Empi
Empi (or Enpi) is a traditional Shotokan form, but was adopted by some Shaolin Kempo schools, most commonly the MSDC chain.
Begin with feet together and hands down at your sides facing 12 o’clock. Bow and step your left foot out toward 9 o’clock so that your feet are about shoulder width apart while you thrust both fists downward in front of your hips and kiai. Bring your right foot to your left (about half of the distance) and set up your right hand over left fist to fist at your left hip. Look to your right, step your left foot toward 9 o’clock and pivot 90 degrees from right to left into a left ball stance, pin your left fist to your right shoulder (as if pinning an opponent’s hand) and deliver a right reverse hammer to the groin toward 3 o’clock. [Note: The pivot, pin, and strike occur simultaneously and remember to be looking over your right shoulder toward the attacker.]
Pivot 90 degrees from left to right and stand so that you are now facing 12 o’clock as you bring your right foot to your left (about half shoulder width) and again set up your hands fist over fist at your left hip. Look to your right and step your right foot toward 3 o’clock and pivot from left to right into a bow stance as you set up your left hand straight down toward 3 o’clock and your right fist is up by your left cheek (fist up). Deliver a #7 block (from 8-pt.) toward 3 o’clock as you pull your left fist back to your left hip (fist up).
Pivot 90 degrees from right to left and stand so that you are now facing 12 o’clock as you bring your left foot to your right (about half shoulder width) and set up your hands fist over fist at your right hip. Step your left foot toward 12 o’clock into a bow stance as you set up your right hand straight down and out slightly toward 12 o’clock and your left fist is up by your right cheek (fist up). Deliver a #8 block (from 8-pt.) toward 12 o’clock as you pull your right fist back to your right hip (fist up). Immediately deliver a right rising sun punch toward 12 o’clock and circle the right hand at the wrist to grab the attacker’s shoulder/neck. Pull down with the right hand as you thrust your right knee upward to deliver a driving knee to the attacker’s face/head. Step down with your right foot as your momentum is carrying you toward 12 o’clock and bring your left leg in behind your right so that your left knee is behind your right in a twist stance. As you come to rest in the stance, deliver a right forearm block (#3 block from 8-pt.) simultaneously with a left front two-knuckle punch to the groin (all toward 12 o’clock). Pivot 180 degrees from right to left as you step your left foot toward 6 o’clock into a rear bow stance (your head is turned to the right looking over your right shoulder toward 12 o’clock while your weight is over your left leg at 6 o’clock and your right foot is toward 12 o’clock in a blade formation) and deliver a right reverse hammer to the groin as your left fist pulls back into your left side fist up.
Turn your head to look toward 6 o’clock so that you are in a bow stance toward 6 o’clock. Set up your right hand straight down and out slightly toward 6 o’clock with your left fist is up by your right cheek (fist up). Deliver a #8 block (from 8-pt.) toward 6 o’clock as you pull your right fist back to your right hip (fist up). Immediately deliver a right rising sun punch toward 6 o’clock and circle the right hand at the wrist to grab the attacker’s shoulder/neck. Pull down with the right hand as you thrust your right knee upward to deliver a driving knee to the attacker’s face/head. Step down with your right foot as your momentum is carrying you toward 6 o’clock and bring your left leg in behind your right so that your left knee is behind your right in a twist stance. As you come to rest in the stance, deliver a right forearm block (#3 block from 8-pt.) simultaneously with a left front two-knuckle punch to the groin (all toward 6 o’clock). Pivot 180 degrees from right to left as you step your left foot toward 12 o’clock into a rear bow stance (your head is turned to the right looking over your right shoulder toward 6 o’clock while your weight is over your left leg at 12 o’clock and your right foot is toward 6 o’clock in a blade formation) and deliver a right reverse hammer to the groin as your left fist pulls back into your left side fist up.
Turn your head to look toward 12 o’clock so that you are in a bow stance toward 12 o’clock. Set up your right hand straight down and out slightly toward 12 o’clock with your left fist is up by your right cheek (fist up). Deliver a left downward block (#8 block from 8-pt.) toward 12 o’clock as you pull your right fist back to your right ribs (fist up).
Open your left hand and circle it counter-clockwise (from your vantage point) until it is perpendicular to the ground with the palm open facing your right (3 o’clock) and fingers pointed upward. From here, circle then entire arm (from the shoulder) counter-clockwise (looking at it from your vantage point) while keeping your biceps/triceps parallel to the ground and the forearm/hand/fingers pointing up. As it circles, you lift your left leg into a quasi-chambered position. Your left (chambered) leg follows this motion up and then they both come down together with your left leg landing you in a horse stance facing 12 o’clock and your left arm off center to your left still in the biceps/triceps parallel to the ground and the forearm/hand/fingers perpendicular). Your right hand remains at your right ribs in a fist facing upward.
