🥋 Fix Your Grip — The Secret to Power and Flow in Kenpo Stick Work
In Kenpo — and in most weapon-based arts — we often talk about angles, speed, and intent. But one of the biggest mistakes I see, even among experienced practitioners, starts with something as simple as how you hold your stick.
It sounds basic… until you realize your grip controls everything that happens next.
🔍 The Common Mistake: Gripping Too High
Many practitioners grip too high on the stick, usually without realizing it. What happens? They lose range, reduce leverage, and choke the natural flow of the weapon.
It’s the martial equivalent of driving with the handbrake half on — you might still move, but you’re never really free to flow.
The stick should feel like an extension of your body, not a rigid tool you’re trying to control. When you grip too high, every strike, block, or transition becomes restricted. You end up fighting your own mechanics.
🥢 Finding the Correct Grip
The correct grip gives you both reach and rotation. You should feel a small tail of the stick extending past your hand — this tail provides counterbalance, striking options, and control.
Try this:
- When you swing or flow, your wrist should feel relaxed.
- The stick should move with you, not against you.
- You should be able to transition smoothly from angle to angle without readjusting your hand every time.
This is where flow lives — in the subtle details that let motion stay alive.
⚙️ Why It Matters in Kenpo
Kenpo’s logic of motion relies on efficiency: minimal wasted movement for maximum effect. That means your grip isn’t just about holding on — it’s about connecting intent, structure, and energy into one continuous expression.
A poor grip breaks that connection. A correct grip amplifies it.
Whether you’re training solo, drilling with a partner, or working on flow sets, the same principle applies: precision in fundamentals frees your flow.
🧘♂️ Training Tip: Revisit the Basics
The next time you train:
- Start your stick flow slowly.
- Film yourself or watch your reflection.
- Check where your hand sits on the stick.
- Experiment — move it slightly lower and feel how the leverage changes.
You’ll notice your movements become more natural, your transitions smoother, and your strikes more efficient.
This one small correction can transform your flow.
🎥 Watch the Demo
In my recent short video, I show this silently — just clean, efficient motion. No voiceover, no narration. Because sometimes, you don’t need words — just a clear demonstration of what right feels like.
👉 Watch “Fix Your Grip — The Secret to Power and Flow in Kenpo Stick Work” on YouTube
🔖 Tags & Keywords
#Kenpo #StickFlow #MartialArts #WeaponTraining #KenpoFlow #SoloTraining #FilipinoMartialArts #StickDrills #ModernKenpo #MartialArtsTraining
Author: Darryl Murray
Channel: Daz Black — Applying Kenpo Principles to Modern Training
