Hubud is indeed similar to JKD’s chi sao although there are major differences too: the basic idea is to get as many reps in as fast as possible (really sinking the techniques into your subconscious), however JKD’s sticky hands (based on Wing Chun) tend to be more lineair while Kali’s hubud uses a more angular approach along with what is called limb destructions. Basically it means treating the opponent’s weapon (hand, leg) as a target: by hitting certain nervepoints or muscles you inflict serious pain on the opponent (clouding his mind) and making that weapon more or less useless (at least temporarily). However it’s main use is to gain entry into his defensive sphere as the gunting (limb destruction, it literally means ‘scissoring’) opens up a line of attack, that is why it’s always followed up with boxing combo’s (in itself already a great weapon), trapping the limbs (as in JKD and WC), grappling techniques (pulling him into a strike or pushing him off balance) and low line kicks known as panjakman. Obviously hubud lubud is merely a training tool (as the self defense techniques in kenpo) but the idea behind it is to isolate one minor part of the defense (the first interception) and train that until you reach a very high level of skill that allows you to blast in as soon as the opponent makes a move. Of course there are series too: meaning defenses against set attacks (mainly boxing and kickboxing attacks like the jab-cross) that consists of the gunting followed by attacking techniques and trapping or grappling. One such sequence is the first technique on the jab-cross: you catch or parry the jab (basic boxing defense) then you do an opposite parry on the cross with a simultaneaous back knuckle to the radial nerve on the arm (called inside gunting), followed by a sinking left elbow to the face or sternum, a thumb to the eye (from the position of your hand after the elbow landed, point of origin in kenpo), you then cup the head and deliver a fingerthrust to the throat with your right hand (potentially lethal). This is followed up by a push to the chest (meant do disrupt his possible counterattack and set up the combo by exposing the chin) followed by a cross-hook-cross and a round kick. Very fun to train (it’s practiced both with and without focus-mitts) and very effective too imo, although much depends on your level of skill of course. The same approach is followed with weapons: instead of blocking to the weapon and trying to reach your opponent’s body (trunk) you hit the hand first wtih a full-on strike, if the other hand or leg attacks you destroy that too, giving you an easy entry to the finish if necessary. Of course the original use of Kali-escrima was combat and the strikes (often with swords or machetes instead of the sticks used in training) were usually meant to be lethal. With a sharp weapon one or two strikes, cuts or thrusts would be enough: I’ve seen techniques with the machete that basically consist of hacking off his arm, then his leg and/or his head. Obviously it’s a little hard to actually train that but the basic idea is to waste no time or movement and go straight for the kill, keeping the risk to yourself as low as possible. I very much enjoy escrima training, I just hope I’ll have time for it in september when my evening courses start again.

I’m always conflicted, as you are with kata – I think learning the techniques are important, once one has mastered the movements – one can use them in any combination as the situation dictates. I have no issue with how it is taught – just that one evolves… kind of the definition of mastery.

I checked out some videos out of hubud lubud… looks like of link wing chun sticky hands Bruce Lee used to do.

I used to practice lima lama and got real good at the hand slapping that all of these guys taught back then. Tino Tuiolosega, Ed Parker and the gang all did similar stuff and then branched out to develop their own martial arts. Kind of why techniques in lima lama were almost the same as kenpo when I started.

So my normal line is the style does not matter but what you like and what you get something out of. There are many ways to skin a cat.

Thanks for checking out the site again Zara – Happy to have you back!