Circle your arms counter-clockwise (small circles) and deliver a right leopard forearm strike from right to left into your left open hand. (Note: This is like a #3 block from the 8-point blocking system with your right hand in a leopard’s paw angled out about 45 degrees toward 12 o’clock and the palm up. You catch the strike in your left palm forcefully). As you deliver this strike, your right foot simultaneously comes up and in to your left leg so that your right foot tucks in at the back of your knee and your right leg is up against your left. Circle your left hand down under your right elbow and perform a wipe off as you step your right foot back into a horse stance facing 12 o’clock. As your right foot comes down, the left wipe-off goes into a left knife-hand block and your right fist pulls into your right ribs. Deliver a right-left punch combination.
Pivot your body 90 degrees from right to left into a left foot forward neutral stance toward 9 o’clock. As you pivot, set up with your right hand out in front of you and pointed downward 45 degrees toward 9 o’clock and your left fist up by your right cheek palm up prepared to deliver a left downward block (#8 of 8-point). Deliver the left downward block toward 9 o’clock and follow immediately with a right front two-knuckle punch toward 9 o’clock.
Step your right foot toward 9 o’clock into a right foot forward back stance (weight over bent left leg) and set up your left hand directly out in front of you hand open and palm down with your right hand by your left cheek hand open and palm up toward cheek (as in Heien Nidan). Deliver a right outward knife-hand block as you bring your left hand to your belt with hand open, palm up, and fingers pointed toward your right side. Bring your right foot back to your left and place your left foot out in front of you toward 9 o’clock so that you are now in a left foot forward back stance (weight over your bent right leg). As you are making this transition in your stance, set your hands up with your right hand directly out in front of you hand open and palm down and your left hand up by your right cheek hand open and palm up toward your cheek. Deliver a left outward knife-hand block as your bring your right hand to your belt with the hand open, palm up, and fingers pointed to your left. Immediately shift into a forward stance and deliver a right front two-knuckle punch toward 9 o’clock. Step your right foot toward 9 o’clock into another right foot forward back stance and again set up your hands with your left hand directly out in front of you hand open and palm down with your right hand by your left cheek hand open and palm up toward cheek. Deliver a right outward knife-hand block as you bring your left hand to your belt with hand open, palm up, and fingers pointed toward your right side.
Pivot 180 degrees from right to left into a left foot forward neutral stance facing 3 o’clock. As you pivot, set up with your right hand out in front of you and pointed downward 45 degrees toward 3 o’clock and your left fist up by your right cheek palm up prepared to deliver a left downward block (#8 of 8-point). Deliver a left downward block (#8 block from 8-pt.) toward 3 o’clock as you pull your right fist back to your right hip (fist up). Immediately deliver a right rising sun punch toward 3 o’clock and circle the right hand at the wrist to grab the attacker’s shoulder/neck. Pull down with the right hand as you thrust your right knee upward to deliver a driving knee to the attacker’s face/head. Step down with your right foot as your momentum is carrying you toward 3 o’clock and bring your left leg in behind your right so that your left knee is behind your right in a twist stance. As you come to rest in the stance, deliver a right forearm block (#3 block from 8-pt.) simultaneously with a left front two-knuckle punch to the groin (all toward 3 o’clock). Pivot 180 degrees from right to left as you step your left foot toward 9 o’clock into a rear bow stance (your head is turned to the right looking over your right shoulder toward 3 o’clock while your weight is over your left leg at 9 o’clock and your right foot is toward 3 o’clock in a blade formation) and deliver a right reverse hammer to the groin as your left fist pulls back into your left side fist up.
Turn your head to look toward 9 o’clock so that you are in a bow stance toward 9 o’clock. Set up your right hand down and out slightly in front of you toward 9 o’clock with your left fist is up by your right cheek (fist up). Deliver a left downward block (#8 block from 8-pt.) toward 9 o’clock as you pull your right fist back to your right hip (fist up).
Form both hands into leopard’s paws as you use dynamic tension to circle both hands. Your left hand circles clockwise in front of you and to the right as your right hand circles clockwise at your right side. They intersect at your right side with the left at 3 o’clock on its circle and your left at 9 o’clock at its circle. As they reach this point, your left passes going down between your left forearm and your right ribs with the palm down. The right passes moving upward with the right palm up and slightly higher than the right elbow and it’s pointed out to your right side to 12 o’clock. The left continues down and crosses in front of your belt until it comes to rest at your left ribs (still in leopard’s paw form with the palm up). The right continues to move outward and up until it reaches about shoulder height and then it simply extends out (the elbow remains bent and slightly lower than the palm) with the palm upward in a leopard’s paw. You are in a left half-moon stance facing 9 o’clock with your left leopard’s paw at your left ribs and your right hand out toward 12 o’clock with the palm up. Note: This entire sequence is using dynamic tension/breathing.
