When I started in Kempo in '74, everyone just called them punch techniques but there were a few core punch techniques that everyone seemed to have. This was probably because there was just a small group of New England schools and a few in Canada back then and Gm. Villari had black belt workouts for all his instructors on a very regular basis early on.
Here's something of interest. Nick Cerio gave me an old paperback book he published and unfortunately I can't find it now. Anyway, in it he demonstrated some kenpo techniques and one of them I instantly recognized as a punch technique I got very early on when I was a colored belt. It had only one very minor variation. Here's the technique.
(right hand step in punch)
Step in with the right foot with a simultaneous left hand pressing palm block and a right hand chicken wrist to the chin, spin/turn counter clockwise with a downward backfist to the groin....and now here's the slight variation..Cerio followed up the backfist with a back thrust kick to the body and Villari used a rising heel kick to the face from the uke being bent over from the backfist to the groin.
Anyway, my point being some of these early punch techniques, weapon defenses and grabs came pretty much directly from Nick Cerio. Of course, Mr. Villari had his own creations and then, yes, the instructors were encouraged to create their own techniques also which is what kempo is all about.
Another thing, I remember being told not to take these techniques, combinations included, so seriously as some do today in all the kempo/kenpo arts. Perhaps 'seriously' is the wrong word, maybe strictly. Be flexible. I remember a private lesson with Master Art Singer when we were going over combinations. For example, #8 & #9, he was saying, Joe, this can be just fast, rapid fire low line kicks to the legs, for instance, inside of thigh or knee, outside of thigh or knee, groin, etc...to destroy your opponent's foundation. Normally they were done as (#8) an outward dragon hand block with a front ball kick to the groin into a roundhouse ball kick to the temple (w/o touching down first to work balance), cross & cover and #9, same thing only one more kick, a side kick to the ribs. another interesting note, in that Cerio paperback book I had, it showed #8 as a tournament technique. You would fake a low line front kick to the groin to get your opponent to drop his cover down and his attention then you immediately redirect the kick to the outside of his head w/ a roundhouse. This is the same thing as Bruce Lee's 'disengaging hand principle". Do a quick short speed backfist to the face, and quickly pull it back (disengage) and circle to the temple area with a vertical fist hook punch. Theory is you come in at his centerline to stun/distract and then return with the same hand at an oblique angle which he doesn't expect with a power shot and hopefully polish him off. Great technique!
Anyway, that's how I was taught all the combinations and techniques. It really didn't matter what block was originally taught, or even the footwork or the type of attack, step in and punch, reverse or boxing punch, straight, over head, looping..... it's all dynamic-ever changing.... never static or etched in stone. You had to adapt. We were taught how to adapt the techniques for all kinds of attacks including grabs and weapon defenses, right, left handed, even defense against kicks. It was the 'idea' of the technique that was important which Mr. Parker coined "the concept" and the teaching of the technique in the 'ideal' phase so you have an understanding and a base to work with. Something else Mr. Parker coined that I picked up on about the curriculum techniques: "Kenpo is formulated as encounters occur". great advice, I think, no matter what system you're in. Although I'm not EPAK, his terminology and theories are sound and apply to all of us - Joe
