The first rule of American Kenpo is one everyone should know !
You must Establish a Base in order for your blocks, kicks or strikes to be effective. You must be rooted in order for your technique to work.This is the first rule of Kenpo.
Travel is the distance your striking limb moves before it hits a target. The amount of travel needed varies with each individual. A heavyweight fighter would not need as much travel as a middle weight to get the job done, so it depends on the physical size of the person.
Proper Timing is required to generate power, so if your timing is off, your power is too. Both the hands and feet must work in sync with each other or your power is dissipated. Kenpo practitioners must learn not to go as fast as possible but to slow down and wait for the reaction of the opponent to time their next strike.
Their is some types of Footwork to be avoided when fighting. The V or L step should be avoided when moving away from an opponent because they do not cause him to change his focus point until the second angle occurs. When moving forward toward the opponent , you can V in or L step to close your centerline and pick your line of entry.
Margin - for - Error in simple terms means if you attack with a punch and the opponent fades back you attack with a kick, thus giving yourself a second opportunity to land a technique. Margin for Error is built into all Kenpo Techniques, if you get past the ideal phase and look for the what ifs? Change up position also allow you to compensate for intentional and /or unintentional reactions by the opponent.
Economy of Motion : Every time you block , you cock your hand to strike, one motion doing two things! For example , in Sword of Destruction when you use the extended outward block ,your hand is already cocked for the inward chop, no further cocking is required if you have to move your position your wasting motion if nothing was accomplished with the movement.
Block Placement refers to the proper position of blocks on your opponents arm when you make contact. When you block on the outside of the arm, you must block at or above the elbow. When blocking on the inside of the arm you must block at the wrist .If you block to low on the outside of the arm , the opponent can fold the arm and possibly strike you with the elbow. When you block below the elbow on the inside of the arm, you not only eliminate his chance to use the elbow against you but you create enough distance to convert the block into a follow up strike.
Keep Your Hands Above Your Opponents Hands : If your hands are above the opponents, as the saying goes "you have the upper hand '"and can react much quicker to your opponents attack. It's giving you a head start on him.
Don't get in your own way: Always use a neutral stance. This way you won't have to go around your own hips to execute a technique, and your weapons are already facing the opponent. If your in a side horse stance, this cancels your back up weapons again because you have to go around.