Suey Bing Fa Top Ten Responses

The creation of response training is to expidite the learning process and provide students with simplified pragmatic movements that are designed to be utilized immeiately on the street. This form of training was never intended to completely replace traditional Kenpo techniques per se, but to provide students with street survivability skills more quickly while the more intricate movements of Kenpo could be learned over a greater period of time.

What follows are our "Top 10" responses. They are purposefully not named in the traditional Kenpo manner so as to keep the name from inhibiting modifications as needed. They also are designed to follow our "80% Rule", as described on the concepts page, of a common type of attack.

Right Hook Punch from 12:00
Right Hook Punch from 12:00
Left Hook Punch from 12:00
Two-Handed Push from 12:00 (after first two-handed push is taken)
Two-Handed Lapel Grab from 12:00 (with possible knee to groin attempt)
Choke Hold with Right Arm from 6:00 (artery choke)
Right 45 degree Downward Club from 12:00
Right Horizontal Knife Slash from 12:00 (slash going from left to right)
Right Knife Stab to Belly from 12:00
Right Gun Pointed to Head or Belly from 12:00, 3:00, 6:00 or 9:00

Technique vs. Response

Many martial artists use only a pattern of techniques learned in a specific sequence. It is a practice in Suey Bing Fa to break down sequences into basic movements and reassemble them using intelligent response and safety concepts. This will make the most of our motion in these circumstances. We want to respond knowing the application and effect of our movement. The aim is to create a student of motion capable of responding in a pro-active manner. Moving always from a position of strength and control. Moving from where we are to where we need to go.

I suppose the best way to describe Suey Bing Fa is to start with the description of a technique found within most systems then show how we might address the same situation with a response. Let's start with a technique for a right hook punch from an opponent in front of us at 12 o'clock. (We use the clock system to show direction. 12 in front of us, 3 to the right, 9 to the left and 6 behind us.) Our technique starts with a left outward block to the opponent's right arm followed by a right punch to his face then a right inward elbow to his ribs and a right knee lift to his gut. Push him away and step back. A simple technique. The explanation will come later. Much later in some systems as to why this was done at all.

Suey Bing Fa starts with understanding why the first movement is needed and what the choices for the initial defense are. To the attack (offense) we must choose an effective movement from one of six catagorize. These are the Six defensive catagorize. One of these or a combination of them will get our safety first in response to the attack. They are Parry, Evade, Capture/Escape, Shield, Block and First Strike. We have yet to find any defensive motion which does not fit into one or a combination of these catagorize.

We believe the student must understand the possibilities of using each of these and ask them to focus on defending from attacks which happen at least 80% of the time on the street. (We do think 20 % of training time should be spent on things which happen less than 80% of the time but we want to use 80% of our training time on things which occur most often. Like a right hook punch.) Students learn to defend themselves with variations of these six catagorize on nearly every possible attack. They become second nature.

Next we talk about three ranges of combat which are termed Short, Medium and Long. Long being up to six feet from us. Medium being within arms length and Short being within elbow or knee length. When the opponent is within each of these ranges it is the targets on the opponent's body we are talking about. Target is the first choice being the opportunity and the weapon being the chosen option. Therefore target determines the weapon. Once the target is chosen we want to strike the target with all of the effectiveness needed to bring about the chosen result (pain). Effective motion is only available when we have all of the eight essentials of motion in place.

The eight essentials of motion are Technical Knowledge, Awareness, Alertness, Strength, Balance, Speed, Timing and Intent. (notice power is not among them, it is a by-product of them) To use an analogy for explanation we speak about crossing a street. When we walk across a street we must use all of these essentials to be successful.

First we must know something of the theory of crossing the street and perhaps have practiced it with a teacher to get the knowledge. We must then be alert to the possible occurances of street crossing both good and bad. Then we must have a certain level of strength and balance to stay upright and propel ourselves through the task. Our intention must be to cross the street. Without it we are lost before we begin. We must be aware of the cars and the space between them recognizing our opportunities for a successful crossing and propel ourselves with a proper degree of speed timing our movement for best effect.

