Orange Belt Technique
Lone Kimono is one of my favorite Kenpo self-defense techniques. It works for someone grabbing our lapel with his left hand. When someone grabs us this way, our first consideration should be the opponent's free hand, which in this case would be his right arm since a grab is often followed up with a punch. Since the environment allows us to step back, we do so with our left leg while simultaneously pinning the opponent's left grabbing hand. Note that by stepping back, we are controlling the opponent's height zone because of the weight on his left (front) leg, thereby eliminating the possibility of the opponent being able to kick or knee us with either leg. The width is also canceled which means that momentarily the opponent will not be able to punch us with his free (right) hand. Finally, the depth is also controlled since the opponent is unable to move forward or backward effectively.
After pinning the opponent's left grabbing hand, and then stepping back with our left foot to get away from the opponent's free hand, we immediately execute a right upward break to the opponent's left elbow. This elbow break also controls the opponent's height by raising the attacker up on his toes, and controls the width by preventing any type of counter punch from the opponent. After breaking the opponent's left elbow, we then rake the arm diagonally down which could possibly work as an additional elbow break, but will control the opponent's depth and width. We then compliment the angle of the opponent's left arm and finish with a hand sword to the neck.
If the environment did not allow us to step back (because of, say, a wall behind us), we could front ball kick the opponent's right knee and force him to step back (similar to Conquering Shield). Why this option? Because again, since the opponent's free hand is our greatest concern, this kick would turn the opponent's right shoulder away from us, thus canceling the width of the opponent which would prevent him from punching us with his right hand.
