Master Key Techniques

[Rob Broad]

Does anyone have a list of the 10 Master Key techniques and what they evolve into.

[Chris Armstrong]

Here is what Dennis Conatser posted once. But he only gave the full evolution for one of the 10. I wish he would list the rest sometime.

Chris

10 Master Key Techniques - From Dennis Conatser

THUNDERING HAMMERS + 32 "variations of"
FIVE SWORDS + 44
LONE KIMONO + 9
SHIELDING HAMMER + 17
REPEATING MACE + 8
LOCKED WING + 1
INTELLECTUAL DEPARTURE + 4
THRUSTING SALUTE + 2
PARTING WINGS + 24
HOOKING WINGS + 4

One example group...

LONE KIMONO:
Twin Kimono
Clutching Feathers
Locking Horns
Captured Leaves
Entangled Wing
Snapping Twig
Raking Mace
Obscure Sword
Falcons of Force

[Seabrook]

In case anyone is interested, I discuss Master Key techniques and their purposes in some detail in my latest e-book, "American Kenpo Mastery: A Guide for Students and Instructors."

Just click on my website for more details of the book:

www.seabrook.gotkenpo.com


Jamie Seabrook

[Chris Armstrong]

WOW!!!

Hold on to your hats. I emailed Dennis Conatser and asked him if he'd post the complete list of master key techniques and their related techniques on MartialTalk, and by George, he did it:

P.S. I posted a response asking him what the 3 asterisks mean that are next to some of the techniques and I'll post the answer when I get it.

THUNDERING HAMMERS + 32 "variations of"
FIVE SWORDS + 46
LONE KIMONO + 9
INTELLECTUAL DEPARTURE + 4
SHIELDING HAMMER + 20
REPEATING MACE + 8
LOCKED WING + 1
THRUSTING SALUTE + 2
PARTING WINGS + 24
HOOKING WINGS + 4

MASTER KEY TECHNIQUES

MASTER KEY MOVEMENT(S) are defined as being a move or series of moves that can be used in more than one predicament with equal effect. For example a rear heel kick, shin scrape, and instep stomp can be used for a FULL NELSON, BEAR HUG with the arms free or pinned, REAR ARM LOCK, etc. Or, an arm break can be applied to a cross wrist grab, a lapel grab, or hair grab -‑ application of the arm break would remain constant, but the methods of controlling the wrist would vary. In comparison, MASTER KEY TECHNIQUES entail sequential arrangements of movements that can be applied to a number of predicaments. In the case of a MASTER KEY TECHNIQUE it is a single technique that may be used as a BASE MOVE. Other similar techniques may then be perceived as formulations of it. In many ways they are like Family Groupings and Associated Moves; they are the result of an individual's further association of movements; they are the next logical step in the search for spontaneity. Remember, the following are only one set of model groupings. The art of Master Key Techniques is to eventually be able to use any and all techniques as a BASE MOVE and to see how all other techniques are formulations of it. This should lead you to the next level of spontaneity.


THUNDERING HAMMERS 32
Sleeper
Dance of Death
Grasping Eagles
Unwinding Pendulum
Dance of Darkness ***
Attacking Mace
Flashing Wings
Darting Mace
Crossing Talons
Desperate Falcons
Circling Fans ***
Leaping Crane
Gathering Clouds
Circling the Horizon
Piercing Lance
Taming the Mace
Shield and Mace ‑ Advanced
Back Breaker
Kneel of Compulsion
Brushing the Storm
Escape from the Storm
Flashing Mace
Glancing Salute
Clipping the Storm
Glancing Lance
Ram and the Eagle
Returning Storm
Grasp of Death
Gift of Destruction
Gift in Return
Gift of Destiny
Broken Gift

FIVE SWORDS 46
Delayed Sword
Fatal Deviation ***
Alternating Mace
Snaking Talons ***
Aggressive Twins
Entwined Maces ***
Defying the Storm
Mace of Aggression
Snapping Twigs
The Bear and the Ram
Tripping Arrow
Falling Falcon
Conquering Shield
Cross of Death
Bowing to Buddha
Raining Claw
Glancing Wing
Prance of the Tiger
Circling Fans ***
Deflecting Hammer
Hugging Pendulum
Retreating Pendulum
Dance of Darkness ***
Unwinding Pendulum
Menacing Twirl
Reversing Circles ***
Swinging Pendulum
Detour From Doom
Deceptive Panther
Charging Ram
Broken Ram
Intercepting the Ram
Spreading Branch
Reprimanding the Bears
Captured Twigs
Crushing Hammer
Obscure Wing
Calming the Storm
Securing the Storm
Triggered Salute
Twisted Twig
Bow of Compulsion
Reversing Mace
Circling Destruction
Gripping Talon
Twisted Rod

LONE KIMONO: 9
Twin Kimono
Clutching Feathers
Locking Horns
Captured Leaves
Entangled Wing
Snapping Twig
Raking Mace
Obscure Sword
Falcons of Force

INTELLECTUAL DEPARTURE: 4
Circle of Doom
Rotating Destruction
Unfolding The Dark
Encounter With Danger

SHIELDING HAMMER: 20
Sword of Destruction
Evading The Storm
Protecting Fans
Shield and Mace
Leap From Danger
Dominating Circles
Circles of Protection
Raining Lance
Circling Windmills
Unfurling Crane
Reversing Circles
Leap of Death
Destructive Kneel
Destructive Fans
Glancing Spear
Desperate Falcons
Broken Rod
Fatal Deviation ***
Entwined Maces ***
Snaking Talons ***


