Umm i know i probably should have just made two threads but this could also be an interesting experiment. if it is uneasy i'll make a second thread to avoid confusion. 1st question, is there a difference between kenpo and karate, I understand this could be a subjective question but i'm just trying to understand the difference 2nd question, when you execute side kicks, in combat how are you supposed to position your hands should be like how you position them during a kata or it's a whole different positioning.
1. "Kenpo" ("fist laws") is a very generic term referring to any Asian-styled kickboxing art. The system of kenpo available in your area may be a form of karate, or something unrelated. 2. Ask your instructor. Here on this forum we likely can only guess which kata you're referring to, what that kata is attempting to teach or the movement in it was intended to represent, or where your opponent in "combat" most presents a threat.
It depends on whether you are using your hand - during your kick (such as to pull your opponent into your kick, block/deflect your opponent's punch or kick). - after your kick (such as to use your kick to set up your punch).
In taekwon do the positions of the hands are always the same in my patterns. umm basically the position i'm talking about at the moment is putting out your hand parallel to the leg your using in a form of a punch like this: http://www.tae-kwon-doe.com/wp-content/uploads/taekwondo-kicks-ranks-school.jpg
I know my instructor say's that it's for balance of your kick but i find that there are different ways of balancing yourself when you kick was wondering whether as a tkd student i should follow it even if it's kind of uncomfortable to do in a fight.
Your hands position is more than just "balance". It also depends on how your opponent may block your side kick. When you throw a left side kick, if your opponent uses his - right arm to block it, he will spin your body to your left. A right palm strike on his head will be a nice follow on. - left arm to block it, he will spin your body to your right, a right spin back fist to his head will be a nice follow on. When you throw your left side kick, your right hand should be at the right place and ready to strike out. Of course your opponent may attack you and you have to use your arms to cover your body.
This is a question that's better answered in the Tae Kwon Do or Karate forums. However, I'll give it a shot here. AFAIK, that isn't a "hand position" but rather a holdover from Shotokan Karate's modification to the forms. What was once a mid-level side-hammer or mid-section block and front kick from a cat stance in Shorin Ryu was modified to a simultaneous high side-hammer strike and high side kick in Shotokan in order to make practices more athletic. Regrettably, I haven't any source to verify that, so I could be entirely wrong on this. Here's a comparison. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWq02fQB008"]Okinawa shorin ryu Pinan yondan by Saikawa Yasuyuki - YouTube[/ame] [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrAiTCcatbY"]Heian Yondan - Shotokan Karate - YouTube[/ame] You see it in Taekwondo because Shotokan-derivative styles use the Shotokan variant of the technique. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJCOu4BNpoE"]Pyung Ahn Sah Dan - YouTube[/ame] [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_NqE_22ENM"]Kyokushin Pinan Kata Sono Yon (4) - YouTube[/ame]
