25. Koryo and Choong-Jang target punches

The target punch originally comes from the karate kata Chinte.

Chinte's target punch. Source: Shotokan Sensei

Both Koryo (KTA) and Choong-Jang (ITF) make changes to this technique. Koryo's version is in riding stance and sets up the punch with a knifehand block. Choong-Jang's version is in back stance and changes the setup movement into a backhand downward strike.

Both versions are commonly interpreted as grabbing the back of the opponent's head and punching their face. The trouble with this is the risk of punching their forehead, breaking your fingers. Traditional forms usually aim punches at the rib or solar plexus level, and reserve the head for other strikes (backfist, knifehand, etc).

Knifehand blocks may be used to push out the face or neck. If you push out on the side of the opponent's face with the knifehand block in Koryo, this exposes the side of their head, a target safer to punch.

Source: PracticalKataBunkai

But what of Choong-Jang? Here we perform the downward strike with a stomp. This bizarre motion, to my knowledge, only appears in Choong-Jang.

Stomping motions can be used as knee strikes or as attacks to the opponent's leg, so it may be that the stomp is the primary attack, and the downward "strike" is just setting up the target punch. Stomping into a back stance is ineffective because the weight stays on our back leg, so I favor the knee strike interpretation.

However, we can also throw in a grappling application for the downward strike, since I don't think it works particularly well as a "strike". If you reach around the opponent's face and grab their jaw, you may use the circular motion as a head crank, setting them up for a strike to their neck.

Application for Choong-Jang's downward strike and target punch. Source: Martial Arts Guardian.

Combine with the knee strike to the lower back for greater effect.

Since the technique is open-handed, the intent may be to use the arc hand (since the thump is out) to get a chin lock instead. In the image below the outer thumb is used, but the effect is the same. This is safer for your fingers, as there is less chance of being bitten.

Source: Bunkai Jutsu

Finish with a punch to the side of the neck.

24. Koryo first wedging block

Source: George D

Here is an application for the 180-degree turn into the front stance inner-forearm wedging block (aka opening block) after the first "knee break".

I don't interpret the latter as an actual knee break. It's true that this technique appears in older karate manuals, but the breaking palm should be in front so as to apply more pressure. See the technique shown by Kenwa Mabuni below.

Kenwa Mabuni's knee break from Karate Do Nyumon (1938)

But in Koryo the downward palm comes from the back hand. I believe this variation works better as an irimi nage (entering throw) technique. The front palm pushes in the small of the opponent's back while you throw the opponent's head to the floor. Perform after using the preceding front kick as a kick to the groin.

Sources: DTDT, Rogue Warriors

This throw may fail if the opponent steps backwards to maintain their balance. Since you are pushing in their left side with your right palm, they will have to step back with their right leg.

Grab their left leg with both fists. Then step through and turn while pulling up the leg with the inner-forearm wedging block, tripping the opponent over your rear (left) leg. This is shown in the gif below.

Source: MEMAG

Other Koryo applications:

Double Side Kick
Low Target Hammerfist
Cross-step side kick (Richard Conceicao)

23. Koryo double side kick

Source: Majest

Even though I am ITF-trained, I'm rather fond of the KTA poomsae Koryo and have been studying applications for it recently. The most baffling part is the back leg double side kick performed early in the form. Koryo's ready position and opening guarding block have a simple application that is, I think, fairly well known. It comes from the karate kata Kushanku. After using the ready position as a guard to defend against any kind of swinging attack (haymaker, front bear hug, headlock), overhook the opponent's arm while striking the side of their neck.

Source: Practical Kata Bunkai

This is an old, perhaps the original, application for the guarding block. It appears not only in traditional martial arts but modern self defense systems. A live demonstration by Tony Blauer (as part of his S.P.E.A.R. system) is shown below.

Source: CrossFit

It can be used against a haymaker, front bear hug, or tackle. By pushing out on the opponent's neck you prevent them from striking or hugging you effectively. You can also throw in some quick hand strikes or knees from this position. In some ITF forms, a front leg front kick is used.

What you cannot do is the double side kick. There's no way to realistically apply it from this close a range, and why use it over simpler hand strikes? However, I don't think the two kicks are meant to be used from this defensive position, but rather as your opponent escapes from this position.

Applying pressure to the side of the neck is uncomfortable and once the opponent realizes they can't take you down, they may dive away from your knifehand.

(1) Since you have an overhook, you have tactile information that their arm is slipping. (2) Lock their arm with both hands as you turn 180-degrees stepping forward. (3) Perform the low side kick to the side/back of their knee. This will cause them to collapse onto that knee, lowering their head. (4) Perform the second side kick to the back of their head. Pull the arm back while kicking for greater damage.

I have one more application from Koryo that I will discuss in my next post.

Edit 10-13-2023: After thinking about it more, it seems more likely to me that the set is intended to be applied as a front leg double side kick, aiming for the knee and the ribs, or the ankle and the knee. This more easily follows into the knifehand strike to the back of the head. So why do we perform a rear leg kick in the form? It could be for:

(A) The sake of the floor pattern, which has a symbolic meaning ("learned man" or "wise elder")

(B) Parsimony of movements, since the turn into the second guarding block is both practicing the overhook on the other side plus a head crank throw

(C) For the challenge of it, since one of the purposes of forms is to develop balance.

22. Koryo low target hammerfist

Source: Majest

Here is an application for the supported elbow strike followed by the low target hammerfist in Koryo.

Assume the opponent grabs your lapel. Use the downward palm to cover and grab their knifehand. Twist their wrist as you bring your elbow over their elbow, creating a Z-lock (aka S-lock or nikkyo). Pushing their wrist towards them will force them downwards.

Source: WOMA TV

The Z-lock works by preventing the opponent's elbow from rising as you push their wrist towards them. Since it can't rise, the lock forces them downwards. Step in close and follow with the low target hammerfist to the head.

I used to think that slow motion movements were grappling techniques, but often I see the opposite in forms: normal motion movements can be grappling while slow motion movements can be strikes. Slow motion movements may either be for aesthetics or to indicate that something non-obvious is going on.