Funny enough, sparring is very different from what you would call a "real life scenario." To be honest, from my experience techniques will often work in a real-life scenario somewhat better than in sparring. That being said, if they don't work in sparring you obviously don't know them well enough!
From my point of view, techniques and their principles should work in all situations - just with a little bit of modification depending on what exactly is happening at the time.
From what I have seen of most American Kenpo sparring (primarily on Youtube - the font of all wisdom), there is very little "kenpo" in the sparring that I have seen. It looks basically like a sloppy version of Tae Kwon Do, Karate, Kickboxing, or any of a variety of martial arts.
That being said, I've also seen it put into use with devastating effect in sparring - though with some definite "modification." And it is devastating. So much so that I am determined to learn how to do it myself in any situation.
Here are the problems with most techniques I've ever seen taught (in any martial art - karate, kenpo, tae kwon do, etc.):
1) They assume you can move further than you can, or faster than you can.
The missing ingredient is proper prediction. If you need to step at the same time as a punch is coming in, the only thing you're probably going to do is step back, right into more punches.
The thing is Attacks Come In FAST.
You can usually punch a couple of times before someone can step - unless they're thoroughly drilled.
That being said, people can duck quickly - and will do so instinctively, drawing their heads back, or bobbing and weaving. This is something that boxers do with great effectiveness.
You can of course time your step-back so you miss the pinch, and then counter-attack successfully. This is a very effective form of technique, and is used both with punching and kicking.
The point about this one may not be that it's faster than you can step, but you don't see the attack coming in properly, and so you don't know where to step, can't stop the hands or feet coming in at you, and so simply step back, get hit or manage to block it, and end up trading punch for punch.
This is not a very skilled way of fighting - trying to go blow for blow is clearly not the concept of Martial Arts.
2) They don't factor in the opponent's next move.
Sometimes this is true, sometimes not. The techniques I have been taught in Kenpo are all predicated on an "Ideal" basis. So ideally they attack in a certain way, and then you block, and when they react from that impact you do another strike. But it doesn't give you any drills to deal with them potentially blocking some of your attacks, or continuing to attack you anyway.
This is why boxing and its similar arts such as muay thai and kickboxing are so effective and widely used - they give you methods of attacking. So you drill how to attack over and over again, and eventually you can batter your opponent down. It works in the thick of fighting when everything is a blur.
But it's still not the ideal sort of martial art.
3) The Drills Aren't Simple Enough
There's an old saying which goes something like, "Even the best plans only last until the first shot is fired."
Complexities are completely lost in fighting. They're too hard to remember, unless they're drilled over and over again.
And it's much easier to drill a simple series of actions than a complex series. That's why people who've had a few lessons of karate remember to punch straight when they're in a real fight - they've drilled that simple punch a thousand times. And it will be pretty damned effective.
To learn the martial art, you've got to start with basics, and drill them over and over again.
Remember these are only my own observations, and points that I am trying to see if I can improve or change - and they're things I've observed about my own sparring, as well as others'. So it's not a criticism - it's something I want to improve about my own fighting.
Practical Kenpo Techniques
By that I don't mean that Kenpo techniques aren't practical - because they are. But just not for every situation. They're rather rote. It's a very set attack, and your response is very set
So how do we learn to mix it up in sparring, or apply it at speed to changing situations?
Simple. We take really basic moves and principles, and then work out how to apply these faster and faster under pressure. Drill, drill, drill.
The missing ingredient is simple that: DRILL IT.
Boxers drill their moves over and over again. They're covered in sweat and gasping for breath... and then they come back and do it again. Why? Because it's bloody hard to put into practice! And you need to train your body to react without thinking about it.
The Attacking Mace Drill
I have based this drill off the Kenpo technique "Attacking Mace," which is very well demonstrated in the above video by Casa De Kenpo.
There's one difference: they're stepping back. I want to drill stepping forward (but on an angle).
Let's take a look at this Kenpo Universal Pattern again.
If you look closely, you'll see there are eight main lines branching out from the centre.
These and some of the basic lines of attack.
Imagine you're in the centre, and someone attacks you - they're probably coming down the centre line, throwing some sort of straight punch. It might be a jab, or a cross, or even a looping punch - either way it's essentially coming down that centre line at you.
If you step back, in all likelihood you may get away from the attack, but you're still going to be in danger.
This is your basic instinct.
Further, if you step back, block, then punch, you've got a lot of distance between you and your opponent. If he's any good, he may just block your counter attack - and then you're in trouble!
So why not try this? Step out on one of those 45 degree diagonal lines. This will also get you off that line of attack (though it's much more gutsy - because you may just end up copping a hit to the face full-on).
I.e. he throws the punch, and you do a bit of a boxer's weave (protect your head), block the punch (go for the elbow, it gives you greater control) and shuffle or step forwards on a 45 degree angle.
Then throw your counter-punch. If you've pulled it off you'll end up quite close to him, and it will lend your punch much greater power.
After that you could do any of a multitude of attacks. You could check his arm down with your blocking hand and deliver a backfist with the punching hand. Or whatever.
The Drill
Okay so the drill is actually really simple. Have a partner throw that punch. He can step or not, as he chooses. You can have block and shuffle up a bit, getting slightly off that line of attack and delivering a hit. Remember, this is not a step. You can of course step if you want, but you probably won't have time. Just do a slight hop forward on an angle. Watch how boxers move - you want that same little shuffle-up move. It's fast, and very effective.
Then get a bit more challenging. Have your partner throw a series of jabs and then throw a punch. You've got to block the jabs and then still perform the Drill on that punch.
Do it over and over again.
Then try it in sparring, just with hands. You could try one person attacking and one defending, then swap it around.
Then try it in sparring with legs and hands.
Then go back to the drill again and add some more moves at the end. You could try a right left right combo at the end, or a right punch followed by a check or trap with the left arm, then a right backfist - or you could even try to scoot your right leg behind your opponent and sweep him (sweeping him over with your right arm).
Do the attacks with reality. Your partner's got to really throw those punches or you won't really learn to block and move.
Try it under pressure. See if it works. It's basic - I know. That's how it's supposed to be. I reckon it works - but see for yourself.