REPEATING MACE: 8
Shield and Sword
Twirling Hammers
Checking The Storm
Twirling Wings
Entwined Lance
Parting of the Snakes
Capturing the Rod
Defying the Rod

LOCKED WING: 1
Flight to Freedom

THRUSTING SALUTE: 2
Buckling Branch
Striking Serpent's Head

PARTING WINGS: 24
Thrusting Prongs
Begging Hands
Thrusting Wedge
Blinding Sacrifice
Twist of Fate
Crashing Wings
Spiraling Twigs
Squatting Sacrifice
Scraping Hoof
Repeated Devastation
Cross of Destruction
Fallen Cross
Heavenly Ascent
Squeezing the Peach
Crossed Twigs
Circling Wing
Wings of Silk
Obstructing the Storm
Capturing the Storm
Calming the Storm
Securing the Storm
Snakes of Wisdom
Grip of Death
Escape From Death

HOOKING WINGS: 4
Fatal Cross
Twirling Sacrifice
Defensive Cross
Marriage of the Rams

[jfarnsworth]

Remember;
He can't spoon feed everyone the answers to everything all of the time. Self discovery is one of the best ways to learn.

[Billy Lear]

Remember;
He can't spoon feed everyone the answers to everything all of the time. Self discovery is one of the best ways to learn.

Self discovery can also be one of the slowest ways to learn. Being spoon fed answers is one thing... what you do after your meal is what makes the difference between a good Kenpoist and a bad one.

[Seig]

Self discovery can also be one of the slowest ways to learn. Being spoon fed answers is one thing... what you do after your meal is what makes the difference between a good Kenpoist and a bad one.

Slow to learn, slow to forget.

[Billy Lear]

I guess another way to look at the world of self-discovery is there is a greater possibility of not learning or overlooking something important in the process. It's good to have a teacher. I personally think it's better to learn what you can from a teacher and expand on the information he/she shares with you.

[jfarnsworth]

I agree to an extent Bill. We all need a knowledgable instructor to teach and instruct us. At this stage I'm looking more towards guidance than giving me every answer to every question. I have found (personally speaking) that self discovery remains locked in the brain a lot longer than just getting an answer.

[Billy Lear]

Self discovery can also be one of the slowest ways to learn. Being spoon fed answers is one thing... what you do after your meal is what makes the difference between a good Kenpoist and a bad one.

I guess what I'm trying to say here is that it is good to get the answers from an instructor and explore them with your own wants and needs in mind. In other words, they can show you where the rabbit hole is it's up to you to explore it.

Why learn the structure of American Kenpo when you can start all the way from the beggining and start your own system? I personally think it would be wiser to learn from someone else and explore what they haven't. Then, instead of re-inventing the wheel all the time you end up rolling around a little more.

[MartialArtist]

Remember;
He can't spoon feed everyone the answers to everything all of the time.

Why not? Professor Chow "spoonfed" the Master Key movements to Ed Parker.

http://www.wdob.net/mai/people/edpar...dkparkersr.php

[cameypsaromatis]

Wow, Chris! That's a pretty extensive list from Dennis. Will be fun to play the "what if" scenario to get from Thundering Hammers down the list to Broken Gift, etc. I know it's an old post, I'm well behind the times.

WOW!!!

Hold on to your hats. I emailed Dennis Conatser and asked him if he'd post the complete list of master key techniques and their related techniques on MartialTalk, and by George, he did it:

...

[Rob Broad]

Funny thing is that this is one of the topics being covered at my boot camp this weekend.

[Rob Broad]

This is such an informative topic, and there is so much valuable infor for anyone doing EPAK that I had to revive this thread. For anyone who does not have this list maybe it is time for some cut and paste.

[Martin Seck]

Awesome Rob, thanks for bringing it back!

[Chris Armstrong]

Wow, Chris! That's a pretty extensive list from Dennis. Will be fun to play the "what if" scenario to get from Thundering Hammers down the list to Broken Gift, etc. I know it's an old post, I'm well behind the times.

Hey Camey,

Yeah, there are a lot of possibilities implied by that list. I think it helps to see the higher level relationships between related techniques AND between techniques that may seem superficially unrelated. Then we can start to see the organization of Kenpo from a "concepts and principles" perspective rather than merely from a concrete sequence-movements perspective.

But that's me - I like to analyze stuff to death...keeps me off the streets.

Chris

[warrior-scholar]

Why stop at 10? The aforementioned material is great to get us started, but don't stop looking!

[Rob Broad]

Why stop at 10? The aforementioned material is great to get us started, but don't stop looking!

Those 10 techniques are the 10 that the entire system is built upon.

[Celtic_Crippler]

Hey Camey,

Yeah, there are a lot of possibilities implied by that list. I think it helps to see the higher level relationships between related techniques AND between techniques that may seem superficially unrelated. Then we can start to see the organization of Kenpo from a "concepts and principles" perspective rather than merely from a concrete sequence-movements perspective.

But that's me - I like to analyze stuff to death...keeps me off the streets.

Chris

EXACTLY!

[Celtic_Crippler]

Why stop at 10? The aforementioned material is great to get us started, but don't stop looking!

The manner in which one may be attacked is finite however the comination of different variables that arise during conflict are not.