“To enlighten and evolve through the art of Kenpo”
| Volume 12 |
December 2007 |
Issue 3 |
Learning Tools
Learning Tools
By Doug Parent
One of the teaching tools we use in Kenpo is the analogy. This method often makes an idea easier to understand by comparing it to other areas of our lives. In this article we will discuss the analogy of Appendix/Dictionary/Encyclopedia.
From Ed Parker’s Encyclopedia of Kenpo:
ANALOGY OF APPENDIX / DICTIONARY / ENCYCLOPEDIA - This analogy is used to distinguish and explain Kenpo forms and sets. Kenpo practitioners are instructed that all forms up to Short Form Three (Long and Short Forms One and Two) are comparable to the dictionary, whereby movements in the form can be defined. Short Form Three and above are compared to an encyclopedia. In these forms the movements are not only defined, but explained as well. Sets (Coordination, Stance, Blocking, Finger, Kicking, etc.) are considered appendices in that they are supplementary catalogues of motion that add to the general knowledge of a Kenpo student.
A dictionary tells us how to spell a word, how to pronounce it, one or more definitions of the word and basic ways to use the word in a sentence i.e. noun, adjective, verb. A block in Kenpo shows action because we use it to strike. Descriptive adverbs would modify this to be a hammering block, a thrusting block, a snapping block, etc. We could describe the stances as nouns. If we combine a noun (neutral bow) with a verb (inward hammering block) we now have the beginnings of a Kenpo sentence.
Kenpo Forms Short One and Two and Long One and Two work in much the same way. They teach us to use our basic moves by linking them together to form words and sentences of motion.
When we look up a word in the dictionary it is understood that we already know the alphabet. The dictionary uses letter combinations to form words. In Short Form One, for example, the Kenpo practitioner is not taught to do a stance or a block. Short Form One teaches us to combine the foot maneuver, the stance and the block into a cohesive whole that can be used as a simple self-defense move. The opponent tries to punch us in the face. We respond by stepping back to a neutral bow to gain distance and blocking the strike.
Learning Kenpo is a cumulative effort in that the early lessons we learn build into more comprehensive moves. By the time we begin to learn Long Form Two we are taught to step forward into the attack and use multiple strikes. We execute all eight of the primary angles, employ many more of our natural weapons and use various other combinations of basics.
An encyclopedia explains subjects in detail and puts them in the context of their use; it weaves together a description of the subjects so they can be understood from several different points of view.
When we are children we first must learn our alphabet before we’re able to combine the letters into words and words into sentences. As we grow older we become adept at forming sentences to describe our thoughts. Once we attain a certain level of proficiency we then learn how we can use those sentences to weave together a descriptive understanding that we wish to convey to another person.
In much the same way the higher Kenpo forms allow us to convey more of a tactical and strategic understanding of our Kenpo motion. We integrate the Kenpo techniques to describe how we can respond to varying forms of attack and defense. Short Form Three demonstrates how we might respond to various forms of grabs and tackles. Long Form Three adds many more variations and multiple attackers. This idea of an overarching theme is carried throughout the higher forms. The result is that we learn to integrate the basic Kenpo words and sentences we have learned into a comprehensive fighting method. The lower forms teach us how to create self defense moves. The higher forms explain the context for their use in a fight.
Appendices come at the end of a text and are used as a reference to learn fundamental assumptions about various subjects that are important to the main text. In much the same way our Sets teach us Kenpo basics that we employ to create our dictionary of words, sentences of motion and ultimately our encyclopedia of the higher forms. Blocking Set 1 (Star Block) is our way of isolating many of the basic blocks so they can be repetitively practiced without having to worry about what the rest of our body is doing.
We see the same approach in other sets as we move up in rank. At Purple Belt we learn Long Form Two. This form employs kicks as part of our offense. We are prepared for this at Yellow Belt when we learn Kicking Set One. Whether it’s Finger Set or Striking Set or Stance Set, each of the appendices provides the opportunity to isolate and practice these individual moves that will become so important to our more comprehensive Forms.
As we like to say, everything in Kenpo is built on the basics.