Wednesday, April 4, 2007

Do the kenpo extensions contain new material?

While it is true that the extensions offer many of the same movements already contained in the base techniques, the extensions uniquely demonstrate how upper body principles can also be applied to the lower half of the body. That is why you will find more leg sweeps, foot maneuvers, and leg buckles in the extensions than in the base techniques.

Kenpo karate practitioners that argue that the extensions are meaningless or “busy work” often argue that there is nothing new in the extensions that are not already contained in the base self-defense techniques. A closer examination, however, will show otherwise.

Take the extension of Thrusting Salute, for example. The last part of the extension calls for right downward punch to the groin or bladder of the opponent, which cannot be found in any of the base techniques or other extensions. Similarly, the neck throw in-sync with the right reverse bow as we buckle our opponent’s left leg in the extension of Destructive Twins is also completely new.

More important than just some new movements, the extensions offer “what-if” scenarios should the ideal phase techniques not work as planned. That is what the equation formula is for.