Slide in Roundhouse Kick with Toe While wearing Shoes

This is very similar to yesterday’s kick. It goes to the am targets; side of the leg, side of the body or into the groin against a side facing attacker.

The main difference is that the kicker starts off in a Leading Horse Stance. The kick is also more horizontal to the ground that yesterday’s.

Without prejudice

Slide in Offset Kick with the Toe While Wearing Shoes

This is similar to an offset kick with the top of the foot.

Kicking with the toe of the hard soled shoe (in this case a runner) has both advantages and disadvantages. Both ways should be practiced so that confidence in kicking is developed whether shoes are worn or not.

A shoe both protects the foot and makes for a more powerful kick.

It also adds weight and can significantly slow the kick down.

Without prejudice

Slide in Front Thrust Kick with the Toe While Wearing Shoes

This kick is done while wearing shoes. That makes the way the kick feels very different from when the same kick is done with bare feet. The weight of the shoe and the way the shoe holds the foot contribute to this difference.

The foot must be formed correctly and held firm or there is a risk of injury to the kicker.

The toe of the shoe is what makes contact with the target.

Without prejudice

Two Man Prearranged Drill Lead Angled Block and Rear Counter Punch

This week Rick and I are practicing some very basic defense combinations against simple single punches.

Today we are defending against a looping lead jab to the side of the body.

This block can either deflect the punch down or one can ‘catch’ it by slamming their palm heel into the attacker’s forearm.

Without prejudice

Two Man Prearranged Drill Lead Crossdownward Block and Rear Counter Punch

This week Rick and I are practicing some very basic defense combinations against simple single punches.

Today we are defending against a straight lead jab to the body.

It doesn’t take much to make an attack miss and the block in this case simply deflects the punch straight down.

Without prejudice

Two Man Prearranged Drill Lead Mantis Block and Rear Counter Punch

This week Rick and I are practicing some very basic defense combinations against simple single punches.

Today we are defending against a straight rear punch to the body.

Kisae Kempo uses something called ‘Zone Defense’. There are many arts that use this concept. The basic idea is to divide the body into ‘Zones’ and have specific ways to ‘Defend’ these ‘Zones’. Even when Rick uses the other hand to attack my body, I’m easily able to block it.

It can take years for anyone to develop confidence in being able to damage an attacker with a light quick punch. Yet it is the light quick punch which is likely to be the one that lands with the most effect. These defenses are designed specifically against light quick punches.

Without prejudice

Two Man Prearranged Drill Lead Outside Palm Block and Rear Counter Punch

This week Rick and I are practicing some very basic defense combinations against simple single punches.

Today we are defending against a straight lead jab to the face.

Kisae Kempo uses something called ‘Zone Defense’. There are many arts that use this concept. The basic idea is to divide the body into ‘Zones’ and have specific ways to ‘Defend’ these ‘Zones’. Even when Rick unexpectedly uses the other hand to attack my face, I’m easily able to block it. ‘Zone Defense’…


Without prejudice

Two Man Prearranged Drill Lead Inside Hooking Block and Rear Counter Punch

This week Rick and I are practicing some very basic defense combinations against simple single punches.

Today we are defending against a straight right punch to the face.

Once again, the defender uses the block to both defend against the attack and interrupt the flow of the opponents attack. This interruption gives the defender an opportunity to counter punch.

Without prejudice

Two Man Prearranged Drill Lead Rising Block and Rear Counter Punch

This week Rick and I are practicing some very basic defense combinations against simple single punches.

Today we are defending against an overhand right punch.

The defender uses the rising block to both defend against the attack and interrupt the flow of the opponents attack. This interruption gives the defender an opportunity to counter punch.

This is basic drill thus no follow-ups are demonstrated here.

Without prejudice

Sticky Hands with Rick 2

By going slow and light, awareness and proper technique are developed.

Without Prejudice

Sticky Hands with Rick 1

This is a Basic Sticky Hands Drill. Done at this level, there is no stepping and contact to the face is non existent.

Without prejudice

Slide in Side Heel Kick to the Pad

This kick is usually targeted to the groin or lower torso.

