Physics of Motion

[Theban_Legion]

I would like to know how many people in the AKLA have studied Physics and how it can expand the Kenpo/Martial Arts practitioner's knowledge and skill.

I am currently enrolled for the fall semester of '05 in General Physics I. Of the information I will learn, what formulas relate directly to Kenpo (or the Elite-Fighter System)? How does one approach these concepts and relate them directly to a specific motion or for that matter, Martial Arts training in general?

Mr. Parker mentioned several times in his writings that Physics aided in the development of the codified principles/concepts of American Kenpo; however, I don't recall very many specific formulas or methods being taught.

I have studied American Kenpo since '94; the last time I had a personal instructor was in '95 (when I allowed my membership in the IKKA to lapse). I don't recall my instructor as being very knowledgable in Physics (no insult or hostility intended). How does one "bring home" the knowledge imparted in a Physics class and present it to students (who may be personally lacking in the area of higher education) in a way that will be easily understood, absorbed, and applied?

Any response is appreciated.

[Maximus]

Kevin Lamkin has degrees in Chemistry and Physics. He even taught Physics at the University of Louisville. In the late 80s and early 90s, Ed Parker asked Kevin to write a monthly column in the IKKA newsletter on Kenpo Physics and he later wrote several articles in the Order of American Kenpoists newsletter, the Forum. Many refer to him as the "Official Kenpo-Physics Teacher". Perhaps we can persuade him to instruct us in this important and much requested topic!

-Maximus

[Theban_Legion]

I would love to hear what he has to teach. I didn't realize that Kevin Lamkin had such an extensive education. He could give yet another awesome service to the Kenpo/Martial Arts community by explaining not only the "why," but also the Physics related to the Theory behind the "why."

I am looking forward to Mr. Lamkin's response.

[administrator]

Hello Theban_Legion,

The knowledge of physics will greatly enhace your ability to properly apply torque, leverage, and how to deliver maximum power.

My background includes a bachelors degree in Chemistry and Physics, and graduate school in Physics, where I was a graduate teaching assistant for four years.

When you study physics, you need to first be completely comfortable with vectors, units, the laws of physics, particularly when it comes to kinematics, and the laws of motion.

The Kenpo community is challenged by Ed Parker to utilize physics in their pursuit in kenpo. However, there are still many concepts that are still being mis-applied. That is why Ed Parker had me to write the, "Physics Corner" section of the IKKA newsletter in the late 80s and early 90s. We are in the process of making these issues available for download.

I am in the process of completing a physics journal for Kenpo, that will help kenpo students to learn to apply science correctly to their art. More on that later.

Kevin Lamkin
Site Administrator

[Theban_Legion]

Thank you for your reply.

I am looking forward to downloading your "Physics Corner" articles. These writings will certainly be beneficial.

The creation of the Physics Journal/Manual? What a brilliant idea! Recently I have been wishing that someone would present this supremely important aspect of Kenpo in a clear and concise format. Do you also plan to create a VHS/DVD companion? It is evident that none of the popular grandmasters want to touch this topic (as far as recording on media the proper application of Physics); I don't wish to speculate as to why this is so. One could only wish that the 1st generation students of SGM Parker would make a record of Kenpo the way it was taught to them by Mr. Parker, if only for the sake of posterity. I digress.

Your Physics Journal/Manual is eagerly anticipated.

Thank you (and also your brother) for all of your work in preserving the art of American Kenpo.

[Lance C]

All,

A little off topic, but I recently watched a clip on making video games that used a sort of telemetery suit (instrumentation suit) to measure the movement of sports athletes to put their signature moves into video games. I believe this to apply to many martial arts games.

As a comment it would be interesting to see a Kenpoist get modeled in this manner during various points in their training. I think about this alot since I have a back ground in electronics and computer programming.

-Lance C

[administrator]

Hello Lance,

I have thought about a study of motion using telemetry also. Perhaps this will happen in the near future. Let me know if you have access to the devices.

Kevin Lamkin
Site Administrator

[Lance C]

Mr. Lamkin,

I don't have access to the devices for telemetry modelling. I will be researching companies that use them and see if I can first get a first hand look at them.


