January 2017 TOM - Crenshaw High Five

[jdinca]

I thought this would be an appropriate technique for this month.

Crenshaw High Five:
(Inside defense against a Right punch (straight or round))

1. As the attack is coming in, drop into a right neutral bow with a double factor knife hand block to the inside of the arm - right hand striking the bicep and the left hand striking the forearm. The Right hand immediately circles into the attacker's carotid artery. Variation includes the right hand striking and forming a counterclockwise loop to the neck vs. forming a "J" shape and ricocheting off of the bicep straight into the neck. Either way, the left hand should maintain control of the attacker's hand.

2. Pivot in place into a right forward lunge, bringing the left hand onto the same curved path the right hand just used and strike with a heel palm to the jaw. Variation (old way) this strike was ught as a straight thrust to the chin which requires excessive maneuvering to complete the technique...if that's what you want to do...

2b. On almost the same beat as the heel palm strike, follow up with a right inward elbow sandwich while snapping back into neutral bow.

3. Pivot again into right forward lunge with a simultaneous rising heel claw to the face and outward left knife strike to the throat. Left hand then becomes a check on the depth zone.

4. Right hand returns to the attacker's left side of the neck for a final knifehand strike.

Blend, Borrow, cover out or follow up as desired.

[Doc]

I thought this would be an appropriate technique for this month.

Crenshaw High Five:
(Inside defense against a Right punch (straight or round))

1. As the attack is coming in, drop into a right neutral bow with a double factor knife hand block to the inside of the arm - right hand striking the bicep and the left hand striking the forearm. The Right hand immediately circles into the attacker's carotid artery. Variation includes the right hand striking and forming a counterclockwise loop to the neck vs. forming a "J" shape and ricocheting off of the bicep straight into the neck. Either way, the left hand should maintain control of the attacker's hand.

2. Pivot in place into a right forward lunge, bringing the left hand onto the same curved path the right hand just used and strike with a heel palm to the jaw. Variation (old way) this strike was ught as a straight thrust to the chin which requires excessive maneuvering to complete the technique...if that's what you want to do...

2b. On almost the same beat as the heel palm strike, follow up with a right inward elbow sandwich while snapping back into neutral bow.

3. Pivot again into right forward lunge with a simultaneous rising heel claw to the face and outward left knife strike to the throat. Left hand then becomes a check on the depth zone.

4. Right hand returns to the attacker's left side of the neck for a final knifehand strike.

Blend, Borrow, cover out or follow up as desired.

Changed quite a bit since I first saw it. The technique was named for an original creation taught at Crenshaw High School in Los Angeles prior to the formation of the B.K.F. There is even a picture floating around of Mr. Parker at Crenshaw High giving pointers to the club in the gym. The version I saw was created by Steve Sanders.

[Star Dragon]

Changed quite a bit since I first saw it. The technique was named for an original creation taught at Crenshaw High School in Los Angeles prior to the formation of the B.K.F. There is even a picture floating around of Mr. Parker at Crenshaw High giving pointers to the club in the gym. The version I saw was created by Steve Sanders.

Hi Doc

What was the original version like?

[Doc]

Hi Doc

What was the original version like?

I don't remember precisely, just say equally as primitive.

[bdparsons]

Dr. Chapel,

I hate to contradict you, Sir, but this technique was not named for anything to do with Crenshaw High School or the BKF. Though that certainly may have been the case for something, it wasn't this technique. This technique draws its name from the time when Chuck Sullivan was running the Crenshaw Blvd school and was a variation of first the Five Count, then Five Swords.

Respectfully,
Bill Parsons
Triangle Kenpo Institute

[Doc]

Dr. Chapel,

I hate to contradict you, Sir, but this technique was not named for anything to do with Crenshaw High School or the BKF. Though that certainly may have been the case for something, it wasn't this technique. This technique draws its name from the time when Chuck Sullivan was running the Crenshaw Blvd school and was a variation of first the Five Count, then Five Swords.

Respectfully,
Bill Parsons
Triangle Kenpo Institute

That makes sense and explains the differences between what I remember and what's presented. I knew that Steve had a version as well that shared the name, and considering Mr. Sullivan was his teacher at the time, that too establishing entomology. This was before they moved the school to Hawthorne near Century in Inglewood. I and my college roommate Cliff Stewart always thoroughly enjoyed the sparring sessions there, and it was during this period that the school had the reputation of being the only real "fighting school" in the Parker Lineage, thanks to Mr. Sullivan and students like Big John Henderson. Thanks for the good info sir, and the walk down memory lane.