-breaking can give you an idea of how much power your techniques possess, but it is more diffi- cult to determine the level of force necessary-and legally correct-to stop a group of potentially drug-crazed assailants.
Although it may be wiser in a legal sense to deliver blows to nonlethal targets, such strategy is impractical, dan- gerous and time-consuming when deal- ing with more than one opponent. A smarter choice may be to select targets that temporarily stun one opponent so you can move on to another adversary. The theory in kenpo karate is that you should walk away from a fight, if pos- sible; but if you have to fight, hurt before you maim, and maim before you kill.
Elements that reinforce your fighting techniques include: proper body alignment, point of origin, marriage of gravity, center, leverage, knowledge of anatomical weak points, penetration, targets, speed, zones of attack, and the outer rim and perimeter. When these external physical elements are coupled with in- ternal elements of power-i.e., ki energy-you gain a fighting chance against multiple assailants.
An understanding of your "point of origin" allows you to maintain control of your entire body and requires integration of breathing, body, motion, mind and tar- get. Your breathing is controlled, your body aligned, your weapons honed, your motion natural and effortless, your mind focused, concentrated and merging with a sense of the target.
"Marriage of gravity" is the union of physical and mental strength, which can contribute to the force of your blows, Your body and mind must be centered, focused and controlled. Increasing your power depends on your ability to integrate your physical and mental skills. To be maxi- mally effective, you must strike with your entire being, not just your fist or foot.
Power can be increased by incorpo- rating leverage, speed and added mass into your strikes. Leverage points are usually fixed joints, such as an elbow, which, when straightened and pressured with force, can create compliance in your opponent, preventing him from striking. Pinning an opponent's hand, for example, creates a fulcrum for an upward strike to his elbow. The greater the speed and torque, the greater the power of your leveraging technique.
Similarly,
added mass increases the effectiveness of a leveraging maneuver . A leg,
for example, provides greater mass than an arm; thus, using your leg to
sweep an opponent creates leveage against his legand unbalances him. Leverage points can generally be manipulated with both forward and reverse motion, allowing maximum use of your movement. For example, if you step into a kneeling stance to buckle the knee of an opponent in front, you can then straighten your rear leg to provide leverage against an opponent attacking from the rear. Thus, leveraging tech- niques allow you to conserve energy, which can be particularly important in a mass attack.
Knowledge of anatomical weak points is another advantage in a mass attack. Anatomical weak points are essential body parts which, when struck, can pro- duce severe injury to your opponent- even death. These vital points include the temple, throat, mastoid, cervical spine, solar plexus, kidneys, heart, groin and knees, among others. Striking such points can quickly end a confrontation and allow you to maximize your energy in a multiple attack.
An understanding of "penetration points"-imaginary points beyond the in- tended target-keeps you from tensing up prematurely, thus enhancing the power of your techniques and causing greater damage. If, for example, you intend to strike your opponent's throat, you need only enough distance and force to collapse his windpipe-a penetration point of approximately one inch. Simlarly, if you deliver an uppercut to the opponent's solar plexus, you need only enough penetration to shock his dia- phragm and cause spasms that interrupt his breathing. To be most effective, you should tense your techniques on impact with the target and not before.
Technique penetration produces what is called the "hydraulic effect." If you pinch yourself, you will notice that, at first, the imprint of your fingers appears pale be- cause the blood has been displaced. Seconds later, the imprint of your fingers turns red as the blood rushes back to the area, leaving an inflammation. Now imag- ine the "hydraulic effect" of an intense, precise punch. Damage to the target could include muscle spasm, nerve dysfunction, and/or vein and capillary dam- age. If nothing else, the stricken area is rendered tempprarily dysfunctional.
Regardless of your power, when dealing with multiple attackers, your natural weapons will take abuse; the targets you choose will determine just how much damage your weapons will sustain. If
you overuse one weapon, you m its effectiveness and thereby your ability to defend yourself.
Kenpo stylists are taught to attack "soft" targets, such as the Adam's apple, armpits, solar plexus of the neck and groin. For instce you are flanked on the right by ar nent, you can deliver an elbow solar plexus. The only damage ii is to the opponent's midsection, n elbow.
Soft targets can be compared dows in a house; it is much ea break through windows than walls inside. Nerves collect and form jur in the soft areas of the body. Wher nerve centers are hit with the prope nique, a momentary or even pern paralysis can result. Thus, it is important to choose the appropriate natural weapon for each target.
At karate tournaments, you have seen competitors gingerly holding a foot because it hit an opponent wrong angle or absorbed too much sure on contact. To prevent suct ries, you must select your targets natural weapons-,carefully. In a massattack, where prolonged and efficient use of your natural weapons is necessary, it is essentilly to find as many soft targets as possible. Speed is also essential during a mass attack. Your response and technique exe:cution must be rapid. You can train yourself to
expect the unexpected and anticpate such encounters before they occur. Don't be paranoid; simply be wary and alert. You should assess any situation, determine the appropriate measures, and be decisive in your applications.
Proper body alignment will improve the execution of your techniques and increase their speed. Your speed and force will be diminished if your body is blocking your natural weapon as you attempt to deliver a blow. Proper body alignment also gives you greater balance and sup- port, which in turn allows free-flowing rapid movement of your natural weapons. Technique speed can also be en- hanced by a simultaneous merging of mind, body alignment and breath. Proper breathing is essential, When you inhale, your circulation slows as your chest muscles constrict and become tense. When your mus- cles are tense, you cannot move freely or rapidly. As you exhale, however, your body lowers, stabilizing your stance. Circula- tion increases, the muscles in the upper torso relax, and greater speed can be achieved. The resultof the union of the mind, body and breath is the surfacing of ki, which represents the emergence of your subconscious into the fight. When you use your ki power, speed is automatic because you do not question your efforts. Injuries, a lack of concentration and improper breathing will adversely affect ki production. Kenpo karate focuses on seven "zones of attack." The idea is to use the most logical and practical line of entry to the target to economize your motion. This concept is particularly important when dealing with multiple assailants. Just as your power decreases when you extend your natural weapons beyond their depth zones, power is increased by remaining within the zones. By aligning your body with your opponent's zones of attack, you can effectively counterattack in the same zones. Kenpo karate also takes into account the circumference situations. The outer perimeter is the area to which offensive moves should be confined so you do not over- extend or over- commit yourself. The outer rim is the area to which de- fensive moves should be confined. Utilizing these imaginary boundaries reduces your chances of getting hit and economizes your motion. As your hands travel to and from their targets, keep them within
these perimeters. If you cannot reach your opponent, simply move your perim- eter so it includes the desired target. You can do this by shuffling or stepping toward your adversary, or you can wait until he encroaches on your existing perimeter. This concept is particularly important when dealing with multiple attackers, because it keeps you from overextending by giving you boundaries for your techniques.
Utilizing the aforementioned elements increases the effectiveness of your defense against a mass attack. Your chances of survival hinge on your aware- nessof your perimeters, zones of attack, anatomical weak points, penetration points, leveraging, and choice of targets.
When you are attacked by multiple assailants, everything happens at once. Your body responds automatically with a rush of adrenaline, galvanizing your reactions and heightening your senses. Sequential opportunites appear before you, allowing you to neutralize one op- ponent and move on to the next. The strategies you choose must emerge in- stinctively. Your initial reaction triggers others and is set in motion by your perception of danger. The concepts and techniques presented here will augment your ability to deal with the harsh realities of a mass attack. Remember: Aways be prepared for the unexpected.
