Jan 2010 EPAK Technique Of The Month - Bow Of Compulsion

[Rob Broad]

Bow of Compulsion (Front- Wrist Lock; Against Attacker's Chest)
1. An attacker at 12 o'clock pins your right hand against their chest.

2. Put your left hand on top of your attacker's pin. Step to 12 o'clock with your right foot into a right neutral bow. Simultaneously with this step collapse your right arm into a right downward elbow to your attacker's solar plexus or possibly groin.

3. With your left hand still in a diagonal guard position, sink into a right wide kneel stance as you rake down your attacker's body through your attacker's groin.

4. Immediately reverse your motion and execute a right reverse handsword to your attacker's groin.

5. Execute a right backfist to your attacker's left knee.

6. Following a figure-8 pattern, execute a right punch to your attacker's right knee.

7. Cross out towards 7:30.

[KenpoChanger]

Downward elbow?

[Mr.Strobel]

It's important to relize the attack for this technique isn't just someone catching your hand on their chest. It's a wrist flex that is applied by the attacker stepping back as they apply pressure.

We step foward not only to start the defense but also to relieve pressure on our wrist.

If you have the "dummy" step back and apply pressue it make the elbow have a lot more force. He's pulling you, so you stepping in is a natural reaction.

Once I started doing it that way I started to appreciate this technique a lot more.

[Rob Broad]

It's important to relize the attack for this technique isn't just someone catching your hand on their chest. It's a wrist flex that is applied by the attacker stepping back as they apply pressure.

We step foward not only to start the defense but also to relieve pressure on our wrist.

If you have the "dummy" step back and apply pressue it make the elbow have a lot more force. He's pulling you, so you stepping in is a natural reaction.

Once I started doing it that way I started to appreciate this technique a lot more.

Great insight into this technique

[Casey_Sutherland]

6. Following a figure-8 pattern, execute a right punch to your attacker's right knee.

I am curious as to whether the figure 8 adds more power and directed force into a punch or whether a closed fist to the upper part of the thigh, just above the knee would be more incapacitating. The punch to the knee always seemed to me to be dangerous on the hand via the hard vs. hard concept.

What do you guys think?

[DavidCC]

Does the elbow strike force him to release his lock?

[JamesB]

Does the elbow strike force him to release his lock?

Personally, I think not. The elbow strike would be pretty difficult to achieve with the lock on? We prefer to break the grip first (left palm-heel from a forward bow stance), then do the elbow strike.

In the scenario we use, the 'attacker' is in our face and generally being aggressive. We keep him away at arms length with a right heel-palm. At this point the attacker reacts by clasping his hands over the top of ours, trapping it against his own body.

We in turn react by adjusting our depth relative to the attacker, by extending our right arm to a 'palm heel strike' configuration. And then move to forward-bow, with two simultaneous strikes - left palm-heel to the top of the attacker's hands, and a right palm-heel to his chest. The left strike is layered on top of our right, with his hands sandwiched between ours.

This causes significant distruption to the attacker and creates distance between us. Done correctly, this is the end of the technique. Once we're there however, we can slip in with the elbow strike...

As to the rest of the technique. Bleh! Can't stand it, and I don't understand why we would sacrifice our height and hit his legs out with our fists. Why not stay upright and kick his legs out? Strange ending to an otherwise fine technique. imo

[Casey_Sutherland]

As to the rest of the technique. Bleh! Can't stand it, and I don't understand why we would sacrifice our height and hit his legs out with our fists. Why not stay upright and kick his legs out? Strange ending to an otherwise fine technique. imo

I can see the usefulness in giving the tools for other situations as well. Like if for instance, you are facing an attacker and from behind another attacker pushes you and you fall to your knees in front of the attacker at 12 o'clock. It's just the placement of the strikes. I don't think they're really best directly on the knee, more so the front of the thigh about 3 inches above in order to stun the muscle.

I like also adding a minor sweep on the cross out to the inward side of the attackers right leg.

[Mr.Strobel]

Does the elbow strike force him to release his lock?

No it won't release the lock, we have our hand pinned over their hand anyway. We want to keep their hands there to control them.

