On Covering Out

Regarding the cover out, I have visited schools where the student is required to cover out at the end of each technique. At some schools they will actually fail the student on their belt test if they do not cover out. But my question is, and remains, when have you completed your technique or as we say at San Jose Kenpo, when have you achieved a satisfactory defensive solution? The pat answer at my school is “when your opponent is on the ground drawn up in the fetal position quivering”. But there are many variables that can come into play.

But once again I ask, when has one completed the technique? Simply because one has completed execution of all of the requisite movements that comprise a self defense technique does not guarantee that one has in any wise achieved a satisfactory defensive solution. Therefore, at San Jose Kenpo we practice a strategy called “free form technique”. During the training exercise for the strategy I select three or four defenses against a particular attack and have the students work the techniques against each other. I then break down to first, neutralizing the attack and responding with one strike, then neutralize and respond with two strikes, not necessarily from the same technique. Then three strikes, then anything goes, provided the strikes flow together with autonomic continuity. No cover out is ever executed but rather another strike contemplated.

So when do you cover out? At San Jose Kenpo we cover out as a preemptive reaction to a possible attack, thus invoking the protection of the fourth dimension, time and distance. The individual is then in a position to assess the danger potential and formulate and an appropriate defensive scenario. Other than that, it is just show.

Ted