Grapple Control Mechanism

By Professor Ryan Angell

Originally posted on the KenpoTalk Forum at: http://bit.ly/elJNuf

I think the Grapple Control Mechanism (GCM) most people are familiar within is the Braced Index, which is typically used to defend against an attacker trying to encircle you with his arms (front bear hug). The GCM must be accompanied with other Alignment Mechanisms to be most affective. If you use properly executed Body Alignment Mechanism (BAM, usually used to align the Upper Platform) and Platform Alignement Mechanisms (PAM, used to align the Lower Platform) along with a properly executed Thrusting Index resulting in a Braced Index you will have achieved what is referred to in SubLevel Kenpo as the Statue Principle.

However, a GCM is just that, a mechanism that controls your attacker's ability to grapple you. Through Psychology of Confrontation Theory and Reading and Reacting to Martial Posture you may end up using several different GCMs throughout the course of a self defense technique. A specifically executed strike, to a specific target can result in your attacker being forced into a Negative Martial Posture resulting in momentary control of your attackers ability to grapple … hence GCM.

It is our goal in SubLevel Kenpo (as I am sure with other Martial Sciences) to control the space while engaged with an attacker … at all times. No moment is left unaccounted for. Every single body part is allocated to a specific task/function.

It seemed like a lot of posters were familiar with SubLevel Kenpo. I hope I didn't ramble on too much with too many SLK centric terms.

These are not the SubLevel Kenpo definitions for these terms, merely a brief description to give deeper understanding to this post…

Lower Platform – below the waist

Upper Platform – above the waist

Statue Principle – when the lower and upper platforms are aligned with one another making the entire body virtually immovable 

Additionally, you also have the problems that occur when one student mimics another. If you ask most martial arts instructors they will tell you that every so often they’ll look up at their students and they’re all doing a technique in a way that they (the instructor) never taught. The instructor will stop the whole class and ask where they all learned to do that particular technique that particular way and they will all swear the instructor taught them. What happens is one student has an incorrect observation or interpretation of something he/she saw the instructor do and now other students are now mimicking that student.

Alternatively, SubLevel Kenpo offers a different approach to the teaching process of the Martial Sciences called Body Index Training, or BIT Training. This type of training utilizes very specific, bio-mechanically sound, physical movements called Indexes. For example, when a student is first being taught an inward block they are taught to stand in a proper right neutral bow (that they have already been taught using BIT Training) facing 12:00. The student is then taught to execute a series of Progressive Index Movements, which are an Outward Downward Index, followed by a Lateral Wrist Index, followed by a Lateral Upward Index, which then puts them in position to thrust their forearm, at a 45-degree angle, as a Geometrical Path towards 10:30.

Using the very specific movements of BIT Training forces a student to learn the exact method and manner of execution of the SubLevel Kenpo curriculum. This type of training leaves little, if any, room for misunderstandings or incorrect interpretations of the curriculum. BIT Training also produces a high level of consistency in the material that spans the entire student body. One of the first things you may notice of the students within a school that utilizes BIT Training is that from beginner to the most advanced students they all have the exact same basic execution of basic material. However, as we all know, there is no such thing as material that is only “basic” – only a basic understanding. So, as students progress in their SubLevel Kenpo training, their understanding, and therefore their execution progresses as well. They learn more sophisticated indexes that increase the proficiency of their execution.

When the body achieves correct biomechanical structure organ systems function more properly, blood (and chi) flows more smoothly, the nervous system functions optimally, and emotional balance can be restored. Proper biomechanics are the cornerstone of yoga, tai chi/chi gong, chiropractics and osteopathy.

Dynamic: pertaining to or characterized by energy or effective action; vigorously active or forceful; energetic (www.dictinary.com)
Isometric Exercise: exercise or a program of exercises to strengthen specific muscles or shape the figure by pitting one muscle or part of the body against another or against an immovable object in a strong but motionless action, as by pressing the fist of one hand against the palm of the other or against a desk. (www.dictinary.com)

A seeming contradiction in terms, Dynamic Isometrics is the implementation of tension and/or resistance by placing the hands on specific parts of the body during a physical movement to achieve positive biomechanical structure.

The positive structure generated by Dynamic Isometrics has its place within the martial science system of SubLevel Kenpo, however when taken out as a stand-alone component the healing aspects are revealed. In a Dynamic Isometric Form (or Kata) opposing resistance is placed on every movement and the focus and objective is switched from martial application to promoting regeneration.