How’ve you been? It’s been a long time since I visited your site. You talked about the connection between jujutsu and kenpo: as you know I’m a jujutsuka so I have a pretty extensive knowledge of grappling techniques but as with all arts there were some deficiencies, mainly in the striking department (not exactly the focus of our original style). Now my sensei has vastly improved upon that system by bringing along elements from the arts he studies: JKD, kali-escrima, thaiboxing… Funny thing is he’s training in kenpo for some time now (a different style from American kenpo but with similar principles and techniques) and he’s talking about adding elements of it to the curriculum too! I trained with him in the material for yellow and orange belt (I checked online and it’s similar to classical AK techniques like delayed sword, alternating maces…) and it’s pretty good stuff: logical sequences, fast striking combo’s and a good theoretical framework in order to generate maximum impact. I look forward to exploring this art further and as my sensei says it’s very compatible with jujutsu since both arts are inherently practical and geared towards self defense. Too bad it has some kata’s (something I detest since I hardly see any point in it) but I guess I just have to grit my teeth and bear with it. If it were classical Japanese karate with low stances, lunch punches and traditional forearm blocks I wouldn’t continue but I like the flow of the techniques and the efficient transitions to other blows, breaking down the opponent’s defenses piece by piece.

As you know I was pretty sceptical about kenpo before but now I’ve had some experience with it I retract my earlier statements even though I don’t agree with everything that is taught?

If you’re interested in the practical use of weaponry I’d recommend kali-escrima: bare bones practical art, no kata and with the same kind of flow as kenpo (barrage of checks, strikes and disarms), plus they have some pretty awesome training methods (hubud lubud for example) which garantees an extremely high number of repetitions in a short time. Check it out, I’m sure you’ll be impressed.

Love this blog – don’t stop blogging, I check this every week for comments.

I also found a great book on karate that I wanted to share with you – you can find it at http://www.thesecretsofkarate.com
please take a look – it`s great.

Sherry

I remember spouting off numbers in the 70′s that there were a least 50 styles of karate and 300 styles of kung fu. Well nowadays kung fu has renamed itself apparently to wushu (I’m out of touch I guess).

My point is bringing this up is many karateka that attain the master status are not always satisified with their style but rather seem to tweek it by combining new methods/styles and creating a new style of karate. Lets face it people innovate just as the old masters did back in the day.

What I am trying to say is I would have no idea now how many of the karate styles combine some jiu jitsu moves. I would guess that many might but I know little of other styles except the ones I’ve trained in (Lima Lama and Kenpo).

As far as goverence of the arts, as the masters have splintered off many of them have cut ties. Mitose has passed as has Chow and Parker. I do not believe that there is any links from Hawaii to Japan and my guess is that there are no links from Parkers organization to Hawaii. As each style was formed, many of them created there own hirachy and dropped any formal ties.

Our sytle of American Kenpo Karate still has ties to the Tracy’s organization out of respect but our hirachry is that of a parallel organization. I do not believe that Tracy’s has any formal ties to Parkers organization but we attend many of the same functions as we are all Kenpo brothers and sisters.

As far a Chinese Kenpo Karate and later American Kenpo as Parker taught it, and later the Tracy’s, there was not an emphsis on weapons. There are offshoot of kenpo that do practice more weapons.

We have weapons kata such as the hook and spear, staff, and sword but I have not been involved in sparring with said weapons. I have branched out on my own and learned that many of the formal ways of using the staff do not work. For instance twirling the staff and striking with the short half-strikes would hurt and maybe break ones thumbs if they struck anything hard.

I did a post on this way back and upset some people. You see if I am to use a weapon, I would use it like I fight – with critical distance and inital movement. I tried every strike hard on the bag and found out just as I have with some hand strikes – many moves were impracticle. Too much time on my hands I suppose.

Anyway as one meaning of karate is empty hand, especially in California where almost any weapon is illegal, I do not depend on weapons.

My best guess is there now might be hundreds of styles of karate that valid stylistic differences from anything else out there. But there are bound to be a lot of similar styles… sorry this got kind of wordy.

This combination of karate and jujitsu is interesting – makes it sound similar to wado-ryu karate, any connection there? Does American Kenpo karate still maintain links with Japan? Does your style of karate include any kobudo training – I thought kenpo karate and kobudo were closely linked? Sorry! Too many questions!