An instructor is the reason you never really see a list of these. You need the instructor to show you the principle, to apply the principle, and to have you apply the principle, correcting as necessary. This is a start of a list of most of the principles and rules used in Kenpo techniques. Is it all? No. I could never claim that, but it is a pretty definitive list. I have broken them into sub-groups as well to better present the material. My sources? First off, my instructor, of course. Second, I read books. I read books by Mr. Parker, including the Infinite Insights series and The Zen of Kenpo as well as Mr. Lee Wedlake's books. I also read notes that I had jotted into my less than beautiful notebook that has seen some travels; many of these notes from various seminars.

But are all these necessarily rules and principles? No. Many of them are simply analogies used to express a strategy of motion or to illustrate an actual principle. And don't be surprised to see rules and principles repeated here when needed.

• Analogies
• Rules and Principles of Motion
• Rules and Principles of Power
• Rules and Principles of Blocking / Checking
• Rules and Principles of Striking
• Strategies

• Billiards Analogy: To have the cue ball consecutively hit its designated targets, you need to ensure the cue ball is constantly aligned to make your next shot easier. (In pool, this is termed adding some English; in Kenpo, this concerning the Angle of Entry). In pool, this is used to set yourself up for the next shot but also (in case you miss) to prevent your attacker from getting any decent shot off. The "leave" in pool is almost as crucial and sinking the shot itself.
• Venetian Blind Principle: zones on the body can increase or decrease in size, like a venetian blind, when the angle of the body changes in height or width.
• Bait the line: create an opening for him to enter, so you don't have to second guess him. Like fishing, use a lure to get a fish's attention and cause a strike.
• Rip the Rag: use opposing forces to enhance power.
• Tea Kettle Principle: condensed breathing, like steam under pressure proportionately increases the force rendered.
• Mirror Principle: The matching of stances, positions, controls, blocks, etc. from the standpoint of a mirror image.
• Squeegee Principle: use the path of your action to cover a wider area when blocking or striking. If you don't use the long part of a squeegee, you accomplish nothing.
• Windshield Wiper Principle: same as the Squeegee Principle, except that one end of the path is used as a fixed pivot point.
• Puzzle Principle: (another name for the Fitting Principle) where you apply a natural weapon that fits the target.

• Rule #1: Establish your Base. When going in, hit with the stance to establish your base.
• As you cat, cock.
• Opposite/Reverse Motion: Any motion that can be done has an opposite and a reverse that can be done.
• Economy of Motion: avoid wasteful angles and manage your power to get the most for your efforts in the shortest amount of time. Round off the corners of angular moves. Do not stop one action to start another unless resistance forces you to.
• Timing Principle: (similar to above) reverse, opposite, or eliminate the and-then.
• Circles: there are three things you can do to a circle: reverse the circle, stay on the circle, or cut the circle in half.
• Inside Rule: When we are inside an attacker, control his height zone to eliminate any use of a backup weapon.
• Never move into an attacker without a cover.
• Never get in your own way.
• Advance in the circle; never retreat.
• Never take your eyes off your attacker.
• Never put both feet down in a single line.
• Make your new move outside your old move, so your weapon doesn't get trapped.
• Minor/Major Principle: A minor move, while not devastating, can cause enough damage and/or delay to allow the execution of a major move.
• Continuity: no move passes from one position to another without being used.
• Tailoring Principle: There are two aspects to this principle-- adjust your physical, mental, and emotional attitudes to fit each given situation, and secondly fit moves to your body size, makeup, speed, and strength in order to maximize your physical efforts.
• When circular motion ends, linear begins; when linear motion ends, circular begins again.
• Always cover with the front foot.
• Cover out rule: Never step-through before a crossover; avoiding this action protects your centerline from being exposed closer to your attacker.
• Cover: an evasive transition that checks his action and places you in a preparatory position.
• When retreating, use the opposite hand and opposite foot; when advancing, use like hand and like foot.
• Body Alignment: coordinate the body parts to harmonize their angles of travel so that they all move together, in line, and in one direction.
• Force an attacker's head below his waist and you will automatically keep his legs in place.
• Where the head goes, the body follows.
• Chinese Fan Principle: reaction can beat action if we move the target first, rather than the blocking arm.
• Intentional action is hard to detect when the body is kept in constant motion.
• Transitions can act as reinforced moves or hidden moves either as an offense or a defense.
• Double Factor Principle: Always use dual moves to defend yourself.
• Line of Entry: whenever possible, move on and over the line of entry, in order to provide lower body checks.