Without prejudice

Slide in Roundhouse Kick with the top of the Foot to the Pad

Yesterday’s kick went to the outside of the thigh on a forward facing attacker. Today’s kick goes well against the upper inner thigh of a forward facing attacker.

Without prejudice

Slide in Offset Kick with the top of the Foot to the Pad

The outside of the thigh is a good target for this kick.

Without prejudice

Slide in front Snap Kick with Top of Foot to Pad

Today Rick is practicing a front snap kick with the top of the foot. Usually the groin is the target for this attack.

Without prejudice

Slide in Rear Hand Fist Thrust Low

This time Rick practices the rear forefist thrust to the solar plexus.

Without prejudice

Slide in Rear Hand Thrust Mid Height

Very similar to yesterday’s strike, this one is to the sternum instead of the head.

Without prejudice

Slide in Rear Hand Punch High

The first power punch taught in Kisae. This is a strong move designed to cause considerable damage. It is used primarily as a follow-up. It isn’t the only follow-up but if it lands, it is usually all that is needed.

Without prejudice

Slide in Lead Jab Low

This is a basic straight line attack to the solar plexus. Once again it is both a great attack in its own right and it forces an attacker to defend against it (leaving them open to various follow-ups).

Without prejudice

Slide in Lead Jab Mid Height

This strike forces an attacker to either lower his hands or eat the strike to the sternum. It is also a good way to stop someone from closing too quickley.

Without prejudice

Slide in Lead Jab High

I would like to thank Rick once again for assisting me in this series of vids.

This week I’m having him concentrate on shuffling forward to execute the straight forefist thrust. The first three days will be on the jab and the last three days will be on the rear hand.

The jab is an excellent weapon in its own right. It is also a great way to keep an attacker occupied as one closes the gap.

Without prejudice

Freesparring with Rick Day 6

I find that developing and maintaining the willingness to strike someone without drama or flair is still a time consuming activity.

I feel a clutch in my gut every time I evade or block an attack that is real and not merely demonstrated.


As for hitting:

I had a teacher who punched to hit every time he practiced. He would control the strike before it landed thus he did not run out of sparring partners.

One day, he started a backfist, was startled at that precise moment and did not control it.

He knocked his partner to the ground.

I practice striking to hit every time I train (regardless of speed).

Without prejudice

Freesparring with Rick Day 5

Going at a pace that one can feel control is very important in Kisae. There is a old saying about how ‘slow is smooth and smooth is fast’. That would definitely apply here.

Limited as this drill is, it does have real goals and one of them is to continue even when I’m tired, frustrated and it would be easy to quit. Continuous freesparring has taught me to keep going.

Never quit…Ever!

Without prejudice

Freesparring with Rick Day 4

At one point today, I comment to Rick that he should be, “Punching to hit!”

I emphasis it a couple of times and in a couple of different ways but the idea is this; punching to hit and controlling the strike is a different activity than demonstrating that one can execute a punch nearby.

The first is an empowering move the second is not.

Without prejudice

Freesparring with Rick Day 3

Sometimes I notice that there is a tendency on the part of my students to wait for that ‘perfect’ moment to launch an attack.

When teaching, I will sometimes drop my hands to my side. This is supposed to be a signal that a partner who is close to me and with his hands in guard, should be able to land strikes upon me at will.

Often the theory is easier to understand than to utilize.

Without prejudice

Freesparring with Rick Day 2

Two of the hardest lessons I ever had to learn were to be willing to hit and to be willing to be hit yet still keep going. I find that before any other lessons can be learned, these two must be down correctly and often.

I find it is all too easy to get into the bad habit of concentrating on ‘winning’ or ‘losing’ a freesparring bout.

This exercise is necessary for several other reasons. I can place an emphasis on maintaining a certain distance. I can also practice on how to close the gap. Circling and the like can all be done during a freesparring exercise.

Speeding up and slowing down the pace are ways to introduce new techniques, tactics and concepts.

Without prejudice

Freesparring with Rick Day 1

This week Rick and I are practicing some light and easy free sparring.

I'd like to thank Rick for his assistance in the filming of this weeks vids.


For me, the practice of free sparring helps emphasize the importance of how unpredictable a violent encounter is. Nothing is cut and dried.


Without Prejudice