Hint: If you are paying attention you will notice some words have a double meaning such as the essentials of speed and balance. Speed being how fast(single point speed) and another being duration between steps (sequential speed). Balance meaning staying upright (equilibrium) and blending of parts like in a recipe (formulating)

There are Beneficial Dimension of the art such as stress management, weight enhancement, attention diversion, judgement, sensitivity, decisiveness, visualization, and situational analysis which assist in providing our maximum effect of motion. These are not explained here. They are more for the advanced student and we can cover them at another time.

Let us go on with our examination of the response to the right hook punch. The Suey Bing Fa response begins with a block, chosen from the list of six defensive catagorize. To enhance our balance we step toward 1:30 or 2 o'clock with our right foot as we execute our left extended outward block to the opponent's right arm. Our right hand is slightly in front of us open and covering our centerline from another strike and also positioned to reference the opponent's left hand in case of a punch. Monitoring the opponent's movement we notice a continuation of his aggressiveness when he moves his left hand to punch and we smother it with our right hand. This opens an opportunity for us to strike.

Our opponent had only a short plan and we have thwarted it. He is taking a second or two to think of what to do next and we take advantage of that by kicking with our left foot into the shin of his right leg just above where the foot meets the ankle. It moves fast and is so close to him that it is hidden from his view and he has no time to react to it (dealing with a blind man). Our foot moves right back to where it started.

Next we use the fraction of a second when he glances at his right ankle in pain to strike. Moving from where our right hand is checking his left hand we strike with a weapon, a right punch, and get a reaction we call a "purchase". The target is his philtrum and tip of his nose. We cause him pain, water the eyes and if we did a good strike blood is spurting out of his nose very well. What we have purchased is time to think and adjust our plan. We have also made him less aware of us and more aware of himself. This might be enough to change his mind. We are working to remove his essentials of movement we started with his awareness. He has difficulty seeing us now.

His head went back and his hands are moving to his face. We move in a circular fashion clockwise with our right hand from his face striking his left hand at the wrist which clears his hand away from us and continue circling downward to a right ridge hand to his groin. If needed we step drag toward him to insure the range of the strike is effective. The confrontation might stop here. We know his thinking by what he does next. He bends forward and puts his legs together but appears to be still involved in fighting as he moves toward us. We have removed his ability to balance and changed his intent to focus on himself.

We execute a right inward elbow to his maxilla (upper jaw) just under the earlier strike. Next we loop our right hand behind his neck pulling him forward into a right knee lift to his diaphragm. If he still hasn't hit the ground we drop on his back in the muscular channel between the spine and the scapula (shoulder blade). with a right downward elbow and push him away from us with another knee lift to his right floating rib. His strength is seriously weakened by the damage to his breathing and possible broken ribs. His intent has been assaulted. We have slowed his timing and once again affected his awareness. It is doubtful we will see much effective motion coming from him.

The elements of the response sound just like those of a technique. The difference is that we only did these things because they fit the situation. They came out of our head as we needed them and in no specific order. Given a similar situation and some change of the opponent's body position we might change entirely the order and type of weapons used.

The movements were all done by moving from where our last movement stopped to the delivery of the next weapon.(no cocking) We kept the sequence moving but paused slightly to allow the opponent to absorb the blow and for us to monitor their condition. We analyzed the situation and selected the above for a response. We visualized the confrontation and responded accordingly. Next time we can do it with a real person.

"So where is the water and ice?", you ask. The interesting thing about water, ice and steam is that they are different forms of the same thing and not different things. Such is the way of motion. It can be solid, especially at the time of impact of a weapon. It can also be very fluid and quick during a movement. This enhances the blow by providing explosive single point speed in the motion and when the movement ices during the blow it provides ridged impact of a sledge hammer. I am sure you can visualize this type of motion. Blindly fast with fluidity but very hard penetrating the target with maximum force.

We work hard not to rush the sequence. We allow the force from our blows to transmit to the opponent. Maximum Force gaining our objectives rather than multiple objectives sloppily done but overwhelming by the shear number. We believe each weapon deserves 100% of our attention. This is the style of Kenpo we call the way of water and ice, Suey Bing Fa.