Tanaka 24 Count

The Tanaka 24 Count was developed by Chris Tanaka. This fundamental weapon strike delivery pattern can be applied to several different weapons to include a knife, which the American Institute of Kenpo uses when teaching it.

The pattern listed here is for having the weapon held in your right hand. Once you have strike delivery pattern trained and engrained we encourage you to work the weak side holding the weapon in your left hand.

Pattern

Salutation: Meditative Horse Stance

Left Step Sideways towards 9:00 into a Meditative Horse Stance facing 12:00
Left Step Back into a Right Neutral Bow Stance facing 12:00
Left Positional Check over your heart with the hand guarding your throat (palm facing in)
Right Chamber in front of your right shoulder

Count 1:

Stab to the Left Side of your opponent’s Neck

Count 2:

(Compound Action) Slice Across your opponent’s Throat (3:00 to 9:00)

Count 3:

Inverted Stab to the Right Side of your opponent’s Neck

Count 4:

(Compound Action) Slice Across your opponent’s Throat (9:00 to 3:00)

Count 5:

Slice Down your opponent’s Center Line (12:00 to 6:00)

Count 6:

Stab Up to your opponent’s Groin

Count 7:

(Elbow Down Palm in) Slice Up your opponent’s Center Line (6:00 to 12:00)

Count 8:

Inverted Stab to the Right Side of your opponent’s Chest

Count 9:

(Compound Action) 45° Slice Down your opponent’s Torso (10:30 to 4:30)

Count 10:

Stab to the Left Side of your opponent’s Lower Abdomen

Count 11:

(Compound Action) 45° Slice Up your opponent’s Torso (4:30 to 10:30)

Count 12:

Slice Across your opponent’s Face (9:00 to 3:00)

Count 13:

Stab to the Left Side of your opponent’s Chest

Count 14:

(Compound Action) 45° Slice Down your opponent’s Torso (1:30 to 7:30)

Count 15:

Inverted Stab to the Right Side of your opponent’s Lower Abdomen

Count 16:

(Compound Action) 45° Slice Up your opponent’s Torso (7:30 to 1:30)

Count 17:

Slice Across your opponent’s Face (3:00 to 9:00)

Count 18:

45° Slice Up to your opponent’s Left Femoral Artery (7:30 to 1:30)

Count 19:

45° Slice Up to your opponent’s Right Femoral Artery (4:30 to 10:30)

Count 20:

45° Slice Down to your opponent’s Face (10:30 to 4:30)

Count 21:

45° Slice Down to your opponent’s Face (1:30 to 7:30)

Count 22:

Slice Across the center of your opponent’s Torso (9:00 to 3:00)

Count 23:

Slice Across the center of your opponent’s Torso (3:00 to 9:00)

Count 24:

Stab the center of your opponent’s Torso

Salutation: Meditative Horse

Left Step Forward into a Meditative Horse Stance facing 12:00
Left Step Sideways towards 3:00 into an Attention Stance facing 12:00

Advance Pattern Switch:

Count 7 and be done with the Elbow Out. The result is the remainder of the pattern is flipped making all strikes to the opposite side of the body. This should be practiced with both versions to include the knife in the right hand and the left hand.

Training Disclaimer

The American Institute of Kenpo (AIK) strongly recommends that all training be overseen by experienced and qualified instructors. Individuals choosing to train without the recommended oversight assume full liability for any and all injuries. In addition, those individuals engaging in training without the oversight of the American Institute of Kenpo’s (AIK’s) certified instructors will be doing so with the understanding and acknowledgment that they are waving subrogation and holding harmless the American Institute of Kenpo (AIK), it's members, and affiliates.