Five Animal Kenpo

What is Five Animal Kenpo Karate?

Kenpo is a martial art with origins that can be historically traced back to the Shaolin Temple. While often referred to as "Karate,” many Kenpo movements retain similarities with those seen in Chinese styles of Kung fu. There are many styles of Kenpo, each with their own perspective on combat; however, most Kenpo styles utilize continuous flows of strikes designed to control the attacking intentions of an aggressor.

Kenpo is primarily a striking art. Through the course of their training, a Kenpo student will learn how to effectively strike with punches, kicks, knees, elbows, and a variety of other natural weapons. A student will also learn about timing, positioning, and leverage, allowing the student to use an assortment of sweeps, takedowns, throws, controls and locks that can either immobilize an opponent or use his own momentum against himself.

Our Kenpo is guided by the Five Animal Fighting Theory. This comprehensive fighting theory separates all of fighting into five distinct strategies, each represented by an animal. Each of these “animals” have strengths and weakness in combat that can be used or exploited. Understanding the Five Animal Fighting Theory allows the student to analyze an opponent’s actions and choose an appropriate strategy that will naturally defeat him.

The Benefits of the Five Animal Fighting Style

Most martial arts schools focus on a single type of fighting style they feel is best for fighting or self-defense. The Five Animal approach to martial arts is different. The Five Animal Fighting Theory teaches that there is no single “best” fighting style. The best way to defend one’s self is to be proficient in as many areas as possible and to be able to seamlessly switch tactics if the situation calls for it.

Training in the Five Animal method allows our students to develop a wide diversity of skills, the knowledge of how to use those skills together effectively, and the strategic background to choose the most effective approach. By offering a well-rounded curriculum and a safe, supportive training environment, we empower our students to find their own unique fighting style. Rather than try to force our students into all the same mold, we work with them as individuals and help them find what works best for them.

The goal of Kenpo is to avoid conflict whenever possible. The training drills and techniques used at our school are designed to teach a student how to deal with an attacker until a safe escape is possible. Our training includes defenses against a variety of locks, holds, strikes, and weapon attacks. Multiple approaches are presented for each scenario, allowing the student to choose the defense that best suits them and their own personal fighting style. Proper focus on basic fundamentals and connecting principles ensures students have the ability to successfully defend themselves if presented with a situation not specifically covered inside the dojo.

Training in Kenpo provides much more than a method of self-defense. While training the physical skills needed for self-defense, students develop emotional fortitude and character. Kenpo training becomes a method of instilling the qualities of wisdom, confidence, integrity, respect, and humility, as well as, providing an avenue for artistic expression and kinetic exploration. At its heart, Kenpo is a fusion of mind, body, and sprit that provides the student a path to develop their true human potential.

The Five Animal Fighting Theory

The basis of the Five Animal Fighting Theory is that there is no one supreme form or style of combat. The theory divides combat strategy into five different categories and assigns an animal to act as a metaphor for each one. The structure is similar to the game "Rock, Scissors, Paper." Each strategy/animal has inherent strengths over another as well as limitations when facing a particular strategy/animal. Only through training in each of these animal techniques can one hope to become a complete martial artist.

Dragon

Dragon is a defensive strategy that involves evading and yielding to committed force rather than confronting it. When faced with an aggressive attack, Dragon strategy uses footwork to flow around the attack and use the attacker’s momentum against himself, thus giving the defender the opportunity to either escape or counter. At its core, Dragon strategy is all about timing, knowing when to fight, and when to get out of the way. Dragon strategy is most effective against an opponent using Tiger.

Snake

Snake strategy uses the focused application of force to either subdue, control, or incapacitate an attacker. A key concept of the Snake is pressure, which is defined a force divided by area. When employing Snake strategy the defender focuses his efforts on the smallest area possible, thus making the most use of his available force. The controlling aspect of Snake makes it ideally suited to defeat Leopard.

Tiger

Tiger is an offensive strategy that deals with using committed force and structural alignment to attack with maximum power. By learning to use their whole body as a single unit, students exposed to Tiger are able to generate the most power possible. Tiger strategy is very effective when an opponent is trying to maintain distance using Crane.

Leopard

Leopard strategy uses speed and angulation to confuse and overwhelm an opponent. Leopard strategy uses rapid fire striking combinations to attack multiple targets from every conceivable angle. The result is an opponent who doesn’t know where to defend and is always open to attack. Training in Leopard strategy involves developing speed and agility. Because Leopard never commits on any one action, it is very useful against someone using Dragon.

Crane

Crane is a defensive strategy that deals with creating and maintaining distance from an opponent. This can involve using long range striking to keep an attacker away, short range strikes like knees and elbows to drive an attacker back, or creating space while grappling in order to set up a reversal or counter attack. Effective use of Crane requires the development of balance. The Crane’s focus on creating and maintaining distance makes it a powerful counter to Snake.