• Primary Power Principles: power is primarily obtained through back-up mass, marriage of gravity, and torque.
• In responding to a grab or choke, line yourself up by borrowing your attacker's force. (Gives you a lot of power.)
• Anchor your elbow and buttocks to gain power.
• When executing a handsword, keep your hands at or above your elbow to maintain power.
• Rip the Rag: use opposing forces to enhance power.
• Tea Kettle Principle: condensed breathing, like steam under pressure proportionately increases the force rendered.
• Body Alignment: coordinate the body parts to harmonize their angles of travel so that they all move together, in line, and in one direction.
• Whenever you grab something, anchor it against your body.
• To aid your action, feed it with your opponent's reaction.
• Always shuffle on elbows to add power; elbows usually follow a full extension strike.

• When striking low, check high; when striking high, check low.
• If you are inside the arm block at or below the elbow. If you are outside the arm, block at or above the elbow.
• Never make a cock a separate motion. When we block we cock.
• Line of Entry: whenever possible, move on and over the line of entry, in order to provide lower body checks.
• Action with effect keeps an attacker in check.
• Do not pass a body zone without checking.
• Squeegee Principle: use the path of your action to cover a wider area when blocking or striking.
• Double Factor Principle: Always use dual moves to defend yourself.
• Meet a horizontal attack with a vertical block, and a vertical attack with a horizontal block.
• A check, in most cases, is an application of; whereas, a cover is simply in anticipation of. For example, you may grab an attacker to check off their left side. Grab whenever you can to eliminate the weapon. Cover only until you can check.
• When checking or withdrawing the hand (as in pulling), always anchor your elbow.
• To check your attacker's depth zone, jam them.
• To prevent your attacker from striking or rotating, check the leverage points.
• With knife or gun attacks, never leave the weapon unchecked until you can get it away from your attacker.
• When dealing with a knife, never present the inside of your arm\hand to the blade of the knife until you have the arm checked. If they pull back, you want to have as little as possible cut.
• When dealing with a gun, deflect and control the gun to permanently keep the line of fire away from you.
• Employ a striking block if the hands are not extended, but employ a parrying block if the hands are already extended.
• Never be the cause of an orbit of his weapons.

• Point of origin / Economy of Motion: always strike and move from where the natural weapons are found.
• If we block inward, we strike outward.
• Make your new move outside your old move, so your weapon doesn't get trapped.
• Many of the same principles that apply to the arms and hands can apply to the legs and feet. The ankle is the wrist of the foot, and the knees are the elbows of the legs.
• Complementary Angle: always follow a body line to an attacker.
• If the hands are low, go high; if the hands are high, go low.
• Never strike the same zone twice.
• Use the front hand in a neutral bow; use the rear hand in a forward bow.
• Never be the cause of an orbit of his weapons.
• Never cross the centerline without striking something on the way.
• Always shuffle on elbows, since elbows usually follow a full extension strike.
• If the center line is open, close it, if the center line is closed, open it.
• Fitting Principle: Apply a natural weapon that is shaped to fit the target.
• Pin-Point Effect: Concentrate the surface of a natural weapon to as small an area as possible in order to have a more penetrating effect on the target. (a/k/a Compact the Mass)
• When striking low, check high; when striking high, check low.
• When punching below the level of your shoulder, position your plan down (horizontally); when punching above the level of your shoulder, position your palm in (vertically).
• Object Obscurity: always strike from obscure zones or odd angles for surprise.
• Strike on a diagonal plane for increased accuracy, combined power, and check maintenance.
• On the outside of the arm, block with the front hand and strike with the rear hand. On the inside of the arm, block with the front hand, and then strike with the front hand.

• If we contract offense, you have defense. If you expand defense, you have offense.
• Keep your hands above your attacker's hands. (We break this rule in Circling Windmills).
• Venetian Blind Principle: zones on the body can increase or decrease in size, like a venetian blind, when the angle of the body changes in height or width.
• Billiards Analogy: To have the cue ball consecutively hit its designated targets, you need to ensure the cue ball is constantly aligned to make your next shot easier. (In pool, this is termed adding some English; in Kenpo, this concerning the Angle of Entry). In pool, this is used to set yourself up for the next shot but also (in case you miss) to prevent your attacker from getting any decent shot off. The "leave" in pool is almost as crucial and sinking the shot itself.
• Bait the line: create an opening for him to enter, so you don't have to second guess him.
• Chinese Fan Principle: reaction can beat action if we move the target first, rather than the blocking arm.
• Dead Motion: use a deceptive maneuver that is purposely designed to give your opponent the illusion that a portion of your body is totally inactive and can do them no harm.
• To beat action, meet it.
• Intentional action is hard to detect when the body is kept in constant motion.
• Feints are false leads that are often followed by committed action.