In many
systems of the martial arts there are drills that are used to increase the
proficiency and spontaneity of its practitioners. The counter point drills that
Mr. Whitson presents on these tapes are based on his thesis for American Kenpo 5th
Black in 1998. I’ve personally had a chance to methodically work through all
of the technique drills with a training partner and I feel that they do have
value within the system. The old saying of “flow first…” is re-enforced
with the opportunity for the practitioner to trade offensive movements and
counters with a training partner. One argument that has been made is that the
same result can be accomplished through the use of Filipino drills such as hubud/lubud.
With Mr. Whitson’s extensive knowledge of the Filipino arts there is no doubt
that this experience help to shape his development of these drills. The reality
however is that these drills are based on Kenpo techniques and the counters
allow the person that would normally be the “stone statue” to participate in
the flow of a relative work drill. I would recommend this tape for anyone who
has a training partner and is interested in increasing his or her flow and
understanding of counter offensive motion.
"KENPO
COUNTERPOINT" the Video...Professionally
filmed and edited by Ed Parker, Jr., this high-quality videotape presents 16
individual Counterpoint drills for the following Kenpo techniques:
Raining
Claw, Shielding
Hammer, Five
Swords, Snapping
Twig, The
sleeper
Taming the mace,
Thundering Hammers,
Circling Destruction,
Entangled Wing,
Crossing Talon,
Leaping Crane, Deflecting
Hammer, Cross
of Death (Extension), Obscure
Claws, Raining
Claw (Extension), Retreating
Pendulum
Mr. Whitson
explains each drill in detail, with continuous, slow-speed repetition. Each
drill is shown from several camera angles to ensure complete comprehension.
Students are encouraged to train with the video, and, as their skills improve,
devise their own countermoves. Kenpo Counterpoint should not be viewed as a
fixed set of drills, but rather as a training method designed to develop fluid,
spontaneous action that can be applied to the entire Kenpo system.