I have been building some devices to help out in class. On my desk is a 30 second counter with an event counter that is being modified to count the number of events in 30 seconds. Speed Drill.

The other project related to that one is using a 3 axis accelerometer to measure the flight of a fist or foot during impact training. Having 3 power principles of the change of height, width and depth the box could be moved to various parts of the body and measured, the flight vectors during missling could be graphed and analyzed. (May need some advice on the physics of this)

Also putting an accelerometer in a target could show how the impact of the strike affected the "opponent" ie inertia overcome in which dimensions.

My hypothesis is that the information would give some insight into individual performance and add a scientific (self-realizing) way of training.

-Lance



Hello Lance,

I have thought about a study of motion using telemetry also. Perhaps this will happen in the near future. Let me know if you have access to the devices.

Kevin Lamkin
Site Administrator

[profesormental]

Hi all!

I'm also a kenpoist/physicist, and my bachelor's degrees are in mathematics and physics, and I'm finishing my Master's in physics and my Ph.D. in math.

I have access to devices to study movement, yet I think they can analyse 2D motion. I don't think they have for 3D in real time, exept if you analyze in various angles in 2D and take projections to 3D, which is just as good, just takes more time.

I would have to check if they still have them for me to use; for sure I could use them all I want next August when I start teaching undergrads. (For the 2 years of my Master's I do reasearch on Quantum Computation).

Also I have several colleagues who could help me make the experimental setup and data collection a breeze in no time.

For video game quality motion capture, I could contact a close friend who teaches game programming and desing at one of the best schools in the US for Video game design and programming (Full Sail, Orlando). Just in case you want to get fancier.

Hope this helps to solidify the project. I can write some more later, since a weeklong sleep depravation flurry of activity is coming to an end tomorrow... so I'll be at full capacity then.

Sincerely,

Juan M. Mercado

[Lance C]

All,

Looking at circular and linear motion through force transducers Kenpo should be examined not just using linear accelerometers, but also (unsure of the term) pitch, yaw and roll sensors that measure circular forces in an object.

I found this out examining a corkscrew punch last night, that circular would be a significant measurement.

For three dimensional measurement in linear and circular, it should be an X, Y, Z linear and yaw, pitch and roll for circular?

One question for the physicists, are there mathematical ways of measuring yaw, pitch and roll using a 3 dimensional linear accelerometer? I don't know this.

Other than that I was starting to scrounge for parts at automotive factories, they often throw out test equipment parts that I could never afford.

Looking at a few motion capture video games, I think they just mimic the skin of the sports player, the emphasis is on the signature move, not the actual physics. Who would want to be a sports star who has the burden of gravity and inertia on them?

-Lance

[profesormental]

HI!

All it takes is a well known linear transformation to use circular coordinates. This is only to make integrations of differential equations easier.

Also, linear momentum mostly has to do with the movement of the center of mass. Yaw, pitch and rolls have to do with angular momentum, which can have effects, yet sometimes they can be neglected.

Analysis would be as simple as linear momentum/kinetic energy transfer to considering continuum physics to get the elasticity of the skin before it breaks through "torquing" the fist in someones face for example.

Hope this helps.

Juan M. Mercado

[Lance C]

All,

I did some research and found the following link about modelling human motion
http://www.xsens.com/index.php?mainmenu=technology&submenu=new_developments&subsubmenu=mocap

This is what I was looking for technology wise, now I just need to find such a system.

The unfortunate thing about most of the equipment I have come across, is that people are using systems based on other needs. I believe this one to be specific and realistic to the needs of modelling the complexities (or is that sophisticated basics :) of American Kenpo.

The system show is capable of measuring up to 15 segments of the human body with full 3d linear vectoring, plus fully 3d gyro (circular) of each segment. The character show is using 10 sensors I believe.

Right now I was trying to book some time at a video game producer to see what they were using for human modelling. From their product, I would guess it to be a video based measurement system, since the segments do not rotate on their axis.

Hopefully they'll be accomodating :)

-Lance