The release comes when you rip your hand down, it's easier than expected. The next time you work the technique, just rip your hand out from his,. That will work with most locks too BTW, just have someone put in a wrist flex or figure 4 wrist lock and just pull it away and out.

[Rob Broad]

If the person really applies the lock well you will be bend forward to relieve the pressure on your wrist. Which will put you in a very good position to strike the legs with your hands

[DavidCC]

Thanks, I see now, I was picturing more of a twisted wrist lock, not a pinned hand.

James, sounds neat. Can't wait to try it on some unlucky guy in my class.

[KenpoChanger]

I disagree, if you forward bow with an elbow strike he is gonna let go.
Sean

[Casey_Sutherland]

I disagree, if you forward bow with an elbow strike he is gonna let go.
Sean

I don't think it is really a full bend of the torso, but more so a minor bend with the right side for your torso as you step in, staying in a right neutral? This would position you with a hinge point where you are holding the attackers hand on your hand and thus allowing you to strike beneith their breastplate. You wouldn't shift at all into a true forward bow, only use marriage of gravity and minor shifts to pop the strikes while you are in a kneeling position. IMO

[KenpoChanger]

I don't think it is really a full bend of the torso, but more so a minor bend with the right side for your torso as you step in, staying in a right neutral? This would position you with a hinge point where you are holding the attackers hand on your hand and thus allowing you to strike beneith their breastplate. You wouldn't shift at all into a true forward bow, only use marriage of gravity and minor shifts to pop the strikes while you are in a kneeling position. IMO

Why bend the torso with a forward bow?
Sean

[Casey_Sutherland]

Why bend the torso with a forward bow?
Sean

I think I got a bit jumbled there. What I was implying was that there is no forward bow, but only a slight use of torque to change your attackers depth. This is completed by basically a slight bend of the right oblique and then popping it in order to drive that vertical elbow strike. Then the rest is gravy. I hope I was a little more clear here than in my previous post. Must've been a little past bed time.

[madeku]

I am curious as to whether the figure 8 adds more power and directed force into a punch or whether a closed fist to the upper part of the thigh, just above the knee would be more incapacitating. The punch to the knee always seemed to me to be dangerous on the hand via the hard vs. hard concept.

What do you guys think?

the figure 8 (going counter clockwise to the left), as i understand it is just a method for you to do a downward 45 degree (just about any time you can use a 45 you gain power) punch into the side of the knee after that back fist (i've learned that to a nerve in the thigh) causes them to move their leg, and thus their balance, making that right leg more vulnerable...

the sides of the knee (the rear side) or right above or below the joint to me would be the best place to go. not as hard a target. i would probably heel palm the direct side, myself. what does it take, 8 lbs, 12 lbs to break it?

[Casey_Sutherland]

I agree with you. Your hand is already open from the reverse knife-hand, so why not. I've also been playing around this month with an inserted elbow strike. First I punch the attackers right part above the thigh, then on the return I've added an elbow strike to the attackers left thigh to open them up and change the next strike to a looping downward backfist to the attackers left upper calf. This in effect causes the attacker to lose their balance and fall backwards. I ensure a solid check with my left hand to make sure I keep the attacker from falling into me. It's really cool, try it out.

the figure 8 (going counter clockwise to the left), as i understand it is just a method for you to do a downward 45 degree (just about any time you can use a 45 you gain power) punch into the side of the knee after that back fist (i've learned that to a nerve in the thigh) causes them to move their leg, and thus their balance, making that right leg more vulnerable...

the sides of the knee (the rear side) or right above or below the joint to me would be the best place to go. not as hard a target. i would probably heel palm the direct side, myself. what does it take, 8 lbs, 12 lbs to break it?

[J Ellis]

How do you practice the initial attack? Is the defender's palm facing out away from the attacker's chest, in and toward the attacker's chest, or aligned some other way?

[Mr.Strobel]

How do you practice the initial attack? Is the defender's palm facing out away from the attacker's chest, in and toward the attacker's chest, or aligned some other way?

The defender's hand is placed directly on the bad guys chest facing him.

[J Ellis]

The defender's hand is placed directly on the bad guys chest facing him.

Thank you, sir. That is the way I learned this technique as well.

This has been a very helpful thread for me. There are lots of good discussions like this one in the archives.