Step your right foot up on the ball of your foot so that it is about 12 inches behind your left foot and to the right about shoulder width apart. The right toes are pointed inward toward your left foot and the right heel is pointing upward and toward your right (12 o’clock). As you step up, circle your right hand clockwise downward behind your right hip as if delivering a circular ridge hand block at your right side (your hands remain in leopard’s paws and your right knuckles angel downward with your palm outward (facing the same direction as your right hip/butt-cheek). As it passes your right hip, you pivot your right leg and your upper body so that you come to rest in a right half-moon stance facing 12 o’clock. As your body pivots, your left hand drops down at your left side and travels in a small clockwise pattern at your left side passing your right forearm in front of your solar plexus at your right elbow/biceps as it did in the previous sequence. Your right arm travels upward directly in front of you toward 12 o’clock. (Note: This move resembles a trapping break where your arms travel toward each other with one extended out further than the other essentially snapping an attacker’s punch at the wrist and elbow joints. The only difference is that this move is done slowly with dynamic tension and the hands are formed into leopard’s paws and the trap is vertical rather than the typical horizontal.) Your left hand finishes down in front of you slightly lower than your belt and your right hand finishes directly out in front of you toward 12 o’clock about the height of your chin.
Immediately, step your left foot forward toward 12 o’clock with the toes pointed back toward you (your left hip is turned in to your right and your upper body is turned 90 degrees to the right facing 3 o’clock) as you drop your left hand behind your left hip (still in a leopard’s paw). Your right arm is still out in front of you (toward 3 o’clock due to the upper body pivot) with the palm of your right hand still up and in a leopard’s paw. Pivot your left foot (and upper body) to the left so that you end in a left half-moon stance facing 12 o’clock. As your body pivots, your right hand travels in a small clockwise pattern at your right side passing your left forearm in front of your solar plexus at your left elbow/biceps exactly the opposite of what happened in the previous sequence. Your left arm travels upward in a semi-circular pattern (counter-clockwise) directly in front of you toward 12 o’clock. (Note: This move resembles a trapping break where your arms travel toward each other with one extended out further than the other essentially snapping an attacker’s punch at the wrist and elbow joints. The only difference is that this move is done slowly with dynamic tension and the hands are formed into leopard’s paws and the trap is vertical rather than the typical horizontal.) Your right hand finishes down in front of you slightly lower than your belt and your left hand finishes directly out in front of you toward 12 o’clock about the height of your chin.
Immediately, step your right foot forward toward 12 o’clock with the toes pointed back toward you (your right hip is turned in to your left and your upper body is turned 90 degrees to the left facing 9 o’clock) as you drop your right hand behind your right hip (still in a leopard’s paw). Your left arm is still out in front of you (toward 9 o’clock due to the upper body pivot) with the palm of your left hand still up and in a leopard’s paw. Pivot your right foot (and upper body) to the right so that you end in a right half-moon stance facing 12 o’clock. As your body pivots, your left hand travels in a small clockwise pattern at your left side passing your right forearm in front of your solar plexus at your right elbow/biceps exactly the opposite of what happened in the previous sequence. Your right arm travels upward in a semi-circular pattern (clockwise) directly in front of you toward 12 o’clock. (Note: This move resembles a trapping break where your arms travel toward each other with one extended out further than the other essentially snapping an attacker’s punch at the wrist and elbow joints. The only difference is that this move is done slowly with dynamic tension and the hands are formed into leopard’s paws and the trap is vertical rather than the typical horizontal.) Your left hand finishes down in front of you slightly lower than your belt and your right hand finishes directly out in front of you toward 12 o’clock about the height of your chin.
Shift your weight back over your rear leg (your left leg) into a right back stance and deliver a right downward forearm block (#7 block from 8-point blocking) toward 12 o’clock as you pull your left fist into your left ribs fist closed and palm up. Immediately shift your weight forward into a right front stance toward 12 o’clock and deliver double tiger claw strikes toward 12 o’clock with the left hand high and right hand low. Grab the attacker with the tiger claw strikes and pivot/shift to a horse stance facing 9 o’clock as the tiger claws go up over your head as if holding the attacker above you. Continue the pivot/shift into a left forward stance facing 7 o’clock and execute a throw of the attacker toward 7 o’clock.
Step your left foot forward toward 6 o’clock and leap/spin 180 degrees from right to left to land in a right foot forward back stance (weight over a bent left leg) toward 12 o’clock (land with your left foot toward 6 o’clock and your right toward 12 o’clock and your upper body facing 12 o’clock). When you land, set up your left hand directly out in front of you hand open and palm down with your right hand by your left cheek hand open and palm up toward cheek (as in Heien Nidan). Deliver a right outward knife-hand block as you bring your left hand to your belt with hand open, palm up, and fingers pointed toward your right side. Step your right foot back toward 6 o’clock so that you are now in a left foot forward back stance (weight over your bent right leg). As you are stepping back, set your hands up with your right hand directly out in front of you hand open and palm down and your left hand up by your right cheek hand open and palm up toward your cheek. Deliver a left outward knife-hand block as your bring your right hand to your belt with the hand open, palm up, and fingers pointed to your left. Immediately bring your left foot back to your right so that your feet are about shoulder width apart and thrust both fists downward in front of your hips and kiai as in the opening salutation. Bring your left foot to your right, place your hands on your thighs (palms open